Nothing to Do: A Tilt at Our Best Society

Nothing to Do: A Tilt at Our Best Society

Enriched edition. A Satirical Critique of High SocietyBy Horatio Jr. Alger
Michael Caine
Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices
Length1h 31m

About this audiobook

In "Nothing to Do: A Tilt at Our Best Society," Horatio Alger Jr. crafts a thought-provoking exploration of American life in the late 19th century. Using his characteristic style of earnest prose and spirited dialogue, Alger critiques societal norms and the growing disconnection between aspiration and reality. The book reflects Alger's belief in the power of individual agency against an unforgiving social backdrop, encapsulating the spirit of an era rife with economic disparity and the relentless pursuit of the American Dream. Horatio Alger Jr. was a prolific writer and social reformer known for his narratives centered on the themes of hard work and perseverance. Born in 1832, Alger's experiences witnessing poverty and struggle influenced his literary voice, prompting him to highlight the tenacity required to succeed against formidable odds. His own journey, marked by personal trials and moral convictions, imbued his works with authenticity, reflecting both societal hopes and inequalities of his time. "Nothing to Do" serves as a compelling read for those interested in the socio-economic landscape of America and the timeless quest for success. Alger's insightful neglect of romantic idealism invites readers to confront the pressing issues of ambition, identity, and class structure, making it an essential text for understanding American literature and its social context. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

Audiobook details

GenreHumor
Length1 hr 31 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateMay 19, 2021
LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1Introduction
5Author Biography
2Introduction
6Nothing to Do: A Tilt at Our Best Society
3Synopsis
7Analysis
4Historical Context
8Reflection
Ben, the Luggage Boy; Or, Among the Wharves
Ben, the Luggage Boy; Or, Among the WharvesHoratio Jr. Alger7h 8m$2 · $0.00
Luke Walton
Luke WaltonHoratio Jr. Alger7h 33m$2 · $0.00
Shifting For Himself; or, Gilbert Greyson's Fortunes
Shifting For Himself; or, Gilbert Greyson's FortunesHoratio Jr. Alger7h 40m$2 · $0.00
Struggling Upward, or Luke Larkin's Luck
Struggling Upward, or Luke Larkin's LuckHoratio Jr. Alger7h 33m$2 · $0.00
A Debt of Honor
A Debt of HonorHoratio Jr. Alger6h 23m$2 · $0.00
The Young Bank Messenger
The Young Bank MessengerHoratio Jr. Alger6h 20m$2 · $0.00
Joe's Luck; Or, Always Wide Awake
Joe's Luck; Or, Always Wide AwakeHoratio Jr. Alger6h 50m$2 · $0.00
Ragged Dick, Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot-Blacks
Ragged Dick, Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot-BlacksHoratio Jr. Alger6h 58m$2 · $0.00
Timothy Crump's Ward
Timothy Crump's WardHoratio Jr. Alger6h 6m$2 · $0.00
In A New World; or, Among The Gold Fields Of Australia
In A New World; or, Among The Gold Fields Of AustraliaHoratio Jr. Alger6h$2 · $0.00
From Farm to Fortune; or, Nat Nason's Strange Experience
From Farm to Fortune; or, Nat Nason's Strange ExperienceHoratio Jr. Alger4h 14m$2 · $0.00
The Errand Boy; Or, How Phil Brent Won Success
The Errand Boy; Or, How Phil Brent Won SuccessHoratio Jr. Alger6h 36m$2 · $0.00
Tony, the Hero; Or, A Brave Boy's Adventures with a Tramp
Tony, the Hero; Or, A Brave Boy's Adventures with a TrampHoratio Jr. Alger8h 26m$2 · $0.00
Mark Manning's Mission
Mark Manning's MissionHoratio Jr. Alger7h 28m$2 · $0.00
Tom Thatcher's Fortune
Tom Thatcher's FortuneHoratio Jr. Alger8h 50m$2 · $0.00
Digging for Gold
Digging for GoldHoratio Jr. Alger6h 42m$2 · $0.00
Mark the Match Boy; or, Richard Hunter's Ward
Mark the Match Boy; or, Richard Hunter's WardHoratio Jr. Alger$1 · $0.00
Adrift in New York: Tom and Florence Braving the World
Adrift in New York: Tom and Florence Braving the WorldHoratio Jr. Alger6h 35m$2 · $0.00
Frank Hunter's Peril
Frank Hunter's PerilHoratio Jr. Alger7h 23m$1 · $0.00
What If? 10th Anniversary Edition
What If? 10th Anniversary EditionRandall Munroe7h 29m$23
Welcome to Pawnee
Welcome to PawneeJim O'Heir6h 24m$24 · $0.00
Going Postal
Going PostalTerry Pratchett13h 36m$33 · $0.00
Mapp & Lucia: Complete Series
Mapp & Lucia: Complete SeriesE. F. Benson59h 54m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Chronicles of Barsetshire: (The Warden + Barchester Towers + Doctor Thorne + Framley Parsonage + The Small House at Allington + The Last Chronicle of Barset)
The Complete Chronicles of Barsetshire: (The Warden + Barchester Towers + Doctor Thorne + Framley Parsonage + The Small House at Allington + The Last Chronicle of Barset)Anthony Trollope140h 13m$1 · $0.00
Woman Uninterrupted
Woman UninterruptedBrodie Kane7h 1m$24 · $0.00
Hot Cowgirl Sh*t
Hot Cowgirl Sh*tLacie Evans2h 15m$15
The Complete Novels of Mark Twain - 12 Books in One Volume (Illustrated Edition)
The Complete Novels of Mark Twain - 12 Books in One Volume (Illustrated Edition)Mark Twain155h 29m$2 · $0.00
You Will Get Through This Night
You Will Get Through This NightDaniel Howell6h 56m$24 · $0.00
My Dear Hamilton
My Dear HamiltonStephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie23h 7m$46 · $0.00
The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin
The Night Before Christmas at Dunder MifflinBrian Baumgartner, Ben Silverman6m$4 · $0.00
Pride & Prejudice
Pride & PrejudiceJane Austen14h 52m$1 · $0.00
The Complete Works of Saki
The Complete Works of SakiSaki, H. H. Munro52h 37m$2 · $0.00
Jungle Up
Jungle UpNick Pirog10h 8m$20
The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear
The 13½ Lives of Captain BluebearWalter Moers16h 10m$28
Damon Runyon Omnibus
Damon Runyon OmnibusDamon Runyon27h$2 · $0.00
Don Quixote (illustrated & annotated)
Don Quixote (illustrated & annotated)Miguel de Cervantes44h 11m$1 · $0.00
Wotcha
WotchaKev Saunders14h 41m$8 · $0.00
Buffering
BufferingHannah Hart5h 55m$24 · $0.00
The Office BFFs
The Office BFFsJenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey8h 26m$26 · $0.00

You may also like

Nothing to Eat
Nothing to EatJr. Horatio Alger43m$2.30
On Something
On SomethingHilaire Belloc6h 21m$2.30
A Book of Nonsense
A Book of NonsenseEdward Lear33m$2.80
The New Kid on the Block
The New Kid on the BlockJack Prelutsky55m$11 · $0.00
Here's Another
Here's AnotherLennie Lower4h 20m$2 · $0.00
The Heptalogia
The HeptalogiaAlgernon Charles Swinburne1h 54m$1 · $0.00
The Comic Almanack  An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales,  Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities Vol 2  (of 2)
The Comic Almanack An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities Vol 2 (of 2)Various18h 17m$2.30
The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a Savoyard
The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a SavoyardW. S. Gilbert9h 2m$2 · $0.00
An Elegy on the Glory of Her Sex, Mrs. Mary Blaize
An Elegy on the Glory of Her Sex, Mrs. Mary BlaizeOliver Goldsmith4m$2 · $0.00
The Bad Child's Book of Beasts
The Bad Child's Book of BeastsHilaire Belloc7m$2 · $0.00
Bizarre
BizarreLawton Mackall3h 7m$2 · $0.00
Absurd Ditties
Absurd DittiesG. E. Farrow3h 17m$2.30
The Albany Depot : a Farce
The Albany Depot : a FarceWilliam Dean Howells2h 10m$2 · $0.00
Poems for Pale People
Poems for Pale PeopleEdwin Carty Ranck1h 18m$2 · $0.00
The Comic Almanack An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales,  Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities Vol 1 (of 2)
The Comic Almanack An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities Vol 1 (of 2)Various20h 44m$2.30
Mr. Punch's After-Dinner Stories
Mr. Punch's After-Dinner StoriesPhil May, Charles Keene, John Leech, L. Raven-Hill, A. S. Boyd, George du Maurier, F. H. Townsend, J. Bernard Partridge, Reginald Cleaver, Lewis Baumer, Tom Wilkinson, G. D. Armour1h 38m$1 · $0.00
Pieces Of Hate And Other Enthusiasms
Pieces Of Hate And Other EnthusiasmsHeywood Broun5h 29m$2.30
The Potiphar Papers
The Potiphar PapersGeorge William Curtis4h 24m$2 · $0.00
The Librarian at Play
The Librarian at PlayEdmund Lester Pearson5h 2m$1 · $0.00
Literary Lapses
Literary LapsesStephen Leacock5h 24m$1 · $0.00