Download Best Sellers Audiobooks in History, American

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Title: Macarthur's War

Subtitle: The Flawed Genius Who Challenged the American Political System

Author: Bevin Alexander

Narrator: Sean Runnette

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-07-13

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Douglas MacArthur famously said there is no substitute for victory...

As a United States general, he had an unparalleled genius for military strategy, and it was under his leadership that Japan was rebuilt into a democratic ally after World War II. But MacArthur carried out his zero-sum philosophy both on and off the battlefield. During the Korean War, in defiance of President Harry S. Truman and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he pushed for an aggressive confrontation with Communist China - a position intended to provoke a wider war, regardless of the cost or consequences. MacArthur's ambition to stamp out Communism across the globe was in direct opposition to President Truman, who was much more concerned with containing the Soviet Union than confronting Red China. The infamous clash between the two leaders was not only an epic turning point in history, but the ultimate struggle between civil and military power in the United States. While other U.S. generals have challenged presidential authority-from Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War and George B. McClellan in the Civil War to General Stanley A. McChrystal in Afghanistan-no other military leader has ever so brazenly attempted to dictate national policy. In MacArthur's War, Bevin Alexander details MacArthur's military and political battles, from the alliances he made with Republican leaders to the threatening ultimatum he delivered to China against orders - the action that directly led to his dismissal on April 11, 1951.

Critic Reviews:

"Bevin Alexander's Macarthur's War is a superbly written, blow-by-blow account of the most controversial civil-military clash in American history." (Colonel Jerry D. Morelock, Ph.D., U.S. Army [ret])

Members Reviews:

The Tragic Story of "the forgotten war".

Bevin Alexander has written a comprehensive, well researched, objective and highly interesting narrative history of the Korean War. He levels devastating criticism to all of the major players and their unconscionable lack of the most elemental foresight and understanding that could have averted war and the disastrous consequences that decimated millions of combatants and civilians and continues to plaque the world today. Sean Runnettes excellent narration is perfectly in sync with Alexanders clear and concise writing.

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Title: A Disease in the Public Mind

Subtitle: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War

Author: Thomas Fleming

Narrator: William Hughes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-07-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 48 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

By the time his body hung from the gallows for his crimes at Harpers Ferry, abolitionists had made John Brown a "holy martyr" in the fight against Southern slave owners. But Northern hatred for Southerners had been long in the making. Northern rage was born of the conviction that New England, whose spokesmen and militia had begun the American Revolution, should have been the leader of the new nation. Instead, they had been displaced by Southern "slavocrats" like Thomas Jefferson. And Northern envy only exacerbated the Souths greatest fear: race war. In the 60 years preceding the outbreak of civil war, Northern and Southern fanatics ramped up the struggle over slavery. By the time they had become intractable enemies, only the tragedy of a bloody civil war could save the Union.

In this riveting and character-driven history, one of Americas most respected historians traces the "disease in the public mind" - distortions of reality that seized large numbers of Americans - in the decades-long run-up to the Civil War.

Critic Reviews:

"The prolific Fleming, for decades a fixture among American historians, pinpoints public opinion as the proximate origin of the war. Making a plausible presentation of antebellum attitudes and illusions, Fleming is sure to spark lively discussion about the Civil War." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Relveant

What made the experience of listening to A Disease in the Public Mind the most enjoyable?

Well written history, told in a narrative form that is both insightful and interesting.

What did you like best about this story?

The context of the era helps to understand how the Civil War started and why it continued. A devastating series of events that we should be mindful of today.

Have you listened to any of William Hughess other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not.

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

It was a very thoughtful and sober analysis of the darkest period in our nations history.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this to anyone who was to understand the history of the US.

Refreshing and challenging

What did you love best about A Disease in the Public Mind?

The reevaluation of Colonial thru Civil War history can never be over mined. Thomas Fleming deserves props for this refreshing examination of what was going on in America in regards to slavery. Many questions we face today including the politics of race are embedded in the discussion from this earlier period.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Thomas Jefferson was a compelling figure. A genuinely twisted individual.

Which scene was your favorite?

The Haitian uprising and America's near hysterical silence on the matter.

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

Truly moment after moment the story was compelling. Reading about men moved from the colonial period to end slavery, and the end of slavery in the north. I was also surprised at how much history is neglected and forgotten in the modern narrative.

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Title: Beyond Borders

Subtitle: A History of Mexican Migration to the United States

Author: Timothy J. Henderson

Narrator: David Doersch

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-13-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Beyond Borders: A History of Mexican Migration to the United States details the origins and evolution of the movement of people from Mexico into the United States from the first significant flow across the border at the turn of the 20th century up to the present day.

Members Reviews:

great summary and analysis

Would you listen to Beyond Borders again? Why?

I listened to this book three times because it was so full of information that I wanted to absorb

Have you listened to any of David Doerschs other performances before? How does this one compare?

His voice was very easy to listen to -

Any additional comments?

nice work

Great book! eye opening & powerful. A must listen.

this book explains a lot. you can tell the author did his home work! 5 stars.

Necessary

A well written, interesting writing on a history that is absolutely essential to fully understand the issues surrounding immigration.

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Title: Landmark Decisions of the Supreme Court

Subtitle: Select Cases Pertaining to Abortion, Birth Control, and Reproductive Rights

Author: Open Book Audio

Narrator: Christopher Lee Philips, Kim Tuvin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 11-20-12

Publisher: Open Book Audio

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Landmark Decisions of the Supreme Court: Select Cases Pertaining to Abortion, Birth Control, and Reproductive Rights contains a fully narrated audio edition of five landmark Supreme Court cases, including Griswold v. Connecticut [1965], United States v. Vuitch [1971], Eisenstadt v. Baird [1972], Roe v. Wade [1973], and the companion case to Roe, Doe v. Bolton [1973]. The text for this audio edition is derived from the United States Reports, published by the United States Government Printing Office.

Listeners please note: while every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of this audio edition, it should not be considered authoritative, nor should it be cited in legal proceedings. Only the printed, bound volumes of the United States Reports, published by the United States Government Printing Office, contain the full, final, and official record of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Members Reviews:

Very poor presentation of otherwise great content

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

returning the book as the presentation was so bad. The authors/editors should summarize and really improve on the quality of the presentation. It looked like the book was read by a robot

Who was your favorite character and why?

returning the book as the presentation was so bad. The authors/editors should summarize and really improve on the quality of the presentation. It looked like the book was read by a robot

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Christopher Lee Philips and Kim Tuvin ?

returning the book as the presentation was so bad. The authors/editors should summarize and really improve on the quality of the presentation. It looked like the book was read by a robot

What character would you cut from Landmark Decisions of the Supreme Court?

returning the book as the presentation was so bad. The authors/editors should summarize and really improve on the quality of the presentation. It looked like the book was read by a robot

Any additional comments?

returning the book as the presentation was so bad. The authors/editors should summarize and really improve on the quality of the presentation. It looked like the book was read by a robot

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Title: The Great Earthquake and Firestorms of 1906

Subtitle: How San Francisco Nearly Destroyed Itself

Author: Philip L. Fradkin

Narrator: Arthur Morey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-08-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

The first indication of the prolonged terror that followed the 1906 earthquake occurred when a ship steaming off San Francisco's Golden Gate "seemed to jump clear out of the water". This gripping account of the earthquake, the devastating firestorms that followed, and the city's subsequent reconstruction vividly shows how, after the shaking stopped, humans, not the forces of nature, nearly destroyed San Francisco in a remarkable display of simple ineptitude and power politics. Bolstered by previously unpublished eyewitness accounts and photographs, this definitive history of a fascinating city caught in the grip of the country's greatest urban disaster will forever change conventional understanding of an event one historian called "the very epitome of bigness".

Philip Fradkin takes us onto the city's ruptured streets and into its exclusive clubs, teeming hospitals and refugee camps, and its Chinatown. He introduces the people - both famous and infamous - who experienced these events, such as Jack and Charmian London, Enrico Caruso, James Phelan, and Abraham Ruef. He traces the horrifying results of the mayor's illegal order to shoot-to-kill anyone suspected of a crime, and he uncovers the ugliness of racism that almost led to war with Japan. He reveals how an elite oligarchy failed to serve the needs of ordinary people, the heroic efforts of obscure citizens, the long-lasting psychological effects, and how all these events ushered in a period of unparalleled civic upheaval.

This compelling look at how people and institutions function in great catastrophes demonstrates just how deeply earthquake, fires, hurricanes, floods, wars, droughts, or acts of terrorism can shape us.

Members Reviews:

whoa! tons of info; amazingly detailed

a d d d DD d d DD d DD DD d d DD d deficiencies sensuous beneficial hdn

Chaos, Not the Earthquake, Destroyed San Francisco

This is the thrilling account of the 1906 Earthquake in San Francisco that literally set the whole town on fire. Author Philip Fradkin argues that most of the damage was done by people in chaos, not by the earthquake itself. This book uncovers all the things I didn't learn in 4th grade.

Told in a "you're there as it happens" narration, the stories of the depraved things people did to each other wouldn't seem out of place on AMC's The Walking Dead.

Slightly too much information

I liked the book because it delves into the facts and stories of the 1906 natural disaster but the author presents more information than is necessary to make his point. This causes the book to falter at several points.

He does a good job of going back to original source material and eyewitness accounts to paint a vivid picture of the earthquake and firestorm. However, when talking about how inept use of dynamite made the fires worse he goes on for page after page describing how this building at this intersection was demolished on Thursday at 9:30 AM and then another building at another address was blown up at 12:45...There are other areas where the details become similarly tedious. For example, he goes into great detail about a corruption trial that involved several key city leader but had little effect on "how SF nearly destroyed itself."

The information is well researched and I suspect even a native SF reader will find surprises.

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Title: Undefeated

Subtitle: America's Heroic Fight for Bataan and Corregidor

Author: Bill Sloan

Narrator: Michael Prichard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-24-12

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Called a master of the combat narrative (The Dallas Morning News), author Bill Sloan captures the valor, fortitude, and suffering of the American defenders of the Philippines as no other author has.

Abandoned by their government, the men and women of the American garrison struggled against impossible military odds, rampant disease, and slow starvation to delay inevitable surrender by the largest American military force ever. Rather than picturing these defenders as little more than helpless victims of an overwhelmingly powerful and sadistic enemy-as most previous books about the Philippines campaign have done-Undefeated credits American troops with the unexcelled heroism and indomitable spirit they displayed under the worst imaginable conditions.

Interwoven throughout this panoramic narrative are the harrowing personal experiences of dozens of American soldiers, airmen, and Marines. Sloan also provides intimate, in-depth profiles of General Douglas MacArthur, who evacuated to Australia as the situation on Bataan worsened, and of General Jonathan Wainwright, who succeeded him as top U.S. commander in the Philippines and himself became a prisoner of the Japanese.

Critic Reviews:

"Sloan demonstrates that if captivity is a state of being, defeat is only a state of mind." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Jay from Ohio

What a well written book! The Narration was excellently performed. A truly amazing real life story. The Greatest Generation for sure.

Mesmerizing

There's nothing I can add other than this should be required reading. There are no adjectives to describe the ordeals these men endured. I'll just say that we are fortunate to have men like Sloan to thoroughly and eloquently enlighten and educate us on the subject. He's become my favorite author on military history. The narrator also did a terrific job.

Undefeated.

Alot of what you might have already watched on TV. That being said I would still recommend this to other people.

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Title: People of the Sturgeon

Subtitle: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish

Author: Kathleen Schmitt Kline, Ronald M. Bruch, Frederick P. Binkowski

Narrator: Kathleen Schmitt Kline

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-06-12

Publisher: Wisconsin Historical Society Press

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

People of the Sturgeon is a history of the lake sturgeon in Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago region, told through a fascinating collection of stories on the culture, art, and science surrounding this mysterious fish. From some of the earliest inhabitants of Wisconsin, the Menominee Indian Tribe, to the spearers who flock to frozen Lake Winnebago for the annual sturgeon spearing season, people have always been drawn to this ancient fish. This is the only population of sturgeon in the world to have been nearly extirpated, then resurrected through a community-wide effort of people who are now joined together as People of the Sturgeon.

This audiobook includes updates on Menominee-DNR relations, new information on sturgeon aging, wonderful music by Graminy, and definitive recordings of the mysterious sounds of sturgeon thunder.

Members Reviews:

entertaining history

Where does People of the Sturgeon rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

good reading

What did you like best about this story?

the history of an ancient fish needed to be told

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

solid history

Any additional comments?

good for all ages

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Title: Light a Distant Fire

Author: Lucia St. Clair Robson

Narrator: Gene Engene

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-22-11

Publisher: Books In Motion

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Threatened with forced removal from their Florida homeland, the Seminole and Miccosukee Indians took up arms. Using alligator-infested swamps to their advantage, they fought the U.S. Army to a standstill. Unable to win militarily, General Thomas Jesup captured his enemies under flags of truce. With most of their people transported west, fewer than a hundred remained hidden in the heart of the Everglades, members of the only tribe never to surrender.

Members Reviews:

Accurate portrayal of the Life & Times of Osceola

What made the experience of listening to Light a Distant Fire the most enjoyable?

The en-depth study of the life and times of this important period of time and the Great Seminole Leader Osceola. Lucia maintained the 'spirit' of the Characters and the incidents perfectly, according to my Tribal Seminole Story Tellers.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Light a Distant Fire?

The message Osceola gave to his daughter at the time of his passing.

What about Gene Engenes performance did you like?

The performance of Gene Engene keeps the listener involved moment to moment.

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

N/A

Any additional comments?

Coupled with Lucia St. Clair Robson, outstanding research work on the subject matter and Gene Engene vocal interpretations of Light a Distant Fire characters set the ground work that motivated me to get another audible book.

Returned

I love the Native American cultures and the knowledge, research & adventures written by this author. However, I do not care for her style of writing. She usually has multiple characters in different lives and in one sentence will jump ahead months or years and the reader is left scratching their head wondering what happened to the drama unfolding at the previous time zone. She might write about rituals, story telling, chants, songs, etc. for pages before you realize it is seven years later and there were a whole lot of good stories to be told in between times. Characters appeared and disappeared without a clue as to where or why.

I enjoyed "Ride The Wind" immensely and I did, in fact, read (listen) to "Ghost Warrior" to the end, even though it was one of the books which I described above.

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Title: Independence

Subtitle: The Struggle to Set America Free

Author: John Ferling

Narrator: Robert Fass

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-21-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

No event in American history was more pivotal---or more furiously contested---than Congress's decision to declare independence in July 1776. Even months after American blood had been shed at Lexington and Concord, many colonists remained loyal to Britain.

John Adams, a leader of the revolutionary effort, said bringing the fractious colonies together was like getting "thirteen clocks to strike at once." Other books have been written about the Declaration of Independence, but no author has traced the political journey from protest to revolution with the narrative scope and flair of John Ferling.

Independence takes listeners from the cobblestones of Philadelphia into the halls of Parliament, where many sympathized with the Americans and furious debate erupted over how to deal with the rebellion. Independence is not only the story of how freedom was won, but how an empire was lost. At this remarkable moment in history, high-stakes politics was intertwined with a profound debate about democracy, governance, and justice.

John Ferling, drawing on a lifetime of scholarship, brings this passionate struggle to life as no other historian could. Independence

will be hailed as the finest work yet from the author Michael Beschloss calls "a national resource."

Critic Reviews:

"Noted for his knowledge of the Revolutionary era, Ferling again gives us a narrative hard to surpass in fluency and authority." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

The defining moment in American history

An interesting and informative history of the events that led to the Declaration of Independence. The author begins with a good discussion of the background to the split between America and England. The military and political events that led to July 4, 1776 are covered very well. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson receive a special focus. The importance Adams role in the Second Continental Congress shows him to be a leader of the move for independence. The author writes very well and has an excellent command of the material. This is a pleasant way to learn about his very important event in American history. Highly recommended.

Remarkable and Inspiring Story

This is a very well done book. it tells a very remarkable and Inspiring story.

Historical writing at its best

Ferling is a billiant author. Restrained, literate and with a compassionate, understanding eye for the past, its eccenticities and strange relevance to the present. This man should be acclaimed as a great historical writer. And who better to read the work than Fass. If you appreciate serious, enlightened history this book, and the reading of it, is for you.

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Title: Combat: The Civil War

Author: Don Congdon, Bruce Catton

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 29 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-27-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 42 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

This is the book Civil War enthusiasts have been waiting for.

There are many, many studies of the Civil War. Books have been written on its economic effects, its political causes, its relationship to western expansion. But the real fascination of the war is the story of combat, men in battle.Combat: The Civil War tells this story in the words of men who actually marched into battle.We share their experiences, their fears, and their moments of bravery at Vicksburg, on board the Monitor, at Gettysburg, and at the bloody battle of Antietam.These eyewitness accounts are interspersed with brief commentaries by some of our most respected historians - Douglas Southall Freeman and John J. Pullen, for example - who illuminate the accounts by placing them in their proper context.

Those who have been looking for one volume that manages to tell the whole story of the war in a clear way need look no further. Combat: The Civil War is a gritty and readable history.Immediate and at the same time informative, here is that rare work that actually brings the struggles and characters of the past to life.

Members Reviews:

Real Stories From The Men That Fought The Battles

great story, told by the men that were there, what they did and what they saw

Excellent

Tales of the civil war from those who were there - I am sorry it finished I enjoyed it immensely

John

great book

excellent book. I learned allot, it was amusing this book confused some people. I don't think they read much.

Could Have Been Better

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If each character, and there are many, was consistently identified as confederate or federal, I have no doubt that I would have given this work 5 stars.

What was most disappointing about Don Congdon and Bruce Catton s story?

Many, many generals, captains and so on are mentioned or quoted; unfortunately it becomes hard to discern which side soldier so-and-so is aquatinted with. Anyone listening to the tale would quickly become confused for the storyline gets twisted, and more often than not the question arises... Was general so-and-so a confederate or a federal? One would have to take notes to stay with the plot.

Have you listened to any of Joe Barretts other performances before? How does this one compare?

Joe Barrett does a great job in reading the book!

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

Frustration... I quit listening after the first seven hours. I could not bear another twenty-plus hours of confusion.

Any additional comments?

This book could have been enjoyable and educational had the characters and the locations been properly and consistently identified.

History Book Review

Interesting for its point of view from the people of the time. Main problem I found was that these seemed to be reports (in general) of people with their future ambitions and self image in mind and did not give a true picture of their feelings during the actual battles. Unless they were complete idiots!