The Teaching Company has been the main source of audio books I listen to while driving around town. The range of things I get to hear about is impressive. No ads (nearly none, a few on buying more courses) and I get to pick the topics.
I say, "Phooey on life-long learning." The phrase, like many on the value of books and reading, seems over-used and unattractive. Like happiness, my learning is often best left more or less to itself. What I am conscious of and care about is hearing about facts and ideas that are interesting from people who know and care about what they are saying. Not everything good in audio comes from the Teaching Company. Garrison Keillor's monologues and recent "English Majors" and the single disc "Confessions of a Serial Novelist" by Alexander McCall Smith are good recent examples of good listening for me. So are "Stumbling on Happiness" by Daniel Gilbert and "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson.
But over the past few years, I have heard enlightening, comforting, stimulating talks on
Economics of the world
History - medieval, Chinese, Russian, American, Africa
Literature - imaginative and science fiction, masterpieces of early 20th century (just before I was born), great books of the West
Religion - Jesus's life, Buddhism, C.S. Lewis
Science - general overview of all the sciences today, effect of aging on our senses
The courses usually cost about $70 each. That is pretty expensive. But you might ask the local library to buy some or borrow some from other libraries.
It is all listening while driving. But doing that is not for everyone. A friend recently started listening on longer drives. When she finally saw the red and blue flashing lights in her rearview mirror, she found she had been concentrating on the story so deeply, she had failed to slow down for a town speed zone and failed to realize she was being pulled over. The cop was not happy and now she won't listen.
I hope that is not the case for you. You know you have found something good when you look for short trips you could take just to hear a little more.
Bill
