We are currently making improvements to the Audible site. In an effort to enhance the accessibility experience for our customers, we have created a page to more easily navigate the new experience, available at the web address www.audible.com/access.
The Jesuit and the Skull: Teilhard de Chardin, Evolution, and the Search for Peking Man | [Amir D. Aczel]
Play The Jesuit and the Skull: Teilhard de Chardin, Evolution, and the Search for Peking Man

The Jesuit and the Skull: Teilhard de Chardin, Evolution, and the Search for Peking Man

  • UNABRIDGED
  • by Amir D. Aczel
  • Narrated by Barrett Whitener
  • Whispersync for Voice-ready
  • Your Likes make Audible better!

    'Likes' are shared on Facebook and Audible.com. We use your 'likes' to improve Audible.com for all our listeners.

    You can turn off Audible.com sharing from your Account Details page.

    OK
  • Regular Price :$24.49
  • Whispersync for Voice

    Listen to The Jesuit and the Skull, then pick up right where you left off with the Kindle book. Learn more

Two ways to buy!

What's Trending in Bios & Memoirs:

  • Average Customer Rating
  • Overall
    (86)
    Performance
    (25)
    Story
    (25)
 
  • LENGTH
    8 hrs and 2 mins
  • RELEASE DATE
    10-19-07
  • AUDIO FORMATS
    About Audio Formats
    2 3 4 Enhanced Audio
 

People who bought this also bought...

Publisher's Summary

In December 1929, in a cave near Peking, a group of anthropologists and archaeologists that included a young French Jesuit priest named Pierre Teilhard de Chardin uncovered a prehuman skull. The find quickly became known around the world as Peking Man and was acclaimed as the missing link between erect hunting apes and our Cro-Magnon ancestors. It also became a provocative piece of evidence in the roiling debate over creationism versus evolution.

For Teilhard, both a scientist and a man of God, the discovery also exposed a deeply personal conflict between the new science and his faith. He was commanded by his superiors to deny all scientific evidence that went against biblical teachings, and his writing and lectures were censored by the Vatican. But his curiosity and desire to find connections between scientific and spiritual truth kept him investigating man's origins. His inner struggle and, in turn, his public rebuke by the Catholic Church personified one of the central debates of our time: How to reconcile an individual's commitment to science and his commitment to his faith.

In The Jesuit and the Skull, best-selling author Amir D. Aczel vividly recounts the discovery of Peking Man, its repercussions, and how Teilhard de Chardin's scientific work helped to open the eyes of the world to new theories of humanity's origins that alarmed the traditionalists within the Church. A deft mix of narrative history and a poignant personal story, The Jesuit and the Skull brings fresh insight to a debate that still rages today.

©2007 Amir D. Aczel; (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

What the Critics Say

"Aczel...tells a very human tale with great insight and compassion." (Professor Ofer Bar-Yosef, Department of Anthropology, Harvard University)
"An absorbing read [and] deeply moving personal story." (Ian Tattersall, curator, Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, and authorof Human Origins)

What Members Say

Average Customer Rating

4.0 (86 ratings)
5 star
 (26)
4 star
 (41)
3 star
 (15)
2 star
 (1)
1 star
 (3)
Overall
4.0 (25 ratings)
5 star
 (12)
4 star
 (7)
3 star
 (3)
2 star
 (1)
1 star
 (2)
Story
4.0 (25 ratings)
5 star
 (13)
4 star
 (4)
3 star
 (5)
2 star
 (2)
1 star
 (1)
Performance
  •  
    Richard Erie, PA, United States 09-26-09
    Richard Erie, PA, United States 09-26-09 Member Since 2001
    HELPFUL VOTES
    22
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    9
    7
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    1
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "entertaining and informative"

    Overall the book was quite good. It was very informative with regard to both Teilhard's life and the paleontology that was the greater art of his life's work. The only frustration for me was that it discussed almost nothing of the content of his attempts to unite science and religion in his theological writings, such as the Phenomenon of Man or the Future of Man or the Divine Milieu. If those ideas had been worked in along with the biography and paleontology it would have been excellent, as it is...its still quite good.

    5 of 5 people found this review helpful
  •  
    carolyn Louisville, Ky, United States 03-01-08
    carolyn Louisville, Ky, United States 03-01-08 Member Since 2006
    HELPFUL VOTES
    38
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    68
    20
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    2
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "A"

    If you're interested in anthropology and/or Teilhard de Chardin, this is a fascinating listen and an approachable introduction to the subjects. It could easily put most people to sleep, but since I remember much of the flap over the theory of evolution (and being Catholic), I found it a satisfying listen.

    6 of 7 people found this review helpful
  •  
    connie Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada 10-25-07
    connie Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada 10-25-07

    trying to see the world with my ears

    HELPFUL VOTES
    2621
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    1320
    386
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    1025
    113
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "More skull than Jesuit"

    For some time, I’ve wanted to read a spiritual biography of Teilhard – This is definitely not it. It is a good review of the "descent of man" etc, and it brings to life many of Teilhard’s colleagues, but is a very dry, skeletal account of the man himself. After reading it, I have much less interest in reading a spiritual bio of Teilhard (who apparently could be friends with a drug dealing,arms trading fascist and spend decades in China without ever learning local language). Did Teilhard ever come into contact with ideas of some of his French contemporaries like Simon Weil or Peter Maurin or Jacques Maritain? Did he have ANY social philosophy? You won’t find out in this book.

    Although a good read, I think those who enjoy reading “science” might find this a bit scanty on documentation?

    I think Teilhard’s time has arrived – both in world thought and more specifically in Catholic/Christian mysticism – but Teilhard’s influence on and/or parallels with today’s cosmology is not really explored in this work.

    16 of 20 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Vernon JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, United States 07-30-12
    Vernon JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, United States 07-30-12

    Vernon

    HELPFUL VOTES
    1
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    25
    4
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    0
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Surprised..."
    What made the experience of listening to The Jesuit and the Skull the most enjoyable?

    Just the history, was very interesting..


    Who was your favorite character and why?

    Teilhard


    What about Barrett Whitener’s performance did you like?

    Mellow voice, not harsh or over blown...


    If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

    Experience the History of the Mystery....


    Any additional comments?

    none

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Robert T. Jackson Fort Worth, TX 06-26-08
    Robert T. Jackson Fort Worth, TX 06-26-08 Member Since 2011

    Bob

    HELPFUL VOTES
    7
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    2
    2
    FOLLOWERS
    FOLLOWING
    0
    0
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Triumph of ideas over dogma"

    Even the power of the Catholic Church could not silence the truth of science and, ultimately, came to embrace the revolutionary ideas of a thinking priest. Great history. Great story.

    5 of 10 people found this review helpful
  • Showing: 1-5 of 5 results

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

CANCEL

Thank You

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.