Christian Science
Mark Twain
Read by John Greenman
Christian Science is a 1907 collection of essays Mark Twain wrote about Christian Science, beginning with an article that was published in Cosmopolitan in 1899. Although Twain was interested in mental healing and the ideas behind Christian Science, he was hostile towards its founder, Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910). He called her, according to American writer Caroline Fraser, "[g]rasping, sordid, penurious, famishing for everything she sees—money, power, glory—vain, untruthful, jealous, despotic, arrogant, insolent, pitiless where thinkers and hypnotists are concerned, illiterate, shallow, incapable of reasoning outside of commercial lines, immeasurably selfish." - Summary by Wikipedia, edited by John Greenman (8 hr 1 min)
Chapters
| PREFACE & BOOK I - CHRISTIAN SCIENCE - CHAPTER I VIENNA 1899 | 6:05 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK 1 - CHAPTER II | 24:48 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK 1 - CHAPTER III | 12:16 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK 1 - CHAPTER IV | 7:24 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK 1 - CHAPTER V | 10:30 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK 1 - CHAPTER VI | 28:44 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK 1 - CHAPTER VII | 27:07 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK 1 - CHAPTER VIII | 4:27 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK 1 - CHAPTER IX | 13:11 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - PREFACE & CHAPTER I | 15:00 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER II | 21:15 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER III | 10:27 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER IV & POSTSCRIPT | 13:35 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER V & SUMMARY | 5:59 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER VI | 13:49 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER VII - PART ONE | 58:26 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER VII - PART TWO | 28:54 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER VIII | 40:08 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER IX | 1:54 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER X | 14:49 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER XI | 0:51 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER XII | 5:37 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER XIII | 2:42 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER XIV | 1:34 | Read by John Greenman |
| BOOK II - CHAPTER XV | 16:21 | Read by John Greenman |
| APPENDIX A - ORIGINAL FIRST PREFACE TO SCIENCE AND HEALTH | 11:25 | Read by John Greenman |
| APPENDIX B | 3:07 | Read by John Greenman |
| APPENDIX C - The following is the spiritual signification of the Lord's Prayer: | 1:25 | Read by John Greenman |
| APPENDIX D | 24:00 | Read by John Greenman |
| APPENDIX E - Reverend Heber Newton on Christian Science: | 8:23 | Read by John Greenman |
| APPENDIX F | 4:19 | Read by John Greenman |
| MRS.EDDY IN ERROR | 18:05 | Read by John Greenman |
| MAIN PARTS OF THE MACHINE | 1:48 | Read by John Greenman |
| DISTRIBUTION OF THE MACHINE'S POWERS AND DIGNITIES | 16:40 | Read by John Greenman |
| CONCLUSION | 6:15 | Read by John Greenman |
Reviews
Mark Twain: Investigative Journalist!
Phxjennifer
The first entry in this collection is a humorous story about seeking help from a Christian Science practitioner after falling down a mountain. The rest is an exploration of the claims of the Christian Science founder, a very interesting textual analysis of her writings, and some half-joking predictions for that Church's potential for world domination. He is even-handed, admiring Mrs. Eddy's organizational and business abilities while deprecating her writing style, and offering every possible point on her side. Narration was excellent. 😀 (The appendices were redundant for the most part. )
Twain's humor is apt and witty on the subject...
AMA Mail
A must-read for all CS folks who value the venerable art of thinking. John Greenman now tops my list of favorite readers...