Kaine
- 2
- reviews
- 0
- helpful votes
- 4
- ratings
-
Leviathan
- or The Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiastical and Civil
- By: Thomas Hobbes
- Narrated by: James Adams
- Length: 23 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 241
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 218
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 216
The leviathan is the vast unity of the State. But how are unity, peace, and security to be attained? Hobbes’ answer is sovereignty, but the resurgence of interest today in Leviathan is due less to its answers than its methods: Hobbes sees politics as a science capable of the same axiomatic approach as geometry.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
For PoliSci Graduate Students as a Readalong
- By deborah on 01-14-12
- Leviathan
- or The Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiastical and Civil
- By: Thomas Hobbes
- Narrated by: James Adams
Exquisite Insight with Machiavellian Tone
Reviewed: 09-27-23
Hobbes may be as much appreciated as he is reviled for this absolutist thesis offered like a Greek or Roman philosopher. His certainty as to what is right or ought to be right in terms of how to conduct ourselves is not unlike the musings of Confucius but with a more transactional and finite voice. I applaud James Adams for presenting Hobbes’ words in a way that I would have imaged the man himself likely would have sounded: humorless and interested in distilling fine points to draw clean lines around his philosophy.
Hobbes is foundational to work that succeeded him. If you are keen to discover the origins of our modern political morality, which is not the same at all as individual morality, this book should be at the origination of your path along with The Prince. However, do proceed with significant caution. Given that much of this work is tied to scripture, and in a rapid-fire way, you should assume that if you are not very familiar with The Bible much of this content will fly over you. However, there are nuggets of insight in the first half of the book that are oft quoted by other philosophers. The dive is worth it for the sake of completionism. I think though that few of us will come away liking the messenger in this case.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
The Total Money Makeover
- A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
- By: Dave Ramsey
- Narrated by: Dave Ramsey
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 44,955
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 36,770
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 36,474
Do you want to build a budget that actually works for you? Are you ready to transform your relationship with money? This New York Times bestseller has already helped millions of people just like you learn how to develop everyday money-saving habits with the help of America's favorite finance coach, Dave Ramsey. By now, you've already heard all of the nutty get-rich-quick schemes and the fiscal diet fads that leave you with a lot of quirky ideas but not a penny in your pocket. If you're tired of the lies and sick of the false promises, Dave is here to provide practical, long-term help.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This guy makes sense
- By Alexandra on 02-11-14
- The Total Money Makeover
- A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
- By: Dave Ramsey
- Narrated by: Dave Ramsey
Brute Force Economics
Reviewed: 01-20-20
Mr. Ramsey keeps it simple, with a preachy style full of punch and clarity. The concepts are reinforced by zealous justifications and examples of why to follow what amounts to advice that can fit into a few bullet points: my own notes amount to a single sheet of paper. Don't expect tons of math or creative accounting, but do absorb this honest path to navigating our debtor economy. While both me and my kids (yes they are odd) enjoyed this set of lessons, my only criticism can be leveled at the few stray points in which Mr. Ramsey wanders into religion and philosophy. I am certain that an individual with so much self-assuredness and success feels justified in rattling off personal convictions; books are, after all, a stream of thought. However, the philosophy does tint what would otherwise be clean advice. Although a fine tool for many causes, religious pontification is superfluous in the face of logical or date driven arguments, which would broaden a potential audience without turning some consumers off. Of course, if one is successful enough, said indulgences are a means to steer lessons only to those whom might believe rather than to a broader host. In all, this is a fine work with exceptional wisdom. I've no regrets in enjoying it twice.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!