Craig Deitschmann has narrated 5 audiobooks on Listento.it by 8 authors. The most-rated is Democracy in America.
The Prince and Discourse on Voluntary Servitude
Summary
Machiavelli wrote The Prince for his ruler as a guide for gaining and keeping power. Central themes of his essay are the relation between politics and ethics, what the best form of government is, the importance of the Church, and the growth of Italy as a nation-state. The word "Machiavellian" often suggests sinister motives, but some scholars question this traditional interpretation. De la Boetie wrote Discourse on Voluntary Servitude in 16th century France during the birth of the nation-state, the rise of absolute monarchy, and intense religious and civil wars. He examines the psychology of political obedience, the structure and specific mechanisms of state authority, the motives of those who obey and those who command, and the phenomenon of obedience in the absence of force.
©1986 Carmichael and Carmichael, Inc. and Knowledge Products (P)1986 Carmichael and Carmichael, Inc. and Knowledge Products
Civil Disobedience and the Liberator (Knowledge Products) Giants of Political Thought Series
Summary
Civil Disobedience is Henry David Thoreau's argument for the deliberate violation of laws for reasons of conscience. Thoreau's concept is based on the belief that no law should command blind obedience, and that non-cooperation with unjust laws is both morally correct and socially beneficial. The Liberator was a leading voice for abolitionism in the nineteenth century. Abolitionism called for the immediate emancipation of slaves, based on the principle that individuals own their bodies, labor, and the fruits of their labor. Abolitionists vigorously opposed gradualists, who called for phasing out slavery over a long period of time; they also opposed colonizationists, who wished to relocate former slaves to another country.
©1985 Carmichael & Carmichael, Inc. and Knowledge Products (P)1985 Carmichael & Carmichael, Inc. and Knowledge Products
The Federalist Papers
Summary
The U.S. Constitution was approved by the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787. It was to become law only if it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. New York was a key state, but it contained strong forces opposing the Constitution. A series of 85 letters appeared in New York City newspapers between October 1787 and August 1788 urging support for the Constitution. These letters remain the first and most authoritative commentary on the American concept of federal government. Later known as The Federalist Papers, they were published under the pseudonym "Publius", although written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. This presentation explores the major arguments contained in The Federalist Papers and contrasts them with the views of the Anti-Federalists.
©1986 Carmichael and Carmichael, Inc. and Knowledge Products (P)1986 Carmichael and Carmichael, Inc. and Knowledge Products
The Wealth of Nations
Summary
An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is the foundation of classical economics, and it has influenced a broad range of thinkers. In it, Adam Smith stresses the importance of the division of labor to economic progress. He criticizes the arguments for economic planning and offers a detailed theoretical and historical case for free trade. Far more than a work on economic theory, The Wealth of Nations contains philosophy, history, and political theory. This program discusses Adam Smith's general approach to philosophy and how The Wealth of Nations fits into that approach. It then goes on to cover some major themes in The Wealth of Nations, a lengthy and complex book. Smith's sometimes difficult arguments are given with the background necessary for comprehension.
1985 by Carmichael & Carmichael, Inc. / Knowledge Products; (P)Blackstone Audio Inc.
Democracy in America
Summary
Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat, captured the essence of nineteenth-century America in his penetrating work, Democracy in America. The democratic concept of equality was emerging as a political reality in America, and it threatened the aristocracy of Europe; it produced a society of individualists hungry for self improvement. In this classic treatise, Tocqueville weighed the advantages of democracy against its dangers. He asked: Is the tendency toward equality a tendency toward liberty? Can the majority be restrained to protect the freedom of individuals and minorities? In pondering these questions, Tocqueville presented an unsurpassed picture of American government, culture, and attitudes. He proclaimed a new nation with a new theory of human interaction: America, ruled by the will of the majority.
©1987 Carmichael & Carmichael, Inc. (P)1987 Carmichael & Carmichael, Inc.