This project is now complete! All audio files can now be found on the catalog page for this project https://librivox.org/improvement-of-the-mind-by-isaac-watts/
Source text (please read only from this text!): https://archive.org/details/improvementofmind00watt/page/n7/mode/2up"No man is obliged to learn and know everything; this can neither be sought nor required, for it is utterly impossible; yet all persons are under some obligation to improve their own understanding; otherwise it will be a barren desert, or a forest overgrown with weeds and brambles. Universal ignorance or infinite errors will overspread the mind which is utterly neglected and lies without any cultivation.<br><br>
The common duties and benefits of society, which belong to every man living, as we are social creatures, and even our native and necessary relations to a family, a neighborhood, or government, oblige all persons, whatsoever, to use their reasoning powers upon a thousand occasions; every hour of life calls for some regular exercise of our judgment, as to time and things, persons and actions: without a prudent and discreet determination in matters before us, we shall be plunged into perpetual errors in our conduct. Now, that which should always be practiced must at some time be learned."<br><br>
This version has been abridged from Watt's original by Stephen Norris Fellows as follows:<br>
"In endeavoring to adapt it to the needs of the present, the following changes have been made: First — Nearly one-third of the book has been eliminated, as being too theological or too closely related to the age and country of the author. Second — A brief but comprehensive analysis has been prepared, which appears as a table of contents. Third — Prominence is given to some of the more essential doctrines by stating them in large type, while explanatory and illustrative matter is given in smaller type.<br>
But few changes have been made in the text other than those mentioned above, as it seemed desirable to preserve the unique and forcible style of the author. The original work was first published in 1727, and although it is over one hundred and fifty years old, yet its teachings are in substantial harmony with the truest pedagogical doctrines of today. It is believed that in its present form and dress it is adapted to private reading, and reading circles, and also as a text-book in Secondary and Normal Schools." (Summary by Introduction and Preface)
Deadline: Please submit your recording within 2 months of placing your claim. If you cannot complete the recording within this time, please post in the thread to relinquish your claim or to ask the BC for an extension. If your recording is not completed by the deadline, your claim may be reassigned at the BC's discretion.
Claiming sections: Look in the Magic Window below for the list of available sections. Post a reply in this thread asking for the section you would like to record.
New to recording? Please see our Newbie Guide to Recording for further instructions. A quick guide to our required technical settings can be found here. When you post your file, please tell the BC what name you would like to use in our catalog.
Prooflistening level: Standard
Prospective PLs, please see the Guide for Proof-listeners.
Please don't download or listen to files belonging to projects in process unless you are the BC or PL. Our servers are not set up to handle the greater volume of traffic. Please wait until the project has been completed. Thanks!
Magic Window:
BC Admin
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LibriVox recording settings: mono (1 channel), 44100 Hz sample rate, 128 kbps constant bit rate MP3. See the Tech Specs
Intro to recording:
Leave 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning.
Say:
End of recording:"Chapter # of Improvement of the Mind.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org."
[Optional: "Read by your name."]
"Improvement of the Mind, by Isaac Watts and Stephen Norris Fellows.
Section Title." (see MW for full title)
Special notes:
- Read I, II , III, IV as 'First, second third fourth'
- Read the sections in a different font in the same way as the normal text.
Say:
If you are recording the final section of the book, add:"End of chapter #."
[Optional, and if not stated in the intro: "Read by your name, city, date."]
Leave 5 seconds of silence at the end."End of Improvement of the Mind, by Isaac Watts and Stephen Norris Fellows."
Filename: improvementmind_##_watts_128kb.mp3 where ## is the section number. (e.g. improvementmind_01_watts_128kb.mp3)
Upload to the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
(If you have trouble reading the image above, please contact an admin)
MC to select: Kitty
Copy and paste the file link generated by the uploader into a new post in this thread along with the file duration (mm:ss). Watch this thread for prooflistening notes.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Just post in this thread.
this sounds like an interesting project. I will MC it for you, MW is coming up soon.
Some interesting ideas here.