
The Secret World of Espionage
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $9.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
About this listen
The world of espionage is shrouded in mystery—even to those in it—but so much of what we think we know about spy craft is rooted in pop culture. Even though the true nature of espionage is quite different, that doesn’t mean history’s real spies are any less heroic, or less fascinating.
In these nine episodes, go behind the shadows with a distinguished panel of historians—including a former intelligence case officer—in search of the secret meeting places, complex codes, stealth observations, and cutting-edge technologies spies have used throughout history.
You’ll discover how spies gather different sources of intelligence information; how spies exploit the social expectations of their times (including gender) to avoid scrutiny and suspicion; how spies use 21st-century tech tools to gather and analyze granular information; and even how spies, unlike many of their fictional counterparts, learn to be “forgettable” while on the job.
You’ll also encounter men and women who, unlike James Bond, are very much real: Sir Francis Walsingham, Peggy Shippen, Antoine Rossignol, William Stefanson, Kim Philby, Aldridge Ames—their stories of daring (including close calls and even double-crosses) are enough to pack this series with plenty of adventure and intrigue.
This series will change the way you think about how intelligence agencies, from MI6 to the CIA, operate both in the shadows and sometimes even in plain sight. Think of it as history seen through the eyes of spies.
©2022 The Great Courses (P)2022 The Teaching Company, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
-
War in the Modern World
- By: David R. Stone, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David R. Stone
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Great powers no longer fight great wars. But how exactly did countries like the United States go from confronting powerful adversaries in 1914 and 1939 Europe to waging lengthy counterinsurgency campaigns in places like Iraq and Afghanistan? The answer lies in the profound geopolitical and technological changes that came in between.
-
-
General Overview of Conflicts Post World War 2
- By Jeffrey F Korpics Jr on 06-20-22
By: David R. Stone, and others
-
The Power of Storytelling with Ari Shapiro
- By: Ari Shapiro, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ari Shapiro
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As an award-winning host of NPR’s All Things Considered, Ari Shapiro knows the power of storytelling better than most. And the longer he’s worked in the field, the more convinced he’s become of storytelling’s primal importance. In 12 fascinating lessons, this master of the craft reveals the storytelling secrets he’s learned over the course of his career as a reporter and performer, from finding a good story and choosing the right characters to conducting interviews and even delivering a story effectively out loud.
By: Ari Shapiro, and others
-
Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World
- By: Prince Ea, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Prince Ea
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
10 interview-based episodes that take ancient designs and applies them to modern lives. Your expert is Prince EA, an artist and inspirational speaker who’s spent the greater part of his career thinking about the ancient world.
-
-
Ooh my gosh, best course I’ve listened too
- By Margie on 11-08-23
By: Prince Ea, and others
-
The Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
-
-
Not Engaging or Very Interesting
- By Tommy D'Angelo on 03-05-17
By: Thomas F. X. Noble, and others
-
The Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research, celebrated medievalist Dorsey Armstrong shares the fascinating new story of this old pandemic—revealed by dedicated researchers working with 21st-century technologies and a knowledge of language and history that now provide input from all geographic areas of the medieval world. In seven engaging lectures, Professor Armstrong corrects explanations of the pandemic that are now known to be inaccurate and offers a more robust description of plague biology than has ever been known.
-
-
Too much personal commentary on current political
- By BF Palo Alto on 07-21-22
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
The Middle Ages Around the World
- By: Joyce E. Salisbury, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joyce E. Salisbury
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Middle Ages was a time of major historical shifts and transformations. This amazing era reverberates with discoveries, innovations, events, and historical processes that are integral to the world we know now. In these 24 enthralling lectures, Professor Salisbury leads you on a sumptuous tour of this incredible historical epoch, making clear that the remarkable historical currents and advances of the Middle Ages unfolded not only in the West, but across the globe, from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East to Asia, the Americas, and beyond.
-
-
A Rare Disappointment from The Great Courses
- By Curtis on 08-21-22
By: Joyce E. Salisbury, and others
-
War in the Modern World
- By: David R. Stone, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David R. Stone
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Great powers no longer fight great wars. But how exactly did countries like the United States go from confronting powerful adversaries in 1914 and 1939 Europe to waging lengthy counterinsurgency campaigns in places like Iraq and Afghanistan? The answer lies in the profound geopolitical and technological changes that came in between.
-
-
General Overview of Conflicts Post World War 2
- By Jeffrey F Korpics Jr on 06-20-22
By: David R. Stone, and others
-
The Power of Storytelling with Ari Shapiro
- By: Ari Shapiro, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ari Shapiro
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As an award-winning host of NPR’s All Things Considered, Ari Shapiro knows the power of storytelling better than most. And the longer he’s worked in the field, the more convinced he’s become of storytelling’s primal importance. In 12 fascinating lessons, this master of the craft reveals the storytelling secrets he’s learned over the course of his career as a reporter and performer, from finding a good story and choosing the right characters to conducting interviews and even delivering a story effectively out loud.
By: Ari Shapiro, and others
-
Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World
- By: Prince Ea, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Prince Ea
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
10 interview-based episodes that take ancient designs and applies them to modern lives. Your expert is Prince EA, an artist and inspirational speaker who’s spent the greater part of his career thinking about the ancient world.
-
-
Ooh my gosh, best course I’ve listened too
- By Margie on 11-08-23
By: Prince Ea, and others
-
The Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
-
-
Not Engaging or Very Interesting
- By Tommy D'Angelo on 03-05-17
By: Thomas F. X. Noble, and others
-
The Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research
- By: Dorsey Armstrong, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Black Death: New Lessons from Recent Research, celebrated medievalist Dorsey Armstrong shares the fascinating new story of this old pandemic—revealed by dedicated researchers working with 21st-century technologies and a knowledge of language and history that now provide input from all geographic areas of the medieval world. In seven engaging lectures, Professor Armstrong corrects explanations of the pandemic that are now known to be inaccurate and offers a more robust description of plague biology than has ever been known.
-
-
Too much personal commentary on current political
- By BF Palo Alto on 07-21-22
By: Dorsey Armstrong, and others
-
The Middle Ages Around the World
- By: Joyce E. Salisbury, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joyce E. Salisbury
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Middle Ages was a time of major historical shifts and transformations. This amazing era reverberates with discoveries, innovations, events, and historical processes that are integral to the world we know now. In these 24 enthralling lectures, Professor Salisbury leads you on a sumptuous tour of this incredible historical epoch, making clear that the remarkable historical currents and advances of the Middle Ages unfolded not only in the West, but across the globe, from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East to Asia, the Americas, and beyond.
-
-
A Rare Disappointment from The Great Courses
- By Curtis on 08-21-22
By: Joyce E. Salisbury, and others
-
Lost Art: The Stories of Missing Masterpieces
- By: Noah Charney, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Noah Charney
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Imagine a Museum of Lost Art. If this imaginary museum contained just the artwork we knew was lost— whether from theft, purposeful destruction, vandalism, war, or the forces of nature—it would still contain more masterpieces than those in all the world’s current museums combined. Imagine that! In Lost Art: The Stories of Missing Masterpieces, art historian Noah Charney guides you through just such an imaginary museum. In 12 fascinating lectures, you will hear the stories behind the theft and/or destruction of some of the world’s most famous pieces of art.
-
-
Fascinating series, but flawed last lecture?
- By Nancy on 11-24-23
By: Noah Charney, and others
-
The Power of Mind over Body
- By: Jo Marchant, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jo Marchant
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What explains the brain-body connection? How is it that something intangible like stress can really kill? How about the fact that we can and often do worry ourselves sick? And how can we take advantage of the mind’s connection to the body to reduce pain, boost physical performance, and even treat disease? Answer these questions and more in The Power of Mind over Body, a 12-lecture course that will change the way you think about physical health and the brain.
-
-
A treasure!
- By Deivid Gomes on 10-05-24
By: Jo Marchant, and others
-
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest takes you through the mists of time to the rugged landscape of the British Isles. Over the course of 24 sweeping lectures, Professor Jennifer Paxton of The Catholic University of America surveys the forging of a great nation from a series of warring kingdoms and migrating peoples. From Germanic tribes to Viking invasions to Irish missionaries, she brings to life an underexamined time and place.
-
-
Wonderful
- By Anonymous User on 12-10-22
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
-
1066: The Year That Changed Everything
- By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton
- Length: 3 hrs
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With this exciting and historically rich six-lecture course, experience for yourself the drama of this dynamic year in medieval history, centered on the landmark Norman Conquest. Taking you from the shores of Scandinavia and France to the battlefields of the English countryside, these lectures will plunge you into a world of fierce Viking warriors, powerful noble families, politically charged marriages, tense succession crises, epic military invasions, and much more.
-
-
History brought to life
- By Joshua on 07-10-13
By: Jennifer Paxton, and others
-
Synthetic Biology: Life’s Extraordinary New Worlds
- By: Milton Muldrow Jr., The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Milton Muldrow Jr.
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Synthetic Biology: Life’s Extraordinary New Worlds is an introduction to synthetic biology for non-scientists, covering the exciting field that is transforming health care, agriculture, environmental science, and many other areas. Using the molecules of life to answer scientific questions and manipulate life for human benefit, synthetic biology encompasses a wide range of applications—from gene editing and metabolic engineering to food synthesis and green technologies.
-
-
Disappointing.
- By Kindle Customer FB on 12-10-24
By: Milton Muldrow Jr., and others
-
Democracy and Its Alternatives
- By: Ethan Hollander, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ethan Hollander
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle called man a political animal. But what did he mean by that? What is democracy? How do democracies differ from one another? How do they stack up against their alternatives, like dictatorship? And can democracy survive the many challenges it faces today? To answer these questions, look no further than Democracy and Its Alternatives. Political science, history, and current affairs rolled into one, these 24 lectures investigate democratic government in theory and practice.
-
-
Very Informative
- By Racheal Dorsey on 12-20-22
By: Ethan Hollander, and others
-
The American Civil War
- By: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
-
-
Excellent Series
- By Rodney on 07-09-13
By: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
-
The Agency: A History of the CIA
- By: Hugh Wilford, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Hugh Wilford
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There’s a fundamental tension buried within the heart of the CIA’s mission to protect the American people: between democratic accountability and the inherent need for secrecy. Ultimately, it’s US citizens who bear the responsibility of staying informed about what the CIA has done and continues to do. In these 24 engrossing lectures, explore the roles the CIA has played in recent American history, from the eve of the Cold War against communism to the 21st-century War on Terror.
-
-
Axe to Grind
- By MissBouquet on 05-26-19
By: Hugh Wilford, and others
-
Tibet: History, Culture, and Religion
- By: Constance Kassor, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Constance Kassor
- Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Tibet: History, Culture, and Religion, Professor Constance Kassor, will show you the real, multi-dimensional Tibet and its people who live on the “Roof of the World,” the highest and largest plateau on Earth. In 24 fascinating lectures, you will learn how Tibet’s history was shaped by kings and kingdoms, power struggles, religion, traditions, wars, peace, and the lifestyles that developed in response to living on the world’s highest plateau.
-
-
very infornative
- By Steve sudjatmiko on 12-14-24
By: Constance Kassor, and others
-
12 Women Who Shaped America: 1619 to 1920
- By: Allison K. Lange, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Allison K. Lange
- Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Histories of the United States often overlook the women who shaped the nation. Museums, textbooks, historical sites, and even documentaries omit essential parts of the whole because they leave out her story. Join Allison K. Lange, historian and professor, as she guides you through the fascinating lives of 12 early Americans, all of them women.
-
-
Professor is knowledgeable
- By Kindle Customer on 03-27-22
By: Allison K. Lange, and others
-
How to Turn Your Passion into Profit
- By: Tara McMullin, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Tara McMullin
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Most Americans these days consider entrepreneurship to be a good career. More than half of all American adults will start at least one business during their working life. Due to the shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home became a common practice that many Americans would like to see as a permanent work option. This means that if you’re like most Americans, you’ve either already started your own business or you’re seriously considering it. If so, you’ve definitely come to the right place.
By: Tara McMullin, and others
-
Secrets of the Occult
- By: Richard B. Spence, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Richard B. Spence
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From spirituality to politics and science, the occult has had an astonishing influence on the human experience across the centuries. It may surprise you to learn that everyday activities like attending church services or reading your daily horoscope all fit the broad definition of the occult. As you will see in the 24 illuminating episodes of Secrets of the Occult, the mystic and obscure are threaded through our ordinary lives in more ways than you may realize.
-
-
insightful and well-presented.
- By Robert H. on 12-14-22
By: Richard B. Spence, and others
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Communism in Power
- From Stalin to Mao
- By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Trace the growth of communism from Stalin’s consolidation of power to the establishment of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, China, Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere in Communism in Power: From Stalin to Mao. These 12 half-hour lessons shed intriguing light on a revolutionary movement that played an outsized role in the 20th century and continues to shape 21st-century geopolitics.
-
-
A book of grudges
- By Axel D. Magnuson on 05-09-23
By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, and others
-
The American Civil War
- By: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
-
-
Excellent Series
- By Rodney on 07-09-13
By: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
-
Neuroscience of Everyday Life
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Sam Wang
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your nervous system is you. All the thoughts, perceptions, moods, passions, and dreams that make you an active, sentient being are the work of this amazing network of cells. For many centuries, people knew this was true. But no one was sure how it happened. Now, thanks to the exciting new field of neuroscience, we can chart the workings of the brain and the rest of the nervous system in remarkable detail to explain how neurons, synapses, neurotransmitters, and other biological processes produce all the experiences of everyday life, in every stage of life.
-
-
Release date!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-03-19
-
Law School for Everyone: Legislation and Regulation
- By: Peter J. Smith, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Peter J. Smith
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A relatively recent addition to more traditional law school topics like torts and contracts, legislation and regulation have become more and more of a mainstay in some of the country’s top law schools. Over the course of 12 nuanced and balanced lectures, examine a host of topics including the nature of regulation, the merits of lawmaking by legislation, the challenge of interpreting statutes, and the role of federal agencies in our legal system.
-
-
Summed up class,
- By CD on 04-28-20
By: Peter J. Smith, and others
-
Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making
- By: Randall Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Randall Bartlett
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.
-
-
Great for beginners, nothing you for an economist
- By V. Taras on 07-08-15
By: Randall Bartlett, and others
-
Assessing America’s National Security Threats
- By: H. R. McMaster, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: H. R. McMaster
- Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The United States faces significant dangers and opportunities in the coming century. Malicious actors have harnessed new technologies such as drones, missiles, and offensive cyber weapons to threaten and, in some cases, attack America and its allies. Jihadist terrorist organizations are pursuing more destructive capabilities and are growing in strength as the United States disengages from protracted counterterrorism operations abroad.
-
-
Not a great one…
- By STS-51-L on 05-04-23
By: H. R. McMaster, and others
-
Communism in Power
- From Stalin to Mao
- By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Trace the growth of communism from Stalin’s consolidation of power to the establishment of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, China, Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere in Communism in Power: From Stalin to Mao. These 12 half-hour lessons shed intriguing light on a revolutionary movement that played an outsized role in the 20th century and continues to shape 21st-century geopolitics.
-
-
A book of grudges
- By Axel D. Magnuson on 05-09-23
By: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, and others
-
The American Civil War
- By: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
-
-
Excellent Series
- By Rodney on 07-09-13
By: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
-
Neuroscience of Everyday Life
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Sam Wang
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your nervous system is you. All the thoughts, perceptions, moods, passions, and dreams that make you an active, sentient being are the work of this amazing network of cells. For many centuries, people knew this was true. But no one was sure how it happened. Now, thanks to the exciting new field of neuroscience, we can chart the workings of the brain and the rest of the nervous system in remarkable detail to explain how neurons, synapses, neurotransmitters, and other biological processes produce all the experiences of everyday life, in every stage of life.
-
-
Release date!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-03-19
-
Law School for Everyone: Legislation and Regulation
- By: Peter J. Smith, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Peter J. Smith
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A relatively recent addition to more traditional law school topics like torts and contracts, legislation and regulation have become more and more of a mainstay in some of the country’s top law schools. Over the course of 12 nuanced and balanced lectures, examine a host of topics including the nature of regulation, the merits of lawmaking by legislation, the challenge of interpreting statutes, and the role of federal agencies in our legal system.
-
-
Summed up class,
- By CD on 04-28-20
By: Peter J. Smith, and others
-
Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making
- By: Randall Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Randall Bartlett
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.
-
-
Great for beginners, nothing you for an economist
- By V. Taras on 07-08-15
By: Randall Bartlett, and others
-
Assessing America’s National Security Threats
- By: H. R. McMaster, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: H. R. McMaster
- Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The United States faces significant dangers and opportunities in the coming century. Malicious actors have harnessed new technologies such as drones, missiles, and offensive cyber weapons to threaten and, in some cases, attack America and its allies. Jihadist terrorist organizations are pursuing more destructive capabilities and are growing in strength as the United States disengages from protracted counterterrorism operations abroad.
-
-
Not a great one…
- By STS-51-L on 05-04-23
By: H. R. McMaster, and others
-
The Life and Writings of C. S. Lewis
- By: Louis Markos, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Louis Markos
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What can we still learn from C.S. Lewis? Find out in these 12 insightful lectures that cover the author's spiritual autobiography, novels, and his scholarly writings that reflect on pain and grief, love and friendship, prophecy and miracles, and education and mythology.
-
-
Basically a collection of sermons
- By Richard on 11-20-13
By: Louis Markos, and others
-
Being Human: Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science
- By: Robert Sapolsky, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: The Great Courses
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Understanding our humanity - the essence of who we are - is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. Why do we have bad moods? Why are we capable of having such strange dreams? How can metaphors in our language hold such sway on our actions? As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is.
-
-
Somewhat Interesting but not Quite as Advertised
- By Adam J Duhame on 10-05-13
By: Robert Sapolsky, and others
-
The Secret History of World War II
- Spies, Code Breakers, & Covert Operations
- By: Neil Kagan, Stephen G. Hyslop
- Narrated by: Andrew Reilly
- Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the authors who created Eyewitness to World War II and numerous other best-selling reference books, this is the shocking story behind the covert activity that shaped the outcome of one of the world's greatest conflicts - and the destiny of millions of people. National Geographic's landmark book illuminates World War II as never before. Seven narrative chapters reveal the truth behind the lies and deception that shaped the "secret war".
-
-
War in the Shadows
- By Tim McGreer on 06-09-20
By: Neil Kagan, and others
-
Norse Mythology
- By: Jackson Crawford, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Crawford
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Thor, Odin, Loki, Freyja, the Valkyries, Valhalla, Ragnarok — many of the places we encounter these and other names, places, and events from Norse mythology in daily life and pop culture are connected to the medieval sources in name only.
-
-
Brilliant Course
- By Frederik on 12-05-21
By: Jackson Crawford, and others
-
Effective Editing
- How to Take Your Writing to the Next Level
- By: Molly McCowan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Molly McCowan
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Book coach and editor Molly McCowan takes you through the self-editing process in 13 detailed lessons, using a step-by-step method designed to reduce overwhelm and to structure the revision process in the most productive way possible. Working from the big to the little picture of your work, Molly shows you how to strengthen character development, find and fix plot holes, build stronger scenes, focus on smooth pacing and point-of-view issues, elevate your language, and much more.
-
-
This is excellent
- By M.Biblioswine on 08-19-21
By: Molly McCowan, and others
-
Understanding Complexity
- By: Scott E. Page, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Scott E. Page
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Recent years have seen the introduction of concepts from the new and exciting field of complexity science that have captivated the attention of economists, sociologists, engineers, businesspeople, and many others. These include tipping points, the wisdom of crowds, six degrees of separation (or Kevin Bacon), and emergence. Complexity science can shed light on why businesses or economies succeed and fail, how epidemics spread and can be stopped, and what causes ecological systems to rebalance themselves after a disaster.
-
-
Good but basic
- By Spencer on 08-24-19
By: Scott E. Page, and others
-
History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach
- By: The Great Courses, Gregory S. Aldrete
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Military history often highlights successes and suggests a sense of inevitability about victory, but there is so much that can be gleaned from considering failures. Study these crucibles of history to gain a better understanding of why a civilization took - or didn't take - a particular path.
-
-
Martial Chaos
- By Cynthia on 08-16-16
By: The Great Courses, and others
-
The Dead Sea Scrolls
- By: Gary A. Rendsburg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary A. Rendsburg
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether complete or only fragmentary, the 930 extant Dead Sea Scrolls irrevocably altered how we look at and understand the foundations of faith and religious practice. Now you can get a comprehensive introduction to this unique series of archaeological documents, and to scholars' evolving understanding of their authorship and significance, with these 24 lectures. Learn what the scrolls are, what they contain, and how the insights they offered into religious and ancient history came into focus.
-
-
A comprehensive overview of the Qumran Scrolls
- By Jacobus on 09-25-13
By: Gary A. Rendsburg, and others
-
The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
-
-
Tantalizing time trip
- By Mark on 08-21-13
By: Robert Garland, and others
-
Writing Creative Nonfiction
- By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Tilar J J. Mazzeo
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bringing together the imaginative strategies of fiction storytelling and new ways of narrating true, real-life events, creative nonfiction is the fastest-growing part of the creative writing world. It's a cutting-edge genre that's reshaping how we write (and read) everything from biographies and memoirs to blogs and public speaking scripts to personal essays and magazine articles.
-
-
Not what I expected but useful
- By Nancy on 04-14-14
By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, and others
-
Creation Stories of the Ancient World
- By: Joseph Lam, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph Lam
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Creation stories, found within many ancient cultures, are traditional accounts of the origins of the universe, the earth, and humanity. Often embodied as epic poetry, and told through the acts of divine beings, creation stories illuminate the values, beliefs, and creeds of the earliest civilizations. As such, these stories show us how early cultures made sense of the human condition, in theological, philosophical, and political terms. These 12 dynamic and thought-provoking lectures offer you a penetrating look at the origin stories of the great civilizations of the Mediterranean.
-
-
great survey of Ancient Creation stories
- By Anthony Alemany on 07-13-23
By: Joseph Lam, and others
-
Understanding Economics
- Game Theory
- By: Jay R. Corrigan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jay R. Corrigan
- Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Game theory is the study of strategic decision-making in politics, sports, diplomacy, and a host of other areas, but especially in economics, where game theory flourishes. Understanding Economics: Game Theory introduces you to this fascinating field, which combines the fun and challenge of games with the logic of brain teasers. In 12 engaging half-hour lessons, Professor Jay R. Corrigan of Kenyon College analyzes such classic games as the prisoner’s dilemma and the hawk-dove game.
-
-
The best entry point I've seen for game theory
- By Philo on 04-24-21
By: Jay R. Corrigan, and others
What listeners say about The Secret World of Espionage
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ryan
- 01-16-23
Not your typical great courses lecture
this is more similar to History channel documentaries in presentation where they cut back and forth between different people talking about different aspects of the same topic. nothing wrong with that format, it has its place and I even occasionally enjoy that format, but I prefer the more traditional lecture format that I look for with Great courses.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kevin B.
- 09-27-22
Not worthy of “The Great Courses” name
Clearly, this course was a change in direction for The Great Courses. Let me delineate my disappointments:
1) This is AUDIBLE and audio rules the day. So, when random voices pop-up without introduction and without qualification, it immediately disorients you from the subject matter. Perhaps, in video, a graphic with their name and position might have popped up, but in audio it’s just a random set of people talking. To this day, I have no clue who any presenter was and why they should be in the course. It’s like reading a textbook of random quotes without attribution.
2) The approach was elementary and not up to the more rigorous academic standards of the dozens of other TGCs I have bought. This felt like a bad Discovery Channel “documentary.” The producer of this course clearly has no regard for the intellectual maturity of their listener. I half-way expected the big haired UFO idiot to be one of the many unidentified voices in this course.
3) The coverage of the cyber realm was tertiary and dated. But, given the reasons above, I shouldn’t have expected better by the time they slam cyber security issues into the shortest episode at the end of the series.
Seriously, I have never written a review for Audible, but I was so absolutely incensed by this poor course. I ended up “hate-listening” to this disaster, which is the only palatable manner to digest this mess.
Save your money or credits. I’m asking for a refund.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Keith E. Robison
- 06-03-22
This mess does not belong in the Great Courses
I’ve been a customer of The Great Courses for over twenty years. Their excellence has been uniform.
Each course was structured and detailed like a real college course. Sources and methods were discussed. Each lecture was on a focused set of topics, with clear progression and cross-connection between topics. Nearly all had the focus of being taught by a single instructor - the notable exception being the excellent Divine Comedy course by two professors who have long team taught that course and finish each other’s sentences
This course is a hot mess, with no clear organization, multiple disconnected lecturers and poor attention to detail. The qualifications of the ores enters are not summarized at the start.
At one moment one voice is talking about ore-WW2 British MI recruitment - abruptly it switches to fictional spies. One voice says that most spy novelists aren’t from the trade - but none mention when comparing James Bond and George Smiley that both Fleming and Le Carre had professional intelligence backgrounds. Did that inform their novels? We’ll never know from this course
Sidney Reilly is brought up and it is claimed he exaggerated his exploits - well, what did we know about them from other sources? Nothing discussed here - just a quick jump to the next topic
And so on. It might be acceptable for a third rate podcast brand or maybe an MTV “documentary” - but not The Great Courses. This isn’t a university level treatment and just damages the brand
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
10 people found this helpful