this is a great book -- super enlightening. (unfortunately it is not available in audio-book so i read this one)
A World Lit Only by Fire : The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance - Portrait of an Age by William Manchester
this book (which was referred to me by Ian Shea) is about the history of how the Middle Ages transformed into the Renaissance. this is a must read for anyone in the innovation business ... anyone that wants to understand the spread of technology and how it might impact the world.
the book starts first by describing the Middle Ages -- a ghastly time to be alive. Manchester writes in great detail but also tells great stories of what it was like for the average person (not fun!). what is amazing that over 1000 years, very little changed. more changes now in a decade then changed then in a millennium.
then the book talks about the church and the excesses of the papacy at the time. it then talks large about the transformation to the Renaissance, Martin Luther, and a long overview of exploration and Magellan.
Summation: this is a short but excellent read. definitely should be required for any high tech entrepreneur or venture capitalist.