July 29, 2010

List of Our Top Free Lists

In the past few years we’ve put together a lot of lists of the best free resources that we offer through our site in different categories that we feature. In case you missed any of those we wanted to offer you this list of those lists. We’ll start off with our top free resources from the past 4 years:

Top 25 Free Resources from 2006

Top 50 Free Resources from 2007

Top 25 Free Resources from 2008

Top 50 Free Resources from 2009

And here our some free resource lists that focus on specific topics. For many of these lists we have added new free resources and we’ve noted that below:

Top 40 Free Audio Books Online

Ten Famous Speeches in American History

Ten Top Audio & Video Debates

Top 25 Free Philosophy Books & Podcasts on Audio

Top Ten Free Meditations

Top 15 Free Online Psychology Audio & Video Resources (5 New Resources Added)

Top 25 Free History Audio Titles (5 New Resources Added)

Top 20 Free Self Help Titles (10 New Resources Added)

Top 20 Wealth Building & Economics Free Audio & Video Resources (5 New Resources Added)

Top 20 Best Contemporary Literature Author Interviews and Talks (5 New Resources Added)

Top 20 Free Christian Audio Resources

Top Ten Podcasts Featuring 100s of Thought Leaders

Top 25 World Religions Free Audio & Video Resources (5 New Resources Added)

Top 15 Free Liberal Speeches & Lectures

Top 20 Free Conservative Speeches & Lectures

Top 50 Free Motivational Resources

And our last group of lists is the best of resources from various spots on the web:

Best of Free Audio Downloads on TeachOutLoud

Best of LibriVox

Best of FORA.tv

That’s enough lists for now. Enjoy all of these free resources.

July 29, 2010

100 Best Novels on Audio Book

At the close of the 20th century the publishing company Modern Library (which is now owned by Random House) published a list of the best 100 novels of the 20th century. This list was compiled by a prestigious board of authors and literary enthusiasts including Daniel J. Boorstin, A. S. Byatt, Christopher Cerf, Shelby Foote, Vartan Gregorian, Edmund Morris, John Richardson, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., William Styron, and Gore Vidal. We’ve taken their list and sought out all the novels that are currently available on audio book and generated a list of our own. Ones that aren’t available on audio are noted. Also a number of novels that are in the public domain now are available as a free audio download and we have noted those as well. Most of them we feature on LearnOutLoud.com, but for a few of them we link to Amazon.com. We’ll continue updating the list as more of these novels make their way to audio book.

1. ULYSSES by James Joyce (Free Download!)

2. THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald

3. A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN by James Joyce (Free Download)

4. LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov

5. BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley

6. THE SOUND AND THE FURY by William Faulkner

7. CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller

8. DARKNESS AT NOON by Arthur Koestler

9. SONS AND LOVERS by D.H. Lawrence

10. THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck

11. UNDER THE VOLCANO by Malcolm Lowry

12. THE WAY OF ALL FLESH by Samuel Butler

13. 1984 by George Orwell

14. I, CLAUDIUS by Robert Graves

15.TO THE LIGHTHOUSE by Virginia Woolf

16. AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY by Theodore Dreiser

17. THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER by Carson McCullers

18. SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE by Kurt Vonnegut

19. INVISIBLE MAN by Ralph Ellison

20. NATIVE SON by Richard Wright

21. HENDERSON THE RAIN KING by Saul Bellow

22. APPOINTMENT IN SAMARRA by John O’Hara (Not on Audio)

23. U.S.A. (trilogy): The 42nd Parallel, 1919, The Big Money by John Dos Passos

24. WINESBURG, OHIO by Sherwood Anderson

25. A PASSAGE TO INDIA by E.M. Forster

26. THE WINGS OF THE DOVE by Henry James

27. THE AMBASSADORS by Henry James

28. TENDER IS THE NIGHT by F. Scott Fitzgerald

29. THE STUDS LONIGAN TRILOGY by James T. Farrell (Not on Audio)

30. THE GOOD SOLDIER by Ford Madox Ford (Free Download)

31. ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell

32. THE GOLDEN BOWL by Henry James (Free Download)

33. SISTER CARRIE by Theodore Dreiser

34. A HANDFUL OF DUST by Evelyn Waugh

35. AS I LAY DYING by William Faulkner

36. ALL THE KING’S MEN by Robert Penn Warren

37. THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY by Thornton Wilder

38. HOWARDS END by E.M. Forster

39. GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN by James Baldwin

40. THE HEART OF THE MATTER by Graham Greene

41. LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding

42. DELIVERANCE by James Dickey

43. A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME (series) by Anthony Powell

44. POINT COUNTER POINT by Aldous Huxley (Not on Audio)

45. THE SUN ALSO RISES by Ernest Hemingway

46. THE SECRET AGENT by Joseph Conrad (Free Download)

47. NOSTROMO by Joseph Conrad

48. THE RAINBOW by D.H. Lawrence (Free Download)

49. WOMEN IN LOVE by D.H. Lawrence

50. TROPIC OF CANCER by Henry Miller

51. THE NAKED AND THE DEAD by Norman Mailer (Not on Audio)

52. PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT by Philip Roth

53. PALE FIRE by Vladimir Nabokov

54. LIGHT IN AUGUST by William Faulkner

55. ON THE ROAD by Jack Kerouac

56. THE MALTESE FALCON by Dashiell Hammett

57. PARADE’S END by Ford Madox Ford

58. THE AGE OF INNOCENCE by Edith Wharton (Free Download)

59. ZULEIKA DOBSON by Max Beerbohm (Free Download)

60. THE MOVIEGOER by Walker Percy

61. DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP by Willa Cather (Not on Audio)

62. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY by James Jones

63. THE WAPSHOT CHRONICLES by John Cheever

64. THE CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger (Not on Audio)

65. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by Anthony Burgess

66. OF HUMAN BONDAGE by W. Somerset Maugham

67. HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad (Free Download)

68. MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis

69. THE HOUSE OF MIRTH by Edith Wharton (Free Download)

70. THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET by Lawrence Durell

71. A HIGH WIND IN JAMAICA by Richard Hughes

72. A HOUSE FOR MR BISWAS by V.S. Naipaul (Not on Audio)

73. THE DAY OF THE LOCUST by Nathanael West

74. A FAREWELL TO ARMS by Ernest Hemingway

75. SCOOP by Evelyn Waugh

76. THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE by Muriel Spark

77. FINNEGANS WAKE by James Joyce

78. KIM by Rudyard Kipling

79. A ROOM WITH A VIEW by E.M. Forster

80. BRIDESHEAD REVISITED by Evelyn Waugh

81. THE ADVENTURES OF AUGIE MARCH by Saul Bellow

82. ANGLE OF REPOSE by Wallace Stegner

83. A BEND IN THE RIVER by V.S. Naipaul

84. THE DEATH OF THE HEART by Elizabeth Bowen

85. LORD JIM by Joseph Conrad

86. RAGTIME by E.L. Doctorow

87. THE OLD WIVES’ TALE by Arnold Bennett

88. THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London

89. LOVING by Henry Green (Not on Audio)

90. MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN by Salman Rushdie

91. TOBACCO ROAD by Erskine Caldwell

92. IRONWEED by William Kennedy

93. THE MAGUS by John Fowles

94. WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys (Not on Audio)

95. UNDER THE NET by Iris Murdoch

96. SOPHIE’S CHOICE by William Styron

97. THE SHELTERING SKY by Paul Bowles

98. THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE by James M. Cain

99. THE GINGER MAN by J.P. Donleavy (Not on Audio)

100. THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS by Booth Tarkington

July 29, 2010

2010 Audie Award Winners

The Audie Awards took place on May 25th, 2010 in New York City. For those of you who’ve not heard of the Audies, they are basically the Oscars for audio books.

Here are some highlights of the winners which we feature on LearnOutLoud.com:

Audiobook of the Year
Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Author: Nelson Mandela
Narrator: A Full Cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Mirren, Don Cheadle, and Alan Rickman

Fiction
The Help
Publisher: Penguin Audiobooks
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Narrator: Jenna Lamia, Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, and Cassandra Campbell

Audiobook Adaptation
Maltese Falcon
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Author: Dashiell Hammett
Narrator: Full Cast

Classics
Great Expectations
Publisher: Audio Connoisseur
Author: Charles Dickens
Narrator: Charlton Griffin

Personal Development
Nurtureshock: New Thinking about Children
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Author: Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Narrator: Po Bronson

Biography/Memoir
Anne Frank Remembered
Publisher: Oasis Audio
Author: Miep Gies and Leslie Gold
Narrator: Barbara Rosenblat

Business Information/Educational
Rain: What a Paperboy Learned About Business
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Author: Jeffrey J. Fox
Narrator: Jeffrey J. Fox

History
Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath
Publisher: Tantor Media
Author: Michael Norman and Elizabeth M. Norman
Narrator: Michael Prichard

Humor
Church People: The Lutherans of Lake Wobegon
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Author: Garrison Keillor
Narrator: Garrison Keillor and a Full Cast

Inspirational/Faith-Based Non-Fiction
The Word of Promise: Complete Audio Bible NKJV
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Word
Narrator: A Full Cast including Michael York, Richard Dreyfuss, Gary Sinise, and others

Literary Fiction
Wolf Hall
Publisher: MacMillan Audio
Author: Hilary Mantel
Narrator: Simon Slater

Narration by the Author or Authors
Odd and the Frost Giants
Publisher: Harper Children’s Audio
Author: Neil Gaiman
Narrator: Neil Gaiman

Non-Fiction
The National Parks: America’s Best Idea
Publisher: Random House Audio
Author: Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan
Narrator: Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan

And check out the Audie Award Winners from the past four years:

2009 Audie Award Winners

2008 Audie Award Winners

2007 Audie Award Winners

2006 Audie Award Winners

July 22, 2010

Free Liberal Speeches & Lectures

If you lean left with your politics, we’ve got a good selection of 15 free resources, featuring some of the top liberal and progressive thinkers in one place. Over the years we’ve featured hundreds of free audio & video resources as part of our Free Resource of the Day Emails, and from these, we’ve hand-selected a wide array of material, including historical recordings from John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and George McGovern, and archival audio from famous Democratic National Convention speeches. We also give plenty of space to modern liberal pundits, including Noam Chomsky, Bill Maher, Howard Zinn, and Cornel West, among many others. Get a thorough overview of American progressive thought by clicking the links below:

1. Howard Zinn with Special Guests: Lannan Readings & Conversations

In this recorded event from the Lannan Foundation, Howard Zinn introduces dramatic readings from Voices of a People’s History of the United States which is a companion to his A People’s History of the United States, and features speeches, letters, poems, songs, memoirs, and protests from voices of resistance throughout American history. This live event features Jane Fonda reading Susan B. Anthony, Marisa Tomei reading Emma Goldman, and many more reknowned actors reading from activists throughout American history. This recording is available on streaming audio & video. Lannan also offers it on as an Enhanced Podcast that contains photographs as well as Chapter Markers that allow you to jump directly to individual readings from this Lannan event.

2. 1960 Democratic National Convention Acceptance Address by John F. Kennedy

Listen to John F. Kennedy’s 1960 Democratic National Convention Acceptance Address delivered on July 15, 1960 at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. He addresses his Catholic faith and hopes that “no American, considering the really critical issues facing this country, will waste his franchise and throw away his vote by voting either for me or against me because of my religious affiliation.” Kennedy also contrasts his platform of change with the “old ways” of 1960 Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon. Finally he addresses the “New Frontier” that America faced in the 1960 election. This speech is available on streaming audio and MP3 download from American Rhetoric.

3. Ralph Nader: The Good Fight

In this talk delivered at Cody’s Books in San Francisco, controversional presidential candidate and lifelong grassroots political activist Ralph Nader talks about the themes of his book The Good Fight: Declare Your Independence and Close the Democracy Gap. Delivered to a crowd of progressives, Nader tells them the best ways to directly influence their representatives and dismisses anyone who feels they cannot create change in the policies of their government. Naders talks about issues seldom mentioned by Republicans or Democrats, such as the United State’s bloated military budget, the confrontation of corporate crime, fraud, and abuse, and the concentration of the corporate mass media on the public airwaves. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download through FORA.tv.

4. Discourses on Iraq and the Middle East by Noam Chomsky

There’s so much going on in the Middle East right now and it is certainly causing a lot of controversy. In today’s free resource of the day, MIT professor and renowned author Noam Chomsky offers his opinions of what has recently transpired. Chomsky is a very sharp mind and while many disagree with him his perspective is decidely a valuable one. Check out our entire Noam Chomsky Audio & Video Resource.

5. HBO: Real Time with Bill Maher Podcast

One of the most popular podcasts in our podcast directory currently is HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher Podcast. Host and comedian Bill Maher features a panel of guests discussing current events in politics. There is a week-long delay on the audio podcast from when the show airs, and they currently feature the previous 7 episodes on the podcast feed, along with some extra material from each show that wasn’t aired on HBO.

6. Cornel West with Amy Goodman: Lannan Readings & Conversations

In this inspiring oration from the Lannan Foundation, African American intellectual Cornel West calls for revival in America’s democratic tradition which draws on our religious, philosophical, and literary history. This speech demonstrates West’s charismatic speaking talent in the tradition of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. This talk is available on streaming audio.

7. The Great Society by Lyndon Johnson

Today’s resource of the day is President Lyndon Johnson’s address in 1964 that put forth his vision of The Great Society: a society in which our prosperous nation eventually fulfills everyone’s basic needs and sees to it that everyone is given education and opportunity to live out their hopes and dreams. The ideas in this speech lay out the agenda of the Great Society program that Johnson initiated the next year. This speech is available from American Rhetoric on streaming audio.

8. Keeping the Faith in Difficult Times: Conversation with Studs Terkel

Author and radio broadcast personality Studs Terkel recently passed away at the age of 96. In this hour long streaming video interview, Conversations with History host Harry Kreisler interviews Studs later in his life. It is a fascinating and funny interview which covers much of Terkel’s life and his philosophy on life in America. He also openly expresses his opinions about the media and the politicians today. Although in his 90s at the time, Terkel lucidly reminisces about his life and the lessons he has learned from it. This video is available to stream through YouTube.

9. President Obama’s Weekly Radio Address

President Barack Obama gives a series of radio addresses to the country that are updated weekly. With these weekly speeches Obama lays out his strategy for tackling the big issues facing Americans today, including the financial crisis, the war in Iraq, climate change and more. A great way to learn more about Obama’s policies, this podcast is also a handy way to stay abreast of current events.

10. Message To The Grass Roots by Malcolm X

In his “Message To The Grass Roots” speech Malcolm X rallies African Americans to rise up for revolution against white people and form a black nation separate from the United States. He argues against the non-violent principles of the civil rights movement and sees self-defense and violence as central to the African American struggle in the U.S. This speech shows a different side of the black struggle for human rights in the 1960s. It’s available on streaming audio and MP3 download from American Rhetoric.

11. Emma Goldman Essays

From the folks at Audio Anarchy comes this collection of essays from one of history’s most well known anarchists and feminists: Emma Goldman. In these essays Goldman writes of what anarchism stands for, as well as essays about prisons, woman’s suffrage, and more. These essays are well read by Audio Anarchy’s narrators and available on MP3 Download.

12. 1988 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address by Ann Richards

Ann Richards was the former Governor of Texas and recently passed away at the age of 73. Listen to the speech which earned her national attention. At the 1988 Democratic National Convention she delivered a witty and heartfelt speech which conveyed traditional Democratic values. This speech is available from American Rhetoric on streaming audio and MP3 download.

13. The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America’s Pursuit of its Enemies Since 9/11 by Ron Suskind

In this lecture from the University Channel, author and journalist Ron Suskind delivers a rousing lecture on his book The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America’s Pursuit of its Enemies Since 9/11. He weaves a narrative of America’s War on Terror since 9/11, providing examples of how it is being conducted. Suskind delivers his message with wit and outrage, keeping listeners engaged throughout. This lecture can be downloaded on MP3 audio.

14. Fighting World Hunger by George McGovern

In this talk from the Miller Center of Public Affairs, former U.S. Senator George McGovern discusses how he became involved in fighting world hunger and the methods and ideas he has for how we will do so in the future. He also throws in some comments regarding the war in Iraq and how it is distracting America from issues such as world hunger. This talk is available on MP3 download.

15. The Republican War on Science by Chris Mooney

In this interview presented by UCTV, science scholar Naomi Oreskes dialogues with author Chris Mooney about his book “The Republican War on Science”. Here Mooney gives his opinion that the Bush Administration has consistently interfered with scientific progress due in large part to moral and economic interests. Oreskes uses her scientific background to give some context to Mooney’s arguments, and the result is a short debate that shows viewers how raw data can change according to who’s presenting it. This dialogue is available on streaming video and downloadable video from Google Video.

We’ve been sending out our Free Resource of the Day Emails for many years now. If you’ve not subscribed yet, we highly encourage you to do so.

July 22, 2010

Free Conservative Speeches & Lectures

If you are looking for audio and video resources with a right-leaning political perspective, look no further than this list of 20 free conservative speeches and lectures. For years we’ve been showcasing hundreds of free audio & video resources as a part of our Free Resource of the Day Emails, and from these we’ve whittled it down to the best material in our database, including archival recordings from past Republican National Conventions and some of Ronald Reagan’s best speeches. You’ll also hear from leading conservative thinkers, such as Dinesh D’Souza, Milton Friedman, Andrew Sullivan, Condoleezza Rice, and many others with strong opinions on how the country should be led. Whether you wish to learn more about America’s rich history of conservatism, or want to get an idea of where Republican leadership is headed in the 21st century, we think the links below will get you on your way:

1. A Time for Choosing (aka “The Speech”) by Ronald Reagan

Listen to this famous speech delivered by Ronald Reagan during the 1964 U.S. presidential election campaign on behalf of Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. In the speech Reagan delivers a powerful message against socialism and the expanding influence of the U.S. government in many sectors of American life. He also presents his case for using “peace through strength” to win the Cold War and defend democratic freedom against the expanding communism of the Soviet Union. This speech contains the backbone of Reagan’s political philosophy which he carried out as president into the 1980s. The speech is available on MP3 download and streaming audio through American Rhetoric.

2. The Role of Government in our Society with Milton Friedman

The Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman passed away a few weeks ago at the age of 94. Listen to a historical debate between Friedman and Democratic Senator Joseph S. Clark recorded in the early 1960s. Friedman comes through loud and clear in advocating his belief in laissez-faire capitalism and the disadvantages of government intervention. Friedman’s ideas on economics have become highly influential in America and throughout the world. This debate is available on MP3 digital download and streaming audio from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. (The audio is a little rough at the start of this recording, but it improves and is understandable.)

3. 1964 Republican National Convention Address by Barry Goldwater

In this classic Republican speech, 1964 Presidential nominee Barry Goldwater lays forth many of the principles of modern conservatism. Goldwater is especially adamant in his stance for use of force against Communism with his statement “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice”. He also confronts bureaucracy and centralization of government power as major problems facing the politics of his day. This speech is available on streaming audio and MP3 download from American Rhetoric.

4. Is This Still the Age of Socialism? by Alan Charles Kors

In this lecture from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, award-winning professor and historian Alan Charles Kors delivers an impassioned denouncement of socialism and ponders why the United States and other liberal democracies do not denounce socialism with the same fervor that is used in attacking Nazism. Professor Kors points out the atrocities of socialist and communist regimes throughout the 20th century and how they cost many more innocent lives than Hitler’s Nazi government. He feels it is appalling that the crimes of Communist regimes are not taught along side the crimes of the Nazis in schools, and that the collapse of Communism is not commemorated with the same reverence as the victory over Nazi Germany. This lecture is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

5. Conservatism by Karl Rove

In this speech from the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove addresses the Twenty-First Annual John M. Ashbrook Memorial Dinner and lays out the accomplishments of the modern conservatism movement. Delivered in early 2005, shortly after the re-election of President George W. Bush, Rove speaks a lot about the character of President Bush. Rove also lays forth some of the areas which he feels conservatives must push forward on such as spreading liberty, reforming welfare and social security, and committing to traditional conservative values. This hour-long streaming audio program is available from the Ashbrook Center.

6. Why America Is So Great by Dinesh D’Souza

Listen to Dinesh D’Souza’s lecture “Why America Is So Great”, as he discusses why he feels America is a great nation, and he defends the nation against its many critics around the world. This lecture is a brief introduction to D’Souza’s book What’s So Great About America. This 17 minute lecture is available on MP3 download and streaming audio from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

7. Winning the Cultural War by Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston delivers this dramatic speech against the political correctness that he feels is creating a new civil war in the United States. He cites extreme examples of the madness of our times and encourages students to practice civil disobedience against the oppression of political correctness that is plaguing our culture. This speech is available from American Rhetoric on streaming audio and MP3 download.

8. Decadence: Ancient and Modern by Russell Kirk

In this online audio lecture, Russell Kirk, author of The Conservative Mind, compares the decadence of our time to the decadence of the Greek and Roman civilizations that preceded us. Kirk tosses in a plethora of references to ancient cultures and it’s an amusing and interesting lecture.

9. In Depth: Francis Fukuyama

In this interview with political philosopher and author Francis Fukuyama, he discusses many of his books including America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy. Much of the discussion is over Iraq which Fukuyama opposed and he has since openly criticized Neoconservatives even though Fukuyama is a conservative himself. He fields many questions from callers across the political spectrum. This free interview is available on streaming video.

10. Shelby Steele on Why Barack Obama Cannot Win

Even though Barack Obama did win, author Shelby Steele provides some interesting criticisms of Obama and of the issue of race in America. In this talk delivered at Cody’s Books, author Shelby Steele talks about his book A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can’t Win. Steele contends that presidential candidate Barack Obama is a politician unto which people are projecting all of their various political hopes, but that Obama is not expressing his true convictions and if he does so, he risks losing the election. As a black conservative author, Steele points out the various masks that African-Americans have worn throughout the past century for white Americans and argues that Obama is also wearing the mask of a “black identity”. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from FORA.tv.

11. The Conservative Soul by Andrew Sullivan

In this talk offered by the Cato Institute, blogger and author Andrew Sullivan discusses his book The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How to Get It Back. Known as a gay, Roman Catholic conservative, Sullivan confronts the conservatives in power today warning against the religious certainty on which their policies are often based. Political commentator David Brooks has read Sullivan’s book and gives a brief critique of it, noting that religion in the United States is not as uniform as Sullivan proposes. Listen to this talk available on streaming video from FORA.tv, and on MP3 download through the Cato Institute website.

12. Intellectuals Then and Now with Norman Podhoretz and Sanford Pinsker

In this streaming audio presentation from Boston University’s World of Ideas show, noted speakers Norman Podhoretz and Sanford Pinsker discuss the historical role of the intellectual in American society. Starting in 1952 and going to the present, these speakers explain how America became more hospitable in the post-war years to its artists and scientists. Both lecturers give arguments on how these intellectuals in turn have responded to America, and how their influence has shaped modern culture.

13. Condoleezza Rice at Princeton

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered this keynote address at the 75th Anniversary of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She puts the contemporary issues of foreign policy within the context of American history, especially in relation to post-World War II foreign policy and the Cold War. Rice affirms her conviction that the quest for democratic governance and political freedom in the Middle East is a continuation of the ideals exercised throughout American history. This address is available on streaming audio and MP3 download from the University Channel.

14. Federalist Society Audio Podcast

Listen to dozens of podcast from the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. These podcasts examine legal and political issues from a conservative or libertarian viewpoint with panels of diverse opinions addressing the issues. Currently on the feed you’ll find podcasts covering direct democracy, property rights, religion and the public square, America’s role in the world, morality & the law, controversies involving lawyers and attorneys, gay marriage, voting rights, and a whole lot of other issues. You’ll also be able to hear addresses from prominent conservatives such as Rudy Giuliani, George W. Bush, Clarence Thomas, and many others. Listen to and download these free podcasts from the Federalist Society.

15. Is Manliness A Virtue? by Harvey Mansfield

Harvard Professor Harvey Mansfield delivers a talk that is sure to get you thinking about the role of manliness in our society. Just as feminism has been studied and had a profound influence in the world particularly in the last half century, so too Mansfield believes that the virtue of manliness should be studied to determine what it characteristically is and is not. This lecture is available from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and is available as on streaming audio and video as well as MP3 download.

16. Hollywood and the Three Lies by Michael Medved

In this streaming audio lecture released by the Ashbrook Center, film critic Michael Medved explains the three lies that he feels Hollywood has foisted onto American culture. He argues that the films produced in Hollywood reflect values that run counter to that of most Americans. Medved does feel this problem can be remedied, but this change can only come about if more audience members said “no” to something they don’t like.

17. Faith in America Address by Mitt Romney

In this speech which former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney delivered at The George Bush Presidential Library on December 6, 2007, he focused on the role of religion in American life and politics. Romney speaks of the importance of religious freedom as being essential to American life. He talks about his own Mormon faith, emphasizing that as president he is not in office to promote any one faith, but to be the voice of the people he is representing. This address is available from American Rhetoric on MP3 download and on streaming audio & video.

18. George W. Bush: Farewell Address to the Nation

Listen to President George W. Bush’s Farewell Address to the Nation which he delivered last Thursday, January 15, 2009. In the speech President Bush refers to many of the major events which happened during the eight years that he was Commander in Chief. He talks about some of the tough decisions he made and the sacrifices that were made over the past seven years to defend America from another terrorist attack. And President Bush emphasizes that America must lead the cause of freedom abroad and never let down its guard. This 13-minute speech is available on MP3 download and streaming audio & video.

19. Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity by John Stossel

In this book forum from the Cato Institute, John Stossel (Co-Anchor of ABC’s 20/20) discusses his latest book Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel-Why Everything You Know is Wrong. In his entertaining, no-nonsense style Stossel advocates opening up K-12 education to the free markets because he feels American public schools are falling behind the rest of the world and competition would give school systems the necessary kick they need to get America’s schools back on top. This audio program is available on MP3 download as well as streaming audio and video.

20. 1980 Republican National Convention Acceptance Address by Ronald Reagan

The Republican National Convention is going on this week. Listen to Ronald Reagan’s address at the 1980 Republican National Convention. He confronts the major issues of his day including the energy crisis and the stagnant economy, and he offers his conservative ideas for resolving these issues. Reagan also addresses the threat of the Soviet Union and what his foreign policy platform is in regards to the Soviet Union. He ends his speech with a moment of silent prayer. This speech is available on streaming audio and MP3 download from American Rhetoric.

We’ve been sending out our Free Resource of the Day Emails for many years now. If you’ve not subscribed yet, we highly encourage you to do so.

July 15, 2010

Top 50 Free Audio & Video Resources from the Past Year

At LearnOutLoud.com we’ve been offering our Free Resource of the Day Email for four years now highlighting the best free audio & video you can learn from with over 1000 free resources featured. From this fourth year of free resources we made a list of the top 50 free resources which we’ve covered in our daily emailings.

And now here is the entire top 50 list of free audio & video resources with reviews counting down from number 50:

50. Richard Dawkins: The Universe is Queerer Than We Can Suppose

In this mind-bending lecture from TED.com, biologist Richard Dawkins examines the universe from the standpoint of contemporary science and finds that our universe is much stranger than we are capable of supposing. He provides many examples in the biological world about how assumptions such as a rock being solid and our bodies being the same throughout our life are incorrect. Stretch your perspective with Dawkin’s case for “thinking the improbable”. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the TED.com website.

49. The Inner Life of Democracy

In this talk from the WGBH Forum Network, the late author & activist Howard Zinn discusses his optimistic view of the future of American democracy and how activism by the people can lead to positive change. Zinn points out some of his heroes throughout history that have spoken truth to power. This talk serves as a brief summation of the ideas of the late Howard Zinn as he urges people to get involved in their democracy. It is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the Forum Network.

48. PM Dreamtime Session

Listen to this 22-minute visualization & relaxation process for winding down in the evening from Dr. Patrick Porter. Combined with soothing music, this audio program is a great way to relax at end of the day. This free audio download was published through our TeachOutLoud service and is available on MP3 download through LearnOutLoud.com. Check out Over 20 Downloads by Dr. Patrick Porter, which he has published through our TeachOutLoud service.

47. Critical Condition: Health Care in America

In this hour-long lecture from the Chautauqua Institution, award-winning investigative journalists Donald Barlett & James Steele offer their findings on the current state of the American health care system. They present the data of how America is behind almost every major developed nation in terms of its health care rank, and yet Americans spend more than almost every major developed nation for their health care. Barlett & Steele conclude that the reason for this is that a for-profit health care system contains many factors that work against affordable, quality health care for all and they mention dozens of examples of irrational, profit-driven motives at work in the system. They propose a single payer health care plan like most other developed nations have, but they acknowledge that the prospects for such a plan are bleak when $2 trillion are at stake and the health insurance lobby is the largest in Washington. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download through FORA.tv.

46. 25 Life Purpose Lessons from Sounds True

Just in time for the New Year, Sounds True has launched a wonderful new section of their site that features 25 Life Purpose Lessons to help you grow in your passions, your career, and your wealth in the coming year. With 5-15 minute audio lessons from Sounds True’s best business & wealth teachers such as Rick Jarow, Mark Albion, John Mackey, Fred Kofman, and Vicki Robin, these 25 life lessons will propel you into 2010 with vision & motivation. They’ve thoughtfully divided these lessons up into three sections.

45. The Life of Charles Darwin

In this lecture professor Chandak Sengoopta discusses the life of Charles Darwin covering the major events in Darwin’s life including his voyage on the HMS Beagle and his eventual publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859. Professor Sengoopta covers a lot of Darwin’s life in a short amount of time while providing many interesting facts about the man whose theory of evolution by natural selection revolutionized biology and greatly affected many other areas of society from the late 19th century up to the present day.

44. The Soul in Depression

Listen to this podcast from American Public Media’s Speaking of Faith program covering the topic of depression. Nearly ten million Americans are diagnosed with clinical depression, and if you have experienced depression or know someone who has then this audio program is a helpful resource covering the spiritual side of depression. In this podcast host Krista Tippett interviews author of The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression Andrew Solomon, Quaker author & activist Parker Palmer, and poet Anita Barrows about their experiences with depression. Each author discusses some of the life-affirming, spiritual qualities that can come from someone who has survived a bout of depression. This podcast is available on MP3 download and streaming audio from the Speaking of Faith website.

43. Hiroshima and the Origins of the Cold War

In this lecture professor David Painter discusses the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945 during the World War II. Professor Painter establishes how the groundwork for nuclear warfare was established by President Franklin Roosevelt. He then provides reasons why the new President Harry Truman decided to use nuclear weapons against Japan, and provides some criticisms that have been brought forward since then which argue that dropping the atomic bomb was not necessary and was not for the purpose of winning the war against Japan. In the aftermath of dropping the bomb, professor Painter shows how it created the origins of what would come to be known as the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

42. Learn French with Alexa Podcast

Learn French with Alexa is a fun french-language learning series of Podcasts designed for absolute beginners. With an enthusiastic style, Alexa bring 15 years of experience to a system that starts with hello and goodbye and carefully moves students further into more advanced territory. If you choose to subscribe on her site after listening to these free episodes, you not only continue the lesson plan but also get access to video and text supplements.

41. Doris Kearns Goodwin on Learning from Past Presidents

In this short lecture provided by TED Talks, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin explores what we can learn about life from the lives of the Great Presidents. In trying to balance work, love, and play, we see how the ambitious Lincoln was always trying to find respite in Shakespeare, and how Lyndon Johnson found it difficult adjusting to family life after the fast pace of the Presidency. Viewed through the prism of the Presidents, Goodwin demonstrates that even our most celebrated leaders had a hard time sustaining a balanced, happy life. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download.

40. Do What You Fear & Grow Stronger

Listen to this free 13-minute podcast by Project Management trainer & author Michael Greer. In this podcast Michael Greer begins with some quotes on overcoming fear and the importance of facing your fears. He tells a personal story of how he went from singing in the shower to singing for a rock band as a teenager, and the various steps he took to overcoming his fear of singing in front of a crowd. He also relates these methods of tackling fear to leadership & management and the ways leaders can encourage their teams to overcome fear. At the end of the podcast Greer recommends to get the audio book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers on LearnOutLoud.com (thanks Michael!) and to check out the wisdom he’s gained from PhilosophersNotes.com.

39. Understanding the French Revolution

In this lecture esteemed professor Donald M.G. Sutherland sets out to define revolution and how the French Revolution has in turn changed the definition of revolution. He then examines a number of the proposed causes of the French Revolution that have been debated since then. He concludes that no one could’ve predicted in summer of 1789 that in a few years King Louis XVI would be executed, over 16,000 people would be killed by the guillotine during the Reign of Terror, and that a military officer named Napoleon Bonaparte would rise to become the dictator and emperor of France.

38. 18 Self-Healing Exercises from Sounds True

Listen to 18 Self-Healing Exercises from Sounds True with their Guide to Energy Healing. In these exercises you’ll hear teachers such as Andrew Weil, Cyndi Dale, Caroline Myss, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and many more. Listen to Andrew Weil teaches his most powerful breathing technique for relaxation or to Shiva Rea as she leads a 20-minute yoga relaxation exercise covering the entire body. Enjoy these free self-healing exercises on streaming audio from Sounds True.

37. Einstein’s Creativity

Author Walter Isaacson summarizes the life of Albert Einstein in this 1-hour talk from the Aspen Ideas Festival. Isaacson’s book Einstein: His Life and Universe focuses on the creativity of Einstein which went far beyond the dry experiments we often associate with scientific practice. Isaacson attempts to present Einstein’s life and ideas in a way that is accessible to the layperson, and in this talk he comes very close to doing just that. It’s a great intro to Einstein. This talk is available on MP3 download and streaming video from FORA.tv.

36. A Time for Choosing (aka “The Speech”)

Listen to this famous speech delivered by Ronald Reagan during the 1964 U.S. presidential election campaign on behalf of Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. In the speech Reagan delivers a powerful message against socialism and the expanding influence of the U.S. government in many sectors of American life. He also presents his case for using “peace through strength” to win the Cold War and defend democratic freedom against the expanding communism of the Soviet Union. This speech contains the backbone of Reagan’s political philosophy which he carried out as president into the 1980s. The speech is available on MP3 download and streaming audio through American Rhetoric.

35. Joel Osteen Audio Podcast

One of the most popular podcasts on our site is Joel Osteen’s Audio Podcast. Joel Osteen is the pastor of Lakewood Church, the nation’s largest and fastest growing church in the nation. Pastor Osteen is also the author of the bestselling book Your Best Life Now along with numerous other inspirational audio books. Each week on the podcast Pastor Osteen delivers a half-hour sermon. Enjoy this podcast from Joel Osteen.

34. Global Warming in Earth’s History

In this lecture professor Michael B. McElroy introduces the worldwide experiment we have embarked on through the increase in global temperature. He covers some of the basics of global warming such as the greenhouse effect, the gases that contribute to global warming, and what creates the climate on Earth. He then puts humanity and global warming in the context of Earth’s entire history going back 4.5 billion years ago. He uses a calendar year as a reference for Earth’s history and places global warming at the last few seconds before midnight on December 31st. It’s an excellent introductory lecture for placing global warming in global history.

33. Jimmy Wales and Andrew Keen Debate Web 2.0

In this debate from the Commonwealth Club of California journalist David Ewing Duncan moderates a debate over Web 2.0 between Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and author Andrew Keen. Keen brings up many interesting objections to Web 2.0 and its user-based sites such as Wikipedia, YouTube, and Craigslist. He feels these sites are undermining the ability for creative professionals to make a living because they give everything away for free. He also criticizes Wikipedia because the authors are anonymous and he feels an individual author is required in order to evaluate their writing. Wales feels that Web 2.0 has contributed to a growing creative class and that while the new Internet paradigm has created disruptions in the economy it ultimately leads to a better knowledge-based economy and a better world. This debate is available on streaming video and MP3 download from FORA.tv.

32. Benjamin Zander on Music and Passion

Lift your spirits with the power of classical music! Conductor Benjamin Zander shares his passion for classical music in this TED talk. While the statistics say 3% of the population are classical music lovers, Zander attempts to prove that we are all lovers of classical music. He takes listeners on a journey of what he calls one-buttock playing where the pianist is moved with the music and in turn moves the audience. He then plays a Chopin prelude and proves that nobody is tone deaf. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the TED.com website.

31.Earth and the Universe

In this lecture Professor James Kaler puts Earth in perspective within the solar system, the galaxy, and the whole universe. He covers what makes a planet and the diversity of planets in our solar system discussing their size and their distance from the sun. Professor Kaler provides dozens of awe-inspiring facts about our solar system in this fascinating introductory astronomy lecture. This lecture is available for MP3 download on LearnOutLoud.com.

30. Seth Godin on Standing Out

Seth Godin feels that days of status quo marketing through the television industrial complex are coming to an end. People are too busy to pay attention to the nonstop advertising of average products for average people. What grabs people’s attention is something remarkable, or rather something worth making a remark about. And their remarks spread the ideas or products to the world and make it a success. Learn about the cutting edge of spreading ideas with this talk by Seth Godin. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the TED.com website.

29. Is This Still the Age of Socialism?

In this lecture from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, award-winning professor and historian Alan Charles Kors delivers an impassioned denouncement of socialism and ponders why the United States and other liberal democracies do not denounce socialism with the same fervor that is used in attacking Nazism. Professor Kors points out the atrocities of socialist and communist regimes throughout the 20th century and how they cost many more innocent lives than Hitler’s Nazi government. He feels it is appalling that the crimes of Communist regimes are not taught along side the crimes of the Nazis in schools, and that the collapse of Communism is not commemorated with the same reverence as the victory over Nazi Germany. This lecture is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

28. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on Flow

Check out this TED talk from psychology professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who authored the book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Csikszentmihalyi talks about how he became interested in psychology after World War II when he heard a lecture by Carl Jung. Csikszentmihalyi eventually began his psychological study of how average people become extraordinary which he attributes to the idea of “flow” when one become completely involved in an activity for its own sake. Csikszentmihalyi provides many examples of individuals who have tapped into this “flow” state. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the TED.com website.

27. Peikoff.com Q&A on Ayn Rand Podcast

Dr. Leonard Peikoff was a long time friend Ayn Rand and she designated him as her legal and intellectual heir. Carrying on Ayn Rand’s Objectivist philosophy, Peikoff has been podcasting weekly for over a year with his Q&A format. In each episode he answers a number of questions that have been emailed to him and provides the answers that Ayn Rand had for many of the questions. Peikoff doesn’t answer all of the questions emailed to him, but he claims to read them all, and he will answer just about any question whether it be in regards to philosophy, politics, ethics, art, sexuality, etc. With each question answered you get a better idea of what Objectivist philosophy is and it’s the closest you’re likely to get to hearing what Ayn Rand would think of things if she were still alive today.

26. 21 Meditation Exercises from Sounds True

Our good friends at the publisher Sounds True recently launched a section of their site which is their Guide to Meditation, designed for people who have heard about meditation but don’’t know where to begin. The site features 21 free streaming audio meditations from many of Sounds True’s best teachers including Shinzen Young, Adyashanti, Jack Kornfield, Pema Chodron, and more. Listen to some of these great free meditations today!

25. Teddy Roosevelt

In this first lecture in a series touching on how the U.S. Presidency changed during the 20th century, noted historian Robert Dallek begins with his take on Theodore Roosevelt. In this concise biographical sketch, Dallek describes Roosevelt as the great president that arrived at the turn of the century, painting the portrait of a charismatic visionary that cast a long shadow on his successor, President William H. Taft. In this introduction, Dallek develops themes that run throughout the course, providing students with an unparalleled view of how modern America was shaped by the men that led it.

24. Anton Chekhov Select Stories Podcast

This podcast is a compilation of over 20 short stories written by the great Russian short-story writer Anton Chekhov. Most of the stories are fifteen minutes long or less, so you can listen to a number of them and take in the insightful moments in the everyday lives of 19th Century Russians that Chekhov captures. With classic translations by Constance Garnett, Marian Fell, and others, this podcast serves as an excellent introduction to Chekhov’s stories. They are all wonderfully narrated by Alan Davis Drake, and you can browse hundreds of other recordings by him at: http://drakesdoor.org/blog/.

23. Introduction to Macroeconomics and Microeconomics

In this lecture Professor Navarro talks about the basics of macroeconomics and microeconomics. He provides numerous real life examples about how both macroeconomics and microeconomics affect our personal and professional lives. Professor Navarro is able to articulate a number of economic principles in a clear and concise way that is relevant to everyday life. This lecture is available for MP3 download on LearnOutLoud.com.

22. Monday Again?!: Four Essentials For A Healthy Lifestyle

Start your Monday with this free audio book titled appropriately enough Monday Again?!: Four Essentials For A Healthy Lifestyle by Marquese Martin-Hayes. In the 1-hour book Marquese lays out strategies to use your thoughts in order to change our perspective on Mondays and on everyday! Marquese published this titles through our TeachOutLoud service. It sounds like a very good listen.

21. Neil deGrasse Tyson: The Pluto Files

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses his newest book on Pluto’s recent demotion in this humorous interview conducted at the Los Angeles Public Library. In a style all his own, Tyson describes the uproar created when he helped demote Pluto to a new class of planetoid, even going as far as to cite letters from school children decrying his stance. He also goes on to answer many pressing (and not so pressing) scientific questions; including the role science has played in the Bush administration, and whether or not the world will end in 2012. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from FORA.tv.

20. Beyond Genre: Making Space for Greatness

Rick Rubin has produced an unbelievable number of hit records with talented artists ranging from LL Cool J and The Beastie Boys to Johnny Cash and Tom Petty. What’s his secret? Ken Wilber tries to get to the bottom of it in this interview from Integral Naked. Rubin provides some great insights into creativity that can be applied to artists in any medium. This title is being offered for free on MP3 download through our partnership with Integral Naked.

19. How to Speak and Write Correctly

Listen to this classic text on how to speak and write correctly in English. The author Joseph Devlin purports that the book “is merely an effort to help ordinary, everyday people to express themselves in ordinary, everyday language, in a proper manner.” Published in 1910 this book is still useful for learning how to create sentences, use figures of speech, write letters, and more. This download is available from Librivox.org on MP3 download and it is read by a number of their volunteer narrators including David Barnes, Kara Shallenberg, and Hugh McGuire. Start improving your writing and speaking today!

18. Sounds True: Insights at the Edge Podcast

Listen to the best podcast yet from the publisher Sounds True! In this podcast Tami Simon, Founder of Sounds True, interviews spiritual teachers, visionary writers, and living luminaries about their newest work and current challenges of their inner inquiry and outer contribution to the world. She interviews Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Tami asks him questions about his life as a peace activist. Other authors she interviews include Ken Wilber, Caroline Myss, Jack Kornfield, Geneen Roth, Dr. Ervin Laszlo, Sharon Salzberg, and more. Subscribe to this great podcast today!

17. The Foundations of Language

In this lecture Professor Michael Drout focuses on language as a whole and how it develops and is learned. He points out the amazing ability that children have for speaking and comprehending a language they are immersed in until they reach about six years old without having to “learn” the language at all. While the origins of human language are endlessly debated, he does provide some interesting examples of how languages develop such as through mixing of people speaking different languages in the case of Hawaiian Creole, and through the isolation of people developing different languages over time in the case of the over 850 indigenous languages spoken in Papua New Guinea.

16. Time Management

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch is best known for his talk “The Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” which he gave while he had terminal cancer about a year before he passed away on July 25, 2008. After that lecture he gave another great lecture at the University of Virginia in November 2007 on “Time Management”. Pausch clearly learned from the best when it came to time management and in this hour long talk he packs in advice on time management for almost every area of your life such as prioritizing tasks, managing meetings & phone calls, delegating assignments, dealing with email, and also taking time to say thank you. He ends the lecture with a poignant reminder that the more efficient you are the more you can spend time with the ones you love because some day you might wake up and find out you don’t have much time left.

15. Romeo and Juliet

In this audio lecture provided as part of the Modern Scholar Series, noted author and literary critic Harold Bloom provides his unparalleled analysis of Shakespeare’s tragic love story. Focusing his attenion squarely on the role Juliet plays in the drama, Bloom argues that it is her characterization and dialogue that marks the beginning of Shakespeare’s maturity as an artist. In this tale we see what may be the definitive portrait of a woman in love, and indeed, Juliet’s ability to find words for complicated emotions is a major reason Romeo and Juliet have become the romantic ideal. This lecture is available on MP3 Download from LearnOutLoud.com.

14. Barry Schwartz: The Paradox of Choice VS. Malcolm Gladwell: What We Can Learn From Spaghetti Sauce

In this free resource we’re featuring two free talks from TED.com because they fit so well together. Malcolm Gladwell and Barry Schwartz ruminate on the positives and negatives of having such as vast array of choices in our advanced capitalist societies. Do more choices provide us with more happiness or not? You decide.

Barry Schwartz: The Paradox of Choice: Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, discusses some of the observations he makes in his book in this talk from the TED conference. He argues that the vast explosion of choices in advanced capitalist societies has led to increased paralysis in terms of decision making and ultimately decreased satisfaction. He provides a number of examples to back up his thesis that more choice and individual freedom is not always best. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the TED.com website.

Malcolm Gladwell: What We Can Learn From Spaghetti Sauce: In this interesting talk delivered by bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell, he explores how the food industry went from looking for the perfect single spaghetti sauce recipe to a more diverse approach of creating a variety of spaghetti sauces to suit the desires of shoppers. He examines this trend through one of its main proponents Howard Moskowitz who used the field of psychophysics to create a variety of original sauces for Prego in the 1980s. Once this variability was proven to be successful it spread to the rest of the food industry, and Gladwell feels we are all happier for this increase in choices. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the TED.com website.

13. What is Knowledge?

It’s back to school time and before cramming our brains with new knowledge, let us ask, “What is Knowledge?” In this lecture, Professor Colin McGinn deciphers what we mean when we say we ‘know’ something to be true. He traces the history of philosophical skepticism, giving the listener several historical arguments for the theory of knowledge, and also touching on arguments made by the likes of Plato, Descartes, and other important philosophers. This lecture is a foundational exercise for the rest of the program, with McGinn arguing that for someone to begin thinking philosophically, he or she must first understand the methods of thinking that go into the pursuit of true knowledge.

12. The Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

You can now watch Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture on “Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” in its entirety on YouTube. If you’ve not heard of this lecture it was a lecture delivered on September 18, 2007 by Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch who had been diagnosed with a terminal case of pancreatic cancer. In this lecture Professor Pausch talks about how to live your life through the many lessons he had learned in his quest for achieving his childhood dreams. With humor and upbeat energy, he also talks about the many ways in which he inspired his students to achieve their dreams, many of which he lived to see come true. Professor Randy Pausch passed away on July 25, 2008, yet this lecture continues to inspire millions through Pausch’s enduring lessons about life.

11. The Novella Podcast

We’ve recently launched a new podcast called The Novella Podcast. It will feature one audio book at a time that is longer than a short story, but shorter than your typical novel. In the past we’ve featured on the podcast the classic German novella Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Death in Venice by Thomas Mann. Please listen to and subscribe to our latest podcast so you don’t miss a novella!

10. A Beautiful Mind: Genius, Madness, Reawakening

Listen to the truly inspiring story of mathematician John Nash as told by the author of A Beautiful Mind Dr. Sylvia Nasar. In this amazing one-hour lecture Dr. Nasar tells of the rise of John Nash as a genius in mathematics and his eventual downward spiral into paranoid schizophrenia which was followed by an amazing resurgence from his mental illness in his later years culminating in winning the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994. It’s a remarkable story and a must-watch lecture if you’ve never seen it before. Dr. Nasar delivers the story with clarity and heartfelt emotion. It is available on streaming video from MIT World.

9. CBC Radio: Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies in 9 Days Podcast

In this podcast from Canadian public radio, host Bill Richardson has nine conversations with the Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Bramwell Tovey about the nine symphonies composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. With a piano by his side to play certain sections of the symphonies, Bramwell Tovey breaks down each symphony into its specific movements and demonstrates the ingenious innovations that Beethoven brought to this type of musical composition. Tovey also tells the stories behind each symphony, including the famous Symphony No. 5 and the Symphony No. 9 with its “Ode to Joy” finale that Beethoven composed when he was completely deaf. This outstanding podcast basically serves as a free audio course covering all of Beethoven’s Symphonies.

8. The Art of Original Thinking

Author Jan Phillips is currently offering her audio book The Art of Original Thinking: The Making of a Thought Leader for free on MP3 audio download directly through LearnOutLoud.com. This unabridged 6-hour audio book sets out to inspire new thought leaders for the new global paradigm we are entering. She provides many insights from her own life and quotes other unique thought leaders to aid us in creatively thinking outside of the box. She also explores the new thinking that is emerging in the areas of business, politics, religion, the environment, and more. Download this free audio book generously offered by author Jan Phillips and feel free to check out her website: www.janphillips.com.

7. Introduction to Human Anatomy

Learn about your body with this lecture delivered by Professor John K. Young on the axial skeleton of the human. Professor Young starts the lecture with some definitions of basic human anatomy terms. He then proceeds to cover the axial skeleton of a human starting with the cranium and proceeding down the spinal cord with many interesting tidbits along the way. Professor Young proves that studying human anatomy doesn’t require diagrams as we have our own human anatomical specimen right at our fingertips. He points out many of the bones along the way which you can touch while listening (just keep one hand on the wheel if you’re driving!).

6. Israel and Palestine After Disengagement: Where Do We Go From Here?

Listen to one of the liveliest debate we’ve ever heard between Noam Chomsky and Alan M. Dershowitz over ways to find peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has been going on for almost a century now. These two prominent intellectuals have been writing on the conflict for a number of decades and it makes for a very engaging debate regardless of where you stand or how much you know about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dershowitz argues that the Palestinians should’ve accepted the terms during the Camp David Summit in 2000, and that now is a critical time for reaching a peace agreement. Chomsky feels that the terms offered the Palestinians at Camp David were unreasonable and that a two-state solution should follow the ideas presented at the Taba Summit in 2001. The debate goes into many other areas surrounding maps, human rights, and terrorism, along with lots of interesting questions asked from the audience. This debate was conducted at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics in 2005, and it is available streaming video through Real Player on the University Channel website.

5. Jill Bolte Taylor’s Stroke of Insight

In this moving talk delivered at the TED conference, brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylor provides a first-person account of her own stroke and the experience of losing control of her bodily functions as well the functions of the left side of her brain. Instead of it being a painful or frightening experience, she said the stroke put her in a intense state of bliss and nirvana. Sharing this experience became her motivation for recovery. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the TED.com website.

4. 12 Shakespeare Plays from Speak the Speech

We found a great resource for listening to Shakespeare’s plays on audio. Speak the Speech is a non-profit audio theatre company dedicated to providing freely available Shakespearean audio performances online. Collaborating with a full cast of actors in Portland, Oregon, they’ve recorded some of the best audio versions of Shakespeare’s plays available and they’ve made them available for free on MP3 download through their website. Thanks to Speak the Speech for informing us of their great audio dramas of Shakespeare’s plays!

3. 1993 ESPY Award Address

Listen to this truly inspiring address by legendary American college basketball coach Jimmy Valvano, delivered just a few months before he died of cancer. Valvano encourages us to laugh, think, and cry everyday and to never give up which is the motto of The V Foundation which he established as a charitable organization dedicated to saving lives by helping to find a cure for cancer. This 13-minute speech is available on streaming video through YouTube and MP3 Download through American Rhetoric.

2. Introductions to World Literature

Download these outstanding, brief introductions to classic literature written and read by Peter Whitfield and offered on MP3 download from NAXOS AudioBooks. Derived from his book A Universe of Books, Whitfield offers glimpses of the significance of a number of classic literary works from throughout history and around the world. We suggest starting with his introductory essay “The Life of Man – The Life of Books” in which he argues for the importance of reading the classics in contemporary life. From there you can pick and choose from a list of superb intros that are sure to spark your interest into reading some of the all-time classics of literature. Enjoy these free introductions from best publisher of classic literature: NAXOS AudioBooks.

1. Free: The Future of a Radical Price (Unabridged) and Free (Abridged)

And how could we not make our top free resource of 2009 to be the audio book of Chris Anderson’s FREE: The Future of a Radical Price. Chris Anderson is the Editor-in-chief of Wired Magazine and the author of The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More. In practicing what he preaches, Anderson and his publisher Hyperion are giving away his new audio book for free!

We’ve all listened to it here at LearnOutLoud.com and it truly is a fascinating look into the history of the free economy. Going back to the early 1900s he talks about how the creators of Jell-O boosted their product to worldwide success by giving away enormous numbers of free Jell-O cookbooks. He gives many such examples of how businesses leveraged “free” throughout the 20th century, and then examines when the free economy really took off in the digital age. Anderson explores free open source software, free Google products, the free encyclopedia Wikipedia, free classified ads on Craiglist, free music downloads both legal & illegal, and much more. He shows how the idea of free in the digital age has disrupted whole industries while at the same time creating a massive new “free” economy. Throughout the book Anderson explores countless ways that businesses are monetizing “free” in every industry. The audio book is a comprehensive exploration of the history, business, technology, and economics of “free”. You can download this audio book unabridged on iTunes, Audible.com, Wired.com, or right off our site as a podcast. And you can download the abridged version from the Hyperion website if you enter in your email address. Both versions are narrated by Mr. Anderson himself.

Enjoy these free resources and be sure to subscribe to our Free Resource of the Day Email.