ricefun's review against another edition
2.0
I was truly looking forward to this course but found myself disappointed overall with the content and presentation. It took several lectures to realize that Fears was pigeonholing each great "book" that he chose into imposed categories that reflected the point he wanted to make - mainly that all great books point to universal truths in direct contrast with our current moral and social relativism. While I'm deeply schooled in said current relativism, and while I'm sympathetic to his goals of offering a needed moral compass based on the themes of great books - throughout his lectures he simplified these massive and thought provoking texts into mere minutes of theme. He rarely took time to offer that there are a variety of interpretations found in any one great test. He devoted one whole lecture to highlighting disparate papers he has compiled from Lord Acton (not a great book, but simply highlighting some of his own scholarship), and he never once, in 36 lectures, found a book authored by a female to be great enough for inclusion. By the end of the lectures I was forcing myself to complete just so I could give the series a fair listen before giving in to my disappointment.
jmeyers888's review against another edition
1.0
This was TERRIBLE!!!! I'd seen so many good reviews about this book, so I decided to buy the audio book, narrated by the author. This was worse than going to church! He has the classic "Fire and Damnation" Southern Baptist pulpit speech style, which I can't stand. But not only that, ALL the books he's chosen has one thing or another to do with a "higher power" SERIOUSLY!!!! If I would have known this was a Sunday school lecture in disguise, I wouldn't have wasted my money.
nikkiethereader's review against another edition
5.0
This audio book is more of a series of lectures than an actual novel. It talks about some of the books that have changed lives throughout history. Some of the greatest books ever written are included in this. All of the lectures are split up in thirty minute (or so) increments.
I really enjoyed these lectures. I'm ashamed of myself for not having read most of these. I now have them in quick access so I can read them in the immediate future. The lectures were all easy to follow. They were straight forward and to the point. I feel that a lot of view points I've learned in my life were analyzed and I was shown a new point of view. I love when these things happen. There's nothing better than having your beliefs and view points expanded, in my opinion.
Normally, I'd include a review of the narrator. I don't feel I can really do that in this case being as the narrator is a professor being recorded. I do have to say that I wish all professors could explain things like he could. He made things very easy to understand and relate to. Like I said earlier, I feel that things explained helped broaden my beliefs.
I fully recommend this audio book. I have now listened to three different Great Courses audio books. I've loved all three of them. I can't wait to dive into more audio books by Great Courses. I fully recommend they be looked up on Audible. They have a huge selection of subjects to get into.
I really enjoyed these lectures. I'm ashamed of myself for not having read most of these. I now have them in quick access so I can read them in the immediate future. The lectures were all easy to follow. They were straight forward and to the point. I feel that a lot of view points I've learned in my life were analyzed and I was shown a new point of view. I love when these things happen. There's nothing better than having your beliefs and view points expanded, in my opinion.
Normally, I'd include a review of the narrator. I don't feel I can really do that in this case being as the narrator is a professor being recorded. I do have to say that I wish all professors could explain things like he could. He made things very easy to understand and relate to. Like I said earlier, I feel that things explained helped broaden my beliefs.
I fully recommend this audio book. I have now listened to three different Great Courses audio books. I've loved all three of them. I can't wait to dive into more audio books by Great Courses. I fully recommend they be looked up on Audible. They have a huge selection of subjects to get into.
More...