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The Vietnam War, known in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America, was an undeclared conflict spanning Vietnam, Laos (with the Laotian Civil War), and Cambodia from 1955 to 1975. The war was officially fought between Communist North Vietnam and opposing South Vietnam. The former was supported by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies; the latter was supported by the United States, South Korea, Philippines, Australia, and other anti-communist allies. The guerrilla warfare tactics used by the Viet Cong is one of the most well-known aspects of the war. 

With a name like Ivan the Terrible, it comes as no surprise that historians consider this Russian Tsar a psychopath. Yet Ivan’s personality consisted of many dualities. He channeled the Medieval era as he committed mass murder, but he also reformed Russia, centralizing it and bringing it into the Renaissance. He liked to torture animals, but he could also be found in church, banging his head in repentance until it bled. This introduction to his life explores the legacy he was born into and deftly contextualizes his cruelty within the era and culture of his rule.

This audiobook tells the story of how one gold nugget found in the American River changed the course of California history forever. The man who found it wasn't too happy, but the businessman who caught wind of it - Samuel Brannan - was thrilled. He spread the word that gold could be found in California soil, triggering a mass migration of workers who made the dangerous trek to California.

Robespierre was a poor, well-educated activist and politician who would seize power during the French Revolution...today he is not remembered for his work on universal male voting rights, price controls for basic food needs, and abolishing slavery...but for his Reign of Terror. How did an intelligent man driven by morals of freedom and justice end up executing thousands in a mad grab to maintain power? Follow his fascinating descent from the Hero of the Republic to its true enemy.

The 20th US president, James A. Garfield, served for only 200 days before his untimely death. His widowed mother raised Garfield in poverty on an Ohio farm. He served as a general in the Civil War before serving his country in the House of Representatives. A passionate man, Garfield had many priorities when elected president - he wanted to reduce the national debt, build up education, and ensure Civil Rights were granted to all freed slaves. Yet his death came too quickly when a madman with a personal vengeance shot him, and a fumbling doctor failed to save his life.

This biography introduces listeners to Ramesses II's many accomplishments as both a warrior-king and a god-king. When he died at age 96, Egyptians believed him to be a higher deity than any who preceded him; in some ways, he achieved eternal life by living on in memory through the end of the Egyptian Empire and beyond.

Neville Chamberlain rose from Parliament to prime minister during one of the most tumultuous times in English history. He worked to calm tensions between England and Germany as Germany became more and more aggressive - most notably signing away part of Czechoslovakia to Germany in a bid to keep the peace. His alliance with Poland would pull Britain into the war, and he would lead them for the first eight months, until stepping down in the hopes that a more united governmental front with new leadership would be what was best for the country.

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was one of the greatest Romans who ever lived. A man of constant honor, he worked side by side with Augustus and was responsible for the marble masterpieces of architecture ancient Rome is known for today. He was a consul, general, architect, and statesman and lived his life according to a strict code of conduct. If not for his early death, the people of Rome were expecting him to be their next emperor. Explore his life and regal legacy and the incredible impact one person can have on the course of a nation's history.

Nikola Tesla, the lesser-known peer of Thomas Edison, invented the X-ray, wireless communication, the electric motor, and more. His greatest contribution, however, lies hidden in the groundwork he laid for future innovation. So many of the technological advancements we enjoy today are thanks to an eccentric scientist from Croatia who tested his far-fetched ideas without fear of failure.

The war gets its name from British colonists’ two primary enemies: the French settlers and the Native Americans who sided with them. The title is a bit misleading, however, as the British also had Native Americans on their side at various points of the war. The conflict goes by "The Seven Years’ War" in Europe because it took place from 1756 to 1763. Britain’s victory solidified the future of the English-speaking North America we know today. However, it also led to the massacre of countless Native peoples throughout North America.

All major historians agree that Gaius Caesar Caligula ruled as a depraved, cruel, and ruthless emperor. Yet some discrepancies in the historical accounts raise questions about what was true and what was libel intended to discredit Caligula as an utter raging, evil madman. This audiobook reexamines the evidence to reveal the exaggerations of history while still detailing the verified truth of Caligula’s monstrous ways.

Charlemagne's name means "Charles the Great", a title he earned after an impressive life filled with military conquests. His life inspired countless tales, including the legends that he was 20 feet tall, that he slept under the guard of 100 armed knights, and that he rose from the dead to aid in the Crusades. While these fantastical tales are false, the truth is equally fantastic: By the end of his life, Charlemagne had been king of the Franks, king of the Lombards, and the first emperor of the newly formed Holy Roman Empire.

The world remembers Audrey Meadows as the sarcastic Alice from The Honeymooners. The show only aired for one 39-episode season, yet a strategic clause in Meadows' contract earned her a fortune over the years for the series' reruns. While The Honeymooners marks the most well-known part of Meadows' life, it represents just a fragment.

Bob Hope (1903-2003) born Leslie Townes Hope, was an American comedian whose career spanned 78 years. During Hope’s long career, he achieved recognition as a stand-up comedian, a vaudevillian, an actor, a singer and dancer, an author, and even an athlete.

Did you know that the Illinois Confederacy of North America is arguably the longest ruling civilization in the world? Surpassing the Romans, Egyptians, Japanese, and Chinese, the Native Americans of this confederacy ruled the Midwest unchallenged for more than 9,000 years.

William Wallace started out as a humble knight, but he died a war hero. He gave up everything in his fight for Scottish freedom, including his life. When captured, Wallace was hung, drawn, and quartered by the English king for crimes against the crown. Though he was memorialized in the 1995 film Braveheart, this book tells how much of what we associate with Wallace is more legend than fact. Still, the spirit of the great Scotsman lives on in the hearts and minds of his compatriots today.

Jesse James grew up in Clay County, Missouri, a place where north and south conflicted over the issue of slavery. Tensions grew in the lead-up to the Civil War, and James’ Southern loyalties meant he had to make a decision. When war broke out, Jesse and his brother Frank joined the Confederate guerrillas known as “bushwhackers” alongside other notorious characters like “Bloody Bill”. By the age of 17, Jesse had escaped death twice and gained a reputation as a ruthless killer. 

Greta Garbo, a Swedish-born American actress, holds her own as one of the top five female stars of the Hollywood Golden Years. The renowned silent film star remained mysteriously silent off-screen, too. This earned her the moniker of “Swedish sphinx,” an aura of mystique she cultivated despite her international stardom. After 20 years in film, she retired and spent the next 50 years as a recluse in New York; she made few public appearances, declining even to attend the 1954 Academy Awards to accept her special Academy Honorary Award.

Get smarter in just 60 minutes with in60Learning. Concise and elegantly written nonfiction books and audiobooks help you learn the core subject matter in 20% of the time that it takes to read a typical book. Life is short, so explore a multitude of fascinating historical, biographical, scientific, political, and financial topics in only an hour each.

Australia's contributions in the Pacific War are often forgotten in history lessons today. However, Australia faced the bombing of its cities and invasions of nearby islands much like the rest of the world, and stood up to fight as needed. They placed a central role from 1942 to 1943 in the New Guinea Campaign and defended Japanese forces invading Port Moseby. Japanese forces then invaded the Australian mainland, trying to cut supply lines, but were fought back by valiant forces. Take to the ground and skies during this mix of intense land and air battles.