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audiobook
(12)
Advanced Investments
The complete course contains all 24 lectures
by Steve L. Slezak
read by Steve L. Slezak
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
This is an advanced course for investors in the market, covering cutting-edge investment principles and practices used by professionals. You learn hands-on techniques for analyzing the central problem of investing: How to determine if a potential investment is a good deal. Employing concepts from probability and statistics, you learn how to measure risk accurately. Then you explore methods for determining if a given security, such as a stock or bond, will generate returns that compensate for its risk. Throughout these 24 in-depth lectures, you weigh the relative advantages of active and passive investment strategies. An active approach takes advantage of mispriced securities that can be traded for a profit. A passive strategy seeks to build a well-diversified portfolio that can be put on automatic pilot. Many investors combine these strategies, and Professor Slezak takes you through a wide range of cases that show how to devise a balanced approach. His many useful tips include how to avoid the most common mistakes that investors make, why you should think in terms of net present value in evaluating a company, how to combine securities in order to control risk, and the importance of analyzing an investment before you act. Professor Slezak is an expert who knows how to communicate effectively. He enlivens his presentation with colorful anecdotes and object lessons from the recent history of Wall Street. His parting advice: Don't be afraid of the market. Nothing is a sure thing, he stresses, but the market has performed consistently over the long term.
All Lectures:
1. Investment Decisions and Goals
2. A Framework for Investing
3. Mistakes Investors Make
4. The Characteristics of Security Returns
5. The Theory of Efficient Markets
6. Evidence on Efficient Markets
7. Valuation Formulas
8. Bond Pricing
9. The Term Structure of Interest Rates
10. The Risks in Bonds
11. Quantifying Interest Rate Risk
12. Value Creation and Stock Prices
13. Present Value of Growth Opportunities
14. Modeling Investor Behavior
15. Managing Risk in Portfolios
16. The Behavior of Stock Prices
17. The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)
18. How to Exploit Mispriced Securities
19. Performance Evaluation
20. Market Making and Liquidity
21. Understanding Derivatives
22. Using Derivatives
23. Pricing Derivatives
24. Trade Opportunities or Risk?
audiobook
(5)
Understanding and Overcoming Fear
by Margee Kerr
read by Margee Kerr
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
If you listed your emotions from your most favorite to your least, chances are that fear would not be among the favorites. And yet, if we ordered our emotions according to their importance for our survival, fear would certainly be at the top. Without fear, we simply wouldn't be here. Fear is a strong emotion that can hold us back, move us forward, and bind us to others in our group. But what exactly is it?
In Understanding and Overcoming Fear, sociologist Margee Kerr, PhD, explains the physiological and contextual aspects of fear, revealing the complexities of this powerful emotion and explaining why you can never experience the exact same fear twice. In 24 episodes, illustrated with fascinating video and graphics, Professor Kerr takes you on a journey similar to the one she has taken in her own work-from considering fear as a toxic, destructive force that needs to be defeated to an emotion with tremendous upsides in the right circumstances.
It used to be accepted that experiences, and our physical responses to them, were inherently good or bad. Now we know that context is everything. No one wants to feel the sharp sting of fear that comes from being followed while walking down a dark street alone at night. But what if you and your friends are in a haunted castle and a man jumps out at you? You're likely to shriek, but you're also likely to say at the end, "Wow, that was fantastic." Why does it feel so good?
In Understanding and Overcoming Fear, you will discover a great deal about American fears, phobias, and the treatments for both. You'll learn about numerous, effective ways to manage and overcome fears and how to build a better, healthier relationship with fear so that it does what it is designed to do-help us stay alive.
audiobook
(34)
Earth's Changing Climate
The Complete Course Contains All 12 Lectures
by Richard Wolfson
read by Richard Wolfson
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
In 2007 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change-representing a global consensus of hundreds of scientists-concluded that "warming of the climate system is unequivocal," citing observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level. And they noted that human activity is "very likely" the cause. Whatever your views on climate change, it's important to understand how the current scientific consensus on global warming evolved out of basic physical principles and a broad range of observations. This lucid series of twelve lectures is designed to do exactly that-reviewing the most up-to-date research and explaining the concepts, tools, data, and analysis that have led an overwhelming number of climate scientists to conclude that Earth is indeed warming and that we humans are in great part responsible. In clear and accessible lectures designed for nonscientists, you'll learn about the "fingerprints" of global climate change-ranging from borehole temperatures to melting glaciers to the altered behavior of plant and animal species and other indicators-that convince scientists that our Earth has been warming at an unprecedented rate in recent decades. The lectures address only scientific issues and make no policy recommendations. Instead, they have been designed to serve as your personal scientific briefing to equip you to engage knowledgeably in one of the most important environmental issues of our time.
All Lectures:
1. Is Earth Warming?
2. Butterflies, Glaciers, and Hurricanes
3. Ice Ages and Beyond
4. In the Greenhouse
5. A Tale of Three Planets
6. Global Recycling
7. The Human Factor
8. Computing the Future
9. Impacts of Climate Change
10. Energy and Climate
11. Energy - Resources and Alternatives
12. Sustainable Futures?
audiobook
(13)
The Soul and the City: Art, Literature, and Urban Living
by Arnold Weinstein
read by Arnold Weinstein
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
These eight lectures are a celebration of humanity and the rich texture of human experience. They are a fascinating focus on the complex artistic representations of city life from the 18th to the 20th century. Join Professor Weinstein as he reveals the portraits of humanity that came from several of the period's greatest artists, writers, and thinkers.
Among them:
Painter Edvard Munch, who depicts the emptiness of urban living,
Poet Charles Baudelaire, who celebrates how crowds impact his imagination,
Author Daniel Defoe, who dramatizes the freedom the city offers people who want to change their identities, Author Theodore Dreiser, who views the city as a huge, brutal, industrial machine that systematically grinds up individuals, and Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who believes that the city is like the mind: a receptacle for the past, as well as for hidden lives and passions.
These lectures reveal several vital themes that appear in artists' subjective renderings of urban living: orientation (finding our way), the marketplace (exchanging goods and services), anonymity (experiencing solitude or freedom), encounters (fearing or connecting with others), history (maintaining contact with other times), and cultures (entering the cities' ever-changing cultural forms).
Why use art as a guide to city life? According to Professor Weinstein, "Art usually supports what we learn from scientific studies of urban life. Art provides us with something social science cannot: a subjective rendering of city experience that is not quantifiable. Such a depiction includes our fears, desires, and dreams. Art serves as a record for these experiences."
audiobook
(28)
Voltaire and the Triumph of the Enlightenment
by Alan Kors
read by Alan Kors
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Discover why intellectuals and historians alike consider Voltaire to be one of the most intriguing, influential, and elusive thinkers of the modern world. Focusing on the deepest, most enduring aspects of Voltaire's work and thought, but never losing sight of the colorful, fascinating man himself, these 12 lectures sketch for you a vibrant, thought-provoking vision of Voltaire as "the father of the Enlightenment" and one of the great literary personalities of all time. You'll follow this Enlightenment thinker's 84 astoundingly productive years and go inside not only his masterpiece, Candide, but the hundreds of other works in almost all the literary, philosophical, and polemical genres current in his day, and the more than 20,000 letters this prolific writer and thinker left behind. What was Voltaire's world like? Who and what influenced him? What questions and dilemmas did he ponder? What evils did he struggle against? What reforms did he advocate? What made him laugh and cry, or write a book like Candide, which is at once so funny and so sad? And what is his place in the history of the Western mind? The answers to these and other questions can be found right here in this illuminating lecture series. If you're unfamiliar with Voltaire and his works, prepare to meet one of Western literature's defining writers. And if you already have some familiarity with the man, prepare to discover even more insights into why he still matters after all these years.
audiobook
(15)
Philosophy and Religion in the West
by Phillip Cary
read by Phillip Cary
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Professor Cary explores thousands of years of deep reflection and brilliant debate over the nature of God, the human self, and the world in these 32 lectures. It's a debate that serves as a vivid introduction to the rich and complex history shared by the West's central religious and philosophical traditions. Whether you're a believer, a seeker, or both, you'll find much to spark your deepest ponderings in these talks on the long and rich interplay between faith and reason. You'll join Professor Cary on the fascinating search for answers about the similar questions philosophy and faith ask: What is the ultimate reality? What can we know, or what should we believe about it? To learn how these crucial issues have been discussed over the past three millennia is to enter the core of our intellectual heritage - to find the origin of some of our deepest perplexities and most cherished aspirations. It is a comprehensive journey - intellectually, philosophically, and spiritually - but one which requires no special background. By the end of these lectures, you'll gain a new or sharpened fluency in issues that include the historical interaction between philosophical traditions (such as Platonism) and religious traditions (such as Judaism and Christianity); the synthesis of philosophy and religion that characterized the "classical theism" of the medieval period; the most prominent philosophical criticisms of religion; and the reasons why many religious thinkers of the 20th century are suspicious of the alliances between philosophy and religion.
audiobook
(13)
God and Mankind: Comparative Religions
by Robert Oden
read by Robert Oden
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
How do the major religions answer unanswerable questions? What can we gain from their answers? Why are we here? Will we ever discover the source of the mystery? Each of these questions raises countless more, and these eight eye-opening lectures are an ideal starting point for gaining some progress in considering them. Professor Oden's lectures approach religious belief and ritual as possible answers to these most difficult and enduring questions, which have occupied humanity from the beginning. They underscore both the unity and the diversity of religious approaches to life in a sweeping conceptual grasp. And they treat the study of religion as both a matter of faith and as an appropriate subject of intellectual and academic pursuit. Throughout these lectures, you'll examine the four traditional views of religion; ponder the best ways to understand and compare religious beliefs; investigate the problem of the existence of evil in a world created by a benevolent deity; compare the birth narratives of several important religious figures including Moses, Jesus, and the Buddha; probe the secrets of rituals and their ramifications for the religious communities of sect and church; see how the United States is the perfect case study for learning about the religious nature of a particular society; and much more.
audiobook
(28)
An Introduction to Greek Philosophy
by David Roochnik
read by David Roochnik
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
More than 2,500 years later, the fundamental questions asked by the ancient Greeks continue to challenge, fascinate, and instruct us. Is reality stable and permanent or is it always changing? Are ethical values like justice and courage relative? What is justice? What is happiness? How shall we best live our lives?
In this series of 24 lectures, Professor Roochnik invites you to join this eternal discussion. You'll study the development of Greek philosophy, meet its major thinkers, and explore the issues and ideas that concerned them, from the Pre-Socratic concerns with "Being" to the staggering contributions of Plato and Aristotle.
Alfred North Whitehead, the great 20th-century British philosopher, said, "The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato." In the Middle Ages, Aristotle was held in such high esteem that he was simply known as "the philosopher."
In this course, you not only learn about Greek philosophy but, to some extent, how to do it. Professor Roochnik emphasizes that Greek philosophy is ultimately not about facts or answers but about the give-and-take of ideas. By joining the conversation, you will come away with a new appreciation for how Greek philosophy still heavily influences our view of life.
audiobook
(14)
American Ideals: Founding a "Republic of Virtue"
by Daniel N. Robinson
read by Daniel N. Robinson
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
What is the significance of the phrase "the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence? Why does it read "We the people" in the preamble to the Constitution? What were the philosophies and social forces that made this country unique - that enabled it to become the first successfully self-governing republic? Answer these questions and more with this insightful 12-lecture course, which explores the principles that guided the founding of the United States, the conditions that led to the break with Great Britain, and the creation of such founding documents as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. You'll deepen your understanding of fundamental ideas that inspired American independence and that continue to have a profound influence on American thought. You'll also receive insight into what historians call "the long conversation" in American society - questions that have been the focus of debate and controversy since the nation was born. As the world's oldest democracy, the United States stands as the "test case" for those who regard self-government as inherently unstable, inherently self-destructive. Examining the founding documents, such as the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution, Professor Robinson considers the principles under which the United States evolved.
audiobook
(21)
Luther: Gospel, Law, and Reformation
by Phillip Cary
read by Phillip Cary
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
How did one man - a humble monk and Bible professor - spark a religious rebellion that changed the course of history? What made Martin Luther's theology so explosive in 16th-century Europe? How did this late-medieval man launch the Protestant Reformation and help create the modern world? And how should we think of him: hero or heretic, rebel or tormented soul? Find out the answer to these questions and more in this series of 24 engaging lectures. You'll approach Martin Luther as someone who is so interesting to study precisely because he is so controversial. This is an opportunity to understand why Luther's thinking had such a volatile impact on his and our times and why his life continues to be a subject of vigorous religious and historical debate. Professor Cary explores in depth Luther's subtle, challenging, and sometimes disturbing theology. After examining the genesis of Luther's great theological breakthrough - the doctrine of justification by faith alone - Professor Cary traces the full evolution of Luther's thought, from his early and frightening concept of justification through self-hatred to his later and equally unsettling notion of unfree will and predestination. You will gain insight into this inspiring religious thinker who presented the Christian gospel as a message of comfort, joy, and freedom; an exceptional writer who did for German what Dante did for Italian; and a prominent theological and intellectual leader who appealed to ordinary Christians by sharing their most cherished values: marriage and everyday family values.
audiobook
(16)
36 Revolutionary Figures of History
by Various Authors
read by Various Readers
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Alexander the Great, Jesus, Darwin, and Churchill are just a few of the many politicians, religious leaders, scientists, philosophers, authors, inventors, and generals who transformed our world in ways that still resonate today. Now, with this unique collection of 36 lectures from our extensive course catalog, meet the remarkable people without whom the world would never be the same. You'll examine the world that was dramatically reformed by a particular individual, or plunge into a defining moment in an individual's life, or learn how an individual went on to influence some of history's other great revolutionaries. Most importantly: you'll come away with a thorough understanding of why history is so indebted-for better or, in some instances, for worse-to these 36 epic figures, including Socrates, Queen Victoria, Abraham Lincoln, and Mohandas Gandhi. You'll also encounter figures that you may not have considered to be so revolutionary. It takes a great professor to help you understand what makes a single person change the world. To that end, we've assembled individual lectures from some of our most highly rated and beloved professors and instructors. Drawn from a range of academic fields (including military history, science, literature, religious studies, and philosophy), each professor lends his or her expert knowledge and teaching skills to making this an authoritative learning experience. Countless adventures await you with this carefully crafted look at titanic historical figures. If you have a friend who is new to The Great Courses, this collection makes for an accessible and rewarding first step into lifelong learning.
audiobook
(20)
Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages
The complete course contains all 24 lectures
by Robert Garland
read by Robert Garland
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Roughly 2,500 years ago, the elite classes of Athens gradually ceded power to the inexperienced masses, thus establishing a radical democracy in which power derived from the votes of everyday citizens. The sequence of events that led to this development is astonishing, and the society that flourished under Athenian democracy is one of the greatest-even if greatly flawed-achievements in world history.
Today, when the foundations of our own democracy are under greater and greater scrutiny, the Athenian experiment in citizen rule offers a powerful object lesson in national politics. How did the Athenian system of democracy work? What were its strengths and weaknesses? And how does it compare to democracy in our world today?
Find out in Athenian Democracy: An Experiment for the Ages. In these 24 engaging lectures, Professor Robert Garland of Colgate University unpacks the development of Athenian democracy, going inside the assemblies and courts to reveal how democracy worked-and where it came up short.
You may be familiar with the broad strokes of Athenian history, but Professor Garland's unique lens offers a wealth of insights into everything from taxation and welfare to military structure and strategy. Discover what life was like for the people living in the democracy, from the "demos" citizen body of freeborn males, to the women, immigrants, and slaves who were not eligible to participate. Unprecedented, flawed, relevant to our time, and captivating in its own right, the story of Athenian democracy truly is one for the history books.
All Lectures:
1. Why Athenian Democracy Matters
2. The Origins of Greek Democracy
3. Solon: The Father of Democracy?
4. Cleisthenes the Innovator
5. The Nearly Bloodless Coup
6. Democracy at War
7. The Popular Assembly
8. The Council and the Magistrates
9. The Citizens of Athens
10. "The Empire You Hold Is a Tyranny"
11. The Age of Pericles
12. Public Speaking in Athens
13. Pericles's Funeral Speech
14. Democracy under Duress
15. The Culture of Athenian Democracy
16. Political Leadership in Athens
17. The Brutality of Athenian Democracy
18. Athenian Defeat in Sicily
19. Suspension, Restoration, and Termination
20. The Democratic Theater
21. Law and Order under Democracy
22. Ancient Critics of Athenian Democracy
23. Post-Athenian Democracies
24. Democracy Today, Democracy Tomorrow
audiobook
(22)
Thinking About Religion and Violence
by Jason C. Bivins
read by Jason C. Bivins
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
In a world where violence in the name of religion can impact so many other people's lives, it's critical to understand the intersection between religion and violence. What's required is not to see religion as inherently violent but to recognize that the violence associated with religious groups and communities is worth exploring and interrogating.
In these 24 lectures, embark on a global, multidisciplinary investigation of religious violence. Delivered with honesty and sensitivity to the diversity of spiritual beliefs, these lectures examine the roots of this phenomenon and guide you toward more informed ways of thinking about it.
You'll consider how faiths like Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism view concepts like human sacrifice, martyrdom, and penitence; the ways religious violence can be directed toward specific races and genders; concepts like heresy, witch hunting, and demonology; and more. You'll probe complex ideas and concepts that will help you fashion your own interpretations, such as "religion," "Other-ing," and "cult." And you'll burrow deep into both current issues relating to religious violence - as well as their historical and conceptual sources.
Professor Bivins doesn't take a clinical or pessimistic approach to the material. Rather, he's an engaging on-screen presence with a fierce open-mindedness to the varieties of religious experience. He's also optimistic about what we can learn from a comprehensive study of religious violence. And at the individual level, it starts with approaching the topic in a way that's immersive, insightful, thorough, and important for our times.
audiobook
(17)
Medieval Heroines in History and Legend
by Bonnie Wheeler
read by Bonnie Wheeler
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
This series of 24 fascinating lectures draws on the latest modern scholarship to explore the lives of four medieval women who still shimmer in the modern imagination: Heloise, the abbess and mistress of Abelard; the prophet Hildegard of Bingen; Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine; and Joan of Arc.
These lectures exemplify today's golden age of medieval scholarship, in which the role women played in medieval life is being clarified for the first time. You examine both old legends and new facts to address several provocative questions, such as: Were Hildegard's visions the result of migraines? How did Joan conduct herself in battle and react to its bloody reality? What does Eleanor's life tell us about a woman's role in the Crusades? As you journey through a past we are only now beginning to understand fully, you learn how these remarkable heroines have been both understood and misunderstood throughout history, and you'll better understand how history passes judgment on both women and the Middle Ages.
audiobook
(34)
What Einstein Got Wrong
The Complete Course Contains All 12 Lectures
by Dan Hooper
read by Dan Hooper
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
These twelve half-hour lectures are about what Einstein got wrong. He may have kindled a scientific revolution with his famous theory of relativity and his proof that atoms and light quanta exist, but he balked at accepting the most startling implications of these theories-such as the existence of black holes, the big bang, gravity waves, and mind-bendingly strange phenomena in the quantum realm. In a course that assumes no background in science and uses very little math, research physicist Dan Hooper of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Chicago focuses on Einstein's personal qualities that made him a heavy hitter with relativity but also a strikeout king in many of his other ideas. You start with two lectures on Einstein's special and general theories of relativity, and in a later lecture you cover his founding role in quantum theory. All are titanic achievements. The balance of the course deals with his false starts, blind alleys, and outright blunders, which are fascinating for what they reveal about the give-and-take conduct of science. Dr. Hooper closes with a lecture on the missteps of other great physicists-Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, and Isaac Newton-proving that Einstein is in good company. Even geniuses struggle to find the truth.
All Lectures:
1. What Einstein Got Right: Special Relativity
2. What Einstein Got Right: General Relativity
3.Einstein's Rejection of Black Holes
4. Einstein and Gravitational Waves
5. Cosmology and the Cosmological Constant
6. The Cosmological Constant and Dark Energy
7. What Einstein Got Right: Light Quanta
8. Does God Play Dice with the Universe?
9. Quantum Entanglement
10. The Search for a Unified Field Theory
11. Problems with Time Travel
12. What Other Giants Got Wrong
audiobook
(12)
International Economic Institutions: Globalism vs. Nationalism
The Complete Course Contains All 24 Lectures
by Ramon P. DeGennaro
read by Ramon P. DeGennaro
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Since the end of World War II, groups such as the World Trade Organization, European Union, and G-20 have sprung up to promote trade, ensure financial stability, fight poverty, and perform other economic missions. Included among these goals is an ultimate aim: preventing the kind of global economic instability that so often leads to war. But while such bodies are trying to knit the world together, the voices of nationalism are objecting that national sovereignty is being lost. Furthermore, such organizations have the failings common to all human institutions. Do they really work? Are we better off without them? What is the best route to prosperity, and do they help smooth the way or obstruct it? International Economic Institutions: Globalism vs. Nationalism uses these influential bodies as a lens to study today's globalized economy. In 24 half-hour lectures, award-winning teacher and economist Professor Ramon P. DeGennaro of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, conducts you through the dizzying array of international institutions, their backgrounds, goals, and the important roles they play in the economic life of the entire world. In a lively and fascinating presentation, he analyzes the organizations in depth to reveal their strengths and weakness. Among the topics covered are the origins of the Great Depression; the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference; the causes of the Great Recession of 2007 - 2008; and the background to the UK's "Brexit" vote in 2016 to leave the European Union.
All Lectures:
1. The Politics of Economic Institutions
2. Financial Regulation across Borders
3. International Anarchy under One Roof
4. Messy Multilateralism
5. The Fed and the Roles of Central Banks
6. The Pre - World War II Rise of Big Government
7. Interest Groups, the State, and Corporatism
8. The World Bank, Poverty, and Violence
9. Group Choices: Rock, Paper, Scissors
10. The United Nations: A League of Its Own
11. Exchange Rates and the Gold Standard
12. What Caused the Great Depression?
13. "Higgledy Piggledy": F. D. R.'s Stimulus Plan
14. The Bank for International Settlements
15. Intrigue at Bretton Woods: July 1944
16. The International Monetary Fund
17. The Asian Development Bank
18. The World Trade Organization
19. The Euro
20. The Great Recession: Mismanaging Risk
21. After the Recession: A Bigger House of Cards
22. Banking Supervision and the Basel Accords
23. A Unified Europe, and Then Brexit
24. The G-Zero Era of Instability
audiobook
(9)
The Darwinian Revolution
by Frederick Gregory
read by Frederick Gregory
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Published 150 years ago, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species - the text that introduced the world to natural selection - is among a handful of books that have changed the world. But the route to that status has been surprisingly circuitous and uncertain. Darwin's profoundly revolutionary message has often been misunderstood, as have his own views on evolution, the intellectual background that led to them, and the turbulent history of their reception. Now, in 24 absorbing lectures by an award-winning teacher, you learn the remarkable story of Darwin's ideas, how scientists and religious leaders reacted to them, and the sea change in human thought that resulted. You'll learn how Darwin arrived at his theory of natural selection-the idea that those members of a species best equipped to survive will tend to outlast others, thus changing the species over time-very slowly and cautiously. For he was all too aware of the intellectual dynamite inherent in its implication of no divine intervention being necessary for a rich diversity of life forms on earth. And you'll see how Darwin worked out the details of his theory not only by building on both his own observations and the insights of others, but also through amazing leaps in the face of apparently contrary evidence. You'll also see how the firestorm of religious criticism Darwin's theory faced has scarcely subsided to this day, with Professor Gregory bringing this controversy up to date by carefully examining the claims of intelligent design, the latest and most sophisticated attempt to challenge Darwin on religious grounds.
audiobook
(9)
Sensation, Perception, and the Aging Process
by Francis B. Colavita
read by Francis B. Colavita
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Why is it that we react to the world the way we do, not only in ways similar to other people, but in ways often dramatically different, as well, no matter which of our senses is involved? And how is it that the physically adventurous young person you remember being - whose greatest passion was riding the scariest roller coaster imaginable - somehow grew into an adult whose stomach begins to churn nervously at even the thought of such a ride? The answer, of course, is that each of us - whether a different person or a more recent model of ourselves - isn't reacting to the same world at all. For though the physical world we occupy may be identical, the reality we experience is very different. The truth is, our various sensory systems can be altered over time, their acuity changing in response to aging or injury, life experiences, evolving personalities, and other factors. And in this series of 24 fascinating lectures, an acclaimed teacher and psychologist gives you a bio-psychological perspective on both the way we humans navigate and react to the world around us and an understanding of the ways in which that process is ever-changing. Rich in science, potent examples, and anecdotes, the lectures explore subjects like how we see, hear, smell, taste, or touch; keep our balance, and understand exactly where we are in space. You'll learn about motor memory, the ways in which our bodies process pain, and even why our taste in food changes over time. Whether exploring the complex structures of the brain or inner ear, or using humorous personal stories to illustrate a point, Professor Colavita delivers a course that informs, entertains, and even prepares us for the changes that lie ahead.
audiobook
(24)
Freedom: The Philosophy of Liberation
by Dennis Dalton
read by Dennis Dalton
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Professor Dalton explores the meaning of freedom and examines the progress of both personal and political freedom. These eight lectures are a guided tour along the byways of the philosophy of liberation, beginning with its ancient roots and ending in 20th-century America.
Throughout these lectures, you'll follow the progress toward personal liberation and spiritual freedom found in the lives of those who were often consumed by fierce and difficult struggles for political freedom. And you'll see that the results achieved along the way are not separate mysteries but truths linked by the same path.
But you'll also learn that the philosophy of freedom was never intrinsically American and has its roots in diverse ancient cultures. For example, you'll learn about the ancient Hindu philosophy of dual freedom as described in the Bhagavad Gita, the Greek philosopher Plato's study of freedom in the republic of Athens, and the major contributions Christian philosophy has made to the ideal of freedom. Traveling from the ancient world to the modern, you'll consider the lives and work of John Stuart Mill (the 19th-century philosopher who defined the meaning of freedom with extraordinary clarity), Mahatma Gandhi (the political leader who led the Indian subcontinent out of British domination), Martin Luther King, Jr. (who synthesized the teachings of Jesus and Gandhi to create a method of nonviolent resistance), and others.
audiobook
(16)
Quest for Meaning: Values, Ethics, and the Modern Experience
by Robert H. Kane
read by Robert H. Kane
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Is there an ethics that we can all agree on without stifling pluralism and freedom? What would such an ethics look like? Most important, how should you, as a thoughtful person, find your way among the moral puzzles of the modern world and its cacophony of voices and opinions? These are just some of the engaging and perplexing questions you'll tackle as you join Professor Kane for this thought-provoking, 24-lecture examination of the problems surrounding ethics in the modern world.
The contemporary issues you'll consider include conflicts between public and private morality, the degree to which the law should enforce morality, the teaching of values in the schools, the role of religion in public life, the limits of liberty and privacy, individualism versus community, and the loss of shared values and the resulting discontent about politics and public discourse. Professor Kane's approach is as searching and comprehensive as any you could ask for. His lectures range over a rich array of literary, religious, and philosophical sources representing thousands of years of civilization. Most intriguingly, they spur you to ponder the possibility of recovering the ancient quest for wisdom and virtue in a way that respects the insights of modern thought and the achievements of modern pluralism. Whatever your thinking on such questions, whatever your own personal question for true meaning, you can rest assured that it will be immeasurably enriched by the harvest of reflection you glean from these compelling lectures.
audiobook
(15)
Notorious London
A City Tour
by Paul Deslandes
read by Paul Deslandes
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
London began as a Roman outpost more than 2,000 years ago. Since then, it has become one of the most vibrant and notable cities in the world. This capital city has witnessed centuries of history and has been a crossroads of culture and transformation. It has also seen its fair share of sensational events and bizarre occurrences. With such a storied history, it should be unsurprising that many fascinating and notorious stories, places, and personalities are part of its legacy. It's not hard to see why this city has gripped the imagination of people-residents and visitors alike-for generations.
In the 12 lessons of Notorious London: A City Tour, you will experience a rich sampling of some of the city's most shocking stories and infamous personalities. Taught by Professor Paul Deslandes of the University of Vermont, Notorious London dips into various regions and eras of London's past to give you a multifaceted look into this remarkable metropolis. From the destruction of St. Paul's Cathedral and the dark history of the Tower of London to the decadence of the fin de siècle and the chaos of World War II, and beyond, these stories bring London to life across the centuries and illuminate the darker corners of a complex and contradictory city.
Rather than present a simple chronology of events, Professor Deslandes acts as a tour guide, sharing the many stories of Notorious London as you traverse the city through iconic locales and lesser-known areas alike. However, instead of a simple tourist map of the city, you will experience a brilliant mosaic of places and personalities across time that will show you London as you have rarely seen it before.
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(17)
Building Your Resilience: Finding Meaning in Adversity
by Molly Birkholm
read by Molly Birkholm
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Do you ever wishyou could just get rid of all of your problems?
Recent research shows that we grow into our best and most joyful selves not when we avoid our problems but when we embrace them, confident that we are resilient enough to work through themto an appropriate resolution. Resilience is our ability to physically, emotionally, and mentally bounce back from adverse circumstances. In fact, our capacity to thrive in life depends directly our resilience. Without it, we would be down for the count every time we ran into a problem. In Building Your Resilience: Finding Meaning in Adversity, you'll learn how our challenges, and even our traumas, can become gifts that bring wisdom and growth.
In the 17 fascinating classesand 7 "hands-on" practice sessionsof this course, you'lllearn about and experience the process of buildingtheinner calm and clarity of mind that creategreater resilience.
The greatnews is that you can proactively improve your resilience to better face any adversity ahead.
In fact, we know more about how we can boost our resilience now than we everhave before.
In this course, you'll not only learn about the components and importance of resilience, but you'll also be working hands-on to increase your own resilience. In addition to 17fascinating classes, seven 30-minute guided practicesgive you theopportunity to experience active and relaxing yoga poses, breath work, mindfulness, and how to evoke your body's natural relaxation response, among other techniques.
Whether you're a trauma survivor or someone who is reaching for a more fulfilling and joyful life, your life will be enriched when you proactively increase your resilience.
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(6)
Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights
by John E. Finn
read by John E. Finn
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
The civil liberties and constitutional rights possessed by our nation's citizens - not only in theory, but in the courtroom, where the state can be forced to honor those liberties - are a uniquely American invention. And when we were taught history and learned about the Constitution and its Bill of Rights, we were always made aware of that uniqueness, of the extraordinary experiment that gave to every citizen of this new nation a gift possessed by no others. Now you can learn exactly what that gift was - in a series of 36 lectures based on Supreme Court opinions from dozens of the Court's most important landmark decisions, presented by an award-winning teacher who is also an internationally recognized expert in constitutional law. You'll learn just what liberties and rights the Founders wanted the new government to protect, as well as how we get from what Professor Finn calls the Constitution's "wonderfully elastic and vague" language to the finely tuned specifics of the Supreme Court's opinions about speech, abortion, and religion, and so much more. And you'll grasp the hard truth that no matter how unwavering the Constitution's language on any subject may appear, things are almost invariably more complicated than it would seem at first reading. The result is a legacy of questions that multiplies with each passing decade, and explains why generations of jurists and legal scholars, not to mention legislators, presidents, and citizens, have argued so long and hard about the meaning of what often appears to be unambiguous phrasing.
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(4)
The Mayo Clinic Guide to Pain Relief
by Barbara K. Bruce
read by Barbara K. Bruce
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
If your life or the life of someone you love has been hijacked by pain, you're not alone. One out of every three U.S. adults lives with chronic pain - pain that can rob your vitality, confidence, friendships, intimacy, and even your will to live. But it doesn't have to be that way. That's why the experts at Mayo Clinic have teamed with The Great Courses to craft this research-based guide to pain relief and recovery. In The Mayo Clinic Guide to Pain Relief, Barbara K. Bruce, Ph.D., L.P., provides a tried-and-true framework for coping with chronic pain. Dr. Bruce's scientific explanations and biology-based suggestions can help you create a vibrant and fulfilling future for yourself, in spite of chronic pain. Based on a scientific understanding of the causes of pain and behaviors that make pain better or worse, Dr. Bruce explains why opioids do not work for chronic non-cancer pain; how to empower yourself by developing appropriate "SMART" goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-limited; and how social support affects your physical health. You'll learn about the extraordinary complexities in your brain's interpretation and management of pain and the multifaceted relationships between pain and stress. This course provides a practical guide for building an appropriate health care team and creating an individualized pain-management program with your physician that addresses the issues of physical stamina, stress management, social support, sleep, and mood. Dr. Bruce doesn't want you to wait for a cure or pain relief before you move back into your life. "I want you to begin living your life today," she says. And with this course, you'll be on your way.
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(5)
America and the New Global Economy
by Timothy Taylor
read by Timothy Taylor
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Globalization continues to be a force in our economic climate. And the origins of this globalized economy, its effects on important contemporary concerns, and its future trends are just a few of the intriguing issues you explore in these 36 lectures. Go beyond the economy of the United States and examine the recent history of economies in other countries and regions. As you journey with Professor Taylor through the last 50 years of world economic history, you'll explore international perspectives on the new global economy and develop a richer understanding of our increasingly interconnected world. To get a comprehensive picture of the new global economy, you consider the individual economies of countries including China (which may be the world's largest economy through much of the 21st century), India (the accelerated growth of which is based in service industries), and the Middle East (where most economies are surprisingly quite small). You'll also focus on a range of economic issues that have important ramifications for everyone, such as labor laws, population growth, and international economic agencies such as the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. Taken together, these lectures are a comprehensive look at economic globalization you can't get from reading the business section of a newspaper. They're your opportunity to grasp the economic histories, issues, and trends that affect us. With the knowledge gained from these lectures, you're able to understand the latest developments in our global economy and better prepare for a future in which all our economies will be linked.
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(9)
Language and Society: What Your Speech Says About You
by Valerie Fridland
read by Valerie Fridland
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Language is not a passive means of communication. In fact, it's the active process through which we construct societies, and, within them, our own social lives and realities. Language - as we use it in our day-to-day interactions - fundamentally shapes our experience, our thinking, our perceptions, and the very social systems within which our lives unfold. Nowhere is the social role of language revealed more clearly than in the fascinating field of sociolinguistics. Among many eye-opening perspectives, the work of sociolinguistics points out that: Language is strong social capital, and our linguistic choices carry both costs and benefits we rarely consider. Our identity is strongly tied to the speech we use and our perceptions of the speech we hear. Our children are raised, our relationships are made, and our careers succeed, in large part, through how we use language. Language embodies a worldview: Your linguistic system reflects and affects the way you organize and understand the world around you. In these 24 thought-provoking lectures, you'll investigate how social differences based on factors such as region, class, ethnicity, occupation, gender, and age are inseparable from language differences. Further, you'll explore how these linguistic differences arise, and how they both reflect and generate our social systems. You'll look at the remarkable ways in which our society is a reflection of our language, how differences in the way people use language create differences in society, how people construct and define social contexts by their language use, and ultimately why our speech reveals so much about us. Join a brilliantly insightful sociolinguist and teacher in a compelling inquiry that sheds light on how our linguistic choices play a determining role in every aspect of our lives.
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(17)
Questions of Value
by Patrick Grim
read by Patrick Grim
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
We live in a world seemingly dedicated to questions of fact and finance. What should I invest in? What school district is the house in? But the fundamental questions of our lives are “actually” questions of value: What makes life worth living? Are there values that transcend cultural differences? Is all value subjective?
If you've ever felt the tug of such questions or if you just want to fine-tune your ability to see how deeper questions of ethics and values apply to the choices that make up our lives, these 24 lectures bring to life the insights of thinkers and artists who have grappled with these questions for thousands of years.
To examine these questions, Professor Grim casts a wide net, drawing from history, theoretical economics, game theory, theoretical biology, and sociobiology with a few forays into physics, anthropology, and psychology. But it isn't only scientists and historians who ask us to consider our values. Writers as varied as Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Ursula Le Guin, Mark Twain, Anne Rice, and Jorge Luis Borges have also delved into the meaning of life and the values we live by. In exploring the course's varied sources, Professor Grim takes great care to introduce each concept carefully so that each new concept builds on the last.
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(5)
The Scientific Guide to Health and Happiness
by Robin Miller
read by Robin Miller
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
There is one thing that every human wants and we spend our entire lives searching for it: happiness. In our journey to seek it, we have concocted ideas and theories to explain the concept, but very few of them are based on science. What scientists are now learning is that happiness is intertwined with your health. Now, you can uncover the essential secrets to a healthy mind and body with our 24-lesson course The Scientific Guide for Health and Happiness.
Taught by Dr. Robin Miller, an integrative medicine specialist and popular TV and radio host, this course is backed by the latest research and scientific studies about health and happiness and cases from Dr. Miller's practice over decades. You will take a deep dive into the major systems of the body and how keeping them in good shape supports your happiness and satisfaction of life.
You will also learn about diet and weight management, lifestyle habits such as sleep and sex, and ways to powerfully impact your internal health by using external methods like music, dance, meditation, and cutting-edge technologies.
It may feel like there are so many pieces to the health and happiness puzzle that you don't know where to begin. Dr. Miller not only boils each aspect down to its nitty-gritty details using scientific examples, but she also weaves it all together to show you how they relate to one other.
As you go through the course, you will begin to see that every little step you take to improve your lifestyle can build up and have a domino effect. Using this roadmap to find your best self, you will be empowered to take charge of your health.
Before you know it, your efforts to improve your health, diet, and lifestyle will come together to create a symphony of great health and happiness.
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(13)
The English Novel
by Timothy Spurgin
read by Timothy Spurgin
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Who can imagine life without novels? They have served not merely as diversions but as companions for so much of our lives, offering hours of pleasure and, at their best, insights few of us can ever quantify. But the simple joy of reading novels sometimes obscures our awareness of the deeper roles they play in our lives: honing our intellect, quenching our emotional thirsts, and shaping our sense of ourselves and of the world we live in. And this may be especially obvious in the case of the English novel, as you'll see in this engaging series of 24 lectures from an award-winning teacher. Under Professor Spurgin's guidance, you'll learn how the period that gave rise to the novel in England corresponded with a convulsive social transformation - one that produced the world's first modern, capitalist economy. Along the way, traditional social values often appeared to be outdated, as did traditional narrative forms. You'll see how the great English novelists were eager to create something new and different, breaking from traditions in which stories were usually centered on aristocrats and nobles to focus instead on the thoughts and feelings of ordinary people and taking pains to capture the rhythms of everyday life. At the same time, they also reacted to a number of larger developments: industrialization and urbanization, democratization and globalization. By placing more than two centuries of great English novelists in the context of British history and showing how their lives intersected with the creation of their art, these lectures offer a fascinating look at a form of enduring popularity and importance whose influence has been felt everywhere novels are read.
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(36)
Great Philosophical Debates: Free Will and Determinism
The Complete Course Contains All 24 Lectures
by Shaun Nichols
read by Shaun Nichols
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Do you make your own choices or have circumstances beyond your control already decided your destiny? For thousands of years, this question has intrigued and perplexed philosophers, scientists, and everyone who thinks deliberately about how they choose to live and act. For if free will makes us accountable for our choices, does the opposite hold true, that determinism absolves us of responsibility? The implications of how we resolve this great question can affect everything from the small choices we make every day to our perspective on criminal justice and capital punishment. Now you can begin - or continue - your own exploration of this fundamental issue in a series of thought-provoking lectures from an award-winning scholar acclaimed as one of the most innovative thinkers now working at the intersection of philosophy and psychology. Beginning with an explanation of the fundamental approaches to this debate, Professor Nichols prepares you for an in-depth study of the complexities of free will and determinism. You learn what great thinkers through the ages have believed about the choices we make and understand how we might deal with their implications. Professor Nichols looks at each side of every argument, creating a balanced perspective that invites you to come to your own conclusions about whether or not we control our lives.
All Lectures:
1. Free Will and Determinism - The Basic Debate
2. Fate and Karma
3. Divine Predestination and Foreknowledge
4. Causal Determinism
5. Ancient and Medieval Indeterminism
6. Agent Causation
7. Ancient and Classical Compatibilism
8. Contemporary Compatibilism
9. Hard Determinism
10. Free Will Impossibilism
11. The Belief in Free Will
12. Physics and Free Will
13. Neuroscience and Determinism
14. Neuroscience of Conscious Choice
15. Psychology and Free Will
16. Deontological Ethics and Free Will
17. Utilitarianism and Free Will
18. Responsibility and the Emotions
19. Pessimism and Illusionism
20. Optimism and Skepticism
21. The Ethics of Punishment
22. The Power of Punishment
23. Moral Responsibility and Psychopathy
24. The Future of Responsibility
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(24)
Survival Mentality
The Psychology of Staying Alive
by Nancy Zarse
read by Nancy Zarse
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Have you ever wondered how you could possibly survive a physical assault or imagined what you would do if someone followed you in a dark parking lot? Most likely you have-it's human nature to wonder. Most of us never get past those theoretical questions because we just don't want to think about it. But what if we did? In Survival Mentality: The Psychology of Staying Alive, you'll learn how to prepare now to give yourself the very best chance of surviving a life-threatening emergency. When we hear about someone surviving a great challenge, we often hear that the person "rose to the occasion." But in fact, psychologists find that people do notrise to the occasion. In moments of terror, people revert to their lowest level of training and preparation. Knowing that, the trick is to bring up your "lowest level" by continually improving your training and preparation, practicing for survival now, and building the resilience that will sustain you in times of adversity. In Survival Mentality: The Psychology of Staying Alive, you'll not only explore survival skills and strategies, but you'll also hear the stories of individuals who used those techniques to survive real-world situations. Through the details of their stories, Professor Zarse helps you identify the psychological factors that served them best. Many of the survivors that are discussed in this course had no specific survival training, but their life experiences had helped them build significant psychological strengths. These survivors had what it took. In this course, you'll learn that you, too, can build what it takes to survive in a crisis.
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(13)
Peoples and Cultures of the World
by Edward Fischer
read by Edward Fischer
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
As the "science of humanity," anthropology can help us understand virtually everything about ourselves, from our political and economic systems, to why we get married, to how we decide to buy a particular bottle of wine. In this 24-lecture series, Professor Edward Fischer of Vanderbilt University provides an extraordinary glimpse into the world's varied human societies-including our own.
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(23)
Famous Romans
by J. Rufus Fears
read by J. Rufus Fears
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
These 24 lectures retell the lives of the remarkable individuals - the statesmen, thinkers, warriors, and writers - who shaped the history of the Roman Empire and, by extension, our own history and culture. Among the fascinating gallery of individuals whose lives, ideas, actions, and legacies you'll explore are Hannibal (who caused the Second Punic War personally, much as Adolf Hitler caused World War II), Augustus (who, beginning at the age of just 19, brilliantly followed a doctrine of ruthless expediency in order to rescue Rome from a century of civil war), and Marcus Aurelius (that most noble and philosophic of rulers who may have hastened the Empire's decline by tolerating the wicked cruelty of his heir). Professor Fears divides his presentation into three "turning point" epochs in Roman history: Rome's war with Hannibal (the Second Punic War); Caesar and the end of the Roman Republic; and the imperial era between Augustus and Marcus Aurelius. As he presents the great figures of each period, he makes them seem personal and immediate. As you study these and many other significant Romans, you'll probe fundamental questions about the political and cultural history of Rome. What was the impact of Greek civilization on the Romans? Why did the Roman people, at the height of military, political, and economic power, abandon their republican liberty for the dictatorship of Caesar and his successors? What made the 2nd century A.D. one the most creative periods in world history? And why did the central figures of Roman history hold so much appeal for America's Founding Fathers?
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(14)
Great American Short Stories: A Guide for Writers and Readers
by Jennifer Cognard-Black
read by Jennifer Cognard-Black
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
While short stories exist in traditions all over the world, American short stories are a genre all their own. Emerging from the clash of cultures-and the collision of oral and print traditions-that began during the arrival of European settlers in the 16thand 17thcenturies, the short works that emerged have served many functions. They have entertained, certainly, but they have also helped foster identity, shape morality, and build the foundations of the American mythos for nearly four centuries.
Whether you want to write short stories, simply want better insight as a reader, or even if you are looking for a new lens through which to view American history, the 24 rich and informative lectures of Great American Short Stories: A Guide for Writers and Readers will show you the ins and outs of this infinitely adaptable-and intrinsically American-literary form. Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black of St. Mary's College of Maryland guides you through the technical aspects of the short story, while also digging deep into the history of the form in the United
States. Along the way, you will discover why the short story became so deeply connected to American identity and how it continues to evolve alongside the nation itself.
The "great American novel" is often the lofty goal of writers who want to achieve literary immortality. But from the opening sentence to the lingering denouement, American short stories can both capture the world as it is and help envision what could be. Each is unique, and yet each is a part of a larger chronicle: the story of America.
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(14)
Skeptics and Believers: Religious Debate in the Western Intellectual Tradition
by Tyler Roberts
read by Tyler Roberts
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Beginning in the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution began to erode the position of authority. As a result, new philosophers began constructing a universal rationality independent of faith. This schism fundamentally changed the course of Western civilization, and it has had consequences that remain with us to this day. This 36-lecture journey will help you understand exactly what the debate has been and will continue to be about. By gaining a richer understanding of the debate's key aspects - including the nature of the conflict, the meaning of the arguments, and what is at stake both philosophically and theologically - you can add significantly to the level of sophistication you already bring to one of today's most far-reaching issues and increase your understanding of both our past and the direction of our future. These lectures examine more than three centuries of debate in the Western world about the nature of religious faith and its compatibility with reason. Drawing on some of Western civilization's greatest theological and philosophical minds, Professor Roberts even-handedly follows and analyzes the arguments of a broad range of skeptics and believers, including the likes of Thomas Aquinas, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Daniel Dennett, Martin Luther, Immanuel Kant, Soren Kierkegaard, and many others.In addition, these lectures maintain the sense of a true conversation across time, so that you'll never lose the thread of how one idea relates to another as he weaves a vast amount of material into a coherent whole that amounts to far more than the sum of its parts. The result is one of the most intellectually satisfying plunges into philosophical and theological thought you will ever take.
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(13)
Cycles of American Political Thought
by Joseph F. Kobylka
read by Joseph F. Kobylka
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
American history is often presented as a tale of dynamic movers and shakers who subdued an untamed wilderness on the way to forging a great nation, all the while leaving philosophy for their European counterparts. But this history neglects the philosophical underpinnings of America. As these 36 lectures demonstrate, America has borne the imprint of influential thinkers from its earliest days, from the Reformation theology of John Calvin to the Enlightenment philosophy of John Locke.
Throughout this epic historical journey, you'll explore the many ways this nation has answered the question:
• What is an American? Professor Kobylka traces the many answers that have been offered showing how the idea of "We the People" has changed and expanded far beyond the Founding Fathers' original conception.
• You'll navigate America's ever-shifting political landscape and see how the great political trends in American history can be understood as variations on a single theme: the philosophy of liberalism, this conception that government is the source of some of our most deeply valued political notions.
• You'll also meet the great men and women who, throughout American history, have molded political thought and policy.
This is your opportunity to gain a deep understanding both of the nation's past and how this rich political history continues to influence the current day. Even if you've studied American history before, you'll encounter something new: a unique synthesis of viewpoints, ideas, and events that's enlightening and compelling.
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(13)
The Great Works of Sacred Music
by Charles Edward McGuire
read by Charles Edward McGuire
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Western classical music is one of humanity's most sublime artistic traditions. This musical language - encompassing genres from symphonic and instrumental music to choral works and opera - was created through the meeting of art and faith.
The lineage of sacred works produced some of the greatest masterpieces in Western art and created the foundation of the Western musical canon. This phenomenal tradition includes works of genius such as:
Josquin des Prez's Ave Maria, gratia plena, an exquisite polyphonic motet
Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Virgini, whose vocal pyrotechnics evoke the immensity of heaven
Mozart's Requiem, the final composition of the classical master
Beginning with medieval chant, discover how its single musical line evolved into polyphony (music with multiple simultaneous melodies). You'll also learn how the religious reformations of the 16th century compelled composers to create new musical genres and to make religious texts more intelligible. Additionally, observe how 17th-century composers blended sacred styles with genres such as opera, producing music of dramatic and unforgettable beauty.
As a fascinating counterpoint to the music itself, you'll explore the sociological background of its writing and performance. Sacred works were often commissioned by important clerical and aristocratic patrons, and composers were challenged to write music that was not only religiously edifying but also entertaining and publically successful. Over time, sacred music moved beyond church walls to become appreciated in secular venues as autonomous works of art.
You'll hear stunning musical excerpts covering over 1,200 years of music, from medieval chant to the massive sacred works of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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(7)
Roots of Human Behavior
by Barbara J. King
read by Barbara J. King
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
While human history is usually studied from the perspective of a few hundred years, anthropologists consider deeper causes for the ways we act. Now, in these 12 engrossing lectures, you'll join an expert anthropologist as she opens an enormous window of understanding for you into the thrilling legacy left by our primate past. In these lectures, you'll investigate a wealth of intriguing, provocative questions about our past and our relationship to primates. Are language and technology unique to humans? Have human love and loyalty developed from emotions of our primate cousins? Do the ways in which human males and females relate to each other come from our primate past? Have we inherited a biological tendency for aggression? How much of our behavioral, cognitive, and cultural identity have we inherited from our closest living relatives? How can the study of monkeys and apes lead us to a fuller picture of who we are? Along the way, you'll learn about the landmark moment in the 1960s when dramatic new findings about apes changed the way we thought about ourselves; you'll look back to a forest in Africa, millions of years ago, when a generalized great ape ancestor split into distinct lineages, then evolved and divided further to create our closest living relatives, and human beings; you'll journey to Asia and the New World, where other anthropoid primates followed their own evolutionary course, separate from the human lineage, yet still connected in important ways; and much more.
This thorough and critical examination of our diverse primate roots will allow you to finally see our human family in an entirely new light.
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(21)
The Other 1492: Ferdinand, Isabella, and the Making of an Empire
by Teofilo Ruiz
read by Teofilo Ruiz
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Ask anyone about the significance of the year 1492, and you're almost certain to hear something about Christopher Columbus and the discovery of the New World. But there is also a perspective on 1492 far different than the one most of us know - one that is more complete and complex. A 1492 when there was no country called Spain and no language called Spanish. A 1492 whose biggest event - in the region that would eventually become Spain - was the surrender of the last Muslim stronghold, Granada, with the subsequent Edict of Expulsion that gave Jews three months to either convert to Christianity or leave the Kingdom of Castile and the Crown of Aragon. This 12-lecture series uses the year 1492 to examine the events that made Spain a country and an empire. It examines the centuries of developments that led up to that pivotal year in Spanish history and the consequences that followed for both Spain and the New World, presenting Spanish history from the perspective of both the victors and the defeated: the Muslims, Jews, and New World natives for whom 1492 was not a time of wonder but of terror and despair.
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(4)
The Theory of Evolution
by Edward J. Larson
read by Edward J. Larson
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Charles Darwin's theory of organic evolution - the idea that life on earth is the product of purely natural causes, not the hand of God - set off shock waves that continue to reverberate through Western society, and especially the United States. What makes evolution such a profoundly provocative concept, so convincing to most scientists, yet so socially and politically divisive? These 12 eye-opening lectures are an examination of the varied elements that so often make this science the object of strong sentiments and heated debate. Professor Larson leads you through the "evolution" of evolution, with an eye toward enhancing your understanding of the development of the theory itself and the roots of the controversies that surround it. Here, you'll explore pre-Darwinian theories of the origins of life, from Genesis and the ancient Greeks to such 18th- and 19th-century scientists as Georges Cuvier. You'll follow the life and work of Charles Darwin, and the impact of his 1859 masterpiece, On the Origin of Species (the first printing of Origin of Species sold out on the first day). You'll examine the history of evolutionary science after Darwin-including the "rediscovery" of Gregor Mendel's work on genetic variation and the discovery of Piltdown Man, a fake evolutionary "missing link," in 1912. And you'll trace the history of religious objections to evolution, from those of Darwin's own time to contemporary efforts to teach creation science in American schools. Richly detailed yet accessible to any curious mind, these lectures offer an invaluable perspective on the volatile history of what is arguably the single most significant idea of modern times.
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(19)
Science and Religion
by Lawrence M. Principe
read by Lawrence M. Principe
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
What is the nature of the relationship between science and religion? When do they conflict? And how do they influence each other in the pursuit of knowledge and truth? While conventional wisdom says that science and theology must perpetually clash, they have actually been partners in an age-old adventure. These 12 engaging lectures cover both the historical sweep and philosophical flashpoints of this epic interaction. You'll encounter a surprisingly cooperative dynamic in which theologians and natural scientists - from St. Augustine to Sir Isaac Newton to contemporary thinkers - share methods, ideas, aspirations, and a tradition of disputational dialogue. Moving from the early centuries of the Christian era and the Middle Ages to our own day, Professor Principe examines St. Augustine's profound ideas about reason and faith, and he follows St. Thomas Aquinas's exploration of miracles - the need to identify them is one example of how scientific and theological inquiry overlap. You'll meet a 19th-century writer whose anti-Catholic diatribe spread myths that persist today, and you'll learn about the courage (and stubbornness) of Galileo, the unexpected rationality of his accusers, the inspiration of Darwin's natural selection, and the religious implications of Lemaître's big bang theory. The solution to modern conflicts is the study of history. Such study will equip you to join that partnership with ideas and a clear, historical perspective on the science/religion relationship. These tools will help you participate more effectively in a dialogue that is as thought-provoking today as it was hundreds of years ago.
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(25)
The Instant Sommelier: Choosing Your Best Wine
by Paul Wagner
read by Paul Wagner
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
You don't have to master the entire repertoire of grapes, techniques, ingredients, variations, and other components to truly appreciate the wine you're drinking. Simply armed with the senses you already have, an expert guide, and a glass of your favorite, you can learn how to better enjoy the wine you're drinking, while at the same time gaining a deeper recognition for your own tastes.
There are nearly 150,000 wines for sale in the U.S. market alone. And there are just as many books, articles, websites, and other resources instructing you on the plethora of ways to choose, drink, and enjoy wine. So, how do you cut through the clutter and find the best wines for you? Paul Wagner, an instructor for Napa Valley College's Viticulture and Enology department, has spent the last 25 years helping people do just that. He's dedicated his career to what he calls, "democratizing wine appreciation." After spending years working in wineries, leading hundreds of tastings, and having hands-on experience in every aspect of the world of wine, he shares his deep and comprehensive wine knowledge through eight down-to-earth, practical, and accessible lessons in The Instant Sommelier: Choosing Your Best Wine, which will take the intimidation factor out of choosing, drinking, and enjoying wines. From swirl to finish, he'll introduce you to the vocabulary you need to speak intelligently about wine and to understand what each term means when it comes to finding wines you'll love.
Whether you enjoy drinking wine, want to learn more about wine, or you're just curious what all the fuss is about, join Professor Wagner for this short course jam-packed with everything you need to know about wine on an everyday basis. All you need is a corkscrew, a couple of wine glasses, and an open mind when it comes to the wonderful world of wine.
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(16)
Foundations of Economic Prosperity
The Complete Course Contains All 24 Lectures
by Daniel W. Drezner
read by Daniel W. Drezner
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Prosperity has transformed the world. But the story of prosperity is far from simple-or complete. These 24 lectures give you an unrivaled overview of one of the most pressing issues of our day and take you behind the headlines and into the debates to dispel some common myths about prosperity and get at deeper truths. In this stimulating, wide-ranging course, Professor Drezner shows that achieving prosperity involves more than economics. Psychology, sociology, political science, and history also come into play. By taking this broad view, he leads you to fundamental insights about how the modern world works and an understanding of the functioning of the U.S., European, Chinese, and other major economies, as well as an appreciation for the special problems faced by underdeveloped nations. These lectures introduce you to dozens of case histories that illustrate what works and doesn't work in the drive to increase economic growth. A superb storyteller, Professor Drezner reaches back to examples such as the policy called mercantilism that trapped European powers in growth-killing trade practices from the 16th to 18th centuries. And he anchors his analysis in the present with discussions of globalization, financial bubbles, and other economic phenomena in the news. As a start on your own road to greater prosperity, educate yourself with this unparalleled explanation of the foundations of economic prosperity.
All Lectures:
1. The Foundations of Economic Prosperity
2. Does Economic Prosperity Make You Happy?
3. Varieties of Entrepreneurship
4. Individual Prosperity - The Developed World
5. Individual Prosperity - The Developing World
6. Foundations of National Prosperity
7. Perils to National Prosperity
8. Political Foundations of Prosperity
9. Mysteries of the Industrial Revolution
10. Sources of Poverty
11. Reducing Poverty with Economic Development
12. National Prosperity in the Developing World
13. National Prosperity in the Developed World
14. Can Prosperity Be Lost?
15. Inequality and Prosperity
16. Globalization and Global Prosperity
17. Great Powers and Global Prosperity
18. The Washington versus the Beijing Consensus
19. Political Challenges to Global Prosperity
20. Financial Challenges to Global Prosperity
21. Will the Developed World Stagnate?
22. Global Prosperity and the Environment
23. Ideological Challenges to Global Prosperity
24. The Ethics of Global Prosperity
audiobook
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How to Survive in Space
by Ronke Olabisi
read by Ronke Olabisi
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Taught by veteran biomedical space researcher Dr. Ronke Olabisi of the University of California, Irvine, this 12-lecture course focuses on the many hazards of spaceflight and how astronauts deal with them.
audiobook
(54)
Scientific Secrets for Self-Control
The complete course contains all 6 lectures
by C. Nathan DeWall
read by C. Nathan DeWall
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
Join an expert in self-control research for six engaging and inspirational lessons that shatter the myths about willpower and replace them with verifiable science that can make the seemingly unattainable finally possible. Packed with eye-opening studies, experiments, and exercises to strengthen your self-control when dealing with money, fitness, personal relationships, and more, this course will have you wondering why you ever doubted yourself. Whether you're looking for new ways to resist temptation, make a strong first impression, or better control your emotions, this is your guide to understanding - and mastering - what is a frequently misunderstood subject. In clear language, your award-winning professor introduces you to the general theories behind self-control: what it is, how it works, and how you can take steps to improve it. Among the topics you'll investigate: How researchers discovered that delayed gratification can lead to better individual well-being in everything from higher self-worth to less sensitivity to rejection. One of the most influential theories about how self-control works - the limited resource model, which argues that self-control relies on limited energy that becomes depleted after use, How scientists discovered the link between the prefrontal cortex and aggression, and how people at risk for violent anger show abnormalities in that region of the brain. Alongside groundbreaking scientific findings and research, you'll get personal exercises, activities, and thought experiments you can use to practice strengthening your self-control skills to meet whatever specific goals you want to achieve.
All Lectures:
1. Why Is It So Hard to Do What We Should?
2. Self-Control Successes and Failures
3. Marshmallows, Monkeys, and Mortality
4. Taming the Impulsive Beast
5. First Impressions and Stereotypes
6. Romance, Finance, and Your Environment
audiobook
(2)
Mindfulness for the Workplace
by Wendy Quan
read by Wendy Quan
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
"Picture this: You were up late with a sick child last night and overslept your alarm by 30 minutes, this morning. You dash into work 45 minutes late and your anxiety is through the roof, but you give it your best effort to act calm on the outside. You're aware that your boss is fuming, and your teammates are disgruntled because you were key to the discussion.
After the meeting, you walk outside to decompress, only to be inundated with texts from both work and home. You implode as you weigh your impossible choices. Life is running away from you, and you can't remember the last time you felt in control of anything.
If you relate to any part of the scene above, you aren't alone. In a survey from the nonprofit advocacy group Mental Health America, 83% of today's workers are experiencing signs of burnout, with demands of the work domain spilling over into demands of the personal life domain.
By learning the simple and accessible techniques provided in Mindfulness for the Workplace, you can find respite from life's inevitable frustrations and create a better work experience with practical, evidence-based solutions from our expert Wendy Quan—author, entrepreneur, and pioneer in workplace mindfulness.
As Wendy makes clear, mindfulness is not a way to zone out, be blissful, or avoid life's challenges; nor is it about passive acceptance of your difficulties. It's a tool to lean into life's ups and downs in a conscious, healthy way. The potential benefits are many, including effective stress management and more enjoyment of life.
Wendy discovered and used mindfulness and meditation as a primary source of strength to get through a series of devastating crises in her life. Stunned by its effectiveness, she now trains and certifies others to do the same in the workplace.
With this insightful and engaging 12-lesson course, you will pick up tools to create a better experience for yourself at work and in life, no matter what your current circumstances are or what the future might hold.
Find Calm and Composure in Any Situation
But what exactly is mindfulness? And is it the same as meditation? If you're picturing people sitting cross-legged on the floor with blank minds and chanting with blissful smiles on their faces, you may misunderstand what mindfulness practice looks like.
While meditation is integral to creating mindfulness, it has nothing to do with emptying your mind. Rather, you can think of it as a pause button in your day, a time to concentrate on your breath, an image, or a word.
There are many types of meditation styles employing several techniques such as visualizations, imagery, and even moving meditations such as walking, tai chi, and yoga. This course focuses on a secular, non-spiritual approach that anyone from any walk of life can incorporate.
Five key traits of mindfulness will be reiterated throughout the lessons in a practical, applicable way. Those traits are:
• Presence—Placing yourself in the present moment and not worrying about the past or future.
• Awareness—Noticing what you are experiencing within you and around you.
• Non-judgment—Not getting caught up in a stream of likes and dislikes and recognizing when you are judging.
• Being with what is—Accepting that your situation is happening, so you can move forward.
• Kindness—Both toward yourself and others, an excellent way to check your words and actions is to ask yourself—Is it kind? Is it true? Is it helpful?
Learn Simple Techniques Anyone Can Do
Throughout the course, expert Wendy will guide you to try different breathing and thinking techniques that have the potential to immediately decrease your stress and increase your awareness.
An example of a simple and direct technique you can employ when facing tough interactions is the S.T.O.P. technique:
S—Stop what you're doing
T—Take a breath
O—Observe what's going on in and around you
P—Proceed to your next action with intention
audiobook
(22)
George Orwell: A Sage for All Seasons
by Michael Shelden
read by Michael Shelden
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
George Orwell was more than just a writer. He was a political and social sage who valued, above all else, individual freedom. His works aren't just entertainment-they're cautionary tales and red flags of warning. And if we ever hope to understand threats to freedom and how to stop them, we must learn from them.
In these 24 lectures, learn how the man born as Eric Blair forged himself into a writer of international importance and renown. Mixing historical inquiry, literary analysis, and cultural biography, Professor Shelden gets at the truth of British life in the opening decades of the 20th century. These lectures cover the creation, reception, and implication of Orwell's major works, from Burmese Days and Homage to Catalonia to Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Embark on a chronological journey through Orwell's life and times, from his youth in Edwardian England to his formative experiences at boarding school (captured in the brilliant essay, "Such, Such Were the Joys") to his being shot through the neck by a sniper while serving as a freedom fighter against the forces of General Franco. Along the way, examine the experiences-and the people-Orwell drew upon when forging himself into a writer and a citizen of the world.
Here, in one comprehensive package, is a compendium of all Orwell's many personas: the writer brave enough to speak truth to power, the soldier willing to sacrifice his life for others, the citizen willing to expose the injustices, and the sage for freedom-loving civilizations everywhere.
audiobook
(11)
Why Economies Rise or Fall
by Peter Rodriguez
read by Peter Rodriguez
Part of the Great Courses Audio series
How can a nation create the conditions for economic growth and prosperity? And what, once these conditions are achieved, can it do to sustain this progress?
Discover the answers, which may surprise you, in these 24 lectures that guide you through a stimulating and, above all, accessible examination of what economists know and don't know about the elusive search for economic prosperity.
Here, you'll learn:
• How countries as widely different as the United States and Vietnam have grown their economies
• How countries like China and India were able to recover from economic reverses
• Most importantly, why the critical test of any economic policy is its ability to productively alter human behavior for everyone's ultimate benefit.
By looking at economic growth as the result of incentivizing such productive behavior, "making productivity more profitable than all the alternatives", Professor Rodriguez clears up an often-shrouded economic landscape. The result is a lecture series that brings the economic strategies chosen by nations down to street level by adding a newfound clarity to key issues:
• Why economies succeed or fail
• How economic bubbles are created, why they burst, and how nations recover from them
• The challenges posed by globalization; and more.
By the end of the last lecture, you'll understand as never before both the benefits granted and the costs extracted by the "instant economy" that technology and globalization have brought us. You'll grasp what China's expected economic dominance may soon mean. And you'll have a new appreciation of the juggling act policymakers perform as they try to heed history's latest lesson in achieving national growth and maximum human happiness.