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Audiobooks > History >  United States > A History of the American People
A History of the American People Audiobook, by Paul Johnson Play Audiobook Sample

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4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 (4.00) - 956 customer ratings
A History of the American People Audiobook, by Paul Johnson Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: Paul Johnson Narrator: Wanda McCaddon Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Audio Length: Release Date: March 2009 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9781483078847
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Publisher Description

Johnson’s monumental history of the United States, from the first settlers to the Clinton administration, covers every aspect of American culture: politics, business, art, literature, science, society and customs, complex traditions, and religious beliefs. The story is told in terms of the men and women who shaped and led the nation and the ordinary people who collectively created its unique character. Anne Hutchinson, Cotton Mather, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, among others, are all presented with a fresh perspective. Wherever possible, letters, diaries, and recorded conversations are used to ensure a sense of actuality.

This is an in-depth portrait of a great people, from their fragile origins and struggles for independence, to their heroic efforts and sacrifices to deal with the “organic sin” of slavery and the preservation of the Union, to their explosive economic growth and emergence as the world’s greatest superpower.

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Quotes

  • “Arresting contentions and pieces of fascinating oddball information.”

    - New York Times Book Review

  • “A fresh, readable and provocative survey. He is full of opinions...and Johnson can be very wise.”

    - Los Angeles Times

  • “A magnificent achievement...brilliantly combines broad sweep with extraordinary detail.”

    - Wall Street Journal

  • “This is vivid and memorable writing...Proves that history can still be literature.”

    - National Review

  • “Paul Johnson’s The History of the American People is as majestic in its scope as the country it celebrates...It is a compelling antidote to those who regard the future with pessimism.”

    - Henry A. Kissinger

  • “[May’s] reading is lively, crisp, and sharp throughout. Johnson is a lively writer (more so than nearly all other historians), and May’s reading is sensitive to Johnson’s wit and sharp comments.”

    - AudioFile

  • “Expectations for a memorable, pleasurable, and instructive reading experience…are magnificently met. No dull pages occupy the space between the Puritans’ ‘City upon a Hill’ and superpower America…A work one can't begin to disagree with even partially without reading it wholly, which legions will eagerly do.”

    - Booklist

Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I read it along with my son for an American history course, and though I thought the coverage was great, and I mostly agreed with the author's point of view, I found myself wanting to throttle him sometimes because of his weird personal views on some of the characters. Overall, though, it's a much better read for American history than most text books. "

    - Kathleen, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I have been listening to this book in fits and starts for months now. Though I enjoy it, it has over 48 hours worth of listening. I enjoyed it mostly because since the author is British, the biases I am used to and annoyed by are absent. I can detect a few but anything published lately in the US has such a political overtone I liked having a different viewpoint. I liked this book enough it is on my "to buy" list to have as a reference book in my home for my children. "

    - Kathy, 2/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book will greatly broaden and change your knowledge and understanding of the history of the United States. It is written by a Brit that wanted to know and understand American history. He has a huge understanding of the subject, more than 99+% of all Americans. "

    - Walt, 1/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Despite this length, this was a very engaging survey of US history. The conservative slant which was permissible in the beginning parts of the book however got downright annoying towards the end. "

    - Sriram, 1/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " not as good as 'modern history' but quite compelling nonetheless. you may have to temporarily let go of your liberal prism if you have one though :) "

    - Alex, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " making up for not paying attention in high school history "

    - Brandon, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A very long book. I enjoyed it, though it doesn't have an objective point of view the outsider-type view of facts allows for a better view of cause and effect and avoids some of the things that are romanticized in America. "

    - Theanonymousafro, 12/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Really like this as an overall history book of American History. Johnson is able to report the facts while telling an engaging story. This is enjoyable for all...but especially those who want to learn history but cannot stand to read textbooks. "

    - Missy, 12/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I finished as much of this book I'm going to read for this semester. This is a wonderful history of our country. I really found it readable and interesting. "

    - Jenny, 12/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is going to take forever to get through but I think it will be worth it.1100 pages! "

    - Paul, 12/2/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Objective social historian's take on American history... and he's British! "

    - Bradley, 11/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " My second time reading this book. Enjoy reading a book by a British author who is so favorable towards Americans. "

    - Faith, 10/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " My first Paul Johnson book, but maybe me a disciple. This is a great book and he is a great writer. "

    - Gary, 10/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Best American history book I've seen. Emphasis is on people. Makes history interesting and relevant. "

    - Bev, 5/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This was a decent history of the United States until the author got to the second half of the 20th century. At that point it became more of a conservative rant than a history. I wasn't expecting that, and it made me question the objectivity of the rest of the book. "

    - Erica, 12/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Johnson believes in the "big-man" school of history. While this isn't necessarily wrong or unsatisfying at times, he misses what I feel is very important bits of American history. His tone is frequently incredibly pompous and obnoxious, which doesn't help me like him. "

    - Jessica, 9/30/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is a great overview of American History. Johnson covers a lot of material quickly, so in some outside resources are helpful when trying to really understand what has happened in our 200+ years of history. "

    - Michelle, 8/22/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Years ago, got 300 pages into this but then got sidetracked. Have restarted and am loving it. "

    - Adam, 7/16/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good until near the end where it changed from history to social comment. "

    - Karl, 6/30/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I am always amazed to find how little I know, after reading Johnson's books. "

    - Mary, 12/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " One of the few general surveys of all of US history I have read. An interesting perspective that balances out some other histories and historians perspectives; however, it is not without its flaws. "

    - Michael, 10/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " My favorite historian...very clear, very fair. Great book. "

    - Michael, 9/30/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Conservative wanker and curmudgeon, but no matter as one should read it. I can see having advanced high school students reading it and A People's History of the United States, as a great contrast. (I much prefer the latter but have some respect for Johnson, if not his ideological commitments.) "

    - Troy, 6/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Read this years ago and thought it was excellent. Reading his "Art" book now, in a very leisurely way. "

    - Sara, 1/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " By the time the book entered the 18th century I was ready to shoot myself. This an example of History at its worst: A total obsession with numbers, factoids, and names at the detriment of conveying concepts. "

    - Philip, 12/17/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Reading now and enjoying the in-depth analysis. "

    - Chris, 8/13/2010
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " I have tried--I mean really tried--to read this book, twice. It it a 1,006 pg. sleeping pill. I loved Johnson's book on Washington, but it was 1/16th of the size of this monster. Every time I open this book, it's like I took two Lunestas and washed them down with red wine. I surrender. "

    - Michael, 6/21/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This was my favorite book in all of my college classes. It is written by an English man, so the perspective is a little different. But I loved this book! One of the most intense studies of a single book I have ever done, aside from the Book of Mormon ;) "

    - Kara, 5/5/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is simply the most amazing chronological history of the American people I have read. The details of things we thought we knew about are so intriguing, they make normally dull reading into a real page-turner. "

    - David, 5/1/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A rich history of America from Columbus to '90s. "

    - Bill, 4/12/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Years ago, got 300 pages into this but then got sidetracked. Have restarted and am loving it. "

    - Adam, 2/20/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book is pretty solid when it comes to history before 1900. But the author goes on a huge conservative tirade when dealing with the 20th century. Fair and balanced? I think not... "

    - Evan, 2/12/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Good antidote to modern academia "

    - John, 1/12/2010

About the Author

Paul Johnson, British author and historian, is the author of many books, including Modern Times, A History of the Jews, Intellectuals, The Birth of the Modern, and The Quest for God, which have been translated into many languages. He has been a frequent contributor to the Daily Telegraph, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Spectator, and other newspapers and magazines. He has lectured to academic, business, and political audiences all over the world.

About the Narrator

Wanda McCaddon (a.k.a. Nadia May or Donada Peters) has narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, has earned numerous Earphones Awards, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.