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Union
- The Struggle to Forge the Story of United States Nationhood
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
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Publisher's summary
By the best-selling author of American Nations, the story of how the myth of US national unity was created and fought over in the 19th century - a myth that continues to affect us today.
Union tells the story of the struggle to create a national myth for the United States, one that could hold its rival regional cultures together and forge an American nationhood. On one hand, a small group of individuals - historians, political leaders, and novelists - fashioned and promoted the idea of America as nation that had a God-given mission to lead humanity toward freedom, equality, and self-government. But this emerging narrative was swiftly contested by another set of intellectuals and firebrands who argued that the United States was instead the homeland of the allegedly superior "Anglo-Saxon" race, upon whom divine and Darwinian favor shined.
Colin Woodard tells the story of the genesis and epic confrontations between these visions of our nation's path and purpose through the lives of the key figures who created them, a cast of characters whose personal quirks and virtues, gifts and demons shaped the destiny of millions.
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With élan and erudition - and with winning enthusiasm - Henry Louis Gates Jr. gives us a corrective yet loving homage to Rogers' work. Relying on the latest scholarship, Gates leads us on a romp through African, diasporic, and African American history in question-and-answer format. Among the 100 questions: Who were Africa's first ambassadors to Europe? Who was the first black president in North America? Did Lincoln really free the slaves? Who was history's wealthiest person? What percentage of white Americans have recent African ancestry?
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great book
- By Anthony Costello on 06-14-18
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Big Wonderful Thing
- By: Stephen Harrigan
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 28 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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The story of Texas is the story of struggle and triumph in a land of extremes. It is a story of drought and flood, invasion and war, boom and bust, and of the myriad peoples who, over centuries of conflict, gave rise to a place that has helped shape the identity of the United States and the destiny of the world.
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Guidall is in top form with very good material
- By Elizabeth on 12-22-19
By: Stephen Harrigan
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Lies Across America
- What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong
- By: Dr. James Loewen
- Narrated by: L.J. Ganser
- Length: 18 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Lies Across America is a reality check for anyone who has ever sought to learn about America through the nation's public sites and markers. Entertaining and enlightening, it is destined to change the way American listeners see their country.
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some necessary repetition
- By TravellingCari on 09-20-24
By: Dr. James Loewen
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Robert E. Lee and Me
- A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause
- By: Ty Seidule
- Narrated by: Ty Seidule
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Ty Seidule grew up revering Robert E. Lee. From his southern childhood to his service in the US Army, every part of his life reinforced the Lost Cause myth: that Lee was the greatest man who ever lived, and that the Confederates were underdogs who lost the Civil War with honor. Now, as a retired brigadier general and Professor Emeritus of History at West Point, his view has radically changed. From a soldier, a scholar, and a southerner, Ty Seidule believes that American history demands a reckoning.
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Changing a heart and mind
- By Matt Poe on 02-01-21
By: Ty Seidule
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With Malice Toward None
- A Biography of Abraham Lincoln
- By: Stephen B. Oates
- Narrated by: T. Ryder Smith
- Length: 21 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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The definitive life of Abraham Lincoln, With Malice Toward None is historian Stephen B. Oates's acclaimed and enthralling portrait of America's greatest leader. In this award-winning biography, Lincoln steps forward out of the shadow of myth as a recognizable, fully drawn American whose remarkable life continues to inspire and inform us today.
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the perfect voice for an inspiring story
- By Matthew Martell on 07-02-21
By: Stephen B. Oates
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God's Hand on America
- Divine Providence in the Modern Era
- By: Michael Medved
- Narrated by: Michael Medved
- Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States? Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the '60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet, somehow - on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls - astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic’s providential protection. In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life 10 haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern.
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Every American is so fortunate
- By Anonymous User on 06-23-20
By: Michael Medved
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Cuba (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
- An American History
- By: Ada Ferrer
- Narrated by: Alma Cuervo, Ada Ferrer - prologue
- Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba, where a momentous revolution had taken power three years earlier. For more than half a century, the stand-off continued—through the tenure of ten American presidents and the fifty-year rule of Fidel Castro. His death in 2016, and the retirement of his brother and successor Raúl Castro in 2021, have spurred questions about the country’s future. Spanning more than five centuries, Cuba provides us with a front-row seat as we witness the evolution of the modern nation.
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US Bash Job
- By Derek & Amber Witt on 04-14-22
By: Ada Ferrer
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Four Hundred Souls
- A Community History of African America, 1619-2019
- By: Ibram X. Kendi - editor, Keisha N. Blain - editor
- Narrated by: full cast
- Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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A chorus of extraordinary voices comes together to tell one of history’s great epics: the 400-year journey of African Americans from 1619 to the present - edited by Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, and Keisha N. Blain, author of Set the World on Fire.
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History never taught
- By Scott P ODonnell on 02-16-21
By: Ibram X. Kendi - editor, and others
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The Patriots
- Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the Making of America
- By: Winston Groom
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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In this masterful narrative, Winston Groom brings his signature storytelling panache to the tale of our nation's most fascinating founding fathers - Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams - painting a vivid picture of the improbable events, bold ideas, and extraordinary characters who created the United States of America.
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For newbies or history buffs
- By SBR72 on 06-06-21
By: Winston Groom
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Vanguard
- How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All
- By: Martha S. Jones
- Narrated by: Mela Lee
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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The epic history of African American women's pursuit of political power - and how it transformed America.
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Inspirational History
- By Krystal Fox on 11-07-22
By: Martha S. Jones
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James Monroe
- A Life
- By: Tim McGrath
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 28 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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The extraordinary life of James Monroe: Soldier, senator, diplomat, and the last Founding Father to hold the presidency, a man who helped transform 13 colonies into a vibrant and mighty republic.
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Large and inconsistent, much like Monroe himself.
- By Kindle Customer on 01-31-21
By: Tim McGrath
What listeners say about Union
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Suzanne D'bourget
- 03-13-22
Sad but true
Sad that racism is still so prevalent in the US and the world. Woodard is an amazing writer of historical truths.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Ben Brafford
- 08-30-20
Required Reading
This book is organized at such a high level. Its content is so important for the United States right now. Competing historians writing our history pre-, during, and post-Civil War history. Each trace the idea of who deserves, enjoys, and controls how many citizens actually have the rights promised in the Constitution of United States. One important thing— of many—covered in the book is that the confederacy lost a military battle but survived, thrived and is still alive and well (and on the streets of Portland this weekend with long guns aimed at protesters.)
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4 people found this helpful
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- VIP Amazon Customer
- 05-22-24
Historical masterpiece
Colin Woodard impresses readers again with historically accurate accounts, riveting storytelling, and comprehensive coverage of American history.
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- Bryan
- 04-25-24
Must read for any US Citizen
Know your history folks, it’s ugly and will upset you. Woodard is a true patriot.
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- Erin T.
- 06-26-24
A history on history, and more should seek to understand
Very well done. Not quite a sequel to "American nations," the use of biographical narratives to understand different perspectives in the history of the US was well done and approachable. If you've ever listened to another American talk about US history, especially on matters of race, and wondered why their narrative is so vastly different- this book seeks to explain why. I will be considering it's points for quite awhile yet.
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- Renn
- 03-27-21
A Solid Narrative Telling of History
This book constructs a solid narrative detailing the evolution of the various American identities held in different times and places, starting in the lead-up to the American Civil War, and ending after WW1. It takes on the point of view of a few key figures in shaping the popular perception of that identity, including historians, novelists, and political figures and activists. Taken with the authors theory of American multi national identity outlined in his earlier work, American Nations, this book does a fine job illustrating how those reginal differences have been put aside in the national understanding of America.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Michael Duddie
- 09-17-21
Another Captivating Work by Woodard
Such a great author, once again showing a terrific dedication to research and unearth-thing undeniable facts.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Dan L Barton
- 08-07-24
Forgotten history, extremely relevant to today’s circumstance.
My third book by this author, I believe this should one should be required reading for high school and university students throughout the U.S.
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-30-20
Not what I expected but pretty good
I thought this would be a broader study of the topic but to me it just seemed like a few mini biographies and a real point never materialized. Still interesting though.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Lesli G McQuigg
- 06-28-20
a bit more political than I expected
Good information and interesting perspective. However, it seemed the author had a political agenda to prove.
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2 people found this helpful