Jonathan Rauch has 2 audiobooks on Listento.it, narrated by 2 narrators, with an average listener rating of 4.2★ across 20 ratings. The most-rated is Kindly Inquisitors.
Kindly Inquisitors
Summary
"A liberal society stands on the proposition that we should all take seriously the idea that we might be wrong. This means we must place no one, including ourselves, beyond the reach of criticism; it means that we must allow people to err, even where the error offends and upsets, as it often will." So writes Jonathan Rauch in Kindly Inquisitors, which has challenged listeners for more than 20 years with its bracing and provocative exploration of the issues surrounding attempts to limit free speech. In it, Rauch makes a persuasive argument for the value of "liberal science" and the idea that conflicting views produce knowledge within society. In this expanded edition of Kindly Inquisitors, a new foreword by George F. Will strikingly shows the book's continued relevance, while a substantial new afterword by Rauch elaborates upon his original argument and brings it fully up to date. Two decades after the book's initial publication, while some progress has been made, the regulation of hate speech has grown domestically - especially in American universities - and has spread even more internationally, where there is no First Amendment to serve as a meaningful check. But the answer to bias and prejudice, Rauch argues, is pluralism - not purism. Rather than attempting to legislate bias and prejudice out of existence or to drive them underground, we must pit them against one another to foster a more vigorous and fruitful discussion. It is this process that has been responsible for the growing acceptance of the moral acceptability of homosexuality over the last 20 years. And it is this process, Rauch argues, that will enable us as a society to replace hate with knowledge, both ethical and empirical.
©2013 Jonathan Rauch (P)2013 Cato Institute
The Happiness Curve
Summary
This audiobook will change your life by showing you how life changes. Why does happiness tend to get harder in your 40s? Why do you feel in a slump when you're successful? Where does this malaise come from, regardless of your gender, race, class or nationality? And, most importantly, will it ever end? Drawing on cutting-edge research and dozens of stories about a diverse set of people, award-winning journalist Jonathan Rauch answers all these questions. He shows that from our 20s into our 40s, happiness follows a U-shaped trajectory, declining from the optimism of youth into what's often a long, low slump in middle age, before starting to rise again in our 50s - and then yielding unexpected contentment and wisdom. Dismissing the popular myth of the midlife crisis, Rauch shows that the "happiness curve" does not usually indicate a period of disruption or dysfunction. Nor is it the result of bad personal choices or lack of gratitude. He reveals that the slump is completely natural, serving a vital psychological and social purpose. By shifting priorities away from competition and toward compassion, it equips you with new tools for wisdom and gratitude. You'll develop new values and see a change in who you are. Full of insights and data and featuring many ways to endure the slump and avoid its perils and traps, The Happiness Curve doesn't just show listeners the dark forest of midlife; it helps them find a path through the trees. It also shows how we can - and why we must - do more to help each other through the woods.
©2018 Jonathan Rauch (P)2018 Macmillan Audio