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Essays on Things

Gelesen von LibriVox Volunteers

William Lyon Phelps was founder of the Pundits, a secret society at Yale, noted for its collection of the wittiest and most erudite students, and he later became one of the most beloved professors at Yale for many years. He was sought after as a lecturer, preacher, and scholar. His writing output covered a wide range of literary guides to novels, poetry, and drama from Shakespeare to Russian novels,, as well as works on the Bible.

In this collection of fifty-two short essays, with unusual wit, insight, and breadth of learning, Phelps covers such serious topics as “War,” “Russia Before the Revolution,” “Church Unity,” and “Optimism and Pessimism,” but also draws insights from the mundane such as, “A Pair of Socks,” “Molasses,” “Tea” and “Spooks.” Not to be left out are his travels such as, “Going to Church in Paris,” “Going to Honolulu,” and “London as a Summer Resort.”
- Summary by Larry Wilson (6 hr 28 min)

Chapters

Sunrise

7:04

Read by Larry Wilson

Molasses

7:35

Read by George Banfield

Resolutions When I Come to Be Old

8:06

Read by Brize C

English and American Humour

8:08

Read by marisad6

A Pair of Socks

6:37

Read by ShrimpPhish

An Inspiring Cemetery

6:24

Read by BettyB

Ancient Football

6:29

Read by Doreen Marcotte

Rivers

8:34

Read by Doreen Marcotte

One Day at a Time

8:00

Read by Doreen Marcotte

City and Country

6:00

Read by tshoes76

Age Before Beauty

7:00

Read by Jennifer Wilson

Church Unity

9:20

Read by agrant1

Political History

7:04

Read by tshoes76

A Room Without a View

7:39

Read by Brize C

Tea

7:58

Read by marisad6

The Weather

8:13

Read by João Senna

War

6:32

Read by George Banfield

Man and Boy

7:28

Read by João Senna

Ambition

7:09

Read by Joshua F

Birds and Statesmen

8:42

Read by João Senna

Russia Before the Revolution

7:54

Read by Ekaterina

The Devil

6:00

Read by Joshua F

The Forsyte Saga

7:44

Read by BettyB

Profession and Practice

7:08

Read by JoshonTape

London as a Summer Resort

6:29

Read by BettyB

What the Man Will Wear

7:19

Read by Joshua F

Dreams

7:09

Read by ShrimpPhish

Eating Breakfast

7:57

Read by marisad6

The Mother Tongue

7:18

Read by Jennifer Wilson

Our South as Cure for Flu

7:21

Read by Douglas Wood

Going to Church in Paris

7:34

Read by Beeswaxcandle

Optimism and Pessimism

9:04

Read by JoshonTape

Translations

5:35

Read by Joshua F

Music of the Spheres

6:26

Read by Brize C

Dog Books

7:54

Read by Hubert Williams

Going to Honolulu

6:34

Read by tshoes76

Hymns

8:00

Read by Beeswaxcandle

Old-Fashioned Snobs

10:12

Read by Steve C

A Fair City

6:44

Read by Joshua F

Traditions

6:39

Read by Patrick

Spooks

7:41

Read by Douglas Wood

Trial by Jury

7:29

Read by Ekaterina

Athletics

6:07

Read by Joshua F

A Private Library All Your Own

8:04

Read by Beeswaxcandle

The Greatest Common Divisor

8:09

Read by Beeswaxcandle

The Great American Game

7:58

Read by Brize C

Ten Sixty-Six

8:11

Read by April6090

Going Abroad the First Time

5:58

Read by Myra Li

Spiritual Healing

6:22

Read by Joshua F

Superstition

7:36

Read by Douglas Wood

The Importance of the Earth

10:24

Read by Steve C

What Shall I Think About?

7:25

Read by Larry Wilson