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Masterpieces of the Imaginative Mind: Literature's Most Fantastic Works
- Narrated by: Eric S. Rabkin
- Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins
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Publisher's summary
Many of literature's greatest works, from ancient myths to the works of Nobel laureates, rely on fantasy. Even when there has been a dominant preference for realism, generation after generation of readers have been drawn to stories of the fantastic - not only for what they help us learn about ourselves as individuals or as members of society, but also for what they show about our social values. And now one of the world's foremost authorities on the literature of the fantastic and science fiction has created a series of 24 lectures that take you on a journey through some of the most remarkable feats of imagination in all of literature. You'll study strange tales of talking frogs and cannibal witches, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to Arthur C. Clarke's astonishing 2001: A Space Odyssey and beyond. Ranging from the early 1800s to contemporary times, Professor Rabkin casts a wide net for fantastic works and delves deeply into some of the most astonishing. You'll learn about the works and times of Edgar Allan Poe, the Brothers Grimm, Virginia Woolf, Lewis Carroll, Franz Kafka, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, J.R.R. Tolkien, Ray Bradbury, Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and many others. And you'll see how artists you might not have even considered in this context - such as writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne, or composers like Offenbach and Tchaikovsky - owe a creative debt to this remarkably vibrant genre.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
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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.
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Little mistakes here and there
- By Daniel on 06-21-16
By: Edward J. Larson, and others
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The American Civil War
- By: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood-and the United States was truly born.
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Excellent Series
- By Rodney on 07-09-13
By: Gary W. Gallagher, and others
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Tantalizing time trip
- By Mark on 08-21-13
By: Robert Garland, and others
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The Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
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Not Engaging or Very Interesting
- By Tommy D'Angelo on 03-05-17
By: Thomas F. X. Noble, and others
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Food: A Cultural Culinary History
- By: Ken Albala, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Ken Albala
- Length: 18 hrs and 22 mins
- Original Recording
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Eating is an indispensable human activity. As a result, whether we realize it or not, the drive to obtain food has been a major catalyst across all of history, from prehistoric times to the present. Epicure Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said it best: "Gastronomy governs the whole life of man."
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One of my top 3 favorite courses!
- By Jessica on 12-28-13
By: Ken Albala, and others
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No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life
- By: Robert C. Solomon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
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What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom, life has continued to exert a profound attraction.
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Good for even a non-existentialist
- By Gary on 07-24-15
By: Robert C. Solomon, and others
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The Story of Human Language
- By: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
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Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
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You'll Never Look at Languages the Same Way Again
- By SAMA on 03-11-14
By: John McWhorter, and others
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The Ethics of Aristotle
- By: The Great Courses, Father Joseph Koterski S.J.
- Narrated by: Father Joseph Koterski S.J.
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
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In this 12-lecture meditation on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, you'll uncover the clarity and ethical wisdom of one of humanity's greatest minds. Father Koterski shows how and why this great philosopher can help you deepen and improve your own thinking on questions of morality and leading the best life. The aim of these lectures is to provide you with a clear and thoughtful introduction to Aristotle as a moral philosopher.
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Father Joseph is awesome!
- By DeeDeen on 04-08-17
By: The Great Courses, and others
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Thinking Like an Economist: A Guide to Rational Decision Making
- By: Randall Bartlett, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Randall Bartlett
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
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Economic forces are everywhere around you. But that doesn't mean you need to passively accept whatever outcome those forces might press upon you. Instead, with these 12 fast-moving and crystal clear lectures, you can learn how to use a small handful of basic nuts-and-bolts principles to turn those same forces to your own advantage.
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Great for beginners, nothing you for an economist
- By V. Taras on 07-08-15
By: Randall Bartlett, and others
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Being Human: Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science
- By: Robert Sapolsky, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: The Great Courses
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Original Recording
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Understanding our humanity - the essence of who we are - is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. Why do we have bad moods? Why are we capable of having such strange dreams? How can metaphors in our language hold such sway on our actions? As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is.
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Somewhat Interesting but not Quite as Advertised
- By Adam J Duhame on 10-05-13
By: Robert Sapolsky, and others
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Understanding the Mysteries of Human Behavior
- By: Mark Leary, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark Leary
- Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins
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Every day of your life is spent surrounded by mysteries that involve what appear to be rather ordinary human behaviors. What makes you happy? Where did your personality come from? Why do you have trouble controlling certain behaviors? Why do you behave differently as an adult than you did as an adolescent?Since the start of recorded history, and probably even before, people have been interested in answering questions about why we behave the way we do.
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I wanted to like this course
- By Diane Tincher on 08-06-18
By: Mark Leary, and others
What listeners say about Masterpieces of the Imaginative Mind: Literature's Most Fantastic Works
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- T. Brehm
- 04-13-16
Broad Lit Crit overview of... Mostly Sci Fi
What did you like best about Masterpieces of the Imaginative Mind: Literature's Most Fantastic Works? What did you like least?
This is a (by necessity) vary broad overview of the literary view of the history of... the fantastic, which is not by any stretch of the imagination fantasy. It starts with Grimm, puts them in a historical context, then moves through the history of... series literature, talking about examples where the surreal comes out. In the end, it presents a broad overview of the history of various sci fi genres and what they have to say about society.
It's very much a literary overview like you might find in a college class.
Would you listen to another book narrated by Professor Eric S. Rabkin?
Sure
Was Masterpieces of the Imaginative Mind: Literature's Most Fantastic Works worth the listening time?
Maybe
Any additional comments?
This was very deep into the literary criticism, and very deep into the sci fi. I was hoping for a more mythic structure look at things, and a broader survey of the fantastic. Instead, it focused mainly on extremely literary works, and took a very literary view of them. I was more hoping for a look of common themes and structures around what made them work as stories, rather than as literature, and also got snowballed by the 'fantastic'.
This is not meant as a criticism of the series, which was interesting, just a warning that a reasonably intelligent person misread the description.
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27 people found this helpful
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- Eusebio
- 08-15-15
Literature appreciation
I quite liked this course. The approach reminded me of other books from The great Courses by prof Robert Greenberg - presenting works and authors in a historical and artistic context. After listening to the course I am encouraged to explore further specific books or authors and read the books. Also, reading them after the course is more enjoyable compared to not having as much context.
If you're looking for concentrated learning about literature this is not the course to get, if instead you like fantasy as a genre and are would like a good foundation from where to explore new authors, then this course is a very enjoyable way to do it.
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13 people found this helpful
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- MR
- 02-10-17
Not convinced
Any additional comments?
I didn't agree with some of the conclusions drawn in the early lectures, which isn't a big deal. Differences of opinion make for good dialogue. But - two of the later lectures touched on works I am very familiar with and made some rather obvious errors in relating the texts - which makes me wonder how many other errors were made re: books I am not as familiar with...
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11 people found this helpful
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- J. Middleton
- 11-02-15
Everything wrong with academic lit criticism
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
If you're someone who wants to learn about the vaginal symbolism of The Pit and the Pendulum, or you want to hear about the significance of the fact that John Carter and Jesus Christ share the same initials. Seriously, those are both supposedly cogent points that the lecturer makes in this series.
What do you think your next listen will be?
Another lecture series, but one less based around opinion.
Which character – as performed by Professor Eric S. Rabkin – was your favorite?
Not applicable.
You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?
The early lectures around the academic research that has been done around folk tales were interesting.
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11 people found this helpful
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- jagitzes
- 01-20-16
Highly Recommend
Would you listen to Masterpieces of the Imaginative Mind: Literature's Most Fantastic Works again? Why?
I have already listened to this lecture twice. The professor is knowledgeable and provides multiple theoretical view points. The subject matter ranges widely enough to keep you on your toes.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Masterpieces of the Imaginative Mind: Literature's Most Fantastic Works?
I thoroughly enjoyed his treatment of early fairy tales, Edgar Allan Poe, and Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass. These were by far the best parts of the discussion. Detailed and thought provoking, these discussions challenged the listener to reread many of these stories with a new perspective.
I also very much enjoyed his discussion and treatment of J.R. Tolkien as well as the Sci Fi genre.
Any additional comments?
Fantasy is a wonderful genre because it allows us to pull back from our assumptions about the world, examine issues and concepts we wouldn't normally question, and take a deeper look at our own selves.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Gonzalo
- 08-03-16
Interesting Material but not the best lecturer.
The series of lectures by Professor Rabkin are very interesting as a survey of Fantasy in literature. I learned a lot about the relationship between early folklore and myth and how it relates to and is still very much alive in the fiction of today. The problem I had was that Rabkin, stutters and mis-speaks having to backtrack and correct himself too often making this sometimes hard to listen to. I would understand this in a live lecture but this is recorded specifically for the audio book. Edit and do retakes please!
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5 people found this helpful
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- The rod
- 02-14-16
Science Fiction Defined
This is a very interesting course. The lecturer is well read and very knowledgable. His speaking voice is easy on the ears and his enthusiasm for the topic is quite evident and infectious. I came away looking at books I've read in a different way and a list of seminal science fiction works I want to read in the future.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Emanuele
- 05-14-15
sci-fi anthology
start well, but it get bogged down in sci-fi problematics which, though interesting and complementary, do not exhaust the title subject. maybe 24 chapters are not enough.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Cliente Kindle
- 07-05-15
Fantastic!!!
One of the best courses I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. This is an experience. Professor Rabkin knows his stuff, but most importantly - knows how to pass on that information. Loved it !!!!!
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2 people found this helpful
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- JC Tuck
- 06-10-21
Wish the Course Would Never End!
I would register for any class taught by Eric S. Rabkin. Each lesson is comprised of unique standalone content that holds the listener's attention. As the lessons progress, Rabkin successfully weaves the information into a cohesive learning experience.
I cannot wait to read (or re-read) the books and stories referenced in this exceptional course.
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1 person found this helpful