Asia Audiobooks | History

Indian Mythology: A Concise Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Sagas, Rituals and Beliefs of Indian Myths

"When we talk about mythology, we often think of the Greeks or the Romans. Many people forget, however, that the historical country India, with more than one billion citizens, has a mythological heritage as well. In this audiobook, we’ll dive deeper into that heritage and the beliefs and religions that have contributed to it. You’ll hear about things like: - The significance of cows, the multiple arms, and the symbolical color blue in Hindu mythology. - The meaning of Namaskar in Hindu mythology. - The main characteristics of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and other gods and goddesses in the Hindu religion. - Some of the most intriguing tales from Hindu mythology. - An overview of the Hindu demons. - Marriage practices and matrimonies in ancient India. Indian Mythology is an interesting topic for those who try to understand the South Asian culture and come to a more comprehensive level of knowing their background and history."

Bernard Hayes (Author), Zachary Dylan Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Okinawa: The Last Battle

"On 1 April, 1945, the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific Theater began. The battle for the island of Okinawa would last for the next eighty-two days. Through the course of this dramatic battle over 20,000 Americans would lose their lives and over 75,000 Japanese were killed in one of the bloodiest clashes of World War Two. Okinawa: The Last Battle is a remarkably detailed account of this monumental event by four soldiers who witnessed the action first-hand. They take the listener to heart of the fight explaining the preparations for the invasion, under its codename Operation Iceberg, through to the major conflicts at the beachhead, Ie Shima, breaking through the defenses surrounding Shuri and overcoming the last-ditch counter-offenses of the Japanese. This book is a must-listen for anyone interested the Pacific Theater and how the United States Marines and Army were able to overcome the Japanese in the last few months of the war. Corporal Eugene B. Sledge said of the battle: 'The Japanese fought to win—it was a savage, brutal, inhumane, exhausting and dirty business.' Okinawa: The Last Battle was written by U. S. Army historians who participated in the Ryukyus campaign as members of a group organized to accompany the American forces to the Ryukyus and secure at first hand the materials for a history of their operations. Maj. Roy E. Appleman was attached to the 27th Division, M/Sgt. James M. Burns and Lt. Col. Stevens accompanied the Tenth Army headquarters, and Capt. Russell A. Gugeler served with the 7th Division on Okinawa. After the war many of the authors went on to become prominent military historians. Appleman passed away in 1996, Burns in 2014, Stevens in 2001, and Gugeler in 1985. Their work was first published in 1948."

James MacGregor Burns, John Stevens, Roy E. Appleman, Russell A. Gugeler (Author), Joe Barrett (Narrator)

Audiobook

Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India

"Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Inglorious Empire written and read by Shashi Tharoor. In the eighteenth century, India's share of the world economy was as large as Europe's. By 1947, after two centuries of British rule, it had decreased six-fold. The Empire blew rebels from cannon, massacred unarmed protesters, entrenched institutionalised racism, and caused millions to die from starvation. British imperialism justified itself as enlightened despotism for the benefit of the governed, but Shashi Tharoor takes demolishes this position, demonstrating how every supposed imperial 'gift' - from the railways to the rule of law - was designed in Britain's interests alone. He goes on to show how Britain's Industrial Revolution was founded on India's deindustrialisation, and the destruction of its textile industry. In this bold and incisive reassessment of colonialism, Tharoor exposes to devastating effect the inglorious reality of Britain's stained Indian legacy."

Shashi Tharoor (Author), Shashi Tharoor (Narrator)

Audiobook

See You Again in Pyongyang: A Journey into Kim Jong Un's North Korea

"A 'close-up look at the cloistered country' (USA Today), See You Again in Pyongyang is American writer Travis Jeppesen's 'probing' and 'artful' (New York Times Book Review) chronicle of his travels in North Korea--an eye-opening portrait that goes behind the headlines about Trump and Kim, revealing North Koreans' 'entrepreneurial spirit, and hidden love of foreign media, as well as their dreams and fears' (Los Angeles Times). In See You Again in Pyongyang, Travis Jeppesen, the first American to complete a university program in North Korea, culls from his experiences living, traveling, and studying in the country to create a multifaceted portrait of the country and its idiosyncratic capital city in the Kim Jong Un Era. Anchored by the experience of his five trips to North Korea and his interactions with citizens from all walks of life, Jeppesen takes readers behind the propaganda, showing how the North Korean system actually works in daily life. He challenges the notion that Pyongyang is merely a 'showcase capital' where everything is staged for the benefit of foreigners, as well as the idea that Pyongyangites are brainwashed robots. Jeppesen introduces readers to an array of fascinating North Koreans, from government ministers with a side hustle in black market Western products to young people enamored with American pop culture. With unique personal insight and a rigorous historical grounding, Jeppesen goes beyond the media cliches, showing North Koreans in their full complexity. See You Again in Pyongyang is an essential addition to the literature about one of the world's most fascinating and mysterious places."

Travis Jeppesen (Author), Will Collyer (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Chinese Mythology: A Concise Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Sagas, Rituals and Beliefs of Chinese My

"Some of us may be familiar with Chinese mythology, and to others, it’s a complete mystery. The Chinese had a lot of gods and goddesses, and in this ancient, historical country, with all the empires and dynasties, a plethora of legends and stories developed. Listen to Chinese mythology and learn about subtopics such as: - The meaning of the Chinese Moon Festival and its background. - Lu Xun’s China and a historical overview. - Wu Gang, Tang Emperor Xuan Zong, and Lady Chang Er. - The significance of Moon cakes and the traditional foods during the festival. - Chinese dynasties, and the main gods and goddesses in Chinese Mythology. If we desire to understand more about the ancient Orient, then it’s time to listen to an audiobook and start studying, so we can go back to where all the traditions and background started. "

Bernard Hayes (Author), Zachary Dylan Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

China and the Attack on Canton

"After Chinese authorities seized the British vessel Arrow, the Brits responded by shelling the city of Canton. This action led to the Second Opium War. The issue was brought forth to British Parliament, and in this memorable speech Richard Cobden asked the men gathered, “what are the grounds of this devastation and warfare which are now being carried on in the Canton River?” The debate over this issue continued for four days, but by the end, the majority agreed with Cobden—the attacks had been unfounded. "

Richard Cobden (Author), Peter Quest (Narrator)

Audiobook

North Korea Confidential: Private Markets, Fashion Trends, Prison Camps, Dissenters and Defectors

"**Named one of the best books of 2015 by The Economist** Private Markets, Fashion Trends, Prison Camps, Dissenters and Defectors. North Korea is one of the most troubled societies on earth. The country's 24 million people live under a violent dictatorship led by a single family, which relentlessly pursues the development of nuclear arms, which periodically incites risky military clashes with the larger, richer, liberal South, and which forces each and every person to play a role in the 'theater state' even as it pays little more than lip service to the wellbeing of the overwhelming majority. With this profoundly anachronistic system eventually failed in the 1990s, it triggered a famine that decimated the countryside and obliterated the lives of many hundreds of thousands of people. However, it also changed the lives of those who survived forever. A lawless form of marketization came to replace the iron rice bowl of work in state companies, and the Orwellian mind control of the Korean Workers' Party was replaced for many by dreams of trade and profit. A new North Korea Society was born from the horrors of the era—one that is more susceptible to outside information than ever before with the advent of k-pop and video-carrying USB sticks. This is the North Korean society that is described in this book. In seven fascinating chapters, the authors explore what life is actually like in modern North Korea today for the ordinary 'man and woman on the street.' They interview experts and tap a broad variety of sources to bring a startling new insider's view of North Korean society—from members of Pyongyang's ruling families to defectors from different periods and regions, to diplomats and NGOs with years of experience in the country, to cross-border traders from neighboring China, and textual accounts appearing in English, Korean and Chinese sources. The resulting stories reveal the horror as well as the innovation and humor which abound in this fascinating country."

Daniel Tudor, James Pearson (Author), Derek Perkins (Narrator)

Audiobook

Government of India

"British politician Thomas Babington Macaulay had a lasting impact on the development of India as a British colony. He delivered this speech to the House of Commons in 1833, arguing in favor of changes to Indian government that would allow for increased colonization of India. After the speech, the House of Commons voted in favor of the Government of India Act 1833. Macaulay’s words provide a harrowing record of the ideas that led to colonization. "

Thomas Babington Macaulay (Author), Peter Quest (Narrator)

Audiobook

Chinese Mythology: Chinese Myths, Dragons, Monkey Kings, Rituals, Legends, and Zodiac Signs

"In Chinese mythology, there is so much symbolism, and there are so many wise lessons to discover. It’s almost criminal that Western civilization studies Greek or Roman myths but leaves all the Chinese gods and goddesses to themselves. In this guide, we’ll delve deeper into these mystical beings and the beliefs surrounding them, whether modern or ancient. You will learn about subtopics like: - The intriguing legend of the Monkey King and the journey through China - Stories that involve the Chinese goddess of the moon - The significance of dragons and lions in China - Zodiac signs in the Orient and their meanings - The myth about the goddess of compassion and the legend of the white snake And there is more. With this knowledge in the back of your head, you will show greater comprehension of the signs, symbols, and traditions of the Chinese, which have been preserved and developed over centuries. "

Bernard Hayes (Author), Zachary Dylan Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Mao Zedong: A Captivating Guide to the Life of a Chairman of the Communist Party of China, the Cultu

"Explore the captivating life of Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong is recognized alongside Chiang Kai-Shek and Sun Yat-Sen as one of the most influential figures of modern Chinese history. His political control of the nation waned during his later years, but he remained the Chairman of the Community Party of China since it was established in 1949 to the day he died on September 9, 1976. As the founding father of the People's Republic of China and the centerpiece of one of the world's most intense personality cults, the extent of his influence is difficult to understate. Today, Mao's legacy can inspire slavish devotion, outright condemnation, as well as, a hesitance to look too closely at the negative aspects of his legacy. The fact that his influence spanned over nearly three decades also makes it difficult to arrive at a holistic understanding of his impact on China. The official line from the Community Party of China, which was popularized by Deng Xiaoping, is that Mao was '70 percent correct and 30 percent wrong'. This biography details Mao's remarkable journey from being the son of a peasant to one of modern history's greatest - and highly polarizing - leaders. It aims to provide a better understanding of Mao as a person and to try to unpack the personality traits and personal experiences that shaped his worldview and actions. Some of the topics covered in this audiobook include: - Early life - Political awakenings - Beijing - May Fourth and the New Culture Movement - The Communist Party of China's growing pains - The Northern expedition - Communists at large - The Long March - The People's Republic of China - The Great Leap Forward - The Cultural Revolution - What Did Maoism stand for? - And much more! Get the audiobook now and learn more about Mao Zedong!"

Captivating History (Author), Duke Holm (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ask a North Korean: Defectors Talk About Their Lives Inside the World's Most Secretive Nation

"Understanding North Korean Through the Eyes of Defectors. The weekly column Ask a North Korean, published by NK News, invites readers from around the world to pose questions to North Korean defectors. By way of these fascinating interviews, the North Koreans themselves provide authentic firsthand testimonies about what is happening inside the 'Hermit Kingdom.' North Korean contributors to this book include: - 'Seong' who came to South Korea after dropping out during his final year of his university. He is now training to be an elementary school teacher. - 'Kang' who left North Korea in 2005. He now lives in London, England. - 'Cheol' who was from South Hamgyeong in North Korea and is now a second-year university student in Seoul. - 'Park' worked and studied in Pyongyang before defecting to the U.S. in 2011. He is now studying at a U.S. college. This book sheds critical light on all aspects of North Korean politics and society and shows that even in the world's most authoritarian regime, life goes on in ways that are very different from what you may think."

Daniel Tudor (Author), Greta Jung, P. J. Ochlan (Narrator)

Audiobook

Blood Letters: The Untold Story of Lin Zhao, a Martyr in Mao's China

"The staggering story of the most important Chinese political dissident of the Mao era, a devout Christian who was imprisoned, tortured, and executed by the regime Blood Letters tells the astonishing tale of Lin Zhao, a poet and journalist arrested by the authorities in 1960 and executed eight years later, at the height of the Cultural Revolution. The only Chinese citizen known to have openly and steadfastly opposed communism under Mao, she rooted her dissent in her Christian faith -- and expressed it in long, prophetic writings done in her own blood, and at times on her clothes and on cloth torn from her bedsheets. Miraculously, Lin Zhao's prison writings survived, though they have only recently come to light. Drawing on these works and others from the years before her arrest, as well as interviews with her friends, her classmates, and other former political prisoners, Lian Xi paints an indelible portrait of courage and faith in the face of unrelenting evil."

Lian Xi (Author), Feodor Chin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Asia Audiobooks in History