ReadsALot
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The Hidden History of Holidays
- By: Hannah Harvey, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Hannah Harvey
- Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,126
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 975
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 967
From Halloween costumes to patriotic parades to belly-busting meals, every holiday tradition tells a unique story—one encoded in symbols and layered meanings that stretch back over the centuries. In 19 lectures, professional storyteller Dr. Hannah B. Harvey takes listeners through the seasons and investigates the surprising stories behind seemingly odd holiday traditions.
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3 out of 5 stars
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An enjoyable listen, but a few inaccuracies
- By Kristopher willis on 12-17-19
- The Hidden History of Holidays
- By: Hannah Harvey, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Hannah Harvey
Some interesting facts, but....
Reviewed: 10-19-21
....I'm not OK with the painfully white-culture-centric nature of her explanation of so many holidays. While it's probably impossible to know some of the true origins of present day practices, some of the information shared in this "course" is highly suspect and easily found to be in error with just a bit of scholarly research (I'm a librarian--seeking out verification is almost a pathology for me). If you're a White, christian, U.S. southerner, you will probably relate to much of what she focuses on. If you deviate at all from that background, prepare to feel excluded.
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3 people found this helpful
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The History of World Literature
- By: Grant L. Voth, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Grant L. Voth
- Length: 24 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 477
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 416
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 410
Whether around the campfire, between the covers of a great book, or in the theater, the desire to tell stories has been a common human impulse for thousands of years. These 48 lectures take you on a journey through time and around the world-from the enormous auditoriums of ancient Greece to a quiet study in the home of a 19th-century New England spinster - to introduce the history of world literature. In this course, you'll sample some of the greatest literary expressions the world has known and experience storytelling in its many forms, including poetry, drama, and narrative.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent introduction to world literature
- By Richard on 12-16-14
- The History of World Literature
- By: Grant L. Voth, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Grant L. Voth
Wonderful!
Reviewed: 09-24-18
This is possibly the best Great Course that I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. It’s been such a long time since freshman year lit class, and some of the works covered hadn’t been thought of since then. This course was a wonderful reminder of the power of stories, and more personally, why I chose to be a librarian. The professor is wonderful and knowledgeable about all of these works and truly conveys his love of the stories. There are a number that I’ve already downloaded on my Nook to start reading right away. If books and literature are an interest of yours, this class is a must. Even if you’ve read some or most of the works covered, the professor’s perspective is worth the listen. Can’t recommend this highly enough.
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1 person found this helpful
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The Modern Scholar
- Rethinking Our Past: Recognizing Facts, Fictions, and Lies in American History
- By: Professor James W. Loewen
- Narrated by: Professor James W. Loewen
- Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 248
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 176
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 178
Nationalist history by textbook authors and the descendants or biographers of the famous and infamous have given history students a very skewed vision of our true history - indeed, the true history of mankind. This course is designed to enlighten and encourage you to consider the factual basis of many of our most-cherished yet glossed-over stories and the real-life characters who populate them.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A worthy course
- By Chi-Hung on 04-11-10
- The Modern Scholar
- Rethinking Our Past: Recognizing Facts, Fictions, and Lies in American History
- By: Professor James W. Loewen
- Narrated by: Professor James W. Loewen
A must listen
Reviewed: 05-26-17
I've read some of the critical reviews of this title, but from my perspective it is a MUST listen for every educated American. Regardless of where you fall on the political-social spectrum, it's important to challenge the biases and assume that surround us on a daily basis. You won't be sorry. Listen to this course!
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