Asia Audiobooks | History

"Susan L. Shirk, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for China, knows many of today's Chinese rulers personally and has studied them for three decades. She offers invaluable insight into how they think—and what they fear. In this revealing book, you will see the world through the eyes of men like President Hu Jintao and former President Jiang Zemin. We discover a fragile communist regime desperate to survive in a society turned upside down by miraculous economic growth and a stunning new openness to the greater world. Theirs is a regime afraid of its own citizens, and this fear motivates many of their decisions when dealing with the US and other foreign nations. In particular, the fervent nationalism of the Chinese people, combined with their passionate resentment of Japan, and attachment to Taiwan, have made relations with these two regions a minefield. It is here, Shirk concludes, in the tangled interactions between Japan, Taiwan, China, and the United States, that the greatest danger lies. Shirk argues that rising powers such as China tend to provoke wars in large part because other countries mishandle them. Unless we understand China's brittle internal politics and the fears that motivate its leaders, we face the very real possibility of avoidable conflict with China."

Susan L. Shirk (Author), Kyle Tait (Narrator)

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Bose: The Untold Story (Part 1): The Untold Story Of An Inconvenient Nationalist

"A comprehensive and gripping narrative' Vikram Sampath, author, historian and Fellow of Royal Historical Society'A must-read' Sandeep Unnithan, managing editor, India TodayThere are not many Indian heroes whose lives have been as dramatic and adventurous as that of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. That, however, is an assessment of his life based on what is widely known about him. These often revolve around his resignation from the Indian Civil Service, joining the freedom movement, to be exiled twice for over seven years, throwing a challenge to the Gandhian leadership in the Congress, taking up an extremist position against the British Raj, evading the famed intelligence network to travel to Europe and then to Southeast Asia, forming two Governments and raising two armies and then disappearing into the unknown. All this in a span of just two decades.Now, new information throws light on Bose's intense political activities surrounding the revolutionary groups in Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra and United Provinces, his efforts to bridge the increasing communal divide and his influence among the splintered political landscape; his outlook and relations with women; his plunge into the depths of spirituality; his penchant for covert operations and his efforts to engineer a rebellion among the Indian armed forces. With this new information, what appeared to be dramatic now becomes more intense with plots and subplots under one man's single-minded focus on freeing the motherland and envisioning its development in a new era.Furthermore, one of the most sensitive issues that have prevented political parties and successive governments from talking much about Bose is his joining the Axis camp. While Jawaharlal Nehru and other prominent Congress leaders publicly denounced the move, the Communist Party of India went on to a prolonged vilification campaign. Sardar Patel issued instruction to Congress leaders to defend the INA soldiers without eulogizing their leader.Was Bose really a Nazi sympathiser? Knowing very well about the strong public opinion that existed among the political leadership and the intelligentsia in India against Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and imperial Japan, why did he risk his own political image by allying with the Axis powers?Pacey, thought-provoking and absolutely unputdownable, Bose: The Untold Story of an Inconvenient Nationalist will open a window to many hitherto untold and unknown stories of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.Probably the first critical biography of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose till date."

Chandrachur Ghose (Author), Dev J. Haldar (Narrator)

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Bose: The Untold Story (Part 2): The Untold Story Of An Inconvenient Nationalist

Chandrachur Ghose (Author), Dev J. Haldar (Narrator)

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Decoding Hindu Chronology

"Since ancient times, the Hindus have had a lunisolar cycle based on the combination of solar and lunar years, determined by the course of the sun and the moon, but with the lunar year beginning near the solar year. Exactly how their earliest Calendar was arranged remains a mystery. Our focus is on the current form of their Calendar, developed around 400 under the influence of Greek astronomy and introduced into India at no long time. There are two kinds of Hindu years, solar and lunar. To understand the lunar Calendar, we will first explain the solar year, which governs the lunisolar system. Bengal, including Madras's Orissa, Tamil, and Malayalam districts, used solar years for civil purposes. General religious rites and festivals are regulated by the lunar year and the details of private and domestic life, such as choosing auspicious occasions for marriages and journeys, choosing lucky moments for shaving, etc. Almanacs that follow the lunar year contain details about the solar year, such as the sun's course through the zodiac signs. Despite following the solar year, almanacs include lunar year details."

Henry Romano (Author), Demitra (Narrator)

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Nehru and Bose: Parallel Lives

"Nobody has done more harm to me than Jawaharlal Nehru,' wrote Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939. Had relations between the two great nationalist leaders soured to the extent that Bose had begun to view Nehru as his enemy? But then, why did he name one of the regiments of the Indian National Army after Jawaharlal? And what prompted Nehru to weep when he heard of Bose's untimely death in 1945 and to recount soon after, 'I used to treat him as my younger brother'?"

Rudrangshu Mukherjee (Author), Anuj Datta (Narrator)

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1971: Stories of Grit and Glory From the Indo-Pak War

"An under-strength Gorkha battalion undertakes the Indian Army's first heliborne operation deep behind enemy lines, defeating a Pakistani force twenty times its strength. Fighters of the Indian Air force target the Government House in Dhaka in a daring air raid, forcing the Pakistani government in Dhaka to capitulate and surrender. Four battle casualties become close friends at the Artificial Limb Centre in Pune in the war's aftermath.In this collection of true stories, decorated war veteran Major General Ian Cardozo recounts what really happened during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, piecing together every story in vivid detail through interviews with survivors and their families. The book also seeks to commemorate the lives of those who were killed and wounded in this war, which took place fifty years ago.From the tragic tale of the INS Khukri and its courageous captain, who went down with his ship, to how a battalion of the Gorkhas launched what we accept as the last khukri attack in modern military history, these stories reveal what went on in the minds of those who led their men into battle-on land, at sea and in the air."

Ian Cardozo (Author), Dev J Haldar (Narrator)

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Ancient Japan: An Enthralling Overview of Ancient Japanese History, Starting from the Jomon Period t

"Did you know that the first novel in the world was produced by a Japanese noblewoman? Back in ancient times, the Japanese depended on Chinese characters (kanji) to write all sorts of documents and manuscripts, ranging from official letters to census records and poetry. It was only during the Heian period (794–1185 CE) that they began to create their very own writing system known today as kana. The history of ancient Japan is filled with interesting events that involved many influential and legendary figures. However, some of the accounts were also infused with Japanese myths, which might make it difficult for curious readers to distinguish between facts and legends. But you can safely put your concern aside. With this new Enthralling History book, you will discover an array of information and stories of the ancient Japanese, starting from the prehistoric era up until the Heian period, which saw the birth of the first samurai warriors. Here’s just a small fraction of what you’ll discover: - How the Jomon period earned its name and the impressive designs of early Japanese pottery. - How rice cultivation first arrived in Japan and the transition into a more civilized society. - The legendary kingdom of Yamatai and how it rose to power. - The unique-looking kofun tombs and legends behind the persons interred within them. - Vicious wars and assassinations of powerful figures in the imperial court. - Interesting myths and the origins of Shinto, an indigenous Japanese religion. - The flourishing culture and architecture of ancient Japan and the arrival of Buddhism. - The bloody conflicts between the two earliest samurai clans. Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to learn more about ancient Japan!"

Enthralling History (Author), Hank Hart (Narrator)

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The Delhi Sultanate: The History and Legacy of the Medieval Islamic Dynasty in India

"India has been the location of many different empires throughout its long history. The Indus Valley Civilization was home to one of the world’s first civilizations more than 5,000 years ago, which was followed by the Aryan-Vedic culture and then a host of other kingdoms that flourished across the Sub-Continent. India has also been the birthplace of many religions. The Vedic religion of the Aryans evolved into the Hindu religion, and Buddhism and Jainism were also born in India. By the Middle Ages, India was home to many different religions and ethnic groups, with dozens of languages being spoken, making India less of a single, unified country and more of a land of many countries. Despite India’s tradition of cultural and political pluralism, several rulers attempted to place the entire Sub-Continent under the rule of one dynasty or government with a dominant religion. Most of these would-be rulers were far from successful, although a few came close, setting the template for later conquerors. The Delhi Sultanate was comprised of five dynasties that expanded their borders, and Islam, at sword point, but also through diplomacy and trade. The Delhi Sultanate became known as a state that welcomed the expertise of foreigners, no matter their religion, and promoted the welfare of its citizens through a host of social programs. Eventually, the Delhi Sultanate grafted ideas and inspiration from India’s pre-Islamic past with those of Islam to create a state that was quite unique and powerful. The Delhi sultans were themselves descended from Turks and brought with them ideas from Persia. Furthermore, as their empire grew, they invited scholars from throughout the Islamic world to their country, and as Muslim scholars, scientists, and administrators from the Near East made their way into India, the Delhi sultans also incorporated some of the cultural ideas of the native Hindu Indians to create a state that was as unique as any the world had ever seen."

Charles River Editors (Author), Colin Fluxman (Narrator)

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[Malayalam] - Aadhunika Indyayude Shilpikal

"ബൃഹത്തായ ഒരു രാഷ്ട്രീയചരിത്രം സ്വന്തമായുള്ള രാജ്യമാണ് ഇന്ത്യ. മാറിമാറിവരുന്ന നേതാക്കളുടെ ചിന്തകള്‍ക്കനുസരിച്ച് ആ ചരിത്രം നിരന്തരം മാറ്റിമറിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. നമ്മുടെ ജനാധിപത്യചരിത്രത്തില്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ മുദ്രകള്‍ അവശേഷിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ പരിശ്രമിച്ച അത്തരം നായകരുടെ ചിന്തകളും ജീവിതവുമാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം കാഴ്ചവെക്കുന്നത്. മഹാത്മഗാന്ധി, ജവഹര്‍ലാല്‍ നെഹ്‌റു, ബി.ആര്‍. അംബേദ്കര്‍ തുടങ്ങിയ മഹാന്മാരെയും താരതമ്യേന അപ്രശസ്തരായി ചരിത്രത്തിന്‍ ഇരുളില്‍ മറഞ്ഞുപോയ പല വിശിഷ്ട വ്യക്തിത്വങ്ങളെയും അവരുടെ ആശയങ്ങളെയും പരിചയപ്പെടാനുള്ള അസുലഭമായ അവസരം ഈ പുസ്തകം നല്‍കുന്നു. കൂടാതെ ജാതി, മതം, സാമ്പത്തികം, ദേശീയത, ലിംഗസമത്വം തുടങ്ങി ഇന്നും നമ്മുടെ സമൂഹത്തെ പിടിച്ചുലയ്ക്കുന്ന വിഷയങ്ങളുടെ പ്രഭവസ്ഥാനങ്ങളെയും അവയെക്കുറിച്ച് കൂടുതല്‍ ഉള്‍ക്കാഴ്ചയും നല്‍കാന്‍ ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിന് സാധിക്കും. ''ഇന്ത്യ ഗാന്ധിക്കുശേഷം'' എന്ന കൃതിയ്ക്കുശേഷം പ്രശസ്ത ചരിത്രകാരനായ രാമചന്ദ്രേ ഗുഹയുടെ ആസ്വാദ്യകരമായ മറ്റൊരു രചനകൂടി മലയാളത്തില്‍."

Ramachandra Guha (Author), Vincent K D (Narrator)

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The World According to China

"An economic and military superpower with twenty percent of the world's population, China has the wherewithal to transform the international system. Xi Jinping's bold calls for China to 'lead in the reform of the global governance system' suggest that he has just such an ambition. But how does he plan to realize it? And what does it mean for the rest of the world? In this compelling book, Elizabeth Economy reveals China's ambitious new strategy to reclaim the country's past glory and reshape the geostrategic landscape in dramatic new ways. Xi's vision is one of Chinese centrality on the global stage, in which the mainland has realized its sovereignty claims over Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the South China Sea, deepened its global political, economic, and security reach through its grand-scale Belt and Road Initiative, and used its leadership in the United Nations and other institutions to align international norms and values, particularly around human rights, with those of China. It is a world radically different from that of today. The international community needs to understand and respond to the great risks, as well as the potential opportunities, of a world rebuilt by China."

Elizabeth C. Economy (Author), Charles Constant (Narrator)

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Pakistan's Pathway to the Bomb: Ambitions, Politics, and Rivalries

"Pakistan's pathway to developing nuclear weapons remains shrouded in mystery and surrounded by misconceptions. While it is no secret why Pakistan became a nuclear power, how Pakistan became a nuclear state has been obscured by mythmaking. In Pakistan's Pathway to the Bomb, Mansoor Ahmed offers a revisionist history of Pakistan's nuclear program and the bureaucratic politics that shaped its development from its inception in 1956 until the 1998 nuclear tests. Drawing on elite interviews and previously untapped primary sources, Ahmed offers a fresh assessment of the actual and perceived roles and contributions of the scientists and engineers who led the nuclear program. He shows how personal ambitions and politics within Pakistan's strategic enclave generated inter-laboratory competition in the nuclear establishment, which determined nuclear choices for the country for more than two decades. It also produced unexpected consequences such as illicit proliferation to other countries largely outside of the Pakistani state's control. As Pakistan's nuclear deterrent program continues to grow, Pakistan's Pathway to the Bomb provides fresh insights into how this nuclear power has evolved in the past and where it stands today."

Mansoor Ahmed (Author), Tom Perkins (Narrator)

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Vedic Philosophy of the Kali Yuga: Through the Lens of Gnostic Wisdom

"According to Vedic philosophy, there are four eras in every world cycle. They represent a gradual decline from enlightenment (Satya Yuga) to chaos and ignorance (Kali Yuga) before it starts again. Each of these eras lasts roughly 2160 years. You're probably familiar with the four ages of Hindu philosophy: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. The golden age is when pure knowledge is widespread, and people live in harmony. The dark age is when everything goes wrong—the World falls into chaos, and humanity descends into ignorance. But what happens next? What is the meaning of 'the end of the world'?"

Henry Romano (Author), Rupert Bush (Narrator)

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Asia Audiobooks in History