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The Knowledge
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
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Origins
- How the Earth Shaped Human History
- By: Lewis Dartnell
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
When we talk about human history, we focus on great leaders, mass migration and decisive wars. But how has the Earth itself determined our destiny? How has our planet made us? As a species we are shaped by our environment. Geological forces drove our evolution in East Africa; mountainous terrain led to the development of democracy in Greece; and today voting behaviour in the United States follows the bed of an ancient sea. The human story is the story of these forces, from plate tectonics and climate change, to atmospheric circulation and ocean currents.
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Awesome book
- By Kym Angrave on 15-03-2019
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Being Human
- How Our Biology Shaped World History
- By: Lewis Dartnell
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
We are a wonder of evolution. Powerful yet dextrous, instinctive yet thoughtful, we are expert communicators and innovators. Our exceptional abilities have created the civilisation we know today. But we're also deeply flawed. Our bodies break, choke and fail, whether we're kings or peasants. Diseases thwart our boldest plans. Our psychological biases have been at the root of terrible decisions in both war and peacetime. This extraordinary contradiction is the essence of what it means to be human - the sum total of our frailties and our faculties.
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Knowing What We Know
- The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic
- By: Simon Winchester
- Narrated by: Simon Winchester
- Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
With the advent of the internet, any topic we want to know about is instantly available with the touch of a smartphone button. With so much knowledge at our fingertips, what is there left for our brains to do? At a time when we seem to be stripping all value from the idea of knowing things—no need for math, no need for map reading, no need for memorisation—are we risking our ability to think? As we empty our minds, will we one day be incapable of thoughtfulness?
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Absolutely brilliant!
- By Daniel on 08-12-2023
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Periodic Tales
- The Curious Lives of the Elements
- By: Hugh Aldersey-Williams
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Everything in the universe is made of them, including you. Like you, the elements have personalities, attitudes, talents, shortcomings, stories rich with meaning. Here you'll meet iron that rains from the heavens and noble gases that light the way to vice. You'll learn how lead can tell your future while zinc may one day line your coffin. You'll discover what connects the bones in your body with the Whitehouse in Washington, the glow of a streetlamp with the salt on your dinner table.
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Fascinating
- By Ian on 10-04-2019
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The Alignment Problem
- Machine Learning and Human Values
- By: Brian Christian
- Narrated by: Brian Christian
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Today's "machine-learning" systems, trained by data, are so effective that we've invited them to see and hear for us - and to make decisions on our behalf. But alarm bells are ringing. Systems cull résumés until, years later, we discover that they have inherent gender biases. Algorithms decide bail and parole - and appear to assess black and white defendants differently. We can no longer assume that our mortgage application, or even our medical tests, will be seen by human eyes. And autonomous vehicles on our streets can injure or kill.
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excellent primer on AI Safety
- By Mike C on 30-01-2023
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The Coming Wave
- A.I., Power and the Twenty-First Century's Greatest Dilemma
- By: Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar
- Narrated by: Mustafa Suleyman
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
We are about to cross a critical threshold in the history of our species. Everything is about to change. Soon we will live surrounded by AIs. They will carry out complex tasks-operating businesses, producing unlimited digital content, running core government services and maintaining infrastructure. This will be a world of DNA printers and quantum computers, engineered pathogens and autonomous weapons, robot assistants and abundant energy. It represents nothing less than a step change in human capability. We are not prepared.
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Not for the feint of heart!!
- By Rosie on 11-09-2023
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Origins
- How the Earth Shaped Human History
- By: Lewis Dartnell
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When we talk about human history, we focus on great leaders, mass migration and decisive wars. But how has the Earth itself determined our destiny? How has our planet made us? As a species we are shaped by our environment. Geological forces drove our evolution in East Africa; mountainous terrain led to the development of democracy in Greece; and today voting behaviour in the United States follows the bed of an ancient sea. The human story is the story of these forces, from plate tectonics and climate change, to atmospheric circulation and ocean currents.
-
-
Awesome book
- By Kym Angrave on 15-03-2019
-
Being Human
- How Our Biology Shaped World History
- By: Lewis Dartnell
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We are a wonder of evolution. Powerful yet dextrous, instinctive yet thoughtful, we are expert communicators and innovators. Our exceptional abilities have created the civilisation we know today. But we're also deeply flawed. Our bodies break, choke and fail, whether we're kings or peasants. Diseases thwart our boldest plans. Our psychological biases have been at the root of terrible decisions in both war and peacetime. This extraordinary contradiction is the essence of what it means to be human - the sum total of our frailties and our faculties.
-
Knowing What We Know
- The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic
- By: Simon Winchester
- Narrated by: Simon Winchester
- Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With the advent of the internet, any topic we want to know about is instantly available with the touch of a smartphone button. With so much knowledge at our fingertips, what is there left for our brains to do? At a time when we seem to be stripping all value from the idea of knowing things—no need for math, no need for map reading, no need for memorisation—are we risking our ability to think? As we empty our minds, will we one day be incapable of thoughtfulness?
-
-
Absolutely brilliant!
- By Daniel on 08-12-2023
-
Periodic Tales
- The Curious Lives of the Elements
- By: Hugh Aldersey-Williams
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everything in the universe is made of them, including you. Like you, the elements have personalities, attitudes, talents, shortcomings, stories rich with meaning. Here you'll meet iron that rains from the heavens and noble gases that light the way to vice. You'll learn how lead can tell your future while zinc may one day line your coffin. You'll discover what connects the bones in your body with the Whitehouse in Washington, the glow of a streetlamp with the salt on your dinner table.
-
-
Fascinating
- By Ian on 10-04-2019
-
The Alignment Problem
- Machine Learning and Human Values
- By: Brian Christian
- Narrated by: Brian Christian
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Today's "machine-learning" systems, trained by data, are so effective that we've invited them to see and hear for us - and to make decisions on our behalf. But alarm bells are ringing. Systems cull résumés until, years later, we discover that they have inherent gender biases. Algorithms decide bail and parole - and appear to assess black and white defendants differently. We can no longer assume that our mortgage application, or even our medical tests, will be seen by human eyes. And autonomous vehicles on our streets can injure or kill.
-
-
excellent primer on AI Safety
- By Mike C on 30-01-2023
-
The Coming Wave
- A.I., Power and the Twenty-First Century's Greatest Dilemma
- By: Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar
- Narrated by: Mustafa Suleyman
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We are about to cross a critical threshold in the history of our species. Everything is about to change. Soon we will live surrounded by AIs. They will carry out complex tasks-operating businesses, producing unlimited digital content, running core government services and maintaining infrastructure. This will be a world of DNA printers and quantum computers, engineered pathogens and autonomous weapons, robot assistants and abundant energy. It represents nothing less than a step change in human capability. We are not prepared.
-
-
Not for the feint of heart!!
- By Rosie on 11-09-2023
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Parfit
- A Philosopher and His Mission to Save Morality
- By: David Edmonds
- Narrated by: Zeb Soanes
- Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Derek Parfit (1942–2017) is the most famous philosopher most people have never heard of. Widely regarded as one of the greatest moral thinkers of the past hundred years, Parfit was anything but a public intellectual. Yet his ideas have shaped the way philosophers think about things that affect us all: equality, altruism, what we owe to future generations, and even what it means to be a person. In Parfit, David Edmonds presents the first biography of an intriguing, obsessive, and eccentric genius.
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An engaging introduction to Parfit.
- By Anonymous User on 04-06-2023
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The End of the World Is Just the Beginning
- Mapping the Collapse of Globalization
- By: Peter Zeihan
- Narrated by: Peter Zeihan
- Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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For generations, everything has been getting faster, better, and cheaper. Finally, we reached the point that almost anything you could ever want could be sent to your home within days - even hours - of when you decided you wanted it. America made that happen, but now America has lost interest in keeping it going.
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climate alarmist Lefty
- By David Kyngdon on 03-11-2022
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Willowman
- By: Inga Simpson
- Narrated by: Andrew Martin, Tim Potter
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Reader Cricket Bats, one of the last traditional batmakers back in England, has a contemporary home in the Antipodes, with Allan Reader keeping the family business alive in a small workshop in Melbourne. When Todd Harrow, a gifted young batter, catches Allan's eye, a spark is lit and Allan decides to make a Reader bat for him, selecting the best piece of willow he's harvested in years to do so. As Harrow charts a meteoric rise to the highest echelons of the sport, leaving his equally talented sister's dreams in his wake, Allan's magical bat takes centre stage as well.
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What an awesome read
- By Ian on 07-01-2023
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The Plantagenets
- The Kings Who Made England
- By: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: Dan Jones
- Length: 22 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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England’s greatest royal dynasty, the Plantagenets, ruled over England through eight generations of kings. Their remarkable reign saw England emerge from the Dark Ages to become a highly organised kingdom that spanned a vast expanse of Europe. Plantagenet rule saw the establishment of laws and creation of artworks, monuments and tombs which survive to this day, and continue to speak of their sophistication, brutality and secrets. Dan Jones brings you a new vision of this battle-scarred history.
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Brilliant historian and storyteller.
- By Russell on 10-03-2021
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A History of the World in 6 Glasses
- By: Tom Standage
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Throughout human history, certain drinks have done much more than just quench thirst. As Tom Standage relates with authority and charm, six of them have had a surprisingly pervasive influence on the course of history, becoming the defining drink during a pivotal historical period. A History of the World in 6 Glasses tells the story of humanity from the Stone Age to the 21st century through the lens of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola.
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loved it
- By Valentino on 20-01-2023
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The Scout Mindset
- Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't
- By: Julia Galef
- Narrated by: Julia Galef
- Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
When it comes to what we believe, humans see what they want to see. In other words, we have what Julia Galef calls a 'soldier' mindset. From tribalism and wishful thinking, to rationalising in our personal lives and everything in between, we are driven to defend the ideas we most want to believe—and shoot down those we don't. But if we want to get things right more often we should train ourselves to think more like a scout.
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Inspiring and practical
- By Anonymous User on 14-01-2023
Publisher's Summary
Maybe it was a viral pandemic or an asteroid strike or perhaps nuclear war. Whatever the cause, the world as we know it has ended, and you and the other survivors must start again.
What key knowledge would you need to start rebuilding civilisation from scratch? Once you’ve scavenged what you can, how do you begin producing the essentials? How do you grow food, generate power, prepare medicines, or get metal out of rocks? Could you avert another Dark Ages or take shortcuts to accelerate redevelopment?
Living in the modern world, we have become disconnected from the basic processes that support our lives, as well as the beautiful fundamentals of science that enable you to relearn things for yourself. The Knowledge is a journey of discovery, a book which explains everything you need to know about everything.
This is a quickstart guide for rebooting civilisation which will transform your understanding of the world - and help you prepare for when it’s no longer here...http://the-knowledge.org/
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What listeners say about The Knowledge
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Netwin Waldro
- 28-07-2019
This is better than any textbook
Genuinely crammed with essential knowledge, and reads in a surprisingly lively style. Simple but comprehensive and not at all gloomy. A must read.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kym Angrave
- 29-03-2019
Awesome book
Loved this book, so much research, i loved his new book as well
You need to read this
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1 person found this helpful
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- Dylan
- 15-09-2015
An interesting book that I found slowed later
Overall I'm glad I listened to this. It contains many little gems, a favourites among which were learning how food preservation actually works. Thst said, it should be obvious that this book is for those who find such things potentially interesting. It's too long for the more 'conventional' tidbits of information to sustain your interest.
My main complaint with the book is that I found much of the chemistry chapters and the later chapters on navigation and measurement tedious.. This might be because I have some background in physics and chemistry. The author also goes into quite painstaking detail, considering that this is a book for a general audience. Regardless, the aforementioned tidbits sustained me here for the most part.
The narration is perfectly good, if a little slow in places.
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6 people found this helpful
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- K. Florence-Fallon
- 01-12-2015
In case of an emergency
Would you consider the audio edition of The Knowledge to be better than the print version?
I think so yes, as it is wonderfully narrated and the effect and drama is brought through in the audible version.
What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
John Lee brings the drama and feel to the subject of this book. Really putting you in the situation of having to survive in the post-apocalypse. Am I fully prepared for what comes after an all out war? Probably not, but I now know how to start a fire without a lighter, or how to PH balance the earth to grow some potatoes! A good listen, I did so enjoy.
Any additional comments?
I would go through parts of this again definitely.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Osmov
- 08-08-2021
This is such an important way to think
You're probably best off buying the hard back as well, to be ready for the end of the world
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2 people found this helpful
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- John Ottaway
- 26-06-2016
Couldn't finish it
I did manage over 4 hours, but it was so tedious I had to stop. Given the subject, it would be so easy to inject a bit of humour, but it was like listening to someone reading a Haynes Manual... with having the decent information actually in one
Dull, boring and pointless. My first real disappointment on Audible
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2 people found this helpful
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- Dr Caterpillar
- 05-12-2020
An appreciation of civilisation
A fascinating overview of what you would need to do in order to reboot civilisation after an apocalypse. For example, suppose we experienced a pandemic - pretty far-fetched, right? 😉
Some points:
You've got to be in the mood for it as it goes into some detail about scientific and technical processes.
Some reviewers have complained that it's not the book it claims to be, as it's not literally an instructions manual. I think that's a bit like complaining that Douglas Adams's most famous book does not enable you to actually hitch hike across the galaxy.
John Lee's narration is strongly reminiscent of the public information broadcasts from when a nuclear war was looking very likely.
At times it's a little frustrating because I really wanted some diagrams to illustrate the text. A PDF of further reading would be appreciated.
Anyone planning on writing a post apocalyptic novel would be well advised to check this out. It's actually an excellent primer for world building in general.
It gives a real appreciation of humanity's achievements, a real Wow! feeling.
It's largely optimistic, but does not ignore the darker side of human nature.
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- Ben Yates
- 29-03-2020
Well-researched
This book is packed with information and is thought-provoking. It's broad in scope and tries to cover a lot of ground - arguably too much. I would've liked to have seen either more practical detail on applying technology to aid survival and the reconstruction of civilisation or more discussion of the philosophical side - for example, nothing is said about how a post-apocalyptic society would avoid repeating the same mistakes which had led to the “fall” in the first place. If the accelerated “reboot” the book aims for were to take place, this would seem a serious risk. What alternative forms could future societies or civilisations take, and what roles could technology perform in them?
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- Mr
- 21-02-2019
Needed to be written, fascinating to read.
For some reason, I've lain awake at night on more than one occasion worrying about the prospect of modern civilization being destroyed, and wondering - "What would we need to know to get back on our feet"?
Fortunately, it seems people more scientifically knowledgeable than me have also contemplated this question. Professor Dartnell has managed to produce a book that would not only be literally priceless in the event we ever were sent back to the stone-age: but which is also (for a book that consists mostly of descriptions of various technologies and scientific processes) amazingly compelling reading. One realizes how many things are taken for granted in our modern world, which required an extraordinary evolution of multiple developments and refinements.
He has obviously given a great deal of thought as to what the key discoveries are, but also understands which technologies will need to laboriously recreated in set-stages, each one laying the groundwork for the next: and which could be "leap-frogged" to get to the end product quickly. (I didn't know for example that you could have made a basic camera in Tudor times if you had only known how)
He also identifies the key bottle-necks that have historical restricted our development, and how we could overcome them. Taking the reader from the day after "the end of the world", right the way through to a couple of centuries later, with each new limitation being addressed in the likely order it would emerge.
If I were king of the world, there would be a copy of this in every house on the planet. Just in case. . . . . .
The narrator is pretty good too. Despite his truly extraordinary rendition of the word "Sarajevo".
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- GrimWeeper
- 05-09-2018
Very interesting and well thought out
The author has put a lot of work into thinking about what tools a civilisation would need in order to survive the apocalypse. That being said, this isn't a how to guide for the reader (for the most part). It is more of a guide for your ancestors once the ready supplies of our industrial world run out. An enjoyable read and a real chemistry lesson for me.
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