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A Somewhat Complete History of Sitting Down cover art

A Somewhat Complete History of Sitting Down

By: Greg Jenner
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  • Summary

  • Yes, it's a strange kind of history. And that’s the way Public Historian Greg Jenner likes it. Because, he says, how we sit, where we sit, what we do when we sit and what happens as a result of all that sitting says a lot about humans past and present. 

    This study means we can link a royal throne with a 2000-year-old toilet. It shows how the language and culture of sitting is deep seated in all of us. It sits listeners down in classrooms, parliaments, sports grounds, protests and in the penitentiary death chamber. 

    So if you're sitting comfortably.... 

    A Testbed Production for Audible Originals.

    ©2020 Greg Jenner (P)2020 Audible, Ltd
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Episodes
  • Ep1: Take a Seat
    May 3 2021

    From the dawn of time, humans have always sat. But why and where did sitting originate? Greg takes a tour of ancient seating from Egyptian thrones to Greek recliners. We hear about the horrors of Roman public lavatories and how to sit politely in Japan.

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    38 mins
  • Ep 2: Seats Of Power
    May 3 2021

    Yes, it's a strange kind of history. And that’s the way Public Historian Greg Jenner likes it. Because, he says, how we sit, where we sit, what we do when we sit and what happens as a result of all that sitting says a lot about humans past and present. 

    This study means we can link a royal throne with a 2000-year-old toilet. It shows how the language and culture of sitting is deep seated in all of us. It sits listeners down in classrooms, parliaments, sports grounds, protests and in the penitentiary death chamber. 

    So if you're sitting comfortably.... 

    A Testbed Production for Audible Originals.

    This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 8 episodes to your Library now.

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • Ep 3: Knowing Your Place
    May 3 2021

    From wedding ceremonies to national parliaments, seating plans always cause problems. In this episode, Greg considers the complex and controversial politics of posterior parking.

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    27 mins

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What listeners say about A Somewhat Complete History of Sitting Down

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  • NJX
  • 14-06-2021

Delightful and Entertaining

Worth listening to and I'm sure you'll listen to a few times as it has loads of chit chats material.

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1 person found this helpful

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light and refreshing

enjoyed the content plus the humour was subtle and with the addition of others helped lighten the whole subject

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Marvelous and interesting

As always Greg delivers a fun and interesting look at how we got here. And the guests bring expertise and context.

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well worth a listen

every episode was both enlightening and enjoyable. some bits grime and others hilarious! great job team!

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Fascinating

Everything you could possibly know about sitting down and chairs, told with excellent narration and story.

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  • Bek
  • 26-08-2021

Enjoyable and Informative

I will be recommending to my other half. Learnt a lot on the origins and evolution of words and the object we use to sit.
Thanks

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More Greg Jenner please!

Absolutely loved this! Really interesting - lots of facts sprinkled with funny pieces. The guests were excellent but (as always) Greg Jenner steals the show. Please do a 'somewhat complete history of standing'! Or (even better) a somewhat complete history of eating?

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Incredible!

Sounds like it would be ridiculous but it was such an informative and interesting look at human behaviour and history. Definitely recommended. I would have gladly listened to another 8 episodes. Great fun! I hope audible and Greg Jenner pair up again - I'm ready for a history of standing!

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Fascinating and Fun

Once I started this I couldn't stop ; Thanks Audibke and Greg Jenner for a really interesting subject- who would have thought!- delivered brilliantly. More please.

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