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The Torch: The Great Courses Podcast - The Literature of Mysteries, the Science of History, and Brain Hacks You Can’t Miss.
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The Literature of Mysteries, the Science of History, and Brain Hacks You Can’t Miss.

11/14/16 • 35 min

The Torch: The Great Courses Podcast
Solve the puzzles of great mystery fiction, uncover the depths of what paleontology can tell us about our past, and reveal secrets for outsmarting your own brain in this exceptional edition of The Torch. Join Ed Leon, Chief Brand Officer, as he talks to three renowned experts to learn more about these fascinating topics. Professor David Schmid, an award-winning associate professor, reviews the 200-year old genre of mystery and suspense by taking you backward and forward in time, around the world, and alongside some of the most amazing minds and characters in literature. Professor Stuart Sutherland, a Professor of Teaching in the Department of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, introduces new theories about our ancestors inspired by recently exposed fossils and tells you how to find dinosaurs in your duck pond. Professor Peter M. Vishton, Associate Professor of Psychology, illuminates all the ways our brains “plot” to work against us, and provides tricks to overcome distraction, procrastination, and the other devices our brains invoke to sabotage our best intentions.
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bookmark
Solve the puzzles of great mystery fiction, uncover the depths of what paleontology can tell us about our past, and reveal secrets for outsmarting your own brain in this exceptional edition of The Torch. Join Ed Leon, Chief Brand Officer, as he talks to three renowned experts to learn more about these fascinating topics. Professor David Schmid, an award-winning associate professor, reviews the 200-year old genre of mystery and suspense by taking you backward and forward in time, around the world, and alongside some of the most amazing minds and characters in literature. Professor Stuart Sutherland, a Professor of Teaching in the Department of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, introduces new theories about our ancestors inspired by recently exposed fossils and tells you how to find dinosaurs in your duck pond. Professor Peter M. Vishton, Associate Professor of Psychology, illuminates all the ways our brains “plot” to work against us, and provides tricks to overcome distraction, procrastination, and the other devices our brains invoke to sabotage our best intentions.

Previous Episode

undefined - Explore the Enigmas of History, Philosophy, Photography, and Math.

Explore the Enigmas of History, Philosophy, Photography, and Math.

We’re revealing the secrets to histories mysteries, modern math, and phenomenal photographs in today’s edition of the Torch. Join Ed Leon as he talks with four esteemed experts to help you learn to crack the codes! One of the world’s foremost experts on Egyptology Bob Brier—known as Mr. Mummy—provides an overview of how to decrypt hieroglyphs. Professor Charles Mathewes deciphers the major themes and lessons from St. Augustine’s seminal work The City of God. National Geographic photographer Michael Melford uncovers the tricks behind timing, framing, and taking the perfect landscape photograph. As James Tanton—teacher of teachers—demonstrates, the secret to unlocking the mysteries of math is to learn how to see it differently. Anyone who wants to be “in the know” and get insider secrets from the experts should not miss this illuminating edition of The Torch.

Next Episode

undefined - Four ways we can impact our world by learning about our history

Four ways we can impact our world by learning about our history

Ed Leon, Chief Brand Officer, and four renowned experts introduce us to what the new field of Big History can teach us about our future, how history’s greatest investor’s made their fortunes, what mysteries and wisdom are found in the Analects of Confucius, and how we can use history to predict which political candidate will win the presidency. Although Big History often focuses on the ancient past, Professor Craig Benjamin explains how we use Big History to learn much about the ways our actions impact the future. The average person knows more than they think about where to invest in order to profit. Professor John Longo discusses how these tactics were used by successful investors to make millions. Many people don’t realize the Analects of Confucius was not one linear composition, but is comprised of many independent tidbits of advice. Professor Robert LaFleur takes us through the process of how these individual pieces encompass a philosophy of life that set the foundation for modern society. For more than three decades, Professor Alan Lichtman has correctly predicted the outcome of every presidential election—including this most recent one—by looking at the past. Hear about his astounding process and more in this spectacular edition of The Torch.

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