Kevin Manzel
@kevinmanzel.bsky.social
đ¤ 1076
đĽ 408
đ 816
History. Music. Books. Running. Learning. Always learning. VP Content Strategy, The Great Courses.
reposted by
Kevin Manzel
TheValuesVoter
3 days ago
Sheâs got a better arm than like 10 current starting NFL quarterbacks.
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âThe story reads like steampunk fiction, except it was real.â The story of David Bushnell and the Turtle, the first deployed military submarine, in 1776.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_B...
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David Bushnell (inventor) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bushnell_(inventor)
2 days ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Rachel Gunter, Ph.D. đď¸
7 days ago
Letâs talk about the image of DC that put on display an administrationâs failures even as the president falsely blamed his enemies for it. On the anniversary of âForgotten Americaâ w/ The Great Courses & Audible letâs talk the Bonus March đď¸
@rauchway.bsky.social
âs work gets a shout out in this one
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Kevin C. Moore
3 days ago
Also, one of the original winners of the contest became part of the DOGE initiative. I wrote about it here in ContraSTS mag.
contrastsmag.net/article/the-...
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The Vesuvian Fallacy - Contrasts
It matters little whether or not the unraveled text of the Herculaneum scroll is legitimate: we cannot know.
https://contrastsmag.net/article/the-vesuvian-fallacy/
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Learned today that âfreedom of religionâ was initially sparked by a compromise by Virginia with Prince William Cty Baptists to recruit them as desperately needed soldiers in Washingtonâs army.
3 days ago
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I think the next Netflix music doc should be the making of Bostonâs first album and how a record company signed them/Tom Schulz. Itâs such a bonkers basement-to penthouse story.
6 days ago
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Thinking of the Declaration of Independence as a press release has completely changed how I read and understand it.
6 days ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Sarah E. Bond
6 days ago
lol. So, the people on the internet discovered that (the Catholic) mapmaker Monteâs 1587 Planisphere map has an ark on Araratâas noted in Genesis (
www.davidrumsey.com/blog/2017/11...
) & want to use it to prove the existence of the Ark? Mapmakers knew Asia Minor & inserted biblical refs a lot, folks.
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Noah's Ark mystery deepens as ancient map points to its resting place
An ancient map may have been hiding the location of Noah's Ark for centuries. It features a striking detail that aligns with where the Bible says the biblical boat landed.
https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-15852247/noahs-ark-map-ararat-turkey.html
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Heard an absolutely genius lecture on my run today on how maps have long been political vehicles, and how one published in 1776 very directly affected South American history, and even the history of the American Revolution (and beyond).
7 days ago
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So far, what I like best about our new 1776 Great Course is how readily he points out that Enlightenment philosophers had some really bad ideas, esp on things like natural law and defending or shrugging off slavery.
9 days ago
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Iâm really excited about my next read.
10 days ago
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In an absolutely poetic final Lecture 48 on the unique beauty and marvel of Earth, Prof Wysession quotes Einstein, Sagan, Asimov, Alfred North Whitehead, Bob Dylan, and others. Iâm sad itâs over.
10 days ago
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I listened to The Great Courses for every one of my 1,900+ mi I ran last year. Not bc I work there but bc engaging my mind and body simultaneously like that is honestly a high I happily cannot get any other way. I look forward to it so much each day.
11 days ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Prof Lou Moore
11 days ago
Happy Juneteenth! I wrote this 5 years ago.
firstandpen.com/juneteenth-c...
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Juneteenth Celebrates Freedom And The Power Of Black Baseball - First And Pen
Juneteenth celebrates freedom and the end of slavery. As the celebrations grew, so did the power and greatness of Black baseball.
https://firstandpen.com/juneteenth-celebrates-freedom-and-the-power-of-black-baseball/
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Ok NBC4 I appreciate your attempt to explain ranked choice voting, butâŚwhereâd Nils Lofgren come from?
12 days ago
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Iâm actually quite sad about this news
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
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âMost famous tree in the worldâ: Sherwood Forestâs 1,000-year-old Major oak dies
Nottinghamshire tree, one of Europeâs oldest and largest, fails to produce leaves after being stressed by series of hot, dry summers
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/18/most-famous-tree-world-sherwood-forest-ancient-major-oak-dies
12 days ago
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Holy cowâthis just dropped 2 days early on The Great Courses Plus. Based on the lecture titles were in for some Real Talk about 1776 not being all sunshine and roses (and freedom and liberty). Canât wait.
shop.thegreatcourses.com/years-that-c...
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Years That Changed History: 1776
Trace the interconnected events of 1776 to see how the American Revolution fit into the larger picture of world history in the 18th century and beyond.
https://shop.thegreatcourses.com/years-that-changed-history-1776
13 days ago
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As if Earth isnât fascinating enough, the professor is quoting Thucydides, Homer, the Old Testament, Buddhist texts, Ben Franklin, Will Durant, John McPhee, and others. His intellectual range is stunning.
14 days ago
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Getting stories of Cleopatraâs Needle in both A History of Ancient Egypt and How the Earth Works is peak Great Courses
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopat...
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Cleopatra's Needle (New York City) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra%27s_Needle_(New_York_City)
17 days ago
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We just received an email from a teacher and Great Courses devotee in Iran. He has transcribed more than 400(!) courses and wanted to tell Prof Patrick Allitt how much his courses in particular have meant to him. Amazing â¤ď¸
18 days ago
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In The Great Courses offices yesterday and I love seeing additions to our p Dessie autograph wall. Seeing Greenberg, Allitt, Liulevicious, and so many other great names just makes me smile.
19 days ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Coy Hall
20 days ago
The course Iâm listening to this summer. 36 lectures. And the professor has the same name as me. Great so far.
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The Sumatra earthquake of 2004 was so strong that it actually measurably SHORTENED the length of a day. I love when science is stranger than science fiction.
20 days ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Richard Bell
23 days ago
Wow! Yes, please check out my new course about The Declaration of Independence on The Great Courses!
add a skeleton here at some point
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âAs a 50-yr teacher of US history and government, I have taught the Declaration of Independence hundreds of times. I learned new ideas from this course that I wish I had taught.â High praise for
@rickbell.bsky.social
and his new Great Course.
23 days ago
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An amazing story of the power of a community uniting in the face of natureâs fury and not only saving their harbor but creating generations of geothermal energy in the process.
www.visiticeland.com/article/the-...
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The 1973 Heimaey eruption
The Heimaey island eruption of 1973 was a significant volcanic event in Iceland's history. This summer, the islanders will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the eruption's end, commemorating the resil...
https://www.visiticeland.com/article/the-heimaey-eruption/
23 days ago
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The very idea that whole continents are âbuoyantâ is mind-boggling to a degree I canât even wrap my head around.
24 days ago
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The Blues Brothers is the greatest media cleanse. Prove me wrong. Every single scene makes me smile. And the musicâŚ
26 days ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Nigel J.Hetherington
30 days ago
Machu Picchu is calling. Will you answer with an expert by your side? đď¸ âJoin Dr. Karen Bellinger this October on an immersive luxury journey through Peru with The Great Courses. âđď¸ Limited spots left! Secure your itinerary:
thegreatcoursesjourneys.com/peru
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Peru | TGC Journeys
Embark on an extraordinary journey through Peru, where the remnants of ancient civilizations meet vibrant contemporary culture. Led by The Great Courses Expert Dr. Karen Bellinger
https://thegreatcoursesjourneys.com/peru
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The combination of running under clear blue skies, in low humidity 70-deg weather while listening to a course on How the Earth Works is positively glorious.
28 days ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Tim Bryant
about 1 month ago
Want to bone up on âThe Odysseyâ before the Christopher Nolan movie comes out? I recommend Elizabeth Vandiverâs fantastic lecture series from the Great Courses. Her passion for the Classics is infectious.
www.audible.com/pd/B00DE2CLX...
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The Odyssey of Homer
Check out this great listen on Audible.com. What is it in Homer's Odyssey that has so enthralled readers from around the world for thousands of years? By joining Professor Vandiver for these 12 lectures on the Odyssey, you'll find out why. This literary exploration centers on a single provocative ...
https://www.audible.com/pd/B00DE2CLXU?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=player_overflow
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On a lark, I just started a 48-lecture course on How the Earth Works, and hoo boy, Iâm hooked already. Favorite thing so far: the magnetosphere and how little we appreciate its remarkable role in protecting life on earth.
about 1 month ago
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My 20-yr-old UFC fan son is defending the White House event by saying, âWell, Andrew Jackson had wrestling matches there.â Andrew Jackson is not the presidential bar weâre aiming for, son đ
about 1 month ago
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The Declaration of Independence: Printed by an Irish immigrant on Dutch paper. So much contained in all that.
about 1 month ago
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Having finished my course on the Declaration of Independence I regret nothing as much as the fact that no declaration today would be read publicly with a response of resounding huzzahs.
about 1 month ago
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I am absolutely locked in on
@rickbell.bsky.social
âs new Great course on the Declaration of Independence. Dramatic, poignant, unflinching, and playing it both backward and forward, it is nothing short of a revelation. You think you know the story until he tells it.
about 1 month ago
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@profloumoore.bsky.social
âniqueâs always been one of the good guys:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...
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Dominique Wilkins reconnects with fan he gave shoes to 42 years ago: âTotally blew me awayâ (Gift Article)
The Hall of Famer said the heartwarming moment shows "how you can touch someoneâs life. That lasts a lifetime."
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7296582/2026/05/21/dominique-wilkins-shoes-fan-nba/?unlocked_article_code=1.klA.YWzJ.9VTkjp_fWi9k&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta
about 1 month ago
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Iâm thrilled to share the Great Courses professors who just won Telly Awards :
carterhaughschool.bsky.social
Gold and Bronze for Urban Legends Explained.
@phdrachel.bsky.social
Silver for Forgotten America
@stephenressler.bsky.social
Silver for Understanding the Marvels of Medieval Technology 1/2
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
about 1 month ago
Thanks for suggesting thatâźď¸ đDon't you just love
#TheGreatCoursesâď¸
A lot of the classes are also "free" on
#Audibleâźď¸
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A Timeline of The French Revolution | Wondrium Perspectives
YouTube video by The Great Courses
https://youtu.be/RoCyeeiYkJo?si=fnnTdnKuJyV0vf5m
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The idea of Beethovenâs 5th being a battle between the brutal and dour C-minor and the hopeful, bright, butterfly-like C-major akin to Liston vs Ali is pure genius.
about 1 month ago
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A 16th-Century Sketch Claims to Depict Anne Boleyn. A.I. Says Itâs Her Mom.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/s...
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A 16th-Century Sketch Claims to Depict Anne Boleyn. A.I. Says Itâs Her Mom.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/science/ai-art-anne-boleyn.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jlA.P7g1.rYVWJjzukE_t&smid=nytcore-ios-share
about 1 month ago
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Misquoted, but not by much: âMozartâs piano concerti, by quantity and quality, are the greatest. That is not opinion. It is fact. Deserted island stuff. We cannot, and will not live without it.â - Robert Greenberg, How to Listen to and Appreciate Great Music, 3rd ed.
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Kevin Manzel
Paula Croxson (she/her)
about 1 month ago
Well this is exciting! My course âNeurohack It: Using Neuroscience for Better Livingâ is now out on The Great Courses! đ§ đ§Ş Discover how you can improve your memory, sharpen your focus, increase your mental and emotional resilience, and more!
shop.thegreatcourses.com/neurohack-it...
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Wait. Mozartâs famous librettist, Lorenzo da Ponte, was later a (failed) grocery store owner in Elizabeth, NJ, and professor of Italian literature at Columbia Univ.?
about 1 month ago
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Mozartâs father died and the only tangible evidence of his âmourningâ was an fyi in a p.s. note to an unrelated letter to a friend. His pet starling died? He penned a 24-line eulogy to its memory đ¤
about 2 months ago
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Just heard a stirring live talk online by
@rickbell.bsky.social
on the Decl of Independence @250 and American Revolution. Love that he introduced me to this French statesman and his secret efforts to aid the Revolutionaries.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles...
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Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Gravier,_comte_de_Vergennes
about 2 months ago
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This is truly mind-boggling, tho i should stop underestimating Neanderthals.
www.cnn.com/2026/05/13/s...
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59,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth shows earliest evidence of dentistry | CNN
Neanderthals used sophisticated techniques with a stone drill to treat a painful dental cavity, according to new research.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/13/science/neanderthal-dentistry-stone-drill
about 2 months ago
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Donât forget to register for this free live event featuring acclaimed historian of the early US Dr. Richard Bell. Heâll be speaking on the occasion of the Declarationâs 250th. 5/14 2 pm EST
@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
@riverheadbooks.bsky.social
www.thegreatcoursesjourneys.com/liveevents
about 2 months ago
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My son just used Going to California by Led Zeppelin as the soundtrack to his MMA podcast and Iâm gonna need a minute. He inherited some taste from me đ˘
about 2 months ago
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Whatâs surprising about Robert Greenbergâs iconic Great Music course is that the joy is not in hearing the music per se. Its doom-scroll-era joy of listening with intent. Of paying close attention to music made with intent and bearing historical context.
about 2 months ago
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