Showing results by publisher "Audio Sommelier" in History

Where does human energy come from, and where is it going? In this fascinating text, notable inventor Nikola Tesla examines these fundamental questions as he theorizes ways of maximizing human energy. While he thinks like a scientist, Tesla writes like a philosopher, making the text accessible for a wider audience. The Problem of Increasing Human Energy functions as both a valuable contribution to scientific thought and a self-help book for humanity.

Not all that glitters is gold, and gold mining was not the simple get-rich-quick scheme many thought it was. The Diary of a Forty-Niner draws readers into the day-to-day life of a prospector during the California Gold Rush. 

As humans, we often wonder about our heroes’ (and, perhaps, our enemies’) opinions on the most assorted of topics. Mark Twain’s speech “Cigars and Tobacco” serves to satiate such curiosities. In it, he details his storied history with those two substances and his search for the “worst cigar in the New York Market.” It’s a brief treat for anyone who’s ever wondered about Twain’s tobacco consumption, or simply wants to read some miscellaneous wit from this literary master.

A Defense of Calvinism is a classic text by Charles H. Spurgeon. This rendition is beautifully narrated by Bryan Nyman.

John Calvin describes the Catholic Church as “very miserable, and almost desperate” in this 1543 work. He appeals directly to Holy Roman Emperor King Charles V, pointing out the failures of the church and demanding change. On behalf of the reformers, Calvin details his proposed solution.

After voting in the 1872 presidential election, suffragette Susan B. Anthony was arrested and charged with a $100 fine. She refused to pay it, instead embarking on a speaking tour around the US to advocate for women’s legal right to vote. In this fiery speech she memorably stated, “It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens... who formed the Union.” Anthony argued that the fight for women’s right to vote was also a fight for their right to personhood in the eyes of the state, something women were finally granted nearly 50 years later.

Emmeline Pankhurst was to women’s suffrage in England what Susan B. Anthony was for the same cause in America. She gave this memorable speech while campaigning in the US. In it, she explains the root trouble women face when campaigning for their rights: “We women, in trying to make our case clear, always have to make as part of our argument, and urge upon men in our audience the fact - a very simple fact - that women are human beings.” Though she faced harsh criticism for her “militant” means of advocacy, she never backed down, and as a result, gained suffrage in her lifetime.

Though his presidency was short-lived, the time at which Zachary Taylor was in power was a time of great exploration for the US and Great Britain. This treaty regarded the preference of passage through territories. Specifically looking at Nicaragua and territories in the southernmost part of Mexico, the treaty asked that the British not try to annex any part of these lands. Finally, he assured Great Britain that France and Spain were on the US’ side, and that failure to pay mind to it would be a blow on their side.

After Marathon, the Athenian government needed a new type of leader. That leader was politician and general Themistocles, whose life is well-attributed in Plutarch’s Parallel Lives series. From how he handled the Persian invasion to his time in Athens after the navy, Themistocles was known as the “Glory of the Law”. Though his later life was fraught with whisperings of treason, he went on to be remembered as one of the greatest navy leaders and politicians that Greece had.   

The Romans hated Pompey’s greedy father, Strabo, with a vengeance. Yet when Pompey rose in prominence, Plutarch notes that he developed the opposite character, and the Romans loved him for it. Pompey had many great accomplishments in his military and political life, but his legacy lies in forming the First Triumvirate with Crassus and Caesar. When the alliance eventually dissolved, and Pompey fled from Caesar to his death, the Roman world would never be the same.  

Surely Charles Spurgeon, one of the most prolific and important preachers of the 1800s, had plenty of reasons to be prideful. In this sermon, however, he notes that “of all creatures in the world the Christian is the last man who ought to be proud”. He provides examples from Scripture of prideful Christians whose lack of humility drove them apart and hindered their spread of the Gospel.

The Roman statesman Sulla had the nickname “Felix” - meaning “lucky.” Yet his accomplishments were more a matter of brute force than good fortune. He put an end to a civil war, declared himself dictator, and used his power to bring Rome back to its former value system, purging thousands of Roman enemies along the way. Plutarch’s biography of Sulla shows how one man’s use of force to obtain political power influenced many who came after him, most notably Julius Caesar.   

It may seem odd that Mark Twain delivered a 4th of July speech in London in 1907. Aside from poking fun at the American obsession with fireworks and drunken revelry, however, the brilliant Twain knew just how to tie the topic of American independence with his British audience. He recounts how the Revolutionary War was fought between Brits over a Declaration of Independence written by Brits before the United States officially formed as a nation.

Einhard served Charlemagne, king and Holy Roman Emperor, for 23 years. From that experience, combined with his in-depth research, Einhard penned this biography of Charlemagne in the style of Suetonius’ Lives of the Caesars. Because he felt indebted to Charlemagne, Einhard wrote in a partial tone, exalting the man’s achievements and overlooking certain unflattering details about his life. Despite this, historians regard The Life of Charlemagne as an important historical account that, while not far-reaching, is largely reliable.  

John Stuart Mill is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Victorian Era. In this speech, he defends the practice of capital punishment. He states, “I defend this penalty, when confined to atrocious cases, on the very ground on which it is commonly attacked - on that of humanity to the criminal; as beyond comparison the least cruel mode in which it is possible adequately to deter from the crime.” Though written in the 1800s, Mill’s argument is still relevant in contemporary discussions of capital punishment.

Septima Collis, a native of South Carolina, married Union general Charles H.T. Collis prior to the Civil War. She supported and accompanied her husband during the Civil War. This rendition is beautifully narrated by Suzi Woods.

Daniel Webster gave this speech in honor of George Washington on the centennial of the first US president’s birth. In it, he praises Washington’s attributes and recounts his service to America. He states that Washington is a man “whose name is intimately blended with whatever belongs most essentially to the prosperity, the liberty, and the renown of our country”. In recounting the life and work of Washington, however, Webster’s speech also serves as a reflection on the past 100 years in American history and the birth of a great nation.

In 1807, Congress passed a law banning the import of slaves to the US. While many would break this law leading up to the Civil War, it still marked an incredible victory for abolitionists both black and white. Reverend Peter Williams delivered this speech the day the bill went into effect. In it, he gives thanks to God and all those advocating on behalf of the African American community.

In this message, Zachary Taylor addresses the state of two newly acquired territories - namely California and New Mexico. Essentially, he acknowledges that these territories are in need of governance and that until the establishment of these territories comes about that he is sending governance to them. However, he does address the right of the state - saying that it is necessary that the rights of statehood be understood should the territories choose to be states. Finally, he remits governance of those territories to his chosen governors and reverts to their judgement as to the rule of these new territories.

The end of his first year in office marked a momentous time for the US - it was 60 years since the establishment of the country. However, the subsequent presidents, including President Taylor, did not forget the sting of past wars. In his first annual address, Zachary Taylor meets this time of peace with a challenge, saying that he hopes to continue this legacy of peace. Perhaps due to his background as a military man, this address was mostly meant to show the nation about the civility between the US and other nations after a particularly rocky start.