Showing results by author "The-Great-Courses", by publisher "Audible Originals" in All Categories

Whatever the form, whatever the treat - sugar drives us wild like nothing else. It’s lingered on our tongues for millennia and found its way into almost every household in the world. Alas, the history of sugar is far from sweet. Long before it was linked to America’s obesity epidemic, sugar was fueling the dark forces of exploitation, colonization, conquest, and slavery. More than just candy and cake, sugar has drastically altered the diets, cultures, and economies of the modern world. How can we love sugar while having a healthy relationship with its bittersweet history?

It’s quite common to struggle with stress and anxiety in everyday life. To regret things you can’t change. To worry about things that could go wrong in the future. But instead of feeling stuck in thoughts of yesterday and tomorrow, it’s possible to be more present in the rich experiences of today. The key is simple: mindfulness. In Mindfulness for Daily Stressors, mindfulness coach Rachael Kable shares practical and powerful strategies for managing stress in your life, and for cultivating mindfulness to develop greater resilience, energy, and enjoyment.

In 10 riveting episodes that feel like a fast-paced thriller, acclaimed World War II historian Edward G. Lengel’s Generals and Geniuses: A History of the Manhattan Project brings the origin of the atomic bomb - and the scientific minds behind it - to vivid life. Did the Manhattan Project, and the remarkable weapon it produced, save millions of lives at the expense of the tens of thousands who died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? And was there any way to prevent this technology from unleashing the horrors that still hang over us today?

In these 10 eye-opening lectures by a practicing doctor and medical educator, you’ll walk through a series of medical mystery cases ripped from history and involving well-known historical figures whose identities are nevertheless hidden from you. Every one of these cases requires you to use your detective skills to identify and diagnose the mystery patient just like the doctors that attended them. In the process, you’ll learn fascinating insights into medicine: both the medicine that was practiced thousands of years ago and the medicine doctors practice today.

The history of the Boston Tea Party is a hidden one. Why? Since it was a clandestine operation, all sorts of rumors and legends grew up around the event—many collected decades after the American Revolution had ended. At its core, however, the night of December 16, 1773, when colonials dumped tea from British ships into Boston Harbor, was more than a fight over tea and taxes. It was a struggle over the very nature of democracy and self-governance.

After Romeo and Juliet, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy might just be the world’s most famous fictional couple. The story of how they fall in love—Pride and Prejudice—has left an indelible imprint on popular culture. Readers, novelists, playwrights, filmmakers, and even zombies can’t leave Pride and Prejudice alone. Which raises the question: Why has this novel, of all Jane Austen’s works, remained the general favorite?

In Lan Dong’s Audible Original, The History of the Superhero, examine the roots of the superhero dynamic that’s overtaking popular culture. Encompassing both Marvel Comics’ and DC Comics’ pantheon of extraordinary heroes, these eight lectures explore how superhero comics came to be, how famous characters (and their exploits) evolved in response to social and cultural changes, how superhero cinematic universes have become an integral (and highly lucrative) part of film history, and why superheroes of all types are likely here to stay.

Join Dr. Jaime Kurtz in Personality Tests and What They Can Tell Us to get the information you need to critically evaluate what the most popular personality tests measure and which ones are best suited for your goals. Dr. Kurtz will lead you through the history of personality testing to bring you to the most used tests today, such as the Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the five-factor model. You’ll learn how these surveys were developed, what they can tell you, and the underlying science behind the study of personality.

In the business world, people negotiate on multiple levels—within their department, between companies, across industries. They negotiate for job offers, higher salaries, better benefits, and other important things. So, they need to learn to negotiate well. Join Rachel Campagna for six information-packed lectures focusing on the fundamentals and framework of negotiating. Learn specific tactics for negotiating your job offer and for negotiating a raise, how to use influence, and how to deal with tricky or unexpected issues that pop up in the process.

In the six lessons of How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex, you will join sex and health educator Justine Ang Fonte as she guides you through a holistic approach to sex education for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. And this education isn’t just about having direct conversations or teaching lessons—it’s also about cultivating a safe space where children feel comfortable asking questions without judgement or shame.

The 16th century was a time of immense change across the globe. For many historians, it marks a massive shift in the way the world operated; it is often considered the beginning of modernity. We may regard the 16th century as the time of Shakespeare and the conquistadors, but women also played a powerful role in many of the major events around the world. In 10 Women Who Ruled the Renaissance, you will explore the lives of 10 extraordinary women who exemplified the spirit of the 1500s - an era dominated by adventure, discovery, and cross-cultural exchange.

Fadel Zeidan, research director of the University of California, San Diego Center for Mindfulness, is an expert on the neural mechanisms that support mindfulness- and meditation-based pain relief. In his Audible Original, Mindfulness for Pain Relief, he shows you how mindfulness meditation—even for short periods of time—can bring your experience of pain under control.

By the time of his death on July 23, 1885, Ulysses S. Grant was an icon in the historical memory of the United States. Just a few decades later, however, constant criticism of his military and political leadership had tarnished his reputation. Today’s historians have a far more balanced assessment of Grant as a Union Army general and an American president—and that appraisal is at the heart of Understanding Ulysses S. Grant: Portrait of a Warrior.

Think of Cultured: A World History of Cheese as a 10-episode cheese course, or a cheese plate large enough to contain a well-rounded sampling of great cheeses from around the world. Janet Fletcher, a noted food writer and publisher of the Planet Cheese blog, provides deeper (and delectable) insights into a familiar food you only think you know. Included in this Audible Original are peeks at the nine steps of cheesemaking, the 10 most important cheese families, and tips on how to taste cheese with the same refined palate as a professional cheese judge.

Professor Edelstein examines the enduring appeal of Judy Blume’s books. Over seven lessons, you’ll learn how Blume pioneered middle-grade and young adult (YA) literature and helped to make these genres the global sensations they are today. You’ll identify the themes and motifs that run throughout her books, and you’ll review Blume’s books as literary work worthy of analysis. You’ll also see why the very act of questioning (about the existence of God, the persistence of racism, the unwritten rules of suburbia) is so central to Blume’s vision of coming-of-age literature.

Since their arrival in the mid-20th century, video games have become a sprawling, multi-billion dollar business. On an annual basis, the industry is even more profitable than Hollywood. Today’s video games feature stunning, lifelike visuals and complex storylines - but they didn’t start out that way. The origin of video games can be traced back to World War II. In the 10 lectures of A History of Video Games, listeners will follow the development of the digital game from its roots in the war room to its proliferation in the 21st-century living room.

Meet Agatha Christie, the best-selling novelist in human history. Her writing career spanned six decades, during which time she wrote 66 crime novels, 6 non-crime novels (including romances), and over 150 short stories. Not only was she a phenomenally successful novelist, but she is also the most successful female playwright of all time - her play “The Mousetrap” is the longest-running show in history. As you learn about Christie’s experiences and her storied career, you will better understand how the circumstances of her life shaped her work and vice versa.

In The Culture of Knighthood and Medieval Romance, join scholar of medieval literature Larissa Tracy for a fascinating dive into the deeper context of narratives about knights and their world. Her Audible Original takes you through the evolution of knighthood and courtly literature, dispelling prevalent myths about chivalry and romance with an eye to revealing just how textured and complex these ideas actually were.

From its inception, hip-hop has challenged ideas about morality, religion, and truth. Genuinely, it’s a philosophical genre. Both philosophers and hip-hop artists think about God, death, and justice, among other things. But rarely do members of these two groups talk to one another about these issues. This is a shame, given that both hip-hop and philosophy have a rich history in deep thinking and have produced exemplary thinkers.

With more than 20 years of recruiting experience, Jennifer Tardy has interviewed thousands of job seekers, and she brings this vital expertise to The Essential Guide to the Perfect Interview. In 12 lectures, Jenn will introduce you to her Level 10 Mindset Interviewing (LTMI) Model and take you through each of its steps. As you will see, preparing for a successful interview means preparing on the inside and outside—both on an emotional and tactical level.