Micromegas

By: Voltaire

Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi

Length: 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

If we were as tiny as ants to another being, what would they make of our philosophies? The great satirist Voltaire imagines alien visitors who have opinions.  

Bedtime stories are narrated by the world's most celebrated voices and written with no beginning, middle, or end so you don't stay up to hear what happens next. They're interesting enough to give your mind something to focus on, but delivered in a way that encourages sleep. 

This title is part of The Audible Sleep Collection, exclusive audio experiences created to invite relaxation and sleep. New and free for members.

Public Domain (P)2020 Audible

Hilarious!

I haven’t read Voltaire before, shameful, but I will do so more. This was quite brilliant and kept me laughing - what wonderful satire. The reader was well chosen, it’s the same fellow that read Ender’s Game I think which makes perfect sense as the direction those books take remind me a lot of Micromegas - although I haven’t found any sources that speak to an influence Voltaire may have had. I can’t give the narrator 5 stars as I didn’t listen to it before bed and would’ve preferred a regular pace because I love the story. Not sure if this is the best pick for sleep, it’s too funny and engaging.

NOT for a scientific mind

I know this was written long ago, in an age when the common person had little knowledge of science or physics, but in this era, it belongs in a Reader’s Digest.

The scientific inaccuracies and leaps of reality (e.g. “People only have 200 senses on our planet. Oh, that’s nothing, we have thousands.”) is so distracting that it kept me up. Definitely not conducive to sleep.

The reader isn’t bad, but isn’t great. Maybe it’s a “sleepy” persona he uses, which would fit the bill, but I found it distracting.

Should be required reading in school

A Brilliantly narrated version of Voltaire‘s “Micromegas” which delves into PERCEPTION and leaves the “necessity” of our very existence left hanging... That is a poor description. listen, ponder, and perceive ;-)

great narrator

I can't say enough about how much I love the sound of this narrator's voice. Most narrators range from good to very good, but this one is GREAT. What a gift! I will be looking for more books read by Mr. Onayemi.

What an intriguing bedtime story

So, I listened to Micromegas by Voltaire last night. Voltaire--really? Must be the translator because some of the phrases are way too current to be that old. This is supposed to put you to sleep...I don't know if it did, because at first it made me tense--the concepts blew my mind and I couldn't quite tell if the author was serious or not, but then I kind of relaxed into it, drifted away, came back, drifted away again, and slept--but I might have fallen asleep anyway. MicroMegas--tiny/gigantic...I'm definitely going to listen to it again, just because the whole thing was intriguing, although it's read in a straightforward way, no highs or lows, so it doesn't jar the brain that way. Oh yeah, PS, it is also funny in a weird way.

Perfect for sleep!

I absolutely LOVE the way Micromegas is read as a bedtime story to put me to sleep! It works every time I listen to it at bedtime, and even when I want to take a catnap. The surprise is that I love the story too. I even try to listen and can’t so I’be found another Audible to buy and will have to get some Voltaire.

subject matter turned dark

woke to hear "massacre of those in turbins" Don't need that in my sleep script.

Soothing performance... Don't recall story

The performer has an amazing voice... Very soothing. Put me to sleep! I don't really remember anything about the story because it put me right to sleep! Usually I wake constantly throughout the night in pain. It must be me clenching muscles, because I woke less after listening to this and I was far more comfortable than usual.

Put Me to Sleep

If helping me fall asleep is the purpose of this book, it is truly a successful piece of prose.

A Scientific Fairy Tail from 1752

This is early science fiction, it deals with cosmology the self and scale. Fans of calm restful readings take note, this one helps me sleep and pills don't. The humor is that of the french author wit and libertine Voltaire, which is as brandy to todays box wine jokes. Give him your ears and he may get you to chuckle yourself to sleep. 💤🪐