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Separate fact from fiction; reveal facts; and explore fiction with The Torch!

Separate fact from fiction; reveal facts; and explore fiction with The Torch!

FromThe Torch: The Great Courses Podcast


Separate fact from fiction; reveal facts; and explore fiction with The Torch!

FromThe Torch: The Great Courses Podcast

ratings:
Length:
38 minutes
Released:
Feb 6, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

The truth is out there! Explore misconceptions about how your mind works, uncover overlooked history, and define two-sides of the same literary coin.
Join Ed Leon and three esteemed experts on this revealing edition of The Torch where we bust common myths about our own minds, expose the amazing contributions that came from the Islamic Middle Ages, and delve into the literary genres of utopian and dystopian fiction.

Do brain games help us avoid Alzheimer’s? What percentage of our brain do we use? When it comes to our brains, there are many fallacies out there that we’ve taken as fact. Professor Indre Viskontas answers these questions and provides the truth about how our minds work.

Italy wasn’t the only country to undergo a cultural and scientific renaissance that impacted the world. Professor Eamonn Gearon reveals the many contributions of the Islamic Golden Age―a period in history that lasts form roughly 750 to about 1258―which is not as well-known as it should be.

In the last decade, dystopian literature has become one of the most popular fictional categories, especially among the young adult audience. But it, and its counterpart, utopian literature, have been established genres for centuries. Professor Pamela Bedore unveils the history and influence of utopian and dystopian fiction.
Released:
Feb 6, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (70)

The Great Courses brings engaging professors from the best universities to lifelong learners on audio and video. We create a "university of the best," working closely with our customers to design each Great Course. With this podcast hosted by Ed Leon, you'll meet our fascinating professors and experts who create The Great Courses, listen to their stories and insights, and learn more about the great work they are doing. Discover scientists explaining the latest findings from the fields of astronomy, particle physics, or neuroscience; historians exploring the implications of the latest archaeological findings; medical experts making sense of current health alerts or medical breakthroughs; and literature professors bringing fresh insights to classic literary works. This podcast is available in audio-only format. More information about our courses can be found at www.TheGreatCourses.com.