Preview
  • Union

  • The Struggle to Forge the Story of United States Nationhood
  • By: Colin Woodard
  • Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
  • Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (98 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Union

By: Colin Woodard
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.25

Buy for $20.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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.

©2020 Colin Woodard (P)2020 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Union

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    77
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    71
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    65
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sad but true

Sad that racism is still so prevalent in the US and the world. Woodard is an amazing writer of historical truths.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Historical masterpiece

Colin Woodard impresses readers again with historically accurate accounts, riveting storytelling, and comprehensive coverage of American history.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Must read for any US Citizen

Know your history folks, it’s ugly and will upset you. Woodard is a true patriot.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Captivating Work by Woodard

Such a great author, once again showing a terrific dedication to research and unearth-thing undeniable facts.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

a bit more political than I expected

Good information and interesting perspective. However, it seemed the author had a political agenda to prove.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful