To America, Stephen E. Ambrose
To America, Stephen E. Ambrose
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To America
Personal Reflections of an Historian

Author: Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrator: Jeffrey DeMunn

Abridged: 4 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/01/2002


Synopsis

Completed shortly before Ambrose's untimely death, To America is a very personal look at our nation's history through the eyes of one of the twentieth century's most influential historians.

Ambrose roams the country's history, praising the men and women who made it exceptional. He considers Jefferson and Washington, who were progressive thinkers (while living a contradiction as slaveholders), and celebrates Lincoln and Roosevelt. He recounts Andrew Jackson's stunning defeat of a superior British force in the battle of New Orleans with a ragtag army in the War of 1812. He brings to life Lewis and Clark's grueling journey across the wilderness and the building of the railroad that joined the nation coast to coast. Taking swings at political correctness, as well as his own early biases, Ambrose grapples with the country's historic sins of racism; its ill treatment of Native Americans; and its tragic errors such as the war in Vietnam, which he ardently opposed. He contrasts the modern presidencies of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, and Johnson. He considers women's and civil rights, immigration, philanthropy, and nation building. Most powerfully, in this final volume, Ambrose offers an accolade to the historian's mighty calling.

About Stephen E. Ambrose

Stephen E. Ambrose was a renowned historian and acclaimed author of more than thirty books. Among his New York Times bestsellers are Nothing Like It in the World, Citizen Soldiers, Band of Brothers, D-Day - June 6, 1944, and Undaunted Courage. Dr. Ambrose was a retired Boyd Professor of History at the University of New Orleans and a contributing editor for the Quarterly Journal of Military History.


Reviews

Goodreads review by David on October 29, 2018

I recently had the pleasure of visiting my good friend, and Goodreads friend, Graeme Roberts, who was kind enough to give me a copy of this book, along with his personal inscription, as a remembrance. I don't know how it came about that I had never read any of Stephen Ambrose's work, but I very much......more

Goodreads review by Steve on September 10, 2015

An amazing book! A personal reflection on American history from a leading US Historian. Goes into showing the American spirit and what made this country great. Lewis and Clarke's expedition, manifest destiny, and the war of 1812 are just some points. Stephen Ambrose seamlessly blends historical fact......more

Goodreads review by Ralph on February 14, 2014

For fans of the late historian (Ambrose died in 2002) this book is something of a treat as it tells how he became an historian (he was a pre-med student initially), how he got into the writing game, and the stories behind all the books he had written. Throughout the book there is always a theme of t......more

Goodreads review by Gregg on April 20, 2009

Stephen Ambrose gives some overall thoughts on what America actually is, using his decades of scholarship, study and writing to back himself up. He defends several critiques of American history: the bombing of Japan in WWII, for example, or the myth of Native American harmony with nature. He speaks......more

Goodreads review by Skyring on June 11, 2011

I downloaded this on Audible before I left, and listened to it through Iowa and Missouri, running down through Hannibal to St Louis. Finished it when I got back home. I really enjoyed Ambrose's insights into and knowledge of some of the great people and events of American history. And I learnt a lot.......more