Play Audiobook Sample
Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(4.00) - 27,316 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Stephen E. Ambrose’s iconic New York Times bestseller about the ordinary men who became the World War II’s most extraordinary soldiers: Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, US Army.
They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peak—in Holland and the Ardennes—Easy Company was as good a rifle company as any in the world.
From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments.
They parachuted into France early D-Day morning and knocked out a battery of four 105 mm cannon looking down Utah Beach; they parachuted into Holland during the Arnhem campaign; they were the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, brought in to hold the line, although surrounded, in the Battle of the Bulge; and then they spearheaded the counteroffensive. Finally, they captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost, his Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden.
They were rough-and-ready guys, battered by the Depression, mistrustful and suspicious. They drank too much French wine, looted too many German cameras and watches, and fought too often with other GIs. But in training and combat they learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew. They discovered that in war, men who loved life would give their lives for them.
This is the story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medal—it was a badge of office.
Download and start listening now!
"I finished reading this yesterday, fitting that it was Memorial Day. I believe that everyone should read this book. This group of men found something that you don't find too often in the military or outside of it. They bonded through so much. Even towards the ends of the lives of those who survived they were still very close. The horrors of war should never happen but they do. Even though I only have a small understanding of what happened in WWII, I am glad I at least know a few things. I'm so grateful for those that fought for our freedom. I hope I never take it for granted. I was also able to watch a few episodes of "Band of Brother's" that were on HBO. They are very well done and add so much to the book. I highly recommend it!"
— Kira (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“As a member of just such a unit…I am impressed by how well Mr. Ambrose has captured the true essence of a combat rifle company.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“A first-class explanation of what crack infantry troops are like…Addicts of military history will relish its finely detailed account…Stephen Ambrose’s thorough research and clear organization have produced a highly readable account of the heroic service of this “band of brothers” he so unstintedly admires.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“A valuable and fascinating record…In these pages, the reader can vicariously walk with the men of E Company, suffer and laugh with them.”
— Times-Picayune -
“This is a terrific read for WW II action buffs.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“As grippingly as any novelist, preeminent World War II historian Stephen Ambrose tells the horrifying, hallucinatory saga of Easy Company.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“The story of this company is riveting.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“This book accurately describes the lives of the men who bore the brunt of war. If a library could make only one purchase covering the American soldier in combat during World War II in Europe, this would be the book.”
— Library Journal
Awards
-
An Audie Award Finalist
-
A USA Today bestseller
Band of Brothers Listener Reviews
-
—
BS - VS, 6/30/2024
-
—
Saul Calderon, 5/30/2024
-
—
Tune Pedersen, 4/5/2022
-
—
Michael, 7/28/2021
-
—
david kooiker, 5/14/2021
-
—
Lee Smith, 9/16/2020
-
" I love real life story books of war. I'm in the National Guard and its great to hear real stories. "
— Suzette, 2/26/2019 -
" This was a great audiobook. I can't imagine what it was like for these young men to leave their homes and go and fight a war like this. "
— Jeff, 11/15/2017 -
" This is a great book for any history buff. Ambrose's narrative style makes it read more like a novel, but it's certainly a historical non-fiction. "
— Michael, 2/19/2014 -
" not sure what I expected from this. Pulled it from my father-in-law's bookshelf and started reading it--the French version. Its strengths are its narrative clarity and the basis in interviews with members of the Company. It was fun to be reading it in France over the anniversary of DDay. But it is way too much an homage, and the repeated assertion that the US prevailed in France because we had "citizen soldiers" grates after a while. Not a word about the Russians... And that line of argument runs too close to Victor Hanson's neocon argument in Carnage and Culture. "
— Tim, 2/11/2014 -
" Very well-written but I would feel better about Ambrose if he had not been sloppy in his source attributions. "
— Stephen, 2/10/2014 -
" Absolutely mind-bogling how the American soldiers of the 101st Airborne endured the hell of World War II. It seems like they were the ones called to perform the hardest and most potentially suicidal acts. I have a renewed respect for our past generation who fought so hard against so many odds to keep us free after reading this book. As usual, Stephen Ambrose books are filled with details and facts that leave nothing to the imagination. What a book!!! "
— Donna, 1/28/2014 -
" I love Stephen Ambrose's style of writing, where he brings experiences of those who actually were there to life. His are my favorite WWII books. "
— Darren, 1/27/2014 -
" I hate to give this book four stars, but I really wish Ambrose would have gone more in depth with more characters. I love this book and can read it many times without tiring of it...I just wish there was more depth to it and that each of these men received the focus they deserve. "
— Abe, 1/18/2014 -
" This famous account of the 101st Airborne during WWII is a fascinating, gripping read. War is hell, especially for the brave and loyal men of Easy Company. "
— Britann, 1/6/2014 -
" A great book. Enjoyed the book as much as I enjoyed the TV series. "
— Stuart, 12/23/2013 -
" An excellent book, but one of the odd cases where the TV version is better. "
— William, 12/13/2013 -
" A good book on a fascinating subject but it seems to me Ambrose's strength is in his research and in incorporation various stories into a coherent whole--the writing itself did not blow me away. "
— Monica, 12/7/2013 -
" Not as good of a book as it is a movie. I think thats because of the way the story in the book it makes for better action sequences in picture than in writing. Still pretty amazing, and there are a few things that were left out of the movies as is usually the case. "
— Fred, 12/6/2013 -
" I would consider this a great book for leadership. "
— Brian, 11/8/2013 -
" The subject of the story was it's saving grace. It's not particularly well written and the kindle edition was plagued with grammatical errors. Ambrose covers Easy Company with a brevity that makes for easy reading but I felt that it was incomplete. It was certainly worth reading. "
— Joy, 9/29/2013 -
" This was an excellent book although sometimes a little hard to weed through some of the military jargon. Nevertheless, a worthy and thoughtful read. It really helps you to appreciate what a harrowing and heroic experience people faced in battle during World War II. "
— Lisa, 7/6/2013 -
" As a fan of the HBO mini-series, this book was an excellent way to find a little more insight into what the company went through. Don't expect to learn what the men were thinking or to follow one story in specific. This book follows the entire company's European tour. "
— Danielle, 6/4/2013 -
" A large Collection of first hand accounts of WW 2. Well selected to meet the book's objective. Inspirational "
— William, 3/26/2013 -
—
Paul Ingram, 2/22/2013
-
" Great book for the history nerd in me. The HBO series really did a good adaptation, in my opinion. "
— Mark, 12/17/2012 -
" Fast paced, easy to read, with all the excitement of a war story and the painful humanity of the men who had to fight it. Even the men you don't like are worthy of respect for just being there, and the pathos of some of their endings makes up for the rest. "
— Bonnie, 10/6/2012 -
" This is one instance I would say the movie/mini-series was better than the book. "
— Joefraz, 10/4/2012 -
" Very impressive account of the war from our airbourne's perspective. The book that inspired Saving Private Ryan. "
— Kyle, 7/21/2012 -
" Loved the mini-series, and now I know that the source material was just as interesting. Again, Ambrose excels at making history exciting. "
— Jason, 5/26/2012 -
" Outstanding read, easy to follow Capt Winters as he goes through the day by day dreges of war. "
— Fawoody, 4/2/2012
About Stephen E. Ambrose
Stephen E. Ambrose (1936–2002) was the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including Citizen Soldiers, Undaunted Courage, and D-Day, as well as biographies of Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon. He also founded the Eisenhower Center and was president of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. His book, Band of Brothers, was the basis for the HBO miniseries. He was also a contributing editor for the Quarterly Journal of Military History, a member of the board of directors for American Rivers, and a member of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council Board.
About Tim Jerome
Tim Jerome’s Broadway performances include Beauty and the Beast, Man of LaMancha, Cats, Me and My Girl, Lost in Yonkers, The Magic Show, and Grand Hotel. His film credits include Deconstructing Harry, Husbands and Wives, I.Q., and Billy Bathgate. He has also appeared on television in All My Children, Lou Grant, Laverne and Shirley, and Barney Miller.