Short Nonfiction Collection, Vol. 058

Various

Sixteen short nonfiction works in the public domain, independently chosen by the readers. The human condition is variously explored in Chesterton's essay "The Contented Man," Shōtoku Taishi's "Laws" outlining the proper relationships between rulers and governed in 7th century Japan, the Egyptian "Story of Sinuhe" composed circa 1800 B.C. with its theme of divine providence and mercy, "The Four Minute Men of Chicago" invoking patriotism during World War I, and in Arthur Moss' secularist essay "Natural Man." Contributing to this exploration are selections from Locke's "Essay Concerning Humane Understanding," an exchange between Johann Fichte and Immanuel Kant on the subject of censorship, and an excerpt from medieval theologian Peter Lombard's "Books of Sentences."

The Natural World is the subject of several readings: Anna Brassey's thrilling account of her ascent of the Hawaiian volcano Kilauea, Leopold Claremont's essay on mining jewel stones in Ceylon, an entomologist's praise of toads, and a history of the cochineal trade in Mexico and the Canary islands. "Harriet Hosmer" profiles the career of an eminent 19th century woman sculptor.

Foibles and fables round out the collection. In "A Tight Squeeze for Uncle George," a small boy is smitten with the theater after an outing with his uncle but gets in trouble at home when he tries to duplicate the bright lights and magic of the stage in his basement. Lastly, a charlatan in Alaska hawks doctored photographs of Muir's glacier with a "Silent City" rising out of the ice. (summary by Sue Anderson)

The Story of Sinuhe was translated by Sir Alan H. Gardiner
"Johann Fichte and Immanuel Kant on Censorship" is a set of two letters, the first written by Fichte, and the reply by Kant. The letters were translated by William Smith (1816-1896).

Genre(s): *Non-fiction

Language: English

Group: Short Nonfiction Collections

Section Chapter Author Source Reader Time Language
Play 01 An Ascent of Kilauea Anna Brassey Etext Larry Wilson
00:06:50 en
Play 02 Censorship - Johann Fichte and Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant Etext Craig Campbell
00:07:45 en
Play 03 Ceylon: The Island of Jewels Leopold Claremont Etext J. M. Smallheer
00:12:08 en
Play 04 Cochineal Charles Aubrey Ealand Etext Sue Anderson
00:15:24 en
Play 05 The Contented Man G. K. Chesterton Etext Phil Schempf
00:09:37 en
Play 06 The Ecological Toad Mary C. Dickerson Etext Sue Anderson
00:16:28 en
Play 07 An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 2: Excerpt John Locke Etext Craig Campbell
00:20:30 en
Play 08 The Four Minute Men of Chicago Four Minute Men of Chicago History Committee Etext TriciaG
00:31:42 en
Play 09 Harriet Hosmer Anonymous Etext Colleen McMahon
00:17:06 en
Play 10 The Laws of Shōtoku Taishi Prince Shōtoku 聖徳太子 Etext Availle
00:10:17 en
Play 11 Natural Man Arthur B. Moss Etext Roger Melin
00:38:38 en
Play 12 Peter Lombard and the Sacramental System Elizabeth Frances Rogers Etext Craig Campbell
00:21:04 en
Play 13 Sentences, Book 4 Sacraments (excerpts) Peter Lombard Etext Craig Campbell
00:40:31 en
Play 14 The Silent City of the Muir Glacier David Starr Jordan Etext Phil Schempf
00:09:31 en
Play 15 The Story of Sinuhe Anonymous Etext DrPGould
00:28:10 en
Play 16 A Tight Squeeze for Uncle George Thomas Reed Etext Devorah Allen
00:18:17 en