Tom Miles has 4 audiobooks on Listento.it, narrated by 2 narrators, with an average listener rating of 4.5★ across 9 ratings. The most-rated is Stoicism.
Stoicism
Summary
It's a well-recorded phenomenon that words are liable to develop different meanings in common modern usage compared to those they had their origins and how people "in the know" would use them. This is doubly true for philosophical concepts - the word Epicurean, for example, has been transmuted from identifying the very sober and level teachings of the Greek philosopher Epicurus to being a synonym for wanton pleasure-seeking and hedonism. Stoicism hasn't suffered as severe a distortion. The modern understanding of what it means to be stoical is never showing any form of outward emotion regardless of all circumstances, good or bad, and indeed not having any emotions whatsoever. The entire species of the Vulcans in the popular science fiction franchise Star Trek exemplifies the popular definition. But it's easy to recognize an absence of outward emotion as not necessarily being a good thing; it is possible, after all, for someone to have a calm and blank exterior and yet be screaming inside. Having no internal emotion at all is also a less-than-ideal situation, as well. Without emotion, how could one possibly enjoy life? Being immune to the negatives and vicissitudes of life in this way is something we can all stand to benefit from. Our modern lives are so full of worries and insecurities, and peace and fulfillment are something most people try to find outside of themselves. Stoicism teaches that these are things we can only find from inside ourselves, and gives us the tools and mindset necessary to build them up. What this audiobook will endeavor to do is to introduce the philosophy of Stoicism to the modern person and make a case for how it can drastically improve our outlook and quality of life.
©2015 Tom Miles (P)2015 HRD Publishing
Arguments: How to Persuade Others to Your Way of Thinking
Summary
Arguing has a bit of a bad rap in modern society, being seen as divisive and a source of conflict. When most people hear the word, they think of heated rows where voices are raised, accusations and names are thrown back and forth like missiles, no satisfactory conclusion is reached, and the parties arguing end up angry, hurt, further apart, and more dogmatically entrenched in their positions than before. This reputation isn't deserved - arguing is just another aspect of communication, one that allows an exchange of ideas and for issues to be resolved in order for things to move forward. This book is going to teach you how to overcome the obstacles that stand between you and succeeding in convincing others to your way of thinking. It will take a look at what arguing actually is in order to gain a better understanding of how to do it well and efficiently, tackle the prickly issue of just how ethical it is to persuade someone, and look at the different ways in which we fail in our arguments, both in winning and occasionally in reaching a decent resolution without devolving into fighting. It will also take an extensive look at logic, particularly how it is applied to construct valid and compelling arguments, and finally closes with 10 tips that will help you win your arguments. The section on logic takes up over half the book - logic is the cornerstone of a convincing argument, after all. This isn't a stuffy book that will give you dense theory with no connection to real life, though: Each entry includes a personal and professional example that you are likely to come across in real life. Along with the positive uses of logic, some ways in which the techniques discussed can be used in a dishonest way that takes advantage of how the human brain works are also included. There is a brief discussion of the ethics of using these techniques, but ultimately the power is given to you, the listener.
©2015 HRD Publishing (P)2015 HRD Publishing
Atheism: A Wonderful World Without Religion
Summary
Throughout human history religions have been a staggeringly powerful force in the hearts and minds of their adherents and in society as a whole. They have moved men and women to inspiring acts of bravery and spurred the creation of some of the most sublime works of art, and arguably have been pivotal in the creation of stable societies and the social order we see today. At the same time, though, they have also been responsible for some of the most heinous atrocities ever committed and have imposed many arbitrary limits on individuals that serve as a massive detriment to their well-being. As time has marched on, we have developed new systems for making sense of the natural world and for living together harmoniously. The barriers that separate us have eroded and we have built alternatives to the systems that religion has used to maintain order. This book aims to look at some of the notions that atheists hold. The first two chapters are an exploration into the factual inadequacies of faith. The third will touch on the social evils of religion and their deep rooting in the very nature and psychology of faith itself. The last three chapters will address the alternative, non-theistic solutions to three separate problems previously solved by faith.
©2015 HRD Publishing (P)2015 HRD Publishing
A Year for Change
Summary
In A Year for Change you'll be opened up to new opportunities, exposed to new experiences, and it'll take you out of your comfort zone, if you allow it to do so. The choice is yours. You are capable of experiencing a fulfilled life, but you must be open and willing to take the appropriate action. This book explores all the habits and attitudes that create success in 12 broad categories. Within each of the categories are a handful of actionable habits, truisms and pieces of advice. The total of which is 52, one for each week of the year. 52 specific areas of your life, and 52 weekly challenges. The challenges in this book have been tailored to have simple, day-to-day components that will build towards the greater goal. These aren't meant to be 'tried on' for just the week they're in and discarded. Each week is for you to start on those good habits, establish and maintain them. As you go through the year you will keep accumulating these habits until you have a suite of them that will create untold happiness and success in your life.
©2015 HRD Publishing (P)2015 HRD Publishing