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A Somewhat Complete History of Sitting Down

By: Greg Jenner
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  • Summary

  • Yes, it's a strange kind of history. And that’s the way Public Historian Greg Jenner likes it. Because, he says, how we sit, where we sit, what we do when we sit and what happens as a result of all that sitting says a lot about humans past and present. 

    This study means we can link a royal throne with a 2000-year-old toilet. It shows how the language and culture of sitting is deep seated in all of us. It sits listeners down in classrooms, parliaments, sports grounds, protests and in the penitentiary death chamber. 

    So if you're sitting comfortably.... 

    A Testbed Production for Audible Originals.
    ©2020 Greg Jenner (P)2020 Audible, Ltd
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Episodes
  • Ep1: Take a Seat

    Ep1: Take a Seat
    May 3 2021

    From the dawn of time, humans have always sat. But why and where did sitting originate? Greg takes a tour of ancient seating from Egyptian thrones to Greek recliners. We hear about the horrors of Roman public lavatories and how to sit politely in Japan.
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    38 mins
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  • Ep 2: Seats Of Power

    Ep 2: Seats Of Power
    May 3 2021

    Yes, it's a strange kind of history. And that’s the way Public Historian Greg Jenner likes it. Because, he says, how we sit, where we sit, what we do when we sit and what happens as a result of all that sitting says a lot about humans past and present. 

    This study means we can link a royal throne with a 2000-year-old toilet. It shows how the language and culture of sitting is deep seated in all of us. It sits listeners down in classrooms, parliaments, sports grounds, protests and in the penitentiary death chamber. 

    So if you're sitting comfortably.... 

    A Testbed Production for Audible Originals.

    This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 8 episodes to your Library now.
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    37 mins
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  • Ep 3: Knowing Your Place

    Ep 3: Knowing Your Place
    May 3 2021

    From wedding ceremonies to national parliaments, seating plans always cause problems. In this episode, Greg considers the complex and controversial politics of posterior parking.
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    27 mins
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World
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What listeners say about A Somewhat Complete History of Sitting Down

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Profile Image for chrisc

Sitting down ?

Very amusing, certainly some interesting ideas.

Thanks.

Many aspects which I leant for the first time.


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Profile Image for TheCrook

Well told and hugely interesting

At first one thinks how can you make the history of sitting into eight podcasts and at the end this series leaves you wishing for more. Super interesting and very well narrated with the right mixture of seriousness and humour. Highly recommended.

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Profile Image for Rhiannon

brilliant

incredibly interesting and entertaining. I listen to one of Greg's other podcasts, but I was still surprised with the breadth of this one!

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Profile Image for amy stevens

Another brilliant Greg Jenner podcast

I really found this great, informative and fun. Greg has a way of capturing you. My only very small negative is that I found the background music and sounds distracting and not needed.

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Profile Image for Rei

Sit down with Greg for a bit? Dont mind if I do

Somehow Greg Jenner can make any subject interesting, I could literally listen to him narrating his breakfast and it would still probably be podcast/audiobook worthy.

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  • b
  • 04-04-22

Very interesting and well written

Really pleased I stumbled across this, very interesting and nicely written. I hope he keeps writing!

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Profile Image for Traveller Melanie

the best podcast in history!

this is a must listen. relax, unwind and of course, sit down.... it's sheer brilliance!

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Profile Image for D. G

great fun and really informative

absolutely brilliant, really enjoyable and eye opening. can't wait for the next podcast regarding the history of standing up!

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Profile Image for Corsaire

Surprising and satisfying history

A really interesting social history, which looks at all the situations in which sitting has a social implication - not a promising subject, you'd think. But Jenner uses this basic human activity to look at power relations, industrial environments and travel, amongst other things. Great stuff.

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Profile Image for Victoria Perrin

Absolutely fascinating!

Completely engrossed from start to finish! A great history lesson too. Awaiting a sequel!

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