Audibly Speaking: Listening to History

Twitter/X Facebook How should we think about the danger and possible utility (?) of “Artificial Intelligence,” that increasingly out-of-control oxymoron? Maybe a report from the field is in order as we begin to look at this question. This is that report from the field, or at least a beginning of one. We may have to start early because we have no time to waste, for the sake of student learning, in getting this right. Twitter/X Facebook

Twitter/X Facebook A message from Dr. Thomas Patterson of Harvard Univerity: “Tomorrow, Sept. 17, is National Constitution Day— marking the 239th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. As in other years, it will pass largely unnoticed despite its significance and relevance at this critical moment in our politics. I’m trying to elevate its visibility by encouraging people to take my free, nonpartisan HarvardX course on the U.S. Constitution (6 brief sessions). I’d be grateful if

This is a tour of Chapter 6 from "The American Yawp" on The American Revolution. You need to read the chapter after listening to this. This audio tour is no substitute for reading the chapter.

Twitter/X Facebook Your host for Audibly Speaking, Rick Reiman, speaks with Gabra Zackman about her career in the ever-more-popular field of audio books and narration. Gabra had narrated over 500 books, including such titles as The Sound and the Fury, Nobody’s Girl, Catch the Devil, G-Man, and I’ll be Gone in the Dark, among many others. An accomplished actor, I ask her about how she got started in the craft, what she thinks about the parceling out of assignments to male and female readers, ho

Twitter/X Facebook Tomorrow is America’s 250th Birthday as an independent nation. Your narrator for Audibly Speaking rings in the birthday in suitable vocal style with an audio narration of that fateful document. The Declaration of July 4, 1776 was not just a statement of independence but a declaration of ideals that has changed the world. Will we, the generation that is the heir of the founding fathers, allow its ringing words to continue shaping the world, or will the American people themselv

Twitter/X Facebook On July 4, 2026, Americans will celebrate…what? Obviously they will celebrate what they intend to celebrate. That means American’s “Independence Day.” But what does that mean? According to the Cato Institute’s poll released today, 46% of Americans are clueless as to what it means. The reason is clear: their ignorance of history. This should not be surprising since Americans popularize “history” as something to be considered over and done with. But that popular stance, and shi