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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 TheZee

Sitting for a change

What an incredible deep dive into what we all do without thinking! Mr Jenner brings all the WOW of Horrible Histories to this fantastic podcast.

I am really taken by this thoroughly enjoying project. It's all great opportunity for sitting for a change.

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6 people found this helpful

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Profile Image for Amazon Customer. Mr Howitt

Are you sitting comfortably I will begin.

An informative and some time happy look at what we at time take for granted. look forward too volume 2 ??

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5 people found this helpful

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Profile Image for A. Young

brilliant!

surprisingly interesting, wide-ranging, thoroughly researched, and encompassing a fascinating amount of history from different people including wheelchair users, parliamentarians, Irish freedom-fighters and people of colour, to name but a few

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4 people found this helpful

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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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3 people found this helpful

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Profile Image for Paul Andrew

entertaining

fun and informative, would recommend for light entertainment if you like to find out stuff you didn't know you needed to know.

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3 people found this helpful

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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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  • 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 Victoria Perrin

Absolutely fascinating!

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

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Profile Image for peter

Really interesting!

I was surprised and sceptical that you could make a while Series, but gave it a go because of how much I've enjoyed Greg Jenner's other books and podcasts. Glad I did - it was really interesting and quite funny in places. Now I'm wondering if there could even be another series 😁
Thanks Greg (if you ever read this)!

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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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  • Anna Marie Nedeau
  • 07-08-22

very interesting whilst sitting and knitting

I like having things to listen and learn about whilst knitting. Fun things to think about. I would look up things like the Camden bench and the kings sex chair to see what they looked like. Had no idea. Sitting as protest was enlightening. Inspires a sitting protest for the Roe V Wade in stirrups. Enjoyed this series.

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  • William H.
  • 20-02-22

Fun and thoughtful

As always, Greg Jenner delivers an informative, thought-provoking, and entertaining product. More of this, please!

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  • Tyler J Cooper
  • 18-11-21

Jenner Doing What He Does Best

Fans of Greg Jenner’s ‘You’re Dead to Me’ podcast already know all to well his ability to take subjects that seem uninteresting at face value, and turn them into engaging and memorable lessons in history. This Audible Original is not different.

The production value throughout all eight episodes is nothing short of stellar, incorporating wonderful music, interviews, sound effects, and most importantly, the cheerful witticisms that is Jenner’s narration and performance.

No matter where you sit or how you do it, this will forever change the way you view the art of sitting.

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