Arts Podcasts
Librivox: Outline of Science, Vol. 1, The (Solo) by Thomson, J. ArthurJoin Now to Follow
In The Outline of Science, Thomson gives us a window into scientific thinking as it stood in 1922 on the big, the little, and the biological. With straightforward language intended for a general audience, this book covers astronomy from the Solar System to the Milky Way, the submicroscopic makeup of matter from protons and electrons, and the evolution of simple living beings into the varied fauna of the world today. Thomson cites many examples that would have been familiar to his readers of the day and notes where scientific understanding leaves off and conjecture begins. He clearly shows how the accumulation of observation and experiment stacked up to form the body of knowledge reported in the book. For even the scientifically well-versed, there will be interesting nuggets, for investigation into how the world came to be as it was, was both wide and deep. To a modern listener, what was not known may be as interesting as what was. With the 100-inch Mt. Wilson reflector the largest telescope in the world, the existence of galaxies outside the Milky Way was suspected but not confirmed. Neutrons, soon to become important in the field of nuclear energy and atomic bombs, were as yet unguessed-at, yet the prospect of liberating the immense energy of the atom was already a keen interest. Although the famous Michaelson-Morley experiment had already been seen as disproof of an all-pervading "ether" which facilitated the flow of energy across empty space, scientists still retained ether as a place-holder for properties they could measure but not explain - an approach very similar to the "dark matter" of modern cosmology. Regardless of your personal sentiments on Darwin's theory of evolution, Thomson provides well-chosen examples that illustrate why this theory arose. He examines not only the fossil record but the evidences present in modern living beings that the process of evolution is by no means finished, but ongoing. Even at that time, Thomson worried over the future of energy sources. He contemplated the exhaustion of the coal fields and indeed, the eventual exhaustion of all usable energy in the universe, foreshadowing our concept of entropy. This book has been consistently among the "Top 100 E-Books" published by Project Gutenberg. Summary by Mark F. Smith.
By LibriVox
Librivox: What Katy Did by Coolidge, SusanJoin Now to Follow
What Katy Did is a children's book written by Susan Coolidge, the pen name of Sarah Chauncey Woolsey. It follows the adventures of Katy Carr and her family, growing up in America in the 1860s. Katy is a tall untidy tomboy, forever getting into scrapes but wishing to be beautiful and beloved. When a terrible accident makes her an invalid, her illness and recovery gradually teach her to be as good and kind as she has always wanted. (Summary by Wikiipedia)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Zhetvariat (The Reaper) by Yovkov, YordanJoin Now to Follow
In the tiny village of Lyulyakovo fiercely clash human greed, hate and lust for power. However, the souls of the adversaries are still open to the light of Jesus: the light which transfigures through the miracle of His Icon: who is the Reaper, Who blesses the harvesting of good grains in the souls and uproots the tares of evil from there: this is what the master of the Bulgarian literature, Yordan Yovkov, relates with words of golden wheat and azure skies, taking the reader beyond the passions and mundane dust, through the suffering of the awaken conscience to the final victory of truth and good. (Summary by Euthymius)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Road Builders, The by de Cleyre, VoltairineJoin Now to Follow
LibriVox volunteers bring you 12 different recordings of The Road Builders, by Voltairine de Cleyre. This was the weekly poetry project for the week of June 29th, 2008.
By LibriVox
Librivox: Early Kings of Norway by Carlyle, ThomasJoin Now to Follow
"The Icelanders, in their long winter, had a great habit of writing; and were, and still are, excellent in penmanship. It is to this fact, that any little history there is of the Norse Kings and their old tragedies, crimes and heroisms, is almost all due. The Icelanders, it seems, not only made beautiful letters on their paper or parchment, but were laudably observant and desirous of accuracy; and have left us such a collection of narratives (Sagas, literally "Says") as, for quantity and quality, is unexampled among rude nations. Snorro Sturleson's History of the Norse Kings is built out of these old Sagas; and has in it a great deal of poetic fire,. . . and deserves to be reckoned among the great history-books of the world. It is from these sources that the following rough notes of the early Norway Kings are hastily thrown together." (Excerpted from Thomas Carlyle's preface by Karen Merline)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Pélerinage d'un nommé Chrétien, Le : écrit sous l'allégorie d'un songe by Bunyan, JohnJoin Now to Follow
« Le pélerinage d'un nommé Chrétien » est un roman allégorique de John Bunyan, publié en 1678. L'auteur rédigea cet ouvrage en 1675, alors qu'il était emprisonné pour avoir violé le Conventicle Act, qui punissait les personnes coupables d'avoir organisé des services religieux non autorisés et sans supervision de l'Église anglicane. Le récit rapporte les aventures de Chrétien, un homme ordinaire tâchant de se frayer un chemin depuis la "Cité de la destruction" jusqu'à la "Cité céleste" de Sion. "The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come" by John Bunyan (published February, 1678) is a Christian allegory. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print. The allegory tells of Christian, an everyman character, who makes his way from the "City of Destruction" (Earth) to the "Celestial City" (Heaven) of Zion. (Summary from Wikipedia, adapted by Ezwa)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Motor Girls , The by Penrose, MargaretJoin Now to Follow
When Cora Kimball got her new auto for her birthday she had no idea what adventures would start for her and her brother Jack. Where did Ed’s money and bonds disappear? Were they misplaced or were they stolen and lost forever. Did the conceited Sid Wilcox have something to do with the missing money, with the help of Ida Giles? And what did the obnoxious Lem Gildy have to do with it all? Join Cora and her friends in this mystery and adventure of The Motor Girls. (Summary by Lucy Burgoyne)
By LibriVox
Librivox: Child-life in Art by Hurll, Estelle M.Join Now to Follow
The poetry of childhood is full of attractiveness to the artist, and many and varied are the forms in which he interprets it. The Christ-child has been his highest ideal. All that human imagination could conceive of innocence and purity and divine loveliness has been shown forth in the delineation of the Babe of Bethlehem. The influence of such art has made itself felt upon all child pictures. It matters not whether the subject be a prince or a street-waif; the true artist sees in him something which is lovable and winning, and transfers it to his canvas for our lasting pleasure. (Summary from the Preface of Child-life in Art )
By LibriVox
Librivox: Fulco de Minstreel by Kieviet, Cornelis JohannesJoin Now to Follow
Dit avonturenverhaal speelt zich af vlak voor het jaar 1300. Fulco, dienaar van de ridder Gijsbrecht van IJsselstein, heeft zijn bijnaam "De Minstreel" gekregen omdat hij zo mooi kan zingen. Heer Gijsbrecht trouwt met zijn geliefde Bertha, wat gevierd wordt met een groot toernooi. Maar een paar weken later slaat hun geluk om in ongeluk: ze raken van elkaar gescheiden, Gijsbrecht wordt door zijn vijanden gevangen genomen, terwijl Bertha in het kasteel IJsselstein belegerd wordt. Kan Fulco hen uit deze benarde positie redden? Reading in Dutch of "Fulco de Minstreel" - a historical adventure story of knights, gentle ladies and minstrels. [summary by Anna Simon]
By LibriVox
Amazon BookClipsJoin Now to Follow
Amazon BookClips – A weekly podcast offering customers a free sneak peek at some of the most popular soon-to-be-released audiobooks. Upcoming titles include Einstein by Walter Isaacson and Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark, plus an exclusive, advance preview of Janet Evanovich’s Lean Mean 13.
By Amazon editors
