Download Best Sellers Audiobooks in History, American

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Title: The Death and Life of Monterey Bay

Subtitle: A Story of Revival

Author: Stephen R. Palumbi, Carolyn Sotka

Narrator: John Gregory St. John

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Anyone who has ever stood on the shores of Monterey Bay, watching the rolling ocean waves and frolicking otters, knows it is a unique place. But even residents on this idyllic California coast may not realize its full history.

Monterey began as a natural paradise, but became the poster child for industrial devastation in John Steinbeck's Cannery Row, and is now one of the most celebrated shorelines in the world. It is a remarkable story of life, death, and revival - told here for the first time in all its stunning color and bleak grays.

The Death and Life of Monterey Bay begins in the eighteenth century when Spanish and French explorers encountered a rocky shoreline brimming with life - raucous sea birds, abundant sea otters, barking sea lions, halibut the size of wagon wheels, waters thick with whales. A century and a half later, many of the sea creatures had disappeared, replaced by sardine canneries that sickened residents with their stench but kept the money flowing.

When the fish ran out and the climate turned, the factories emptied and the community crumbled. But today, both Monterey's economy and wildlife are resplendent. How did it happen? The answer is deceptively simple: through the extraordinary acts of ordinary people.

The Death and Life of Monterey Bay is the biography of a place, but also of the residents who reclaimed it. Monterey is thriving because of an eccentric mayor who wasn't afraid to use pistols, axes, or the force of law to protect her coasts. It is because of fishermen who love their livelihood, scientists who are fascinated by the sea's mysteries, and philanthropists and community leaders willing to invest in a world-class aquarium. The shores of Monterey Bay revived because of human passion - passion that enlivens every page of this hopeful book.

Editorial Reviews:

In this audiobook, Monterey Bay's complex history is laid out with loving and thoughtful detail. Narrator John Gregory St. John vividly expresses all the colors and shades of the tumultuous changes that this once-beleaguered area has experienced, from its beginnings as an idyllic paradise to its decline from industrialization and finally, to its revitalization thanks to the untiring efforts of ordinary people. Listeners will find it easy to imagine scenes of both natural beauty and environmental devastation with St. John's performance, which has the right balance of nostalgia and clarity.

Members Reviews:

Great Read

A wonderful, informative, and even fun read. Explores the comeback of the life of the Bay as well as the colorful characters of the times. Steinbeck, etc.

If you love Monterey Bay ......

A passionate and carefully researched history that reads like an exciting story of a place that so many of us love. Especially appreciated learning more about key local people in the 20th and 21st centuries who devoted themselves to restoring the bay after many years of abuse.

A solid tale of decline and rebirth of one of Earth's natural wonders

First of all, you need to know that I am a sucker for just about anything having to do with the sea in general, and of Monterey Bay in particular.

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Title: Old Man River

Subtitle: The Mississippi River in North American History

Author: Paul Schneider

Narrator: Alan Sklar

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-14-13

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

In Old Man River, Paul Schneider tells the story of the river at the center of America's rich history - the Mississippi. Some fifteen thousand years ago, the majestic river provided Paleolithic humans with the routes by which early man began to explore the continent's interior. Since then, the river has been the site of historical significance, from the arrival of Spanish and French explorers in the 16th century to the Civil War. George Washington fought his first battle near the river, and Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman both came to President Lincoln's attention after their spectacular victories on the lower Mississippi.

In the 19th century, home-grown folk heroes such as Daniel Boone and the half-alligator, half-horse, Mike Fink, were creatures of the river. Mark Twain and Herman Melville led their characters down its stream in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Confidence-Man. A conduit of real-life American prowess, the Mississippi is also a river of stories and myth.

Schneider traces the history of the Mississippi from its origins in the deep geologic past to the present. Though the busiest waterway on the planet today, the Mississippi remains a paradox-a devastated product of American ingenuity, and a magnificent natural wonder.

Critic Reviews:

"With such an expert hand on the tiller, Old Man River is an astonishing journey." (

Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Members Reviews:

History, eloquence, and wit...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a beautifully written and narrated history of the American continent told through the history of the Mississippi river basin. I am frequently overcome by Mr. Schneider's visual imagery, especially as narrated by Alan Sklar. I wanted to be in my own kayak, navigating the "Old Man River", viewing the history, both ancient and modern, as related and elaborated upon, by him. I could see the murky swirls in the river's eddys. I could feel the river mud seeping between my barefoot toes as I dragged them, Huck Finn style, along the banks. The fireflies of Natchez and the sweet smell of decaying plant life in the marshes.

Mr. Schneider's dry wit decorates this eloquent narrative throughout, frequently bringing half-smiles to my lips.

Any additional comments?

A truly enjoyable listen. I would recommend this for your next road trip, or lazy day.

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Title: American Rifle

Subtitle: A Biography

Author: Alexander Rose

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-10-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 72 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

George Washington insisted that his portrait be painted with one. Daniel Boone created a legend with one. Abraham Lincoln shot them on the White House lawn. And Teddy Roosevelt had his specially customized. Now, in this first-of-its-kind audiobook, historian Alexander Rose delivers a colorful, engrossing biography of an American icon: the rifle.

Drawing on the words of soldiers, inventors, and presidents, based on extensive new research, and encompassing the Revolution to the present day, American Rifle is a balanced, wonderfully entertaining history of this most essential firearm and its place in American culture. In the eighteenth century American soldiers discovered that they no longer had to fight in Europe's time-honored way. With the evolution of the famed "Kentucky" Rifle - a weapon slow to load but devastatingly accurate in the hands of a master - a new era of warfare dawned, heralding the birth of the American individualist in battle.

In this spirited narrative, Alexander Rose reveals the hidden connections between the rifle's development and our nation's history. We witness the high-stakes international competition to produce the most potent gunpowderhow the mysterious arts of metallurgy, gunsmithing, and mass production played vital roles in the creation of American economic supremacyand the ways in which bitter infighting between rival arms makers shaped diplomacy and influenced the most momentous decisions in American history. And we learn why advances in rifle technology and ammunition triggered revolutions in military tactics, how ballistics tests - frequently bizarre - were secretly conducted, and which firearms determined the course of entire wars. From physics to geopolitics, from frontiersmen to the birth of the National Rifle Association, from the battles of the Revolution to the war in Iraq, American Rifle is a must listen for history buffs, gun collectors, soldiers - and anyone who seeks to understand the dynamic relationship between the rifle and this nation's history.

Members Reviews:

A Nation of Riflemen

What did you love best about American Rifle?

Completeness of information, especially some of the political manuvering between factions in the military and civilian government in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The 1903 Springfield!

What about Joe Barretts performance did you like?

Easy to listen to.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It just made me smile.

Any additional comments?

Overall, a thorough presentation of the rifle and especially its significance in the development of America. I have been an amateur scholar of American military firearms for decades. The information presented here added to my knowledge.

A Lot of History that You Haven't Heard Yet

The good aspect of books that go several levels deeper than cursory introductory histories of the usual events and people is that they are guaranteed to present a lot of history and detail that the average person will not have known about (which is a good thing).

Sighting in American history through its firearms.

Would you listen to American Rifle again? Why?

From the Kentucky rifle to the M-16, one gets a clearer picture of how firearms development helped America gain its independence, grow as a nation and become a world power. For much of United States history, civilians were better armed than our government's forces.

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Title: The Poison Patriarch

Subtitle: How the Betrayals of Joseph P. Kennedy Caused the Assassination of JFK

Author: Mark Shaw

Narrator: Pat Kiernan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-08-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Focusing for the first time on why attorney general Robert F. Kennedy wasnt killed in 1963 instead of on why President John F. Kennedy was, Mark Shaw offers a stunning and provocative assassination theory that leads directly to the family patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy. Mining fresh information and more than 40 new interviews, Shaw weaves a spellbinding narrative involving Mafia don Carlos Marcello; Jack Ruby (Lee Harvey Oswalds killer); Rubys attorney, Melvin Belli; and, ultimately, the Kennedy brothers and their father.

Shaw addresses these tantalizing questions: Why, shortly after his brothers death, did a grief-stricken RFK tell a colleague, "I thought they would get one of us...I thought it would be me"? Why was Belli, an attorney with almost no defense experience (but proven ties to the Mafia), chosen as Jack Rubys attorney? How does Bellis Mafia connection call into question his legal strategy, which ultimately led to the Rubys first-degree murder conviction and death sentence? What was Joseph Kennedys relationship to organized crime? And how was his insistence that JFK appoint RFK as attorney general tantamount to signing the presidents death warrant?

For 50 years, Shaw maintains, researchers investigating the presidents murder in Dallas have been looking at the wrong motives and actors. The Poison Patriarch offers a shocking reassessment - one that is sure to alter the course of future assassination debates.

Editorial Reviews:

Mark Shaw adds another twist into the ongoing conspiracy theories surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy, using 40 new interviews and extensive research to implicate Kennedy's father, Joseph. Shaw's argument centers on how the elder Kennedy's mob ties - as well as those of Melvin Belli, the novice attorney of Jack Ruby, Lee Harvey Oswald's killer - led to JFK's assassination in an attempt to destroy his Robert's efforts to end organized crime. Pat Kiernan performs with a staccato rhythm that gives Shaw's information a shocking power, and his forceful presence makes these assertions commanding and provocative.

Members Reviews:

Essential reading

Anyone piecing the Kennedy assassination together must include this among their books. Otherwise, you are wasting time trying to figure out what happened.

An excellent, fresh look at JFK's assassination and the massive cover-up that followed.

A very good summary of relevant JFK assassination information with an excellent analysis of Jack Ruby's lawyer's role and mob connections. The connection to Joseph P Kennedy isn't quite as strong; but it is clear that the Kennedy father created the environment that JFK learned to live in. This enabled JFK to live with many mob connections and to satisfy his sex addiction. This author gives fresh insight into the assassination and to the massive cover-up that followed.

Joe Kennedy Sr's Tangled Web

The Poison Patriarch is yet another wonderful book for those interested in the whole JFK assassination rabbit hole. Mark Shaw's writing is no snooze-fest, I pretty much carried the book with me til I finished reading it. The author theorizes that Joe Kennedy Sr.'s relationship with organized crime--gaining millions from bootlegging only to double-cross the Mafia later, & Joe's forcing his son John to appoint brother Bobby as Atty.

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Title: JFK: The Smoking Gun

Author: Colin McLaren

Narrator: Grant Cartwright

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-01-13

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

On November 22, 1963, the 35th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and his wife Jackie were taking part in a presidential motorcade through Dallas. Thousands lined the streets cheering; others hung out of windows to catch a glimpse of the much-loved First Lady and President.

Suddenly, the unthinkable happened. Three shots rang out. In front of the world, John F. Kennedy was fatally wounded. Lee Harvey Oswald was caught. But did he pull the trigger? Who really killed JFK? Fifty years after the tragic events in Dallas, JFK: The Smoking Gun solves the ultimate cold case. With the forensic eye of a highly regarded ex-cop, Colin McLaren has gathered the evidence, studied 10,000 pages of transcripts, and found the witnesses the Warren Commission failed to call, and the exhibits and testimonies that were hidden - until now.

JFK: The Smoking Gun proves, once and for all, who killed the President. And the answer is far more shocking than any fanciful conspiracy could ever be.

Members Reviews:

Complete Trash

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I suppose anyone who still believes in the Warren Commission...and the tooth fairy might enjoy this.

What could Colin McLaren have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Research into the facts of the case and not omitting anything that didn't fit into his preconceived notions.

What aspect of Grant Cartwrights performance would you have changed?

Nothing...the reading was fine.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger that this type of crap is still being spewed on the public. Sadness that I didn't research the book more before buying it.

Any additional comments?

DO NOT BUY! If you want a good JFK assassination audio book, try "Hear No Evil" by Donald Byron Thomas or "Accessories After the Fact" by Sylvia Meagher --neither of which come up when you search "JFK" on the Audible site, by the way!

Riveting facts & FBI intrusion compelling.!!!!

A page turner, believable facts. The confusing death of JFK makes sense.

Shame on you FBI & others who took part in covering up the truth. It's about saving face at the expense of of others.

Great Premise Not Sure it Rocks!

Would you consider the audio edition of JFK: The Smoking Gun to be better than the print version?

Never read the print version, but the audio version is very good and very well narrated.

What did you like best about this story?

I think the expectation was the best part...that we're all about to learn something genuinely NEW in the JFK assassination.

What does Grant Cartwright bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

His narration allows the book to play out like a cinema on the screen of one's mind. The basis of great narration is that one forgets they are being "told" the story...this is great narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes indeed it was!

Any additional comments?

I really LIKE the premise for this book, and in light of recent Secret Service scandals it certainly seems plausible. The evidence about minute bullet fragments seen on X-ray in the President's brain was quite convincing, though I'm not prepared to accept Oswald as a truly lone, unbacked, non-affiliated "gunman" as the author suggests.

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Title: Saving the Farm

Subtitle: A Journey Through Time, Place, and Redemption

Author: James T. Powers

Narrator: Frank Clem

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-15-13

Publisher: Homebound Publications

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Located on ten acres of woods and meadows at the intersection of two busy state roads, the Dudley Farm at first glance looks like many other surviving New England farms from the 19th century. But, with a second look, it becomes obvious there is a difference.

Sitting on a slight hill above the road, with its picket fence and stone walls, the farm calls the passerby. The regal house and weathered barn have a bearing of permanence and strength as they cling to the land like the Yankee farmers who built them. Saving the Farm; A Journey through Time, Place, and Redemption is the story of how the Dudley Farm became a museum to preserve and represent a vanishing past.

By itself, that story may not be of any great importance, but at a time when local farms are all but gone, the struggle to save the farm for future generations took on a crusade like quality for the small group that took on the task and the hundreds who supported their effort.

Faced with unrelenting residential and commercial development, a lament repeated in neighborhoods across New England was heard in the small community of North Guilford - is this what we want? Can we preserve the history and heritage that made us who we are or will it be lost forever in the name of progress?

Members Reviews:

Highly recommended, especially if you like New England history

A very interesting and enjoyable read. Through a fascinating and meticulous research of one farm's history, Mr. Powers reveals the spirit past of New England essence. This book will allow future generations to come to know its soul.

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Title: Lincoln's Little Girl

Author: Cecelia Holland

Narrator: Lisa Baney

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-02-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

"I wish I had a little girl like you, Julie," Mary Todd Lincoln often told Julie Taft, and for the first year of the Lincoln presidency, 16-year-old Julie had the run of the White House, befriending the First Lady, playing with the Lincoln boys, and sharing priceless moments with Lincoln himself, which she noted down in her diary. An intimate portrait of the Lincoln family, as only a child could see them, through the first, fateful, tragic year of the Civil War.

Editorial Reviews:

As a member of Abraham Lincoln's inner circle during the early years of his presidency, young Julia Taft had unique access to the 16th president's household. She recorded her impressions for posterity in her memoirs, observations now brought to life in author Cecelia Holland's short tale. Performer Lisa Baney does an excellent Southern drawl, and her impression of a busy, gruff Lincoln (who nevertheless loved his two sons more than anything in the world) is memorable. Lincoln's Little Girl offers a glimpse into an intimate side of Lincoln that we rarely get to see, and is sure to be a treat for Lincoln's many admirers.

Members Reviews:

Engrossing.

Would you listen to Lincoln's Little Girl again? Why?

I might, even though I am not much of a relistener. The story was compelling and really took me back to 1861 and pre-Civil War Washington.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Oddly enough, Tad Lincoln. I knew he was more boisterous than his little brother Willie, but if Julia is to be believed (and I think she is), he was really quite the little rabblerouser. I also was drawn to Julia, of course, because she was torn between her own proper home and the White House where, for children, anything went.

What about Lisa Baneys performance did you like?

Her voice was perfect, and her inflections for the characters were spot-on.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Willie's death, of course, was one such moment, but even more, when the Tafts were banned from the White House because of Mary. I felt for Julia -- the loss must have been immeasurable.

Any additional comments?

A brief book that I wished would have been longer.

Brief, beautiful, gives depth to Mary Todd Lincoln

If you could sum up Lincoln's Little Girl in three words, what would they be?

Narration made this beautiful story even better. Great description of Washington before the Civil War! Gave depth to Mary Todd Lincoln and her eventual decline of mental health.

What about Lisa Baneys performance did you like?

Bright, animated.

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Title: The Black Russian

Author: Vladimir Alexandrov

Narrator: Peter Marinker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-31-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

The Black Russian is the incredible story of Frederick Bruce Thomas, born in 1872 to former slaves who became prosperous farmers in Mississippi. A rich white planters attempt to steal their land forced them to flee to Memphis, where Fredericks father was brutally murdered. After leaving the South and working as a waiter and valet in Chicago and Brooklyn, Frederick sought greater freedom in London, then crisscrossed Europe, and - in a highly unusual choice for a black American at the time - went to Russia in 1899. Because he found no color line there, Frederick made Moscow his home. He renamed himself Fyodor Fyodorovich Tomas, married twice, acquired a mistress, and took Russian citizenship. Through his hard work, charm, and guile he became one of the citys richest and most famous owners of variety theaters and restaurants. But the Bolshevik Revolution ruined him, and he barely escaped with his life and family to Constantinople in 1919. Starting from scratch, he made a second fortune by opening celebrated nightclubs that introduced jazz to Turkey. However, the long arm of American racism, the xenophobia of the new Turkish Republic, and Fredericks own extravagance landed him in debtors prison. He died in Constantinople in 1928.

Critic Reviews:

"Peter Marinker's narration of how the restaurant and nightclub entrepreneur gained and lost fortunes sounds like a novel. Gripping from the start, Thomas's story is told from a the viewpoints of tourists, government officials, and Thomas himself--as well as through published reports. Marinker's voice proves flexible as he conveys the attitudes of bureaucrats, condescending American tourists, Thomas's friends and loyal employees, and Thomas's correspondence. Vladimir Alexandrov gives listeners a short course in the racial attitudes and changing politics of Russia and Turkey during this time period." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

An incredible story.

Fantastic! Excellent narration, too. Treat yourself to a truly unique story about a past era.

US Born African Descendant 2 Russian Citizenship

Genealogy & Historian will LOVE this Story. It is a detailed account of his escape & transition into freedom & independence....and so it is.

Little known part of Russian history

What made the experience of listening to The Black Russian the most enjoyable?

A surprising story. I know a lot about Russian history, but the story of an African-American's success in per-revolutionary Russia is unexpected.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Sad, but somehow not surprising.

What three words best describe Peter Marinkers performance?

Competent, easy-to-listen-to, adequate pronunciation of Russian.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A Black American Entrepreneur in Russia

uhmmm

This book was okay not the best ive heard but it brought to life the idea of a black man not being bound to the US.

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Title: The New York Times: Disunion

Subtitle: Modern Historians Revisit and Reconsider the Civil War from Lincoln's Election to the Emancipation Proclamation

Author: Ted Widmer (editor)

Narrator: Jennifer Van Dyck, Mark Boyett, Kevin Pariseau

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-01-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 87 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

A major new collection of modern commentary - from scholars, historians, and Civil War buffs - on the significant events of the Civil War, culled from The New York Times' popular Disunion online journal.

Since its debut on November 6, 2010, Disunion, The New York Times' acclaimed journal about the Civil War, has published hundreds of original articles and won multiple awards, including "Best History Website" from the New Media Institute and the History News Network. Following the chronology of the secession crisis and the Civil War, the contributors to Disunion, who include modern scholars, journalists, historians, and Civil War buffs, offer ongoing daily commentary and assessment of the Civil War as it unfolded.

Now, for the first time, this fascinating and historically significant commentary has been gathered together and organized in one volume. In The New York Times: Disunion, historian Ted Widmer has selected more than 100 articles that cover events beginning with Lincoln's presidential victory through the Emancipation Proclamation. Topics include everything from Walt Whitman's wartime diary to the bloody guerrilla campaigns in Missouri and Kansas. Esteemed contributors include William Freehling, Adam Goodheart, and Edward Ayers, among others.

The book also compiles new essays that have not been published on the Disunion site, by contributors and well-known historians such as David Blight, Gary Gallagher, and Drew Gilpin Faust. Topics include the perspective of African-American slaves and freed men on the war, the secession crisis in the Upper South, the war in the West (that is, past the Appalachians), the war in Texas, the international context, and Civil War-era cartography.

Members Reviews:

Excellent audiobook! Love this format!

Enthralling collection of essays about the US Civil War. Lots of little known facts, and fresh look at all aspects of the controversy.

Incredibly entertaining. Expertly narrated!

Definitely don't pass this one up!

One of the Civil War books you MUST read

A collection of over 100 short essays on very specific topics. ...excellent! a must !

loved it

had a hard time hearing the female narrator but otherwise great it was very entertaining

The Details of History

Would you listen to The New York Times: Disunion again? Why?

To review and retain more of the details about the events leading up to the Civil War.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The book is a collection of historical essays. I don't know that I could pick a favorite character.

Which scene was your favorite?

As this is a collection of short stories and essays, I don't have a favorite scene.

Any additional comments?

The New York Times has brought dozens of the critical details about the Civil War through different authors and in so doing has brought a clearer understanding about the events, ideas and the various causes to the war. Some are better told than others, but what strikes me is that each reader will probably like different parts depending on personal preferences about what kinds of trivia interest him or her the most.

Disunion Review

Excellent written account of many historic issues not covered in many Civil War books I have read to date.

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Title: Surgeon in Blue

Subtitle: Jonathan Letterman, the Civil War Doctor Who Pioneered Battlefield Care

Author: Scott McGaugh

Narrator: Kyle Munley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-01-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

The first full-length biography of the Civil War surgeon who, over the course of the wars bloodiest battles - from Antietam to Gettysburg - redefined military medicine.

Jonathan Letterman was an outpost medical officer serving in Indian country in the years before the Civil War, responsible for the care of just hundreds of men. But when he was appointed the chief medical officer for the Army of the Potomac, he revolutionized combat medicine over the course of four major battles - Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg - that produced unprecedented numbers of casualties. He made battlefield survival possible by creating the first organized ambulance corps and a more effective field hospital system. He imposed medical professionalism on a chaotic battlefield. Where before 20 percent of the men were unfit to fight because of disease, squalid conditions, and poor nutrition, he improved health and combat readiness by pioneering hygiene and diet standards. Based on original research, and with stirring accounts of battle and the struggle to invent and supply adequate care during impossible conditions, this new biography recounts Lettermans life from his small-town Pennsylvania beginnings to his trailblazing wartime years and his subsequent life as a wildcatter and the medical examiner of San Francisco. At last, here is the missing portrait of a key figure of Civil War history and military medicine. His principles of battlefield care continue to be taught to military commanders and first responders.

Editorial Reviews:

Listeners will feel like curling up in a comfortable armchair for narrator Kyle Munley's even-toned performance of Civil War surgeon Jonathan Letterman's biography. Letterman revolutionized combat medicine, making battlefield survival possible by creating a more effective field hospital system, improving hygiene standards, and imposing medical professionalism on a chaotic battlefield. Munley depicts battlefield scenes with a gravity that underscores their horrific conditions, and his consistent, measured cadence makes this blend of Letterman's personal history and the examination of Civil War-era medical practices accessible to all.

Members Reviews:

Maybe it reads better than the audio version.

I had this title in my queue for quite a while, finally getting around to it this week. I was really hoping for some gripping battlefield triage stories, and some detail on what the day-to-day rigor would be for (Letterman) or any surgeon for that matter. Unfortunately, the author never really takes you there. It seems (to me), he spends a painful amount of time telling back stories and anecdotal sidebars about several people/soldiers associated with the Letterman that he gets sidetracked and thus loses me nearly every chapter.

Many of the historical notes he mentions regarding the battles, and leaders (even though he clearly warns readers in the preface that the book will NOT be about battles and leaders) I and the average Civil War amateur will already know.