michael

Outstanding presentation by a masterful teacher

Revisado: 04-17-19

Professor Flanagan manages to present an exhaustive and scholarly overview of how historians approach the story of Jesus. He does so in language that is easily understood. His presentation is very entertaining. He manages to include modern Jesus stories such as "Jesus Christ Superstar" or Dan Brown's books in a relevant manner. The only drawback is that the lectures are divided into more than twenty parts, so one will have to pay a few dollars for each installment. In my case, I anticipate I will complete the entire course, given the value I attribute to the first lecture. I should add that this course is far more than an exploration of Jesus. It also provides a broad survey of how historians think, as well as their methodology. Again, his examples are well-chosen, contemporary and enlightening. In this lecture, Sesame Street is referenced to illuminate the concepts of context and genre. You will have to listen for yourself to appreciate the mastery of this teacher.

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To Attempt the Impossible

Revisado: 12-14-17

Where does Why Buddhism Is True rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I listened to it immediately after Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations." What a tough act to follow! While one might not find Wright alongside Aurelius on my bedside table in coming years, I will say "Why Buddhism is True" earned my respect.

What other book might you compare Why Buddhism Is True to and why?

Epstein's "Buddhism Without Beliefs," for sure. Both are mixtures of personal memoirs, introduction to Buddhist philosophy, and practical guides as to how a Westerner might benefit from meditation. Both are chock full of scientific data and contributions by world-class authorities past and present.

Which character – as performed by Fred Sanders – was your favorite?

I thought Mr. Wright's writing style as performed by Mr. Sanders gave the impression that I was listening to the author as if he were physically present and carrying on a conversation.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

To be honest, my reaction was impatience at certain points. Some of his accounts of personal experiences in meditation seemed overly long. But that may well reflect my emotional discontent with everyday teachable moments vs Damascus Road.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book as a companion not only to Epstein, but Pema Chodron and other authors available on Audible who write wonderfully about how meditation can enhance ones life. The Great Courses Series on Audible also has a Meditation course. I benefitted from that as well.

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Extraordinary insight. A work of professorial art.

Revisado: 12-23-15

Would you consider the audio edition of Understanding Literature and Life: Drama, Poetry and Narrative to be better than the print version?

Absolutely. The professor lectures in his southern accent but does a phenomenal job of mimicking speech as he recites texts from diverse sources.

What did you like best about this story?

There was a consistent theme of "finding ones own voice" throughout.

What does Professor Arnold Weinstein bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His passion, his focus, his voice, especially the latter: he can blend in to his object of interest so well as to transmit its essence to the listener, as if the listener were discovering it on his or her own.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

By no means. This is one which ought to be interrupted by forays into source texts.

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Aesthetic experience

Revisado: 10-13-08

Finally! I have experienced Moby Dick at a depth and breadth that allows me to personally appreciate why many consider it a great American novel. Far exceeding my goal of getting me through the chapter about species of whales, this Audible edition involved me to the extent I could experience how incredibly unique (alien, really) and breathtakingly adventurous the life of a whaler was. Now...I wonder...is Ulysses within reach as a potential aesthetic experience?

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