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August 16 · 5 hr 50 min
The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind
"Civilisations as yet have only been created and directed by a small intellectual aristocracy, never by crowds. Crowds are only powerful for destruction. Their rule is always tantamount to a barbarian phase. A civilisation involves fixed rules, discipline, a passing from the instinctive to the rational state, forethought for the future, an elevated degree of culture — all of them conditions that crowds, left to themselves, have invariably shown themselves incapable of realising. In consequence of the purely destructive nature of their power crowds act like those microbes which hasten the dissolution of enfeebled or dead bodies. When the structure of a civilisation is rotten, it is always the masses that bring about its downfall." - Gustave Le Bon, from Introduction Genre(s): Psychology, Social Science (Culture & Anthropology) Language: English Keyword(s): democracy (17), communism (14), aristocracy (13), criminology (5), Fascism (5), group psychology (1), oligarcy (1)
August 15 · 6 hr 5 min
Crome Yellow
Crome Yellow, published in 1921 was Aldous Huxley’s first novel. In it he satirizes the fads and fashions of the time. It is the witty story of a house party at ‘Crome’ where there is a gathering of bright young things. We hear some of the history of the house from Henry Wimbush, its owner and self appointed historian; Apocalypse is prophesied, virginity is lost, and inspirational aphorisms are gained in a trance. Our hero, Denis, tries to capture it all in poetry and is disappointed in love. The author, Aldous Huxley, was born in 1894 and began writing poetry and short stories in his early twenties; this was his first novel and established his literary reputation. (Summary by Martin Clifton) Genre(s): Satire Language: English Keyword(s): literature (1964)
June 29 · 10 hr 4 min
The Crimson Fairy Book
he Crimson Fairy Book contains thirty-six stories collected from around the world and edited by Andrew Lang. Many tales in this book are translated, or adapted, from those told by mothers and nurses in Hungary; others are familiar to Russian nurseries; the Servians are responsible for some; a rather peculiarly fanciful set of stories are adapted from the Roumanians; others are from the Baltic shores; others from sunny Sicily; a few are from Finland, and Iceland, and Japan, and Tunis, and Portugal. No doubt many children will like to look out these places on the map, and study their mountains, rivers, soil, products, and fiscal policies, in the geography books. The peoples who tell the stories differ in colour; language, religion, and almost everything else; but they all love a nursery tale. The stories have mainly been adapted or translated by Mrs. Lang, a few by Miss Lang and Miss Blackley. (Summary from the preface) Genre(s): Myths, Legends & Fairy Tales Language: English Keyword(s): children (1119), fairy tales (283), andrew lang (8), crimson fairy book (1) Group: Andrew Lang's Fairy Books
#3
June 28 · 6 hr 29 min
Crime and Punishment (Pt.3)
Crime and Punishment (Pt.3) Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881) Translated by Constance Garnett (1861 - 1946) Crime and Punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, an impoverished St. Petersburg student who formulates and executes a plan to kill a hated, unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money, thereby solving his financial problems and at the same time, he argues, ridding the world of evil. Crime and Punishment is considered by many as the first of Dostoevsky's cycle of great novels, which would culminate with his last completed work, The Brothers Karamazov, shortly before his death. (Summary from Wikipedia) Genre(s): Published 1900 onward Language: English Keyword(s): literature (1959)
#2
June 27 · 7 hr 32 min
Crime and Punishment (Pt.2)
Crime and Punishment (Pt.2) Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881) Translated by Constance Garnett (1861 - 1946) Crime and Punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, an impoverished St. Petersburg student who formulates and executes a plan to kill a hated, unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money, thereby solving his financial problems and at the same time, he argues, ridding the world of evil. Crime and Punishment is considered by many as the first of Dostoevsky's cycle of great novels, which would culminate with his last completed work, The Brothers Karamazov, shortly before his death. (Summary from Wikipedia) Genre(s): Published 1900 onward Language: English Keyword(s): literature (1959)
#1
June 26 · 9 hr 23 min
Crime and Punishment (Pt.1)
Crime and Punishment (Pt.1) Crime and Punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, an impoverished St. Petersburg student who formulates and executes a plan to kill a hated, unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money, thereby solving his financial problems and at the same time, he argues, ridding the world of evil. Crime and Punishment is considered by many as the first of Dostoevsky's cycle of great novels, which would culminate with his last completed work, The Brothers Karamazov, shortly before his death. (Summary from Wikipedia)
June 25 · 1 hr 30 min
Creditors
Creditors August Strindberg (1849 - 1912) Translated by Edwin Björkman (1866 - 1951) Creditors is a tragicomedy by August Strindberg that plumbs the depths of the twisted triangular relationship between Tekla, her husband Adolph, and her ex-husband Gustav. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett) Cast: Tekla: Elizabeth Klett Adolph: mb Gustav: Bruce Pirie Narrator: Diana Majlinger Audio edited by: Elizabeth Klett Genre(s): Comedy, Tragedy Language: English Keyword(s): drama (199), strindberg (4), creditors (2)
June 24 · 5 hr 16 min
The Cowardly Lion of Oz (version 2)
The Cowardly Lion of Oz (version 2) Ruth Plumly Thompson (1891 - 1976) Mustafa of Mudge has heard of the famous Cowardly Lion of Oz, and decides to capture him and put him into a zoo! He enlists the help of Bob Up and a clown called Notta Bit More - the master of disguise! The Cowardly Lion meanwhile travels though Oz and meets a stone man, who offers to turn the Cowardly Lion into stone: after all, a stone lion doesn't feel fear! Is this the solution to the Cowardly Lion's quest for courage? Or is it a trap, and does the stone man want to trick him for reasons of his own? The Cowardly Lion of Oz was published in 1923, and is the seventeenth in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum. It is the third by Ruth Plumly Thompson, and comes directly after "Kabumpo in Oz". The main themes are disguises, honesty, and being true to who you are. (Summary by Beth Thomas) Genre(s): General Language: English Keyword(s): Oz (37), l. frank baum (2) Group: Oz books
June 23 · 5 hr 50 min
Cottage Economy
How can you tell when your pig is fat enough? Why should you never buy mustard? What's wrong with eating potatoes? Which is better, beer or tea? And what type of straw makes the best bonnets? William Cobbett is the man to ask. Here is his book of practical advice to the rural labouring 'cottager' (first published as a part-work in 1821-22), the precursor in many ways to the handbooks on self-sufficiency that today entice so many city-dwellers. A champion of the rural working class at a time of huge social and industrial change, a radical politician and a prolific writer, Cobbett is opinionated, passionate and enlightening, making 'Cottage Economy' a fascinating and entertaining window on daily life for the smallholders of his day, and still inspirational, almost 200 years later, to those who seek 'a good living' as the foundation of happiness. (Introduction by Philippa) The figures referred to in the section on ice houses can be viewed here Genre(s): *Non-fiction, House & Home Language: English Keyword(s): advice (81), farming (33), agriculture (31), bread (14), beer (9), pigs (8), self-sufficiency (5), Bacon (4), brewing (3), livestock (2), 19th century life (2), smallholding (1), cows (1)
June 22 · 3 hr 52 min
Confessions of a Convert
Robert Hugh Benson was the youngest son of Edward White Benson, the Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife Mary. Benson was was a prolific and popular writer during his time, and in 1903 he became a prominent convert to the Roman Catholic Church from Anglicanism . In 1904 he was ordained a Catholic priest. This book is his personal story of his journey to the Catholic faith, containing comparisons between Catholicism and the Anglican religion. (Summary by Maria Therese) Genre(s): Biography & Autobiography, Christianity - Biographies Language: English Keyword(s): Catholic (225), priest (23), Anglican (15), convert (3)
June 21 · 5 hr 21 min
Confessions of an English Opium-Eater
“Thou hast the keys of Paradise, O just, subtle, and mighty Opium!” Though apparently presenting the reader with a collage of poignant memories, temporal digressions and random anecdotes, the Confessions is a work of immense sophistication and certainly one of the most impressive and influential of all autobiographies. The work is of great appeal to the contemporary reader, displaying a nervous (postmodern?) self-awareness, a spiralling obsession with the enigmas of its own composition and significance. De Quincey may be said to scrutinise his life, somewhat feverishly, in an effort to fix his own identity. The title seems to promise a graphic exposure of horrors; these passages do not make up a large part of the whole. The circumstances of its hasty composition sets up the work as a lucrative piece of sensational journalism, albeit published in a more intellectually respectable organ – the London Magazine – than are today’s tawdry exercises in tabloid self-exposure. What makes the book technically remarkable is its use of a majestic neoclassical style applied to a very romantic species of confessional writing - self-reflexive but always reaching out to the Reader. (Summary by Martin Geeson) Genre(s): Memoirs Language: English Keyword(s): memoir (101), autobiography (94), alcohol (21), opium (12), addiction (5), confessional (2), laudanum (1)
June 20 · 59 min
Conceptions of Divine Love
Conceptions of Divine LoveSaint Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) Translated by John Dalton (1709 - 1763) Conceptions of Divine Love was written in 1577. St. Teresa wrote this with the idea of explaining certain words found in the Book of Canticles. When her confessor read the title of her work, he ordered her to immediately burn it, which, of course, she did. But one of her nuns had copied the first seven chapters, which was then published in 1612. Here, Father John Dalton has translated only four of those chapters in 1852. (Summary by Ann Boulais) Genre(s): Christianity - Commentary Language: English Keyword(s): religion (744), Catholicism (32), Saint Teresa of Jesus (2)
June 19 · 3 hr 49 min
Common Sense, How to Exercise It
Common Sense, How to Exercise It Yoritomo Tashi (1147 - 1199) Translated by Lily Berthelot De La Boileverie One of three seminal philosophical works by the twelfth century Japanese Shogun, Yoritomo-Tashi. (From the Preface) He knows how to clothe his teachings in fable and appealing legend, and his exotic soul, so near and yet so far, reminds one of a flower, whose familiar aspect is transmuted into rare perfume. By him the sternest questions are stripped of their hostile aspects and present themselves in the alluring form of the simplest allegories of striking poetic intensity. When reading his works, one recalls unconsciously the orations of the ancient philosophers, delivered in those dazzling gardens, luxuriant in sunlight and fragrant with flowers. In this far-away past, one sees also the silhouette of a majestic figure, whose school of philosophy became a religion, which interested the world because it spoke both of love and goodness. But in spite of this fact, the doctrines of Yoritomo are of an imaginative type. His kingdom belongs to this world, and his theories seek less the joys of the hereafter than of that tangible happiness which is found in the realization of the manly virtues and in that effort to create perfect harmony from which flows perfect peace. He takes us by the hand, in order to lead us to the center of that Eden of Knowledge where we have already discovered the art of persuasion, and that art, most difficult of all to acquire—the mastery of timidity. Following him, we shall penetrate once more this Eden, that we may study with Yoritomo the manner of acquiring this art—somewhat unattractive perhaps but essentially primordial—called Common Sense. - Summary by B. Dangennes. Genre(s): Philosophy Language: English Keyword(s): philosophy (997), Japanese (25), self help (10), medeval (1)
June 18 · 4 hr 23 min
Commentary on Galatians
St. John Chrysostom (c. 349 - c. 407) Translated by Gross Alexander (1852 - 1915) St. Chrysostom’s Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians is continuous, according to chapter and verse, instead of being arranged in Homilies, with a moral or practical application at their close, as in his exposition of other Epistles. It was written in Antioch, as Montfaucon infers from a reference which the Author, makes upon Chap. i., ver. 16 to other of his writings, which certainly were written about the same time in that city. (Introduction from the preface by John Henry Newman) Genre(s): Christianity - Commentary Language: English Keyword(s): religion (744), bible (494), Christianity (382), commentary (61), Galatians (8)
June 17 · 3 hr 6 min
The Coming People
Dole briefly sketches the history of life, and shows how it has a definite direction - toward the survival of the kind and gentle people. It's a challenging, and quite persuasive argument, and also a much needed one in light of the dog-eat-dog theories out there. Dole shows that in our evolving society, our traditional understanding of "survival of the fittest" needs to be updated. A book that was way ahead of its time, yet so suited to it. Some may argue that - since he was writing The Coming People before the first two world wars - that he was obviously wrong. However, his argument remains valid given current scientific evidence cited in such books as "Evolution and Empathy", and "The Age of Empathy", and it's noteworthy that he wrote another book after World War I (see, A Religion for the New Day, 1920, where he states that while society is still quite barbaric, he retains his powerful conviction that it "is improving and improvable". ). Also, Dole points to the many flaws of his time (and ours too), and stresses the need to fix them in a peaceful, intelligent manner. Many of the issues he grappled with remain just as strong today, and he stated that it might be such. "The Coming People" is a universal, important message, and will continue to find home in the hearts of agnostics, believers, and atheists (at least for its strong social argument). (Introduction by Max Cusimano) Genre(s): Philosophy Language: English Keyword(s): philosophy (997), religion (744), politics (209)
June 16 · 6 hr 13 min
Comic History of the United States
This text takes the reader on a comical journey from the time of the first European settlement through the Civil War. The author's caustic wit is evident throughout the book in his numerous sarcastic and humorous remarks. The reader will enjoy a "different" type of history book based on facts, yet caustically embellished for entertainment purposes. (Summary by Allyson Hester) Genre(s): History, Humor Language: English Keyword(s): history (910), comedy (201), civil war (155), slavery (149), USA (96), Indians (47), pioneers (21), new world (7), comic (6), us (6), united (3), states (3)
#2
June 15 · 6 hr 49 min
The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution (Pt.2)
The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution (Pt.2) William Cooper Nell (1816 - 1874) A study of the black patriots of the American Revolution, with introductions by Harriet Beecher Stowe and Wendell Phillips. Genre(s): War & Military, Biography & Autobiography Language: English Keyword(s): revolution (58)
#1
June 14 · 3 hr 53 min
The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution (Pt. 1)
The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution (Pt. 1) William Cooper Nell (1816 - 1874) A study of the black patriots of the American Revolution, with introductions by Harriet Beecher Stowe and Wendell Phillips. Genre(s): War & Military, Biography & Autobiography Language: English Keyword(s): revolution (58)
June 13 · 4 hr 45 min
Cocoa and Chocolate
As that heavenly bit of chocolate melts in our mouths, we give little thought as to where it came from, the arduous work that went in to its creation, and the complex process of its maturation from a bean to the delicacy we all enjoy. This "little book" details everything you have ever wanted to know (and some things you never knew you wanted to know) about cocoa and chocolate from how the trees are planted and sustained to which countries produce the most cacao beans. Do cacao beans from various countries differ? What makes some types of chocolate higher quality than other kinds? Are there any health benefits to eating chocolate? Read on to learn the answers to these and many other questions about that wondrous little treat we call chocolate. (Summary by Allyson Hester) Genre(s): *Non-fiction, History, Cooking Language: English Keyword(s): history (910), cooking (77), food (51)
June 12 · 5 hr 25 min
The Cloud of Unknowing
Translated by Evelyn Underhill (1875 - 1941) The Cloud of Unknowing (Middle English: The Cloude of Unknowyng) is an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in Middle English in the latter half of the 14th century. The text is a spiritual guide on contemplative prayer in the late Middle Ages. The book counsels a young student to seek God, not through knowledge and intellection (faculty of the human mind), but through intense contemplation, motivated by love, and stripped of all thought. This is brought about by putting all thoughts and desires under a "cloud of forgetting", and thereby piercing God's cloud of unknowing with a "dart of longing love" from the heart. This form of contemplation is not directed by the intellect, but involves spiritual union with God through the heart. (Summary by Wikipedia) Genre(s): Christianity - Other Language: English Keyword(s): religion (744), Christianity (382), mediaeval (4), Christian mysticism (1)

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