[Free eBook & Audiobook] Humor by Stefan Kjerkegaard [Danish Academic Cultural Studies Essay]

Humor (Humour) by Stefan Kjerkegaard, an associate professor in the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University, is the is the 52nd in the in the Tænkepauser (Reflections) series of Danish-language accessibly-written short essays intended to introduce laypersons to assorted academic topics, free for a limited time courtesy of Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This semi-philosophical cultural essay focuses on the topic of the purposes and benefits of humour in our daily lives and wellbeing and surrounding society, beyond just joking around.

Offered DRM-free worldwide through October 9th, available directly from the university’s website.

[Free eBook & Audiobook] Demokrati by Svend-Erik Skaaning [Danish Academic Political Science Essay]

Demokrati (Democracy) by Svend-Erik Skaaning, a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University, is the the 48th in the Tænkepauser (Thinking Breaks) series of Danish-language accessibly-written short essays meant to introduce academic topics to a general audience, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This essay covers democracy in its good and bad points, apparently based on the premise of Winston Churchill’s observation about how democracy would be the worst form of government, if it were not for all the other even worse forms of government that have been tried.

Offered through April 10th, available DRM-free worldwide with an accompanying MP3 audiobook.

[Free eBook] Statistik: viden fra data by Jens Ledet Jensen [Danish Statistics Introductory Textbook]

Statistik: viden fra data (Statistics: Knowledge from Data) by Jens Ledet Jensen, a Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Aarhus University, is his Danish-language introductory guide to statistics, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This is a guide intended for the not-particularly mathematically-inclined, providing a grounding in understanding the basics as well as selected example models often used in research reports and economic policy write-ups.

Offered through the month of March, available DRM-free worldwide.

[Free eBook] Stoleleg: Jørgen Leths verdener by Dan Ringgaard [Danish Filmmaker Career Retrospective]

Stoleleg: Jørgen Leths verdener (Chair Games: The Worlds of Jørgen Leth) by Dan Ringgaard, a Professor in the Communication and Culture department at Aarhus University and a recipient of the Georg Brandes Prize for literary criticism, is his Danish-language creative career retrospective about the noted filmmaker, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This was published to coincide with Jørgen Leth‘s 75th birthday, according to the official announcement on Leth’s blog, and is a Danish-language retrospective appreciation cum critical examination of his life and times and works. While Leth is best known to international audiences as a filmmaker, he is apparently also a poet and has dabbled in journalism, sports, and other fields which author Ringgaard covers in a series of essays, apparently from a somewhat personal perspective, drawing from his own encounters with Leth and his resulting views of the man’s work over the decades.

Offered DRM-free worldwide through the month of February, directly from the publisher.

[Free eBook & Audiobook] Viden by Kristian Hvidtfeldt Nielsen [Danish Academic Knowledge Research Essay]

Viden (Knowledge) by Kristian Hvidtfeldt Nielsen, an associate professor and science history researcher at Aarhus University, is the 46th in the Tænkepauser (Reflections) of series of accessibly-written Danish-language short introductory essays on various academic topics meant for a general audience, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This Danish-language essay covers the topic of knowledge, apparently dipping into a mix of philosophy, pop culture, and scientific research into consciousness to explore the ways in which we are capable of knowing and expressing what we know, or don’t know, or know that we don’t know, or don’t know how to express, etc.

Offered DRM-free worldwide with an accompanying MP3 audiobook, available through February 13th.

[Free eBook & Audiobook] Alder by Suresh Rattan [Danish Academic Ageing & Gerontology Research Essay]

Alder (Age) by Suresh Rattan, a gerontology researcher at Aarhus University, is the the 45th in the Tænkepauser series of accessibly-written Danish-language short introductory essays on various academic topics meant for a general audience, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This Danish-language essay covers the topic of ageing and age-related scientific research, with a semi-philosophical look into the view of ageing in society and contemplation of the potential for life extension in our modern age.

Offered as a DRM-free ebook and accompanying MP3 audiobook, available worldwide through January 9th.

[Free eBook & Audiobook] Gaven by Anders Klostergaard Petersen [Danish Academic Culture & Philosophy Essay]

Gaven (The Gift) by Anders Klostergaard Petersen, a professor in the School of Culture & Society’s Department of Religious Study at Aarhus University, is the 44th in the Tænkepauser (Reflections) series of accessibly-written Danish-language short introductory essays on various academic topics meant for a general audience, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This Danish-language essay covers the topic of gift-giving and how it is culturally viewed in society, apparently with a bit of philosophical detour into reflecting upon how it’s the thought behind it that counts more than the outward value of the gift, which may be a gift in itself.

Offered as a DRM-free ebook and accompanying MP3 audiobook, available worldwide through December 12th.

[Free eBook] Oplysningens verden: Idé, historie, videnskab, kunst [Danish 18th C Enlightenment World History & Culture]

Oplysningens verden (The World of the Enlightenment: Ideas, history, knowledge, art) edited by Ole Høiris & Thomas Ledet is a volume in their Verdensbøger (World Books) series of Danish-language self-contained titles which provide a comprehensive introductory overview to cultural and historical periods, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher the Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This Danish-language series is fully equivalent in style and content to the Oxford University Press’ The Oxford Illustrated History of… or Routledge’s The World of… English series. This volume contains a comprehensive introduction to the Age of Enlightenment which followed the Renaissance in Western Europe, which was at its peak during the 18th century. Included are essays about art, literature, philosophy, etc. about both the Nordic regions and the wider world, lavishly illustrated with period paintings and photographs of documents and other artifacts.

Offered through the month of December, available worldwide DRM-free.

[Free eBook & Audiobook] Europa by Jørgen Møller [Danish European History & Political Development Academic Essay]

Europa (Europe) by Jørgen Møller, a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University, is the 43rd in the Tænkepauser (Reflections) series of accessibly-written Danish-language short introductory essays on various academic topics, free for a limited time courtesy of the Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This essay covers the topic of how important historical developments during the Middle Ages lay the groundwork for the current state of political freedoms in much of modern Europe.

Offered through November 14th, available DRM-free worldwide.

[Free eBook] Obelisker i Rom [Danish Egyptian Archaeology & History]

Obelisker i Rom (Obelisks in Rome) by Lise Manniche, an assistant professor of Egyptology at the University of Copenhagen, is her Danish-language archaeological survey of Egyptian artifacts, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Aarhus University Press in Denmark.

This is an accessibly-written Danish-language academic survey of the thirteen Egyptian obelisks in the city of Rome, covering their history from ancient times to the present day, lavishly illustrated with many colour photographs. Maps of the past and present locations of the obelisks are included, as well as translations of their associated original texts.

Offered through the month of November, available worldwide DRM-free.