A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen – Unabridged Audiobook
Product description
As an unabridged Audible audiobook, A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen presents a narrated route into the history of Japan, with samurai, shogun and Zen named in its framing. Written by Jonathan Clements and narrated by Julian Elfer, it has a listening length of 8 hours and 41 minutes, giving the subject a defined format for listening rather than reading in print.
The book is part of the Brief History of Asia series and is published by Tantor Media. Its broad historical focus makes it suited to listeners looking for an introduction to Japan’s past.
How it fits
An audiobook can make a history title easy to fit into listening time at home or while travelling. Here, the unabridged format lets the account unfold through Julian Elfer’s narration, while the 8 hours and 41 minutes gives a clear sense of the commitment involved. The title points to a wide-ranging subject, linking Japan’s history with samurai, shogun and Zen rather than focusing on a single figure or period.
If you want a concise entry point into the country’s history, this format offers a different approach from choosing a specialist book on one era or topic. It can help listeners build an overall sense of the subject before deciding which parts they would like to explore further. The series placement also situates it among histories of Asia, making it relevant for listeners interested in Japan within a wider regional context.
Strengths
The audiobook’s main appeal is its combination of an accessible overview and narrated delivery. Customer feedback describes the writing as readable and informative, with listeners appreciating the way the history is presented and complex matters of state and commerce made easier to follow. Some also value its concise approach, which suits someone seeking a coherent introduction rather than an exhaustive account of every event.
Want a single narrated title to help make a broad historical subject more approachable? The unabridged presentation gives the book room to develop its account, while the named themes provide a useful signpost to its focus. Buyers’ responses to the storytelling are mixed, so its appeal is strongest for listeners drawn to a broad historical narrative and an overview of Japan, rather than a title chosen solely for one particular storytelling style.
Specifications
- Format: Audible audiobook
- Type: Unabridged
- Listening length: 8 hours and 41 minutes
- Author: Jonathan Clements
- Narrator: Julian Elfer
- Publisher: Tantor Media
- Series: Brief History of Asia
- Publication date: 22 October 2019
Should you buy it?
Choose this audiobook if you want to explore Japan’s history in a narrated, unabridged format, with a broad overview rather than a narrow study of one subject. Its stated themes of samurai, shogun and Zen, accessible historical focus and defined listening length make it a practical starting point for listeners curious about the country’s past. It also suits anyone who prefers to listen to history and wants a title that places Japan within a series devoted to the history of Asia.