Random Audiobook Podcasts

Cyril Gordon, a young and handsome secret service agent is running from pursuers who desperately want the information he holds. He hides out from them in a church, and then finds himself married to a woman he’s never seen before. A sweet and sometimes, funny, romance, with several exciting chases.

Categories: Arts, Religion & Spirituality

Tags: Adventure, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Grace Livingston Hill, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, religion, romance, Spy stories, The Best Man

If you’ve read and loved Alice in Wonderland, you wouldn’t want to miss reading about her further adventures, the strange and fantastical creatures she meets and the delightful style and word-play that made the first book so appealing. Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll is thematically much more structured and cleverly constructed as compared to the earlier Alice book but still retains its childhood elements of wonder, curiosity and imagination. Lewis Carroll was the pseudonym of Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a gifted mathematics professor at Oxford during the late 19th century. He suffered from lifelong shyness, a debilitating stammer and several physical deformities including partial deafness. Awkward and uncomfortable with adults, he bloomed in the company of children and had a special insight into their world. He portrays Alice as a well-mannered child, brought up in a privileged background. Based on a real little girl whose father was also at Oxford during the time Dodgson was there, Alice and her sisters formed the inspiration for these books which went on to be ranked among the best loved in children’s literature. Through the Looking-Glass takes Alice through the mirror hanging on her nursery wall into a realm beyond. Here she finds a mirror image of her own world, but with everything reversed. Books with printing that can only be read when held up to a mirror, animated chess-pieces, memorable characters from nursery-rhymes like Humpty Dumpty, The Lion and the Unicorn, Tweedledum and Tweedledee and a host of strange creatures with even stranger names like the Jabberwock and the Bandersnatch. The Red Queen, the White Queen and the White Knight are other characters who populate the looking-glass world. Poems like Jabberwocky explore the limits of language, while the Walrus and the Carpenter are simply hilarious. Chess forms the framework of the plot, the mirror-world is made up of squares which Alice moves through sequentially in pawn-like moves, symbolizing the dominance of fate in our lives. Funny poems and delightful turns of phrase that Lewis Carroll is justly famous for, continue to sparkle in this book too. The dream-like quality is retained in Through the Looking-Glass, with abrupt changes in location and characters. In the years that followed their publication, Lewis Carroll’s books have been intensely studied by literary critics, psychologists, mathematicians and chess enthusiasts. Yet despite all the analysis and study, Through the Looking-Glass remains a charming and innocent portrayal of childhood imagination and creativity. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Comedy, Kids & Family

Tags: Adventure, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fantasy, fiction, free audio books, humor, Kids, Lewis Carroll, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Teen/Young adult, Through the Looking-Glass

First published in 1863, The Water Babies by Rev Charles Kingsley became a Victorian children’s classic along with J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and Lewis Caroll’s Alice books. It is an endearing and entertaining novel that can equally be enjoyed by adult readers as well. However, it fell out of favor in later years since it contained many ideas that are considered politically incorrect and offensive today from a humanitarian perspective. The Water Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby to give the book its complete title tells the story of Tom, a young orphan chimney-sweep in Victorian London. Tom is apprenticed to the mean Mr Grimes, who employs such children to work in inhuman and often dangerous conditions, sweeping out the chimneys of large houses. When Tom is assigned to work at Harthover House, a stately mansion, he is dazzled by the luxury and elegance of the place. He stumbles into the bedroom of the daughter of the house and his appearance startles her so much that she “screams like a peacock!” Tom is equally frightened and he rushes out of the house, falls into a river and drowns! But this is only the beginning of a great underwater adventure. Scholars have described The Water Babies as a didactic fable. Kingsley expresses many of the prevailing attitudes and prejudices against different races, countries and customs. He also expected the book to be read as a satire against the cruel and inhuman child labor laws of the time. Kingsley was himself a contradiction. He was a devout churchman who was one of Charles Darwin’s greatest supporters. He was also profoundly influenced by the scientific thinkers of the day like Thomas Huxley and Sir Roderick Murchison. The Water Babies was first published as a serial in Macmillan’s Magazine. It reflects some of the issues that concerned Victorians of the time. Problems like sanitation, health reforms, Christian Socialism, child abuse and primary education are discussed at various points in the book. After his studies at Cambridge, he chose to go into the Church and was ordained as a minister, from whence he rose to become the chaplain of Queen Victoria. He also wrote several other popular books like Westward Ho! Hypatia and Two Years Ago. A prolific writer and speaker, Kingsley’s works were received with great admiration during his lifetime. In fact, a town in England was named Westward Ho! It is the only town with an exclamation mark in the country and perhaps the world! The Water Babies is indeed an interesting slice of an era long past and a great addition to your collection. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Kids & Family

Tags: Adventure, audio books, audiobook, Charles Kingsley, ebooks, Fairy tales, fantasy, fiction, free audio books, Kids, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, The Water-Babies

Season 1 for… Ulysses by James Joyce. The unabridged text, read by more than a hundred writers, artists, comedians and musicians

Season 2 for… Bloomcast. A deep-dive into the text with Adam Biles, Alice McCrum and Lex Paulson, as well as other bonus episodes.

To celebrate a hundred years since Sylvia Beach published James Joyce’s Ulysses, and to encourage readers to engage (or re-engage) with this spirited, funny, life-changing book, Shakespeare and Company, Paris—in partnership with Penguin Classics and Hay Festival—created an ensemble recording of the unabridged text, released as a free podcast between the centenary of the publication on 2nd February 2022 and Bloomsday on June 16 2022.

Read by more than a hundred writers, artists, comedians and musicians from all over the world— including Sally Rooney, Margaret Atwood, Stephen Fry, Pete Buttigieg, Kae Tempest, Ben Okri, Ali Smith, Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley and many, many more… (full cast list below)—Friends of Shakespeare and Company read Ulysses is a polyphonic and diverse celebration of this Modernist masterwork.

Conceived and produced by Adam Biles, Literary Director at Shakespeare and Company, Paris

Discover more about Shakespeare and Company here: https://shakespeareandcompany.com

Buy the Penguin Classics official partner edition of Ulysses here: https://shakespeareandcompany.com/d/9780241552636/ulysses

Find out more about Hay Festival here: https://www.hayfestival.com/home

Featuring (in order):

Will Self

Jeanette Winterson

Paul Murray

Ishion Hutchinson

Caoilinn Hughes

Eddie Izzard

Lola Peploe

Nathan Englander

Joe Dunthorne

Kate Stables

Jarred McGinnis

Nicholson Baker

Richard Barnett

Amy Sackville

Chigozie Obioma

Erica Wagner

Patrick Marber

Claire-Louise Bennett

Aleksandar Hemon

Ryan Van Winkle

Cressida Brown

Holly Pester

Adam Thirlwell

Catherine Lacey

Ciaran Farrell

Lauren Elkin

Andrew Hankinson

Conor Horgan

Andy Miller

Preti Taneja

Salena Godden

Sinéad Gleeson

Luke Kennard

Sophie Gorman

Nicole Flattery

John Freeman

Aysegul Savas

Daniel Levin Becker

John Butler

John Mitchinson

Sigrid Rausing

Max Porter

Eimear McBride

Keith Ridgway

Philip Hoare

Deborah Landau

Karthika Nair

Cerys Matthews

DBC Pierre

Katharina Volckmer

Mark O’Connell

Marcel Theroux

Sylvia Whitman & David Delannet

Lenny Kaye

Sarah Churchwell

Olivia Laing

Katie Kitamura

Ali Smith

Keri Walsh

Lesley Blume

Patrick Hastings

Ben Okri

Colm Toibin

Chloe Aridjis

Stephen Fry

Douglas Stuart

Pete Buttigieg

Tara Mulholland

Paul Muldoon

S&Co Table Readers (Anne Bielec, Ben Brown, Amanda Dennis, Linda Fallon, Heather Heartley, Octavia Horgan, Conor Lee Bourke, Lex Paulson, Kate Poston, Francesca Reece)

David Keenan

Tom McCarthy

David Szalay

Jesse Ball

Carter Bays

James Gregor

Will Burns

Declan McCavana

Greg Proops

Jennifer Canada

Sam Jordison

Eloise Millar

Hollie McNish

Michael Pedersen

Jonathan Safran Foer

Sasha Foer

Ethan Hawke

Rob Doyle

Roisin Kiberd

Lucy Sante

Caitlinn O Keefe

Deborah Levy

Meena Kandasamy

Joanna Lumley

Susan Philipz

Sylvia Whitman

Bonnie Greer

Emilie Pine

Margaret Atwood

Kae Tempest

Lou Doillon

Sally Rooney

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Categories: Arts, Fiction, History

Tags: audiobook, dublin, ireland, Joyce, Literature, modernism, paris, ulysses

The Notebooks of Leonardo Da VinciPREFACEA singular fatality has ruled the destiny of nearly all the most famous of Leonardo da Vinci’s works. Two of the three most important were never completed, obstacles having arisen during his life-time, which obliged him to leave them unfinished; namely the Sforza Monument and the Wall-painting of the Battle of Anghiari, while the third–the picture of the Last Supper at Milan–has suffered irremediable injury from decay and the repeated restorations to which it was recklessly subjected during the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries. Nevertheless, no other picture of the Renaissance has become so wellknown and popular through copies of every description. Vasari says, and rightly, in his Life of Leonardo, that he laboured much more by his word than in fact or by deed, and the biographer evidently had in his mind the numerous works in Manuscript which have been preserved t

Categories: Arts

Tags: art, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, free audio books, Leonardo da Vinci, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, science, The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci

A journey that takes the hero, Christian, through the varied landscapes that constitute life and through the events that happen to human beings is the plot of The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. Readers who have read and loved Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women would recall the many references to this 17th century work of religious fiction. The Pilgrim’s Progress is based on several values based in the teachings of Christianity. The importance of using the Bible as a guiding principle in life, of traveling not just geographically but also spiritually, the emphasis on community living and of the companionship of fellow people and many other themes. The story begins with a detailed explanation by the author in which he explains his beliefs about misconceptions in people’s minds about religion and fiction. He examines the role of stories and parables in the Bible and how they are used to teach us certain lessons about life. The narration goes on to portray a dream that the narrator has once when he is wandering in the wilderness. In the dream, a man named Christian is visited by a spiritual guide called Evangelist who urges him to leave his home in the City of Destruction and embark on an arduous journey to the Celestial City. Christian’s family and friends refuse to go with him and he finally leaves alone, carrying a heavy burden. The rest of the book describes the strange and laborious journey, punctuated by grief, disappointment, fear and many difficulties. Each of these incidents are portrayed as different people or places that Christian has to pass or overcome before he can continue on his journey and reach his final glorious destination. Written in the period between 1677-84 by writer/preacher John Bunyan whose own life was as eventful, fraught with suffering and misfortunes, The Pilgrim’s Progress was written during one of his terms of imprisonment for violating religious laws. The book received enormous acclaim and went on to become one of the most popular religious texts in Christianity. It was translated into many languages and was used by preachers and missionaries the world over. The Pilgrim’s Progress retains enormous appeal for its imaginative and lyrical prose, wonderful descriptions of landscape and travel, simple yet elegant style and also for the delightful touches of humor. Many of the names of places are phrases taken from the Bible, which went on to become common idioms. For modern-day readers, both young and old, Pilgrim’s Progress is an interesting and inspiring read. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Religion & Spirituality

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, John Bunyan, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, religion, The Pilgrim's Progress

Regarded as the first full-length locked room mystery, the novel focuses on a murder that has occurred inside a locked room, with no clear indication as to the weapon used, the perpetrator of the horrendous crime, or a possible escape route. Needless to say, The Big Bow Mystery has all the elements necessary to engage its audience and encourage them to look between the lines in an attempt to unravel the complex murder. Set in Bow, east London, the novel opens when Mrs. Drabdump, a widow who rents out rooms, panics when one of her lodgers does not respond to her fervent attempts to wake him. In a moment of distress, she seeks the help of her neighbor George Grodman, incidentally a former detective, who eventually forces his way inside the room. Consequently, they witness a gruesome sight, as they find Arthur Constant dead, his throat slashed. Astounded by the strange circumstances under which the murder has occurred, bearing in mind that the door and windows were locked and secured from the inside with no apparent way of leaving the crime scene, the case is truly baffling. Moreover, the motive for the murder is also a mystery, as Constant was a likeable man, known for his efforts to help the working class. The perplexing case is taken up by Grodman and Inspector Edward Wimp, who share a mutual detest, yet amusingly play along with an act of cordiality. Nevertheless, they go out of their way to unravel the mystery that has left everyone awestruck. Zangwill efficiently combines an absorbing plot, a witty selection of characters, a list of Dickensian names, humor, and a puzzling murder waiting to be solved, to create a piece renowned for its sardonic style and satirical portrayal of Victorian London. Certain to keep one guessing to the very end, the novel offers many clues, however, only to meticulous observers.

Categories: Arts, Comedy

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Israel Zangwill, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, MYSTERY, satire, The Big Bow Mystery

Originally written for his young daughter Josephine, who died tragically aged six, The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling is a collection of short stories which were published separately in magazines before being compiled into a book. The stories are in the form of fables, where animals communicate and speak to each other as humans do and the purpose of each story was to convey a moral or message to the reader. Modern readers would be more familiar with the Disney animated version in which Mowgli the little “man-cub” is raised by wolves. As he grows, he is trained by denizens of the jungle like Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear and Kaa the snake. The dreaded tiger Sher Khan is a diabolical villain, feared by all. However, the book is quite different from the Disney film which tends to romanticize some of the characters and demonize others! The original Jungle Book includes the delightful Riki Tiki Tavi tales about a valiant and clever mongoose who protects his friends from the dangerous snakes of the jungle. Contrary to the film version again, only a few of the stories are about Mowgli. What strikes the reader is the sense of wonder and magic that Kipling evokes in these stories about the mysterious jungle and its inhabitants. The writer’s brilliant skills with the English language are another feature that makes the book such a reading pleasure. Interspersed with delightful poems, this is indeed the perfect choice for a read-aloud with your kids! First published in book form in 1894, the original edition contained beautiful illustrations by Rudyard’s father, John Lockwood Kipling, an artist and art teacher who spent much of his career in India. It was here that Kipling first heard Indian folk tales and was inspired to recreate his versions of them for his own children. The Jungle Book also gained a great reputation for being a “moral story” and Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouts movement requested permission from Kipling to use many of the book’s situations and characters as motivational resources. The leader of a Scout pack was dubbed “Akela” after the warrior wolf of the Free People as wolves are called in the Jungle Book. Kipling was a journalist who covered several wars like the Boer War in South Africa. His extensive body of work includes the famous Just So Stories, Kim and several volumes of short stories, articles, essays and poetry. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907 and till date, remains the youngest to have won the prestigious award. Today, though his reputation stands dimmed as he is seen as one of the “prophets of Imperialism” the magic of his words cannot be denied. The Jungle Book is a classic that indeed belongs on every bookshelf!

Categories: Arts, Kids & Family

Tags: Adventure, animals, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, fiction, free audio books, Kids, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, poetry, Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book

Chicago, May 4, 1886. In the Haymarket region of the city, a peaceful Labor Day demonstration suddenly turns into a riot. The police intervene to maintain peace, but they soon use violence to quell the mob and a bomb is thrown, resulting in death and injuries to scores of people. In the widely publicized trial that followed, eight anarchists were condemned to death or life imprisonment, convicted of conspiracy, though none of them had actually thrown the bomb. A young Russian immigrant, Emma Goldman, had arrived just the previous year in the United States. She was deeply affected by what came to be known as the Haymarket Affair. She took on various jobs, including that of a factory worker before becoming a writer and lecturer committed to anarchist philosophy. In the years to follow, she and her lover planned to assassinate a well known financier and industrialist. Though the victim survived, Goldman’s lover was sentenced to life imprisonment while she received a lesser sentence. However, she continued to spend time in and out of jail for various activities including distribution of literature regarding birth control, inducing people not to join the newly introduced military draft etc. She was deported back to Russia but found the regime there highly repressive and lived in Canada, England and France. She wrote passionately about issues that concerned humanity including prisons, religion, marriage, free love, the right of choice, capitalism, homosexuality, gender politics and militarism. Anarchism and Other Essays was first published by her own publishing house, Mother Earth. It opens with an introduction by Hippolyte Havel, a Czech anarchist who lived in Greenwich Village in New York. He was a great friend of the playwright, Eugene O’Neill, who based some of the characters in his plays on Havel. Havel provides a detailed biography of Emma Goldman and ends with a stirring call to emancipate humanity. Emma Goldman’s preface describes her own journey and motives. Twelve chapters delineate Goldman’s philosophy and ideas. They include thoughts on Minorities versus Majorities, Prisons: A Social Crime and Failure, The Hypocrisy of Puritanism, Marriage and Love, The Tragedy of Women’s Emancipation and several more. Living in an age marked by the rise of unbridled capitalism, self righteousness, imperialism and greed, in these essays she writes simply, passionately, earnestly and penetratingly about ideas and ideals and how individuals are constantly in conflict with society. Goldman wrote ceaselessly; her works include pamphlets, essays, books and tracts. As an interesting and radical viewpoint, Anarchism and Other Essays is a thought provoking read which was also strangely prophetic about the future of politics to come. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts

Tags: Anarchism and Other Essays, audio books, audiobook, ebooks, Emma Goldman, Essay/Short nonfiction, fiction, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, Politics, science

The Princess and Curdie is the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. It’s been a year since the Princess Irene and Curdie first met, and a year since the goblin incident and all appears to be going well in the Kingdom. Or is it? After a visit from Irene’s great-great-grandmother, Curdie finds himself on a mission to save the kingdom, with a rather strange companion in tow. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts, Kids & Family

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, Fairy tales, fantasy, fiction, free audio books, George MacDonald, Kids, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, The Princess and Curdie

Not your common fairy tales, this collection is a mixture of morals, quirkiness, and sarcasm. In it one finds ironic derivatives (if not roots) of well known fairy tales such as “The Brave Little Taylor” and “Beauty and the Beast,” as well as some more unusual settings to impart the popular fairy tale themes of justice and happily ever after. Most stories are told with wry humor and often shocking irreverence for the expected fairy tale turn out. This is NOT a book for children, but one for adults who love fairy tales, and enjoy making fun of them. DISCLAIMER: Story 09 contains some racially offensive material in its ending. Due to the mission of reading, rather than rewriting, literature in the public domain, it has not been omitted from this anthology. More great books at LoyalBooks.com

Categories: Arts

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, Fairy tales, fiction, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, The Key of Gold: 23 Czech Folk Tales, Unknown

Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution is a book by Peter Kropotkin on the subject of mutual aid, written while he was living in exile in England. It was first published by William Heinemann in London in October 1902. The individual chapters had originally been published in 1890-96 as a series of essays in the British monthly literary magazine, Nineteenth Century. Written partly in response to Social Darwinism and in particular to Thomas H. Huxley’s Nineteenth Century essay, The Struggle for Existence, Kropotkin’s book drew on his experiences in scientific expeditions in Siberia to illustrate the phenomenon of cooperation. After examining the evidence of cooperation in nonhuman animals, “savages,” “barbarians,” in medieval cities, and in modern times, he concludes that cooperation and mutual aid are as important in the evolution of the species as competition and mutual strife, if not more so.

Categories: Arts

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution, Non-fiction, Peter Kropotkin, Psychology, science

The Critique of Practical Reason (Kritik der praktischen Vernunft) is the second of Immanuel Kant’s three critiques, first published in 1788. It follows on from his Critique of Pure Reason and deals with his moral philosophy. The second Critique exercised a decisive influence over the subsequent development of the field of ethics and moral philosophy, becoming the principle reference point for ethical systems that focus on the rightness or wrongness of actions themselves, as opposed to the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions. Subsequently termed “deontological ethics”, Kant’s ethical system also laid the groundwork of moral absolutism, the belief that there are absolute standards against which moral questions can be judged, and that certain actions are right or wrong, devoid of the context of the act.

Categories: Arts, Society & Culture

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, free audio books, Immanuel Kant, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, Philosophy, The Critique of Practical Reason

Is there intelligent life on Mars? Why are there starless gaps in the Milky Way? What creates the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights? These and more are the interesting questions that are asked and sought to be answered in the 1909 book, Curiosities of the Sky by Garrett P. Serviss. Garrett Putnam Serviss was an American astronomer and popular sci-fi writer. He believed that science should be understood and enjoyed by everyone, not just by scientists. Though he was trained as a lawyer, he went to work as a newspaper reporter with The New York Sun in 1867. Here he discovered that he had an innate talent for explaining and describing scientific matter in a way that made it accessible to the ordinary public. Andrew Carnegie was struck by the talent of the young reporter and invited him to deliver a series of lectures on different subjects like cosmology, geology, astronomy and other such topics. Carnegie funded a country wide lecture tour and supplied Serviss with magic lantern slides and material to supplement his talks and make them more interesting. After the two year long lecture tour, Serviss decided to dedicate his life to the cause of popularizing science. He wrote more than fifteen books on different aspects of science. However, astronomy remained his favorite subject and he devoted eight books to this topic. Science fiction writing and short stories were also his forte. Curiosities of the Sky went on to become an extremely popular astronomy classic. It has been constantly revised and updated over the years as new discoveries are made and our knowledge of the universe expands. What makes the book so delightful is the engaging, poetic style and its wonderful eye for descriptive details. He also speculates about life on Mars and the Moon and the possible benefits of engaging with life forms on other planets and stars. Serviss’ preface to the book itself makes interesting reading. What the author has attempted to do in Curiosities of the Sky is to convey the mystery and celestial beauty of the universe in a way in which readers understand not just the insignificance of the tiny planet we inhabit, but he also seeks to stimulate interest and curiosity about everything around us. He ends with the frank confession that we really know very little about astronomy, but the theories and knowledge that we do have should spur us to explore further.

Categories: Arts

Tags: audio books, audiobook, Curiosities of the Sky, ebooks, free audio books, Garrett P. Serviss, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Non-fiction, science

The foundations of modern skepticism and objective thinking are thought to be rooted in the philosophy of Rene Descartes, the French mathematician, philosopher and writer. This great sixteenth century thinker also gave us theories on mind-body dualism and the concept of ethics as the highest form of science. He is considered the Father of Modern Western Philosophy. His theories also led to the emancipation of humanity from the doctrine that the Church is the sole authority over Man and led to a more autonomous idea of the human condition. He also wrote extensively on subjects as diverse as music, the search for truth, geometry, discourse as a method of scientific investigation, philosophy, biology and psychology. He had a profound impact on the age he lived in and also on future generations. He was a teacher and counselor to several heads of state in Europe and guided them in their political and ethical actions. His most famous maxim, “I think, therefore I am” became the guiding principle of modern Western thought. Meditations on First Philosophy was first published in 1641. The original Latin title also had the subtitle: In Which the Existence of God and the Immortality of the Soul are Demonstrated. The treatise was translated into French in 1647. The work essentially consists of six separate meditations. In each one, Descartes abandons all belief in things that are not absolutely certain and then tries to replace these beliefs with those that are more certain. The book is designed as a series of meditations that took place over six days in his life, and in each one, he talks about “yesterday’s meditation.” It is important to remember that Rene Descartes was writing at a time of great scientific discoveries which were in conflict with the Church. Galileo’s fate was dreaded by all pioneering philosophers. Descartes’ Meditations follows a new yet cautious approach which would not be in direct confrontation with the powerful Catholic Church. In Meditations, Descartes seeks to go beyond Aristotle’s philosophy which dominated Western thinking till then. Here, the Greek philosopher posited that all knowledge comes via the senses, hence the outside world is but a mirror image of our inner thoughts. In the First Meditation, Descartes provides bizarre examples of our thoughts and questions whether we can assume that reality in any way resembles these. This forms the root of his skepticism and his ideas on the mind/body divide, the existence of God and human perception. Meditations on First Philosophy follows the tradition of St Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. For the modern reader, it is a thought-provoking and interesting read.

Categories: Arts, Society & Culture

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, Meditations on First Philosophy, Non-fiction, Philosophy, René Descartes

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor and philosopher who wrote Meditations; insights which were considered to give the meaning of life. The book was not written with the intent to be published. It offers a noteworthy chain of challenging situations which are a reflection on spirituality and enumerate the struggle to understand oneself and one’s role in the universe. Written in the style of a journal, Meditations emphasizes that life in this world is short. Aurelius was a stoic philosopher who had influenced the thoughts of many leaders in his time. The first of several overarching themes in Meditations is to evaluate self judgment and judgment of others. Another theme is that everything comes from nature and will return to nature once again. A final theme is to maintain focus and be attentive. The author establishes the point that we should enjoy the things that are possible and within our reach and at the same time recognize that other thins our outside of our control and should not concern us. Aurelius uses statements to emphasize faith in God and how to lead a good life in the face of temptation. This book provides support and personal comfort and is a captivating read.

Categories: Arts, Society & Culture

Tags: audio books, audiobook, ebooks, free audio books, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, marcus aurelius, Meditations, Non-fiction, Philosophy

William Shakespeare’s most well-known play is more than most people realize. While it is the story of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, it is also the story of two families in the middle of a bitter feud. Many people avoid the story because they believe it will be too difficult to read, but this is not true at all. Within a few paragraphs, the play captures your imagination and attention. Juliet is 13 years old and is love with the son of her father’s enemy. Her father has promised that she will marry another boy when it is time, but she refuses to accept the suit. One night, Romeo sneaks into a ball in Juliet’s home (in hopes of seeing a girl he is in love with) when he overhears Juliet speaking of her love for him. He steps out of the shadows and they decide to marry. They are married the next day in secret. It is discovered that Romeo snuck into the ball and Juliet’s cousin is angry and challenges him to a duel. When Romeo refuses to fight, a man is killed and Romeo is banished from the country. Juliet is thrown into a depression and her father decides she needs to get married right away. However, the Friar who helped Juliet marry Romeo comes up with a plan to get Romeo back and to unite the families. The plan unravels quickly, though. The story of Romeo and Juliet has everything that a reader could want. Like many of Shakespeare’s works, it has comedy and tragedy, but it also has love, family, duals, good and evil. Do not pick up the book assuming that knowing about the tragedy will ruin the story. The tale of how both families got to this point is one that will not soon be forgotten. The lessons of love and forgiveness are ones that are just as important more than 400 years after the play was written.

Categories: Arts

Tags: audio books, audiobook, Dramatic Works, ebooks, free audio books, Literature, Loyal Books, loyalbooks.com, play, romance, Romeo and Juliet, tragedy, William Shakespeare

Join hosts Michael Tamblyn and Nathan Maharaj for in-depth conversations with all kinds of authors about their latest books, how they write, and the books and writers that shaped and inspired them.

Categories: Arts, Society & Culture

Tags: audiobook, author, book, fiction, interview, nonfiction, Reading, thoughtprovoking, Writer