Download Best Sellers Audiobooks in History, American

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Title: The Civil War Part 1

Author: Jeffrey Rogers Hummel

Narrator: George C. Scott

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-10-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

What provoked this bloodletting? Both sides honored the same Constitution, spoke the same language, and worshipped the same God. But neither side could agree on whether America was a union or a compact of states.

The United States at War series is a collection of presentations that review the political, economic, and social forces that have erupted in military conflict and examine how the conflict resolved, or failed to resolve, the forces that caused war.

Members Reviews:

Very interesting broad/brief account of Civil War

I listened this short audio book (as well as Part II) (about 4 hours in total) right after I finished Shelby Foote's 2000+ pages narrative of civil war. I do not have too much expectation of this but as a recount. I was wrong. This book takes a very interesting angle. It is about the war in a very "BROAD" sense as it talks a lot of origins, economy, politics and reconstruction, while actually only little about the "narrow" sense war, the fighting. All these compliment the mostly military accounts of Footer's book nicely.

Another interesting aspects of this book is the quotation. Probably one third of the books are from quatation of all kinds of participants, politicians, soldiers, normal people, etc. These give you some fresh sense of contemporary time.

The book is limited by its length, but it has quite nice and insightful discussion about several subjects usually omitted by other civil war books, such as the origins of war, war-time economy in both sides, reconstruction.

All in all, I would recommend this book (with part II) to anyone interesting in civil war, probably not as the first book for civil war (it really lacks the usual exciting parts of WAR, battles), but as a nice addition of your knowledge of the time.

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Title: The Millionaires' Unit

Author: Marc Wortman

Narrator: Patrick Lawlor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-01-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

At the heart of the group was the Yale flying club, six of whom are the heroes of this book. They would share rivalries over girlfriends, jealousies over membership in Skull and Bones, and fierce ambition to be the most daring young man over the battlefields of France, where the casualties among flyers were chillingly high.

One of the six would go on to become the principal architect of the American Air Force's first strategic bomber force. Others would bring home decorations and tales of high life experiences in Paris. Some would not return, having made the greatest sacrifice of all in perhaps the last noble war. For fans of Flyboys, The Greatest Generation, or Flags of Our Fathers, this patriotic, romantic, absorbing book is narrative military history of the best kind.

Critic Reviews:

"Wortman has researched thoroughly and written clearly, thereby enhancing our knowledge of aviation history, Yale, and World War I." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Hard story to get into.

I bought the book with the idea that I was going to hear the exploits of ww1 pilots. Well after 10 chapters I learned about the ways the families got rich. Then there was a little aviation mixed with Yale politics and Frat houses. Finally we get into a little more Aviation from the standpoint of the Yale Frat-boys trying to start the air arm of the US Navy. Really rather boring compared to the active units of American volunteers the French British and German accounts in other books. In the end I was far from inspired. Unless you are into he lives of the elite, and or and college politics, I'd pass on this one.

Origins of American Airpower - a Yale Frat Club

This story is so amazing. I had no idea about this element of American history - how a group of privileged young boys found the bureaucracy of the American government not only to represent the US proudly in Europe during WWI, but also to lay the groundwork for the air power that would later prove so critical in WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam and repeatedly in the Middle East.

Hats off to those brave and stalwart teens, some of whom never came home, giving the ultimate sacrifice in a war that wasn't even theirs.

This story is bold, sad and moving. I loved it.

But for the Grace...

The little country that amost wasn't...The Millionaires Unit helps us remember the values that made America in the first place. Feeling a responsibility borne of circumstance, just being Ameican should make one feel as though they owe the world something. This book shows why we have a place at the table in the first place, and why it is our responsibility to occupy it.

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Title: Democracy in America

Author: Ralph Raico, Wendy McElroy

Narrator: Craig Deitschmann

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-14-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

In pondering these questions, Tocqueville presented an unsurpassed picture of American government, culture, and attitudes. He proclaimed a new nation with a new theory of human interaction: America, ruled by the will of the majority.

Members Reviews:

Not bad, not great

I thought that this would be a full reading of the actual book, since the title read "unabridged". However, it turned out to be a spoon-fed narration of the major points of the book. I did not mind the corny French accents that were used whenever Tocqueville or other French individuals were supposed to be speaking, but I found them unneccessary and somewhat annoying. Overall, I give the title 3 stars, but it's hardly an "unabridged" reading of the book.

Disappointed

It looks like the general consensus is disappointment so far. I also mistook this for the real deal and I think it is somewhat misrepresented in the description.

NOT a READING OF THE BOOK

I am very unhappy with this because the cover picture and the description make it seem like this is a reading of "Democracy in America" when in fact it is a book ABOUT "Democracy in America."

Caveat emptor

I was a bit rushed when downloading this book so I thought I must have clicked the wrong selection when I listened to the program. I should have noticed that the author of the work was not, as it should have been, Alexis DeTocqueville. Also, the playing time was too short to cover the work. The selection is a cursory look at DeTocqueville's work. It did provide some insight into how the work was viewed by DeTocqueville's contemporaries but I found most of its observations shallow.

gold's fool

Tocquille's work is superb. This bird's eye view of his work is nonetheless destined to a hurried sloppy college student.

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Title: The Big Oyster

Subtitle: History on the Half Shell

Author: Mark Kurlansky

Narrator: Tom Stechschulte

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-12-06

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

For centuries New York was famous for its oysters, which until the early 1900s played such a dominant role in the city's economy, gastronomy, and ecology that the abundant bivalves were Gotham's most celebrated export, a staple food for the wealthy, the poor, and tourists alike, and the primary natural defense against pollution for the city's congested waterways.

Filled with cultural, historical, and culinary insight, along with historic recipes, maps, drawings, and photos, this dynamic narrative sweeps listeners from the island hunting ground of the Lenape Indians to the death of the oyster beds and the rise of America's environmentalist movement, from the oyster cellars of the rough-and-tumble Five Points slums to Manhattan's Gilded Age dining chambers.

Kurlansky brings characters vividly to life while recounting dramatic incidents that changed the course of New York history. Here are the stories behind Peter Stuyvesant's peg leg and Robert Fulton's "Folly"; the oyster merchant and pioneering African American leader Thomas Downing; the birth of the business lunch at Delmonico's; early feminist Fanny Fern, one of the highest-paid newspaper writers in the city; even "Diamond" Jim Brady, who we discover was not the gourmand of popular legend.

Critic Reviews:

"Kurlansky's history digresses all over the place, and sparkles." (Publishers Weekly)

"Kurlansky's real gift is that, in uncovering biological quirks and forgotten social customs, he makes the ordinary extraordinary." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Oysters and WW2

In Mark Kurlansky's wonderful book, The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell we learn about the bivalve bounty that once existed off the shores of Manhattan. Kurlansnky writes, "By 1880, New York was the undisputed capital of history's greatest oyster boom in its golden age, which lasted until at least 1910. The oyster beds of the New York area were producing 700 million oysters a year."

The first blow to oyster production was sewage. "The reality is that millions of people produce far too much sewage to co-exist with millions of oysters...A million times worse than pollution happened. The silt and sludge alone would have been enough to kill oysters, which would sink in it and suffocate. But the industrial wastes consisted of heavy metals, including seven thousand pounds of zinc, copper, lead chromium, and nickel that entered the city sewer system every day...Between the 1940's and the 1970's, General Electric dumped hundreds of thousand of pounds of polycholorinated biphenyls, PCBs, into the Hudson..Concentrations of six heavy metals were found in the 1980's in the central muddy portion of the bay (Raritan). They had entered the water from the many factories built on the Raritan Rover during World War II. With the sentiment "anything for the war effort," these industries were allowed to freely dump into the river, and the practice continued after the war. In 1978, Raritan Bay was found to have the highest concentration of hydrocarbons. Fish in the bay were found to be laced with PCBs.

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Title: Bums

Subtitle: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers

Author: Peter Golenbock

Narrator: Raymond Todd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-22-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 58 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Before the team headed to Los Angeles in 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers were one of the most colorful and beloved teams in baseball. In Bums, best-selling author Peter Golenbock has compiled a fascinating oral history of the Ebbets Field heroes with recollections from former players, writers, front-office executives, and faithful fans. Dodgers legends such as Pee Wee Reese, Leo Durocher, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Ralph Branca, and many others recall in their own words the ups and downs of that unforgettable ball club.

Critic Reviews:

"An era is brought to life with remarkable, consistent passion." (Newsweek)

"Revealing...memorable...reminiscences about the most beloved baseball team of all time." (New York Times)

Members Reviews:

A MUST for the true Dodgers or Giants fan!!

WOW, this was just nothing short of a complete history of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Every Dodger fan should add this to their library. Every Giants, Yankees or just plain baseball fan needs to add this book/audiobook.

Just don't think it is actually the old geezers doing any of the audio...most of them are, well, no longer with us...but included are comments and even several pages of commentary by the all time great players.

The reader is well spoken and carries a nice pace to his reading. It takes a bit to catch on to the style/format of the book itself but once you do it's a smooth listen.

I found this at the perfect time for getting revved up for the baseball season...

While there are not any really adult sections there are a few that younger kids might ask questions about, so if you want your kid to listen be aware a few passages might be a tad off color but nothing horrible and nowhere near as bad as they hear on the playground every day.

With that I recommend it as a gift for your son or daughter too! Probably age 12 and up to really understand enough of the book especially the times of Jackie Robinson.

Can't believe how much I enjoyed this

There's a reason that 95% of my credits go towards thrillers and suspense books ... because there's nothing more boring than a bland documentary. This is the complete opposite. It was a collection of great stories, interesting items, and enough rich detail to understand what it was like to live in that era. It starts with the early years, and Ebbitts stealthfully buying undesirable land for Ebbitts Field ... when Brooklyn was mostly farms and land (hard to imagine). Then it takes you through 50 years of this country's history, with several significant moments. Sometimes we forget about what it was like in the 40's and 50's.. when there were few choices for sports and radio channels, before TV took off. How the entire neighborhood followed the team and the game was on everyone's radio. The narration is a good fit as well. Well worth the credit.

If you love baseball, definitely read it

It missed being great by a hair, but it was very good. Lots of inside looks into the hearts and minds of legendary players and some very illuminating visits to the Dodger clubhouse, too. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it was good ... written for serious fans of the sport and especially for those of us who grew up with the Bums as their special team.

excellent

Peter Golenbock is brilliant. This book is baseball and history at its best.

Well-done!

Solid re-telling of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

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Title: The Twentieth Maine

Author: John J. Pullen

Narrator: Barrett Whitener

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-23-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 146 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

At Appomattox, the Twentieth Maine was one of the regiments chosen to receive the surrender of General Lee's infantry, and Joshua Chamberlain, the Bowdoin professor who had become a general, was appointed to command the Union troops at the ceremony.

Members Reviews:

Excellent detail

Too often Civil War books concentrate on the Generals and Grand Strategy. "The Twentieth Main" provides and excellent balance between the generals and the soldiers and is a must listen for anyone interested in the details about how the common soldiers lived the equipment they used, the food they ate etc., throughout the war. It gives Joshua Chamberlain his just due, but also provides good narratives about the other officers and soldiers of this fabled regiment.

I loved this book!

This was a wonderful and sometimes moving book. At first I thought I didn't like the narrator, but I soon got accusomed to him and liked him very much.

The book combines historical detail with an easy flowing style of writing. It's as facinating as any novel. The Twentieth Maine was often at the center of crucial events in the Civil War. I sat one Saturday afternoon doing nothing but listening to the second half of the book. I would think it would be helpful to have a working knowledge of the Civil War before reading this book, and I would reccomend Shelby Foote's marvelous history of the Civil War prior to reading this book. The Twentieth Maine focuses soley on the battles fought battles fought by the heroic Maine soldiers, and the reader who has no knowlege at all of the Civil War might have some questions. I think, however, that even the absolute novice would enjoy the book because it is so well written. It seems to me it would inspire one to learn even more about the Civil War and the brave men on both sides.

From the formation of the unit, to the beginning of the care of the dead soldiers, to Gettyburg, to the Wilderness campaign.... this book is grabs hold of the reader and made this reader sad the book had to come to a close

A very good book

This book is a first rate historical book of the times and lives of soldiers of the 20th Maine during the American civil war.

Both the writing and the narration keeps the book flowing through this important era of American history.

Military History, But With a Storyteller's Flair

This is an amazing story about an amazing group of men. The Twentieth Maine was involved in some of the pivotal battles of the Civil War. This book tells a cohesive story about a regiment that grew into a famous fighting unit during the war. It also relates the story with an engaging and sometimes poetic flair.

There are some tendencies by the author to paint the regiment as always being the best fighters and never losing in a battle that was their fault. (I know from some other books that even this great regiment had days where they didn't get the best of the Confederates.) Outside of that one slight criticism, I think this is one of the best books I have listened to.

Unit History

This history of the regiment made famous by Chamberlain's stand at Little Round Top is surprisingly readable and covers a lot of Civil War detail not usually found in works such as this. An example was the abuses to the draft and how men took money to replace draftees then promptly deserted only to take more money from another draftee and desert again.

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Title: The Founding Fish

Author: John McPhee

Narrator: John McPhee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-10-04

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 87 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

John McPhee is a shad fisherman, and his passion for the annual shad run has led him, over the years, to learn much of what there is to know about the fish known as Alosa sapidissima, or "most savory". In The Founding Fish McPhee makes of his obsession a work of literary art. In characteristically bold and spirited prose, inflected here and there with wry humor, McPhee places the fish within natural history and American history. He explores the fish's cameo role in the lives of William Penn, Washington, Jefferson, Thoreau, Lincoln, and John Wilkes Booth. He travels with various ichthyologists, including a fish behaviorist and an anatomist of fishes; takes instruction in the making of shad darts from a master of the art; and cooks shad and shad roe a variety of ways. Mostly, though, McPhee goes fishing for shad, standing for hours in the Delaware River in stocking waders and cleated boots, or gently bumping over rapids in a chocolate-colored Kevlar canoe. His adventures in the pursuit of shad occasion the kind of writing, at once expert and ardent, in which he has no equal.

Critic Reviews:

"McPhee reaffirms his stature as a bold American original. His prose is rugged, straightforward, and unassuming, and can be just as witty. This book sings like anglers' lines cast on the water. It runs with the wisdom of ocean-going shad." (Publishers Weekly) "McPhee is in great form here, as informative as always but also funny, unusually self-revealing, and quite passionate." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Read and released.

Reading McPhee is like watching a brilliant tennis player you've followed for years. I know his moves. I can even predict most of his methods, but I keep coming back to watch him put it all together. He is masterful. He makes the incredibly difficult work of narrative nonfiction seem effortless. Beautiful prose swims right up to McPhee and jumps into his net or flops right into the pages of his book.

Once again McPhee matches a microhistory (the American Shad) with great characters (biologists, fishermen, sportsmen, presidents, even his wife) present and past, amazing locations and takes you completely through the subject. You emerge from tail of the book knowing the history, the biology, the life, the death, the taste and the debate surrounding America's founding fish. He shows you every single bone in a boney fish. Read and released.

mixed thoughts

I enjoy nonfiction and John McPhee. As an audiobook, it's kind of neat to have John McPhee read it himself, but in printed book form it would be easier to skip over parts not of interest. This book contained many long fishing stories with too much minute by minute detail. Fishing fanatics might enjoy this - if that is you, then go for this book. I was expecting history, economics, science, and there was all that and much, much more. Making the darts, history of dams, biology of fish, deep sea fishing contests, many interesting topics and very comprehensive coverage. Now that I'm done, when I think back over what I learned, I do find it was worthwhile. But during the listening, I felt tortured at times.

bad audio

I just started this, and the reader (John McPhee) sounds awful. The sound engineers should have edited out all the breathing noises and the sound of his tongue arranging itself in his mouth. Awful. I'd really like to get my money back.

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Title: The People Speak

Subtitle: American Voices, Some Famous, Some Little Known

Author: Howard Zinn

Narrator: James Earl Jones, Harris Yulin, Kurt Vonnegut

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-27-04

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 73 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

From that event, this audio was born. It includes selections from Christopher Columbus, a Lowell mill worker, Frederick Douglass, Mark Twain, Helen Keller, Eugene Debs, a HUAC interrogation, Malcolm X, and a Gulf War resister, which are interwoven with commentary by Howard Zinn. This makes for exciting listening and is on its own an invaluable contribution to understanding American history.

Editorial Reviews:

To celebrate the one millionth copy sold of the late Howard Zinns masterpiece, A Peoples History of the United States, a whos who of American letters and cinema convened to 92nd Street Y for a night of amazing performances. Combining some of the greatest passages from Zinns book, including selections from Frederick Douglass, Mark Twain, and Malcolm X, with the great voices of Alice Walker, Kurt Vonnegut, James Earl Jones and others, The People Speak is an invaluable recording of an incredible night of inspiration and history.

Members Reviews:

I always find Howard Zinn books very interesting

Children in our schools should be learning about history from one of Howard Zinn's books. They are always very informative and this book is no exception, its the only way to learn the real History of the real American People.

Educational and informative

Anything by Howard Zinn is great and this is no different. Two thunbs up and a definite must listen for every American.

phenomenal and moving

These are the things we weren't taught in school but that are of immense importance if we are to remember that history repeats itself. It is amazing to hear how close these old struggles are to our own current ones. Short speeches, thoughts and writings of many. Easy to follow and not terribly dense on information.

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Title: The Old West Collection

Subtitle: Amazing Legends and Incredible Tales of the American West

Author: Readio Theatre

Narrator: Joe Loesch

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-25-03

Publisher: Readio Theatre LLC

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

The mythical legends and historical allure of the old west come galloping onward with The Old West Collection: Amazing Legends and Incredible Tales of the American West. This thundering audio compendium celebrates the epic events of America's frontier, whether rediscovering the California gold rush at Sutter's Mill in '49 or recreating the outsize personalities of John Jacob Astor to Belle Starr and Billy the Kid. From racing on horseback for Oklahoma land in '89 to Dodge and Last Chance Gulch, The Old West Collection sits you around the campfire vividly recounting the saga and stories of a dusty, velvet-trimmed era.

Members Reviews:

Great Stories

Some of these stories may have been told before but The Old West Collection offers details that make them come alive. The stories are told through different narrators, as well as from readers of actual diaries and letters of the period.

The only problem is the very intrusive music which never goes away, and is played as loud as the narration. Apparently the term "background music" was lost on these producers. If only this book could be recorded again, without the music, then it would be perfect.

Excellent Audiobook!

This was a great depiction of the old west! The music and sound effects were a wonderful enhancement to the powerful storytellers and characters from the past. This audio adventure put me right in the center of the activity. All 8 hours were completely enjoyable! I highly recommend this audiobook for all age levels. Brilliant!

Good listening if you're a Western History buff!

I enjoyed learning more about the West's history. The music actually made it funner to listen to. It is intended to be listened to as a radio show.

The Old West Collection

i listened captivated to the stories. if you are interested in this part of history this book is a great starting point. the book has peaked my interest and i am going to research further. the music in the background isnt that annoying!

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Title: Victory, Volume 2

Author: Stephen Coonts

Narrator: Eric Conger, Ron McLarty

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-08-03

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

David Hagberg's V5 sends the OSS and MI6 behind enemy lines in Germany to stop the one weapon that can win the war for Hitler and Nazi Germany, an electromechanical guidance system that can launch missiles not only across countries but across the ocean and hit the United States.

In Honor, Ralph Peters's follows a German officer in the starving days after World War II as he makes his way on foot back home, where a defeat more terrible than the Allied victory awaits him.

Members Reviews:

Everything was fine and as expected

Bought it for a gift and to replace one of my husband's books that the post office lost. Everything was fine and as expected.

Victory Book Review0314

Good book to read. I was born during the WWII war and had many people I knew who were in it and heard some very interesting stories. So reading this book fit right in with these stories.

It's an airplane read!

Okay, okay - it's has a number of glaring technical, weapons elated problems. I'm a pilot and a Vietnam era US Air Force officer. I also had my first flight in my grandfather's 1930's vintage Stearman by getting strapped standing up in the front cockpit. Open cockpit WWII era fighters flying more than 300 knots had worst than just visibility problems for the pilot. And, planes that are on fire and have a mid air collision with a German bomber usually do not allow the pilot to simply glide to an emergency landing. Next to that, confusing the aerocoupe side door to a canopy on the Bell Airocobra P-39 was a minor faux pas.

Well endowed German stewardresses on a German WWII military transport? Come on Mr. Robbins. And, Mr. Coyle, from every Marine I've ever spoken to - my uncle landed on all the WWII Pacific campaigns as a Marine Quartermaster - no one ever left a BAR in a dead Marine's position. The fire power was too necessary.

But, other than all that, this is a good read for a long airline trip. It will take you mind off of the terribvle service, cramped seats and make you with you were on that German WWII transport!

Don't Waste Your Money

Firstly, let me say that I admire Stephen Coonts as a man, a pilot and as an author. His novel "Flight of the Intruder" and his flight log "The Cannibal Queen" sit on my bookshelf beside master pilot-authors the likes of Richard Bach, Antoine de Saint-Exupery and Ernest K. Gann.

"Victory - Into the Fire" is a compilation of mediocre war novelettes "Edited and Introduced by Stephen Coonts".

Sadly, the book is a testimony to the growing trend of cross-marketing by excellent authors who lend their good names to lesser authors: all in the quest for increased profits and name exposure.

tsk... tsk... tsk...

Fiction requires the reader to suspend disbelief. Historical fiction is more difficult still, as inaccuracies shake the knowledgeable reader back to reality.

Want to write about specific aircraft? You had better do your homework.

Note to Editor Stephen Coonts and Author Rogelio J. Pineiro...

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was a SINGLE ENGINE aircraft. Thus, pilots cannot advance "the throttles" because there is ONLY ONE THROTTLE on the P-39.

Got that, Pineiro? One engine = One throttle.

Bailing out of the P-39 was a very big deal and well-feared by pilots. Instead of a jettisonable canopy like most contemporary WW-II aircraft, the P-39 had a door like that of an automobile.