The Great Courses - 36 Books That Changed the World - Multiple Professors Audiobook

Written by Multiple Professors
Read by Multiple Professors
Format: M4A
Bitrate: 32 Kbps
Unabridged

Since the development of written language, books have played a central role in our culture. They’ve entertained. They’ve instructed. They’ve inspired. But can a book actually change the course of history?

The answer is, resoundingly, yes. And now, with 36 Books That Changed the World, a fascinating Great Courses Collection crafted from our extensive library of courses, you can now get a riveting intellectual tour of the profound impact of books from thousands of years of history and from civilizations around the globe.

The Art of War, the King James Bible, The Origin of Species, and other works of literature, history, science, philosophy, political theory and religion offer powerful examples of how a single written work can spark revolutions, birth great world religions, spur scientific advancements, shape world economies, teach us new ways of thinking, and so much more.

In the company of an unparalleled roster of award-winning professors from a range of disciplines, you’ll get fresh perspectives on books you only thought you knew—and intriguing introductions to some works you may not have known played key roles in getting us to where we are today.

Deep Dives into a Diversity of Great Books

Carefully curated by our subject matter experts, 36 Books That Changed the World takes you between the lines of a diversity of written works, including novels, epic poems, sacred texts, political treatises, reference books, and more.

You’ll get an expert’s take on books long and short, ancient and modern, fiction and nonfictional.

The Analects: Collecting the philosophies of the great Eastern philosopher Confucius, The Analects is the single most important book in Chinese history. Learn how this book’s insights became the backbone of Chinese ethics and politics for thousands of years.
A Dictionary of the English Language: Explore how Samuel Johnson’s reference book undeniably altered the English vocabulary you use every single day.
The Feminine Mystique: Published in 1963, Betty Friedan’s book radically reshaped the role of women in contemporary society and even changed how women thought of themselves. Take a fascinating look at the history of this great social text and its noted author.

Rediscover the Power of the Printed Word

With 36 Books That Changed the World, you’ll spend more than 15 hours in the company of some of the most insightful and engaging (and even witty) professors The Great Courses has ever worked with. Each lecturer uses his or her wealth of knowledge and years of teaching experience to give you a three-dimensional look at revolutionary books you can’t get by simply reading academic introductions or footnotes.

If you’ve taken another course with these professors before, get a reminder of just why you enjoyed them. And if you’ve never heard some of them before, who knows? You may just discover your next favorite Great Courses professor.

More than that, you’ll rediscover just how powerful the printed word can be. You’ll learn that the mark of a truly great book isn’t that it changes the lives of individual readers—but that it affects entire civilizations.