Delaine Daniels has narrated 7 audiobooks on Listento.it by 3 authors, with an average listener rating of 5★ across 1 ratings. The most-rated is John Dee.
John Dee
Summary
“Who does not understand should either learn, or be silent.” (John Dee) With the golden glow of the candlelight kissing his cheeks, he hovered over a spirit mirror - a flat, exquisitely lustrous “shew-stone” fashioned out of raven-black obsidian. Gazing intently upon his reflection in the dark volcanic glass, he chanted in hushed tones as he ran his fingers across the engravings on the oat-colored wax wheel next to him, the Sigilla iEmeth, which featured a septogram and runic carvings and symbols in minuscule print. Contrary to what one might expect, it was not a phantom, hobgoblin, or demon that he sought, but rather, the seraphic voice, and perhaps even the face of an angel - the one bridge between mankind and their Creator, one who holds the key to all of life's unanswerable questions. Was this man delusional? Perhaps so, but perhaps, not. But there was no question among those on hand that this was not an ignorant, philistine, unlettered buffoon of a man who readily boarded the train of groundless superstition. Far from it, this was a man who held not only a master's degree, but a doctorate, and his simultaneously stimulating and mesmerizing lectures drew crowds of royals and nobles from near and far. This was a man who was well-versed in a host of academic fields, and he would go on to serve as one of his queen's foremost personal advisers. He was also a prolific author whose revolutionary ideas helped chart the path for the burgeoning British Empire. The man in question is none other than John Dee, one of the greatest scientific minds of his time, but also one of the most controversial. He was a learned man in fields as varied as mathematics and astronomy, centuries before they became formalized fields of study, but he is better remembered for performing magic and alchemy. Instead of astronomy, he became renowned across England for astrology, and he was one of the country’s most notorious occult writers during his life. Given the variety that the Elizabethan Era had to offer, it should come as little surprise that some eccentric characters with seemingly unique skills pushed to the forefront and became lauded members of society. Over the course of her long reign, Queen Elizabeth I became one of England’s most famous and influential rulers, and it was an age when the arts, commerce, and trade flourished. It was the epoch of gallantry and great, enduring literature. It was also an age of wars and military conflicts in which men were the primary drivers and women often were pawns. John Dee himself has been credited with coming up with the name “British Empire” in the first place. As all of this suggests, to say that John Dee was a storied man would be a grave understatement, to say the least. His multifaceted reputation preceded him, and his name became synonymous with both brilliance and disconcerting eccentricity. By all means, he certainly looked the part - the occultist towered over his peers, his wiry frame cloaked in a charcoal-black artist's gown with a ruffled white collar, his veined hands peeking out of his flared sleeves. He bore a pasty, pallid complexion, which seemed almost ghostly, paired with a magnificent beard that was “as white as milk”. Chilling rumors about his immeasurable magical abilities have kept his name alive for centuries. Legend has it that this was a man who singlehandedly cast a crippling curse on the Spanish Armada as the fleet sailed toward England, conjuring up the merciless storms and violent waves that threatened to swallow the ill-starred convoy whole, and left them with no choice but to turn back. This was a man who was once branded “the greatest rogue in the neighborhood of London".
©2019 Charles River Editors (P)2019 Charles River Editors
The Battle of Ain Jalut
Summary
Egypt in the 13th century was a glorious kingdom to behold. Spice merchants from Europe, Asia, and Africa sailed up the Nile River to the great port city of Alexandria, carrying riches such as silk, jewels and spices. Cairo, the capital of Egypt, was the greatest city in the Islamic world, with a larger population and more wealth and splendor than any city in Europe. Cairo was a shining pinnacle of cosmopolitan splendor in the medieval world, and besides being a major trading hub, Cairo was famous for its scholars and intellectual class, offering countless academic opportunities for scholars across the Islamic world. The culture of Cairo was dynamic and famous for its wide range of intellectual debates on Islamic sciences and other academic fields, all of which far surpassed any contemporary city at the time. From across the Islamic world, scholars from all the major schools of thought were represented in Cairo. Spirited lectures occurred frequently in public squares and madrasas were often packed with patrons eagerly listening to readings by famed scholars. Cairo was a city filled with art, trade and knowledge. However, there was another factor that made Cairo infamous. The city represented the last bastion of the Muslim world. A great Islamic caliphate, centered in Iraq, had once stretched from the edges of Central Asia to Spain, but invasions by outside enemies had mostly overrun this once mighty empire. The Mongol armies, pouring forth from their grasslands in Asia, had sacked Baghdad in 1258, destroying the caliphate and sending the Islamic world into a state of deep peril. Moreover, the Crusaders had launched multiple invasions into Palestine and the Levant, threatening the very existence of the Muslim world. From the vast grasslands of the Asian steppes arose what is perhaps one of the most unstoppable armies in the history of the world: The Mongol Empire. A loosely aligned horde of tribal pastoral nomads, these warring tribes were united under one banner by Genghis Khan. Under his legendary leadership, the Mongols left their ancestral home in Mongolia on a campaign of conquest. Turning their eyes south toward China, the Mongols eventually conquered the rich empire to establish the Mongol Yuan Dynasty of China, but this did not satisfy the Mongol quest for conquest. The Mongols pushed west into Central Asia, defeating a series of kingdoms and empires and leaving carnage in their wake. These armies of elite horse archers crushed every foe in their path, conquering land all the way to Poland and Austria. The Middle East was not spared their wrath, as the Mongols staged some of their most devastating campaigns in Arab lands. In 1258, the Mongols sacked Baghdad, destroying the capital of the mighty Islamic Abbasid Caliphate, which was a major blow to the Islamic world. The Mongol armies continued west into the holy land of Syria and Palestine. There, the Mongols met the foe to rival them in war: the Mamluks. Hailing from the Eurasian steppes, the Mamluks were not Arab, but ethnically Turkish, enslaved at a young age, and sold into military service in Egypt, where they underwent intense military training in Cairo. Thus, these Turkish warriors were utterly alien from the Arab populations they eventually ruled over in ethnicity, language, and culture, but they were remarkably skilled in the mounted warfare styles of the nomadic tribes of the Eurasian grasslands and other aspects of medieval warfare. As a result, the Mamluks were some of the finest professional soldiers of their time, which they proved on multiple occasions through their brilliant military campaigns against the numerous enemies of Egypt.
©2019 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
The Entire Life Story of John F. Kennedy: Death of The President
Summary
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. He served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his presidency dealt with managing relations with the Soviet Union. Inside you’ll listen about: Early life and education US Navy reserve 1960 Presidential Election Presidency Foreign Policy Domestic Policy Assassination Personal life, family, and reputation Historical evaluations and legacy And much more! John Kennedy published his book entitled Profiles in Courage, which won a Pulitzer Prize for Biography. At age 43, he became the youngest man to be elected as U.S. president as well as being the first (and only) Roman Catholic to occupy that office. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the state crime, but he was never prosecuted. Do not doubt, get your copy and listen to this biography now!
©2018 The History Hour (P)2020 The History Hour
The Entire Life Story of James Cook
Summary
Did James Cook achieve fame by mapping the known world? Were his maps so accurate that many were used right into the 20th century? Cook, an 18th-century explorer, lived during a time when humankind was yet naive and inexperienced in terms of understanding their environment. His legacy is quite astounding, given the fact that mankind had only begun to develop instrumentation. The people from Europe had never before seen Hawaii, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, nor crossed the Antarctic circle. Inside, you’ll learn about: James Cook, Master’s Mate Australia and New Zealand Antarctica and the Search for the South Pole The Fateful Third Voyage And much more! Cook met and mingled with many different cultures, most of which were those of the South Pacific Ocean. He and his men even witnessed a human sacrifice. There were three voyages in all. The first one ran from 1768 to 1771 and included Tahiti, Australia, and New Zealand. The second voyage lasted from 1772 to 1775 and was mostly spent around the coast of Antarctica. Cook’s third and final voyage went from 1776 to 1779. It entailed the Western coast of North America and Alaska where Cook fruitlessly sought for the fabled "Northwest Passage". Was James Cook murdered by the Hawaiians? Was that a tragic incident that should have never happened? Find out!
©2019 The History Hour (P)2019 The History Hour
Nat Love: The Life and Legacy of the Former Slave Who Became the Wild West's Most Famous Black Cowboy
Summary
“Mounted on my horse my...lariat near my hand, and my trusty guns in my belt...I felt like I could defy the world.” (Nat Love) The American mountain man, with his myriad of practical skills, could endure isolation in a way most could not. He lived in constant peril from the extremes of nature and from the hostilities of cultures unlike his own. In an emergency, assistance was rarely available, and he rarely stayed in one place long enough to build even a simple shelter. Travel in the American West relied upon a specific calendar, and to ignore it could be fatal, as many discovered, to their misfortune. Winter in the mountainous regions of the Rocky Mountains and Cascades was lethally cold to explorer and settler alike, but desert areas and grass plains presented difficulties as well. The network of rivers flowing west of the Mississippi on both sides of the continental divide served as early highways to the Wyoming and Montana regions, the Oregon Territory, Utah and Colorado, and the California southwest. Some were placidly tranquil, while others raged through the extreme elevations, all but defying navigation. Explorers, soldiers, and settlers of African-American heritage comprise an unfamiliar story to most students of American history. However, in the push westward, they were present in sufficient enough numbers to exert great influence on the nation’s development. Among the earliest accounts is that of Isabel de Olvera, who settled in New Mexico around the year of 1600, and it is estimated that by 1750, 25 percent of Albuquerque’s population shared discernible African ancestry. York, the well-known servant of Lewis and Clark, accompanied the legendary expedition under the auspices of the Jefferson administration, and Edward Rose traveled up the Missouri River in the same era. Within just a few years, Pio Pico became the governor of California, and George Bush became one of the first black men to travel the Oregon Trail, opening that route to a flood of settlers over a 10-year period. In parallel with these individuals came a number of black frontiersmen who participated in the exploration of the Western terrain, said to have numbered in the dozens. Seldom heard but notable names of black figures in the West include trick rodeo rider Jesse Stahl, stunt rider and castle rustler Ned Huddleston, and Bass Reeves, the first black deputy U.S. Marshal. Isom Dart and Willie Bill Pickett also garnered some fame in the era. Needless to say, such a career was an unusual destiny for those who emerged from the system of slavery. Emancipation for an American slave generally involved a dangerous and illegal trek on foot toward the north, or through the Underground Railroad network operating between states east of the Mississippi. Given the illiteracy rates of the day, few tangible accounts of such journeys have survived, but one glaring exception is that of Nat Love, one of the most famous folk legends of the 19th century. In a journey spanning many decades, Love tried his hand at virtually every line of work related to Western life, and he is generally regarded as an emblematic all-around virtuoso of the cattle range, an environment demanding proficiency in numerous activities on a daily basis. His status is not only due in part to his highly developed skills, but also the fact that he wrote of his life in an extensive set of published memoirs. Nat Love: The Life and Legacy of the Former Slave Who Became the Wild West’s Most Famous Black Cowboy chronicles the colorful life of Nat Love and the legends that sprung up around him over time. You will learn about Nat Love like never before.
©2019 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
Christopher Columbus
Summary
Did Christopher Columbus discover America or a route to the Far East? He was an Italian explorer, navigator, and colonist who had a singular goal toward which he was driven. His courage was astounding, as he and his three small ships set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus and his men took precarious and dangerous journeys toward a blue horizon. All they had to depend upon were nautical charts, an astrolabe, and a quadrant. The maps he used were developed by more ancient astronomers such as Ptolemy and Eratosthenes – men who had never sailed the great sea. Inside, you’ll read about: Birth of the dream Stumbling blocks The first voyage westward The first voyage home The second voyage The third voyage and the troubles The final voyage and death And much more! Do not hesitate. Order your copy now!
©2019 The History Hour (P)2020 The History Hour
Memory Improvement 2 Books in 1: Improve Your Mind + Memory Improvement The Ultimate Guide to Remember More Be More Productive and Study Well
Summary
Everything you need to know about memory improvement, two books in one: Improve Your Mind = Core offer Memory Improvement = Bonus offer The school system has been cheating you of your learning and here’s why.... Do you feel stupid when your friend or significant other brings up a past conversation you’ve had, only to find yourself smiling and nodding to hide the fact that you have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about? Do you often think of what you need to buy at the grocery store while at work or in the car, but forget everything the instant you walk through the entrance and need to actually find the items? Nothing to worry about. You are right in front of the door to memorize more than Apple's newest Macbook Pro. We’ve all been told as children, as well as throughout our teenage years, “People are unique,” and to “stay true to ourselves,” so how can one expect to learn the same information to the same degree using the same methods if we’re not the same? According to MindValley, there are seven types of learning styles that contribute to how well, including how much information is stored in the brain. Those seven include: Visual Auditory Verbal Physical Logical Social Solitary With all these different roads to wander down, no wonder it’s hard to find where you belong. However, by understanding what type of learning style speaks to your personality and abilities the most, you can begin to explore the endless possibilities your academic strength has to offer you. In Improve Your Mind, you will discover: The number-one strategy that works specifically for your learning needs The secret to cutting down learning time while maximizing the information you retain What common learning mishaps 99.7 percent of people make, including how to fix them How to finally make learning motivating, easy, and fun The ultimate memory technique to use for remembering names and small details other people tell you Why the learning methods you were taught in school may not be the most efficient for your success Recently uncovered learning strategies proven to be most effective for a higher chance of remembrance And much more Even if you’ve struggled with school exams in the past and have come to terms with being “less than average,” the school system tends to stick to the same programs that seem to work for the majority of the students without paying too much attention to those who fall between the cracks. Don’t be intimidated by those who appear to be more intelligent or productive than you. They may just have found the learning technique that best suits their brain’s way of functioning. And now it’s your turn. Plus as a bonus, you’ll also get Memory Improvement to help you to study well, remember more and be more productive. In Memory Improvement, you’ll discover: What rare event of natural selection occurred to make us a thinking species and if we are still becoming smarter Surprising facts about how the brain works that will blow your mind What scientists mean by saying your mind is not confined to your brain or your body Simple anti-procrastination hacks to finish even the most painful tasks in record time How to learn every skill you desire effortlessly and fast How to double your reading speed (even in technical material) Five research-tested methods of learning that are guaranteed to help you remember more The most efficient ways to fuel your brain, from sleeping habits to food choices If you want to discover the hidden tools for retaining information fast and become a memory wizard, then scroll up and click the “Add to Cart” button right now.
©2019 Steve Jones (P)2019 Steve Jones