Audiobooks narrated by David Rintoul

The Art of Horsemanship and On the Cavalry General by Xenophon

Xenophon's The Art of Horsemanship is a highly unusual text in the corpus of Classical Greek literature. It is a short survey on the various aspects of care for horses as seen by a highly experienced rider from the 5th century BCE. It is particularly notable because so many of its observations are relevant to the modern rider. Xenophon, friend of Socrates and professional soldier, is best known as the author Anabasis, the vivid account of a failed military expedition deep into Persia. The Art of Horsemanship is very different in tone and content – a practical study from deep personal knowledge gained from working with horses, but none the less fascinating. Xenophon considers what features and qualities to look for in a horse – among them broad chest, wide nostrils, prominent eye, supple knees, positive manner– and the sound of the hoof, which indicates good feet. (The ancient Greeks did not shoe their horses). There are even useful tips on approaching the horse to avoid conflict. He discusses training over different terrains and many other useful tips. The translator, Morris H. Morgan, provides extensive notes, not just on technical pointers such as mounting without stirrups or saddle, but also by comparing contemporary sculptures where artists took licence over reality. Furthermore, Morgan provides a fascinating essay The Greek Riding-Horse, which is an extended commentary on Xenophon. Also on this recording is Xenophon's On The Cavalry General, a second treatise on horsemanship, but taking a different perspective.

Morris Morgan, Name Xenophon (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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The Socratic Dialogues: Alcibiades and Other Attributed Dialogues

The influence of Plato, his Dialogues and his ‘Academy', cast a long shadow. Around 35 Dialogues, almost all featuring Socrates as the principal figure, are generally ascribed to Plato and form one of the most important threads in Western philosophy These four Dialogues may fall into the ‘Attributed Texts' category, but they are of sufficient interest to warrant study in our time and when set against the principal canon. The recording opens with Alcibiades I. Socrates' interlocuter is well known as a young, charismatic figure of the time, and appears in the Symposium and Protagoras. The subject under discussion is justice and injustice. Socrates questions the over-confident Alcibiades about his understanding of these issues, which is crucial for someone about to play an active role in public life. It is the longest Dialogue of the four. Hippias is another young man. A Sophist, brimming with the confidence of youth to the extent of being vain and boastful. He appears in two Dialogues on this recording, the Lesser Hippias and the Greater Hippias. The Lesser Hippias is a witty and lively conversation in which Hippias is keen to display his abilities only to be shaken by patient questioning by the astute Socrates. The Greater Hippias, a discussion about beauty, contains some interesting elements, while also showing how the form became diluted in the hands of lesser followers of Plato. The final Dialogue, Menexenus is a special case. It was an important form in Athenian society and this is a rare surviving example. It has been included here in a new recording so it can be listened to in the context of ‘Attributed Dialogues', rather than a fully accepted work by Plato. The background to each Dialogue is set by Benjamin Jowett. David Rintoul continues his persuasive characterisation of the masterful Socrates.

Plato (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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An Introduction to Zen Buddhism

This is the classic account of Zen from the first major authority to inform the West of the details and practice of this form of Mahayana Buddhism. Despite its age and the widespread adoption of Zen by Western society in the past century, it remains an important and authentic source for theory and practice. Zen originated in China where it was known as Cha'an, and although D. T. Suzuki's discussion here concentrates on its Japanese form, he gives his subject a historic perspective. He explains how Zen became perhaps the single most unusual development of Buddhism, moving far from its Indian origins. Rather than theory and philosophical discussion, Zen became identified by its intense, arduous and even seemingly odd practices, underpinned by charismatic teachers with uncompromising teaching styles. The purpose was to develop satori, insight into the nature of things, which was only attainable through personal experience rather than by learning. The route was often counter-intuitive, and the explanations and implications often beyond logic. In Japan, Zen developed into two major schools. Soto, as founded by Dogen (1200-1253), which concentrated on formal seated zazen (meditation), and Rinzai, which was given new impetus by Hakuin (1686-1769) and uses the Koan – a phrase or question intended to propel the exponent into the experience of satori. In his sound and straightforward exposition of classical Zen, Suzuki discusses the nature of Zen Buddhism in nine chapters, asking ‘What is Zen', ‘Is Zen Nihilistic', ‘Illogical Zen' before expressing his particular interest in Rinzai. He closes his account with an insightful chapter ‘The Meditation Hall and the Monk's Life', which describes the traditional training up to the time of the writing (1930s) of this book. The practice of Zen has moved on considerably since then, especially since its adoption in the West, including a broader attitude towards non-monastic practice. But Suzuki's Introduction has stood the test of time.

D.T. Suzuki (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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The Principal Speeches of Demosthenes: A Selection

Demosthenes (384-322 BCE) is regarded as one of the greatest orators of Classical times. This view has persisted through the centuries even though his rousing speeches warning of the dangers of Macedonian expansion - firstly guided by Philip II and then Alexander the Great - failed to stem the course of continued military success. A contemporary of Plato and Aristotle, it is said that Demosthenes undertook arduous measures to cure himself of a stammer by speaking with pebbles in his mouth and perfecting breath control. Starting as a speech writer, he made his mark at an unusually young age (for the time), delivering his first major public speech at the age of 30, advising Athens to build its naval fleet as a defence against the Persians. In fact, it was the ambition of Philip of Macedon that would prove the principal threat. This was recognised by Demosthenes, as shown by the main speeches included in this collection. In the 'Three Olynthiac Orations', Demosthenes outlined the tactics of Philip's aggression towards Olynthus, an ally of Athens. He urged support for the smaller state, but his words went unheeded until it was too late. Demosthenes's increasingly unrestrained language - at one point he calls Philip ‘a barbarian' - did not endear him to the Macedonian regime. The 'Olynthiac Orations' are followed by the 'Three Philippics', which chart further military activity by the aforementioned Philip. In between the second and third 'Philippics' comes ‘On the Peace': a speech given during a short diplomatic space engineered by Philip, but which Demosthenes clearly highlighted as an armistice rather than anything permanent. This ‘Philip' section ends with ‘The Oration on the Letter'. Philip sent a letter to Athens, which implied that war, again, was imminent. Demosthenes responded with characteristic boldness. The final speech on this recording is ‘On the Crown', addressing a very different matter. The Athenian statesman Ctesiphon proposed that Demosthenes should be honoured with the ‘golden crown' for his service to the city. This was opposed by Aeschines, a long-standing enemy of Demosthenes in Athenian politics. In the court case that followed (330 BCE), Demosthenes successfully defended Ctesiphon in a speech later described as ‘the greatest speech of the greatest orator in the world'. Each of the orations in this collection is preceded with an introduction setting the scene, and outlining the context in which they were delivered. This also gives a concise picture of Athens at this difficult point in its history. Eight years later, when in danger of being captured and imprisoned by the young Alexander who was angered by decades of eloquent and unrestrained opposition, Demosthenes committed suicide. All the speeches are prefaced by the historical setting. Translations by Arthur Wallace Pickard and Charles Rann Kennedy.

Demosthenes (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self

Aion is one of the major works of C.G. Jung's later years. The title comes from the Greek word for aeon or age and refers to the age of Christianity, for, in Aion, Jung is concerned with the collective psychic development that the Christian era represents. How did it come about when it did? What psychic change did it represent? In exploring these questions, Jung (1875-1961) draws upon Christian symbolism and, in particular, the figure of Christ as a case study in the archetype of the Self. The book begins with an account of the important concepts of the ego, the shadow and the anima/animus (here referred to as the syzygy). Jung then continues with his exploration of the Self archetype as represented through Christian symbolism and the figure of Christ. In particular, a discussion and critique of the Christian view of evil is provided. The symbolism of the fish, which recurs as a symbol of both Christ and of the devil, is examined in detail and a wide range of alchemical, pagan and gnostic material is drawn upon. The final chapter of the book proposes a model for the structure of the Self. Aion is one of the most important volumes of the Collected Works and complements The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious. Translated by R. F. C.Hull.

C.G. Jung (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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The Boy Who Got Accidentally Famous

From million-copy bestselling author David Baddiel comes a laugh-out-loud story for readers of 8 and up that takes you on a roller-coaster ride of fame and friendship… Nothing extraordinary has ever happened to Billy Smith. In fact, every single thing about him is ordinary, including his name. But when a documentary crew turns up at Billy’s school to film the new TV series School Daze, everything changes. Billy shouldn’t stand out: all the other kids are much more interesting than him. But when remixes of his boring class presentation go viral, Billy finds himself accidentally an overnight star. With his friends Bo and Rinor by his side, his life turns into a whirlwind of red carpets, TV shows, albums and even the possibility of meeting Sunshine De Marto – the coolest girl on the planet. But as everyone knows, fame comes with a price… The Boy Who Got Accidentally Famous is an epically entertaining tale, which asks the question – what if everyone suddenly knew your name…?

David Baddiel (Author), David Rintoul, Harriet Carmichael, James Goode, Paul Panting (Narrator)

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The Maxims

There's no fool like an old fool.... The world is full of pots calling kettles black.... We can no more set a term to our passions than to our life. These are just three of the aphorisms that made the collection of maxims by François, Duc de la Rochefoucauld, an enduring influence upon succeeding generations following their initial publication in 1665. The effect continued up to the present day - his admirers have included figures as varied as Lord Chesterfield, Thomas Hardy, Nietzsche, Stendhal, Gide and in more recent times, even Dorothy Parker, herself a prolific producer of epigrams. Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) a well-known member of the French nobility, had a rich life with a bold military career. He proved courageous in battle, was wounded several times and nearly lost his sight. Not always finding himself on the successful side of politics, his career and standing in high circles was curtailed. However, he was also involved in literary salons and was respected as a moralist and man of letters at a time when it was fashionable to read maxims out loud at gatherings. A number of editions of his maxims appeared during his lifetime as he revised his choices, deleting some and adding others. In total, a little over 600 have survived, which can be confidently ascribed to La Rochefoucauld. They vary considerably in style, length and content. Many are short (as those mentioned above); but others are longer, aiming at observations or truths which go beyond the witty flourish or the acutely pointed barb. For La Rochefoucauld was a perceptive observer of humanity in all its multi-faceted guises. Often he gave little quarter to human foibles, especially in the area of (in his celebrated phrase) ‘amour-propre', or self-love, and clearly enjoyed cataloguing a range of emotions and effects where this comes into human play. But this collection is much more than a basket of one-liners. He discusses aspects of death in an 800-word paragraph - a matter on which he could speak with some authority having faced it on many occasions in battle. He addresses laziness: ‘Of all our emotions, laziness is the one of which we are ourselves least aware. It is also the most intense and malignant of them all, though its violence be imperceptible and the damage it causes remain very well hidden.' This recording presents a scholarly but accessible 20th-century translation by Constantine FitzGibbon, and opens with an introduction to the life and works of La Rochefoucauld, as well as his own description of himself. It closes with a brief but interesting bibliography, in which FitzGibbon brings clarity to the various editions. It is presented in a very listenable manner by David Rintoul, who gives each maxim the weight and character it deserves.

Duc De La Rochefoucauld (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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The Great Guide: What David Hume Can Teach Us about Being Human and Living Well

This audiobook narrated by David Rintoul shares invaluable wisdom on living a good life from one of the Enlightenment's greatest philosophers David Hume (1711–1776) is perhaps best known for his ideas about cause and effect and his criticisms of religion, but he is rarely thought of as a philosopher with practical wisdom to offer. Yet Hume's philosophy is grounded in an honest assessment of nature—human nature in particular. The Great Guide is an engaging and eye-opening account of how Hume's thought should serve as the basis for a complete approach to life. In this enthralling book, Julian Baggini masterfully interweaves biography with intellectual history and philosophy to give us a complete vision of Hume's guide to life. He follows Hume on his life's journey, literally walking in the great philosopher's footsteps as Baggini takes readers to the places that inspired Hume the most, from his family estate near the Scottish border to Paris, where, as an older man, he was warmly embraced by French society. Baggini shows how Hume put his philosophy into practice in a life that blended reason and passion, study and leisure, and relaxation and enjoyment. The Great Guide includes 145 Humean maxims for living well, on topics ranging from the meaning of success and the value of travel to friendship, facing death, identity, and the importance of leisure. This book shows how life is far richer with Hume as your guide.

Julian Baggini (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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Beyond: The Astonishing Story of the First Human to Leave Our Planet and Journey into Space

‘Thrilling … High-definition history: tight, thrilling and beautifully researched’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘This book is a triumph’ DAN SNOW 9.07 a.m., April 12, 1961. A top-secret rocket site in the USSR. A young Russian sits inside a tiny capsule on top of the Soviet Union’s most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile – originally designed to carry a nuclear warhead – and blasts into the skies. His name is Yuri Gagarin and he is about to make history. Travelling at almost 18,000 miles per hour – ten times faster than a rifle bullet – Gagarin circles the globe in just 106 minutes. While his launch begins in total secrecy, within hours of his landing he has become a world celebrity – the first human to leave the planet. Beyond tells the thrilling story behind that epic flight on its sixtieth anniversary. It happened at the height of the Cold War as the US and USSR confronted each other across an Iron Curtain. Both superpowers took enormous risks to get a man into space first – the Americans in the full glare of the media, the Soviets under deep cover. Both trained their teams of astronauts to the edges of the endurable. In the end the race between them would come down to the wire. Drawing on extensive original research and the vivid testimonies of eyewitnesses, many of whom have never spoken before, Stephen Walker unpacks secrets that were hidden for decades and takes the reader into the drama – featuring the scientists, engineers and political leaders on both sides, and above all the American astronauts and their Soviet rivals battling for supremacy in the heavens.

Stephen Walker (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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Helgoland

Brought to you by Penguin. The Number One bestselling author of The Order of Time is back with a stunning book about the enigma of quantum physics In June 1925, twenty-three-year-old Werner Heisenberg, suffering from hay fever, retreated to a small, treeless island in the North Sea called Helgoland. It was there that he came up with one of the most transformative scientific concepts: quantum theory. Almost a century later, quantum physics has given us many startling ideas: ghost waves, distant objects that seem magically connected to each other, cats that are both dead and alive. Countless experiments have led to practical applications that shape our daily lives. Today our understanding of the world around us is based on this theory. And yet it is still profoundly mysterious. In this enchanting book, Carlo Rovelli, one of our most celebrated scientists, tells the extraordinary story of quantum physics and reveals its deep meaning: a world made of substances is replaced by a world made of relations, each particle responding to another in a never ending game of mirrors. Shifting our perspective once again, Rovelli takes us on a riveting journey through the universe so we can better understand our place in it. © Carlo Rovelli 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Carlo Rovelli (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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The Folks That Live On The Hill

Brought to you by Penguin. Harry Caldecote is the most charming man you'll ever meet, a convivial academic who devotes his life to others. He is on call when his alcoholic niece falls into strange hands, when his brother threatens to emulate Wordsworth, when his son's lesbian lodger is beaten up by her girlfriend. He endures misplaced seductions, swindles and aggressive dogs just to keep the peace at the King's pub in Shepherd's Hill. But when the Adams' Institute of Cultural and Commercial History in America offers him the opportunity to do 'whatever he wanted to do' in a picturesque lakeside town, he faces a choice between freedom or responsibility - and whether to take charge of his own life. © Kingsley Amis 2012 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Kingsley Amis (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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The Undiscovered Self

In The Undiscovered Self Jung explains the essence of his teaching for an audience unfamiliar with his ideas. He highlights the importance of individual responsibility and freedom in the context of today's mass society and argues that individuals must organise themselves as effectively as the organized mass if they are to resist joining it. To help them achieve this he sets out his influential programme for achieving self-understanding and self-realisation. The Undiscovered Self is a book that will awaken many individuals to the new life of the self that Jung visualised. Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) founded the analytical school of psychology and developed a radical new theory of the unconscious. 'This is a very important book indeed. It is a short book. And it is written with a simple directness, unlike Jung's longer and more technical books, readers should approach the book with an open mind. Suspicious staring and skinning are not good enough.' (J. B Priestly)

C.G. Jung (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by David Rintoul