The Mystery of History, Creation to the Resurrection Audio Set, is an eight CD compilation of history in a sturdy hard plastic case. Written and narrated by Linda Lacour Hobar with background music and sound effects appropriate to the subject matter, this is a highly enjoyable and worthwhile addition to your history study.

We used the CD set in conjunction with our study in the book, as a supplement, but it is possible to use this on its own with the Volume I Printable Reproducibles on CD-ROM. We found that the historical information was retained far better when paired with the worksheets, quizzes, and activities. The CD set makes long car travel more enjoyable as Mrs. Hobar's voice is engaging and the information is fascinating. Her voice was very easy to listen to and we never grew tired of hearing the stories she presented. My children also enjoyed listening to this set at night while in their beds.

The MOH is written from a distinctly Christian young-earth perspective. This is evident in her appreciation for the beauty and majesty of God's creation. The first disc begins of course, at the beginning, and from there she takes you on a journey as we learn about the flood, the Sumerians, the Epic of Gilgamesh, Stonehenge, the Minoan Civilization, Jacob and Esau, and ends with Joseph. What I so appreciated about this curriculum is that she weaves biblical history with ancient history from all over the world (not discussed in Scripture) so that you understand what was happening in the world at the same time. This is unequalled in this thorough manner in any history program I have used. It not only made history come alive for us, but the Bible came alive again too. Here is just a sampling of the amazing breadth of information you will learn in this year-long course. Each disc is outlined, but I will not list every subject covered in each CD.

Disc two begins with Hammurabi, and she introduces us to China during the Shang Dynasty. Moses, Joshua, Amenhotep IV and Nefertiti, the Legend of the Trojan Horse, Gideon, and the Zhou Dynasty all follow to end with Samuel. King Saul begins disc three followed by the Phoenicians, the division of the Kingdom of Isreal, Elijah, Elisha, India and Hinduism, the Olympic Games, Rome, Israel's fall to Assyria, and ends with the prophet Hosea. One aspect to this curriculum that is completely different is its focus on the prophets of the Old Testament. I was genuinely surprised at how much my children learned about each prophet and how different they all were. Mrs. Hobar seamlessly weaves this information into the lessons and by the end of the course I found my children could tell me more about the prophets than I remembered myself! I loved that she focused on this aspect of the Bible.

Disc four begins with Hezekiah and Sennacherib, and we are introduced to the Ancient American Indians. The Rise of Athens and Sparta occurs at this time and we run through more prophets, the powers of Mesopotamia, Nineveh's destruction, the Babylonian captivity, Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel, Aesop's Fables, and we end with Ezekiel. Disc five introduces us to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, Buddha, Pythagoras and the Temple of Diana, Confucius, the Roman Republic, Esther, the Golden Age of Athens, Socrates, and ends with Hippocrates and the State of Zeus.

In disc six we learn about Ezra and Artaxerxes, the Peloponnesian Wars, Malachi, Plato and Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Archimedes, Emperor Asoka of India, the Septuagint, the Qin Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty. Disc seven starts with the Maccabean Revolt, Spartacus, the First Triumvirate of Rome, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Herod the Great, and ends with The Battle of Actium. The final disc eight is one of the most powerful of all. Augustus Caesar and the Roman Empire begin this one and we learn of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ and His virgin birth, His teachings and Miracles, Tiberius, Pilate and Herod, the Twelve Disciples of Christ, Jesus' suffering and death on the cross and His amazing resurrection. She ends this CD with Jesus, The Mystery of History. I was moved to tears by this portion of Volume I. Jesus is why we move and why we exist and she so beautifully expresses this!

The Mystery of History, Volume I CD Set is really unlike any other history program available. The focus on Scripture as God-breathed, inspired truth is unmatched, and I appreciated so much her deep and abiding faith expressed throughout the book. I felt we were better able to understand our biblical fore fathers and mothers because we had the context for their lives. Her ability to tell us the story of history, in effect to tell us God's story, in chronological order, with the truth of Scripture woven into the secular, makes it invaluable.

Product review by Kate Kessler, Product Reviews Manager, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, February, 2009