Mental Efficiency
Arnold Bennett
Read by Ruth Golding
In this light-hearted yet thought-provoking collection of articles, Bennett offers his thoughts on exercising the mind, organising your life, the advantages (and disadvantages) of marriage and other pocket philosophies.
The book stands the test of time, and much is still relevant and amusing - perhaps even more so, with nearly 100 years of hindsight, than when it was originally written.
The book "X" to which Bennett refers in Chapter 5 is An Essay on the Principle of Population by Thomas Malthus, of which there is also a Librivox recording. (Summary by Ruth Golding) (2 hr 50 min)
Chapters
| 1 - Mental Efficiency | 39:25 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 2 - Expressing One's Individuality | 10:05 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 3 - Breaking with the Past | 9:04 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 4 - Settling Down in Life | 12:07 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 5 - Marriage | 28:13 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 6 - Books | 17:46 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 7 - Success | 30:23 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 8 - The Petty Artificialities | 11:39 | Read by Ruth Golding |
| 9 - The Secret of Content | 12:02 | Read by Ruth Golding |
Reviews
Very good reading!
Philippe Horak
This book provides hints for a better life and successful personal growth. The book covers the topic of mental efficiency, expressing one's individuality, breaking with the past, settling down in life, marriage, books, success, the petty artificialities and the secret of content. Ruth Golding did it again and as well as usual! Many thanks for your valuable reading.
ðReadBetweenTheLinezð
A LibriVox Listener
I can't believe this fell in my lap when it did! I really enjoyed. I feel it is a timeless piece teetering between quantum physics and the quarrels of everyday life (i.e., feeling completely stuck in a mental haze for years and the remedies for relief. Apparently my search for such a correlation isn't at all a new dilemma).
Decent
TAReader1490
The reader of this book was fantastic, the material on the other hand was questionable at times. I appreciated the ideas that were presented in this book but at the same time the material did not necessarily have anything to do with mental efficiency. Most of the time it seemed that the author was just rambling on about one thing or another with no true central idea.
A LibriVox Listener
definitely worth the time. read The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin first. i did by happy coincidence. the reader is first rate, thanks for her excellent interpretation.
Outstanding!
Darus
Enjoyed the rambling nature of the content with fascinating insights throughout. Am looking forward to following the recommendations in the last chapter.
One of a kind
Abdul NN
I haven't read a book in a while that impressed me as much as this did. I believe the Bennetts are the most knowledgeable philosophers on the human mind. That being said, this book has to be one of a kind, and it definitely is.
fun book
A LibriVox Listener
an excellent and fun read, manifesting a magnificent nonchalant and casual pose, touching an array of topics all respectful and ingenious in their own right which, read by the infalable Ruth Golding is definitely a worthwhile read.
A Very Efficient Book!
Mike Pritchard
A wonderful, accessible audio book, a perfect antidote to the trials and niggling questions modern life sets before us.