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The Ugly Duckling tells the story a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from others around him, until, much to his delight, he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The story is beloved around the world as a tale about personal transformation for the better.
The little book by Epictetus called Enchiridion or Manual has played a disproportionately large role in the rise of modern attitudes and modern philosophy. As soon as it had been translated into the vernacular languages, it became a best seller among independent intellectuals, among anti-Christian thinkers, and among philosophers of a subjective cast. Montaigne had a copy of the Enchiridion among his books. Pascal violently rejected the megalomaniac pride of the Stoic philosopher. Frederick the Great carried the book with him on all campaigns.
The Apology of Socrates, by Plato, is the Socratic dialogue that presents the speech of legal self-defense, which Socrates presented at his trial for impiety and corruption in 399 BC.
Specifically, the Apology of Socrates is a defense against the charges of corrupting the young and “not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel” to Athens.
John Milton's Paradise Lost has been captivating audiences since the 17th century. Milton, an acclaimed poet, writes in the style of an epic poem with blank verse. The story centers around the devastating fall of humanity against the Judeo-Christian backdrop. The story unfolds around the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve, who fall prey to temptation and fall from grace. They are ultimately expelled from the Garden of Eden.
A must-listen for the progressive mind, The Kybalion: A Study of the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece was originally published under the pen name, Three Initiates, in 1908. It claims to have been based on the philosophy of Hermeticism, which became influential to the development of the New Age of Thought in the early 1900s. It is very similar to the advice offered by the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. The book is devoted to exploring seven principles centered around mentalism, correspondence, vibration, polarity, rhythm, causation and effect, and gender.
Tao Te Ching was written around 4 BC but still remains one of the most influential works in the study of "tao". Tao is one of the classical philosophies in the foundation of Chinese culture. In 81 chapters, Lao Tzu uses the tao, or the flow of everything to explore the "Way".The Way refers to the natural unfolding of order and progress into society and into the world. Taoism, or the study of tao, is a personal progression towards ultimate harmony with tao. Tao Te Ching introduces elements such as personal knowledge and virtue in order to move closer toward the goal of tao.
The Ugly Duckling tells the story a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from others around him, until, much to his delight, he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. The story is beloved around the world as a tale about personal transformation for the better.
The little book by Epictetus called Enchiridion or Manual has played a disproportionately large role in the rise of modern attitudes and modern philosophy. As soon as it had been translated into the vernacular languages, it became a best seller among independent intellectuals, among anti-Christian thinkers, and among philosophers of a subjective cast. Montaigne had a copy of the Enchiridion among his books. Pascal violently rejected the megalomaniac pride of the Stoic philosopher. Frederick the Great carried the book with him on all campaigns.
The Apology of Socrates, by Plato, is the Socratic dialogue that presents the speech of legal self-defense, which Socrates presented at his trial for impiety and corruption in 399 BC.
Specifically, the Apology of Socrates is a defense against the charges of corrupting the young and “not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel” to Athens.
John Milton's Paradise Lost has been captivating audiences since the 17th century. Milton, an acclaimed poet, writes in the style of an epic poem with blank verse. The story centers around the devastating fall of humanity against the Judeo-Christian backdrop. The story unfolds around the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve, who fall prey to temptation and fall from grace. They are ultimately expelled from the Garden of Eden.
A must-listen for the progressive mind, The Kybalion: A Study of the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece was originally published under the pen name, Three Initiates, in 1908. It claims to have been based on the philosophy of Hermeticism, which became influential to the development of the New Age of Thought in the early 1900s. It is very similar to the advice offered by the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. The book is devoted to exploring seven principles centered around mentalism, correspondence, vibration, polarity, rhythm, causation and effect, and gender.
Tao Te Ching was written around 4 BC but still remains one of the most influential works in the study of "tao". Tao is one of the classical philosophies in the foundation of Chinese culture. In 81 chapters, Lao Tzu uses the tao, or the flow of everything to explore the "Way".The Way refers to the natural unfolding of order and progress into society and into the world. Taoism, or the study of tao, is a personal progression towards ultimate harmony with tao. Tao Te Ching introduces elements such as personal knowledge and virtue in order to move closer toward the goal of tao.
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" is a short story from the 1894 anthology The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling about the adventures of a valiant young mongoose. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, as the mongoose is named, becomes washed away by a summer flood and is revived by a British family living in India. Rikki-Tikki, taking the role of both a pet and protector of his newly adoptive family, encounters many dangers in his new life.
The most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes, the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his or her own instincts and ideas. It is the source of one of Emerson's most famous quotations, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." This essay is a considered a watershed moment in which transcendentalism became a major cultural movement. An American classic.
The Importance of Being Earnest is a play written by the renowned playwright and author, Oscar Wilde. It premiered in London on Valentines Day, 1895, and was an instant success. With The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde accomplished what he'd set out to do, which was to make light of the humorous behavior of British high society.
At 23, F. Scott penned this brilliant best-seller kicking off the roaring 20’s and the Jazz Age. Semi-autobiographical and unabridged, versatile actor Chris Hendrie creates vibrant characters as the story follows the life of gifted and handsome Amory Blaine as he falls in love with beautiful society girls while trying to define and find himself. Beautifully set in the lost generation just before the 1929 stock market crash that ended this flamboyant era.
Thomas Paine published Common Sense in 1776, a time when America was a hotbed of revolution. The pamphlet, which called for America's political freedom, sold more than 150,000 copies in three months. Paine not only spurred his fellow Americans to action but soon came to symbolize the spirit of the Revolution itself. His persuasive pieces, written so elegantly, spoke to the hearts and minds of all those fighting for freedom from England.
Seneca's Letters from a Stoic is considered one of the thought-leaders of philosophy in the history of classical literature. The compilation offers a comprehensive introduction to the stoic philosophy. Stoicism is Hellenistic philosophy that dominated literature and conversation until around Three AD. Its roots are traced back to ancient Greece at its founding by Zeno of Citium.
The Metamorphosis is a novella written by Franz Kafka that was first published in 1915.
Dating back to 1645, The Book of Five Rings has been translated and republished many times, and expands well beyond its initial following of the practice of martial arts. It is considered the classic text of general martial arts, but has also gained acclaim by business and thought leaders who respect its perspective on conflict resolution. Written by Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings strives to connect philosophy with diligent practice.
White Fang, first published in 1906, is considered a classic adventure novel. Set during the Klondike Gold Rush in Canada in the late 19th century, White Fang is written in viewpoint of the eponymous dog.
The book that has inspired entrepreneurs for generations, not only is My Life and Work by Henry Ford a memoir of an American icon but it also shows the spirit that built America. Written in 1922, this work provides a unique insight into the observations, ideas, and problem-solving skills of this remarkable man.
Olaudah Equiano's autobiography challenged minds and hearts in the late 1700s. The first autobiography ever written by a former slave, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is one of the most well-recognized slave-narratives. It was first published in 1789 and gained notoriety as a mechanism for the abolitionist movement in England in 1807. In his work, Equiano illuminates the life of himself as a slave and then a freed man, ultimately becoming a respected politician and philosopher.
During a train trip from Chicago to Texas in the late 1940s, A.W. Tozer began to write The Pursuit of God. He wrote all night, and when the train arrived at his destination, the rough draft was done. The depth of this book has made it an enduring favorite.
Benjamin Franklin was a respected writer, inventor, scientist, and statesman. Franklin had a hand in much of America's history, including the writing of the Declaration of Independence and negotiating in the Revolutionary War. He invented many modern technologies, including the bifocal lens. All of these accomplishments and more are documented by Franklin himself in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.
In his life's tale, Franklin chronicles his childhood and young life and then shares how he began and ultimately thrived in his career. A true politician, intellectual, and businessman, Franklin shares an honest reflection on his life's work. Franklin's The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a look inside the mind of one of America's wisest sons.
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
I would recommend this book with a couple of cautions. The biography is very fascinating, however, the rate of the speaker was too fast and difficult to maintain.
What did you like best about this story?
I enjoyed the details of Benjamin's life. How he felt and grasping the differences in the way families were then to how they are now.
What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?
The orator had a nice voice, however, his pace was a bit fast and I had to really concentrate on listening. I finally turned the speed down to 0.75 and that was much easier.
Was The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin worth the listening time?
Yes, if you are interested in history at all, then this is definitely worth your time.