Acclaimed historian Stephen Ambrose begins his examination with a glance inward -- he starts this book with his brothers, his first and forever friends, and the shared experiences that join them for a lifetime, overcoming distance and misunderstandings.
He next tells of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had a golden gift for friendship and who shared a perfect trust with his younger brother, Milton, in spite of their apparently unequal stations. With great emotion, Ambrose describes the relationships of the young soldiers of Easy Company who fought and died together from Normandy to Germany, and he recalls with admiration three unlikely friends who fought in different armies in that war. He recounts the friendships of Lewis and Clark and of Crazy Horse and He Dog. Ambrose remembers and celebrates the friends he has made and kept throughout his life.
Comrades concludes with the author's recollection of his own friendship with his father. He was my first and always most important friend, Ambrose writes. I didn't learn that until the end, when he taught me the most important thing, that the love of father-son-father-son is a continuum, just as love and friendship are expansive.
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"It was a really interesting quick read. I love Steven Ambrose books and this was just a fun read on male friendships. I really have had fun talking it over with my husband and delving into the mind of men. I loved pondering my own friendships and the ones I hope to have someday."
— Dorisann (5 out of 5 stars)
“A dignified but strikingly sweet memoir.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review“Sonorous, smooth, friendly, Nelson Runger’s voice carries us gently through this contemplative commentary on comrades whom the distinguished historian Ambrose has studied or known personally…Friendship comes easily to Ambrose, and the number of divergent persons he has known and liked is remarkable. Runger is the right man for this narration, giving us the impression that he is at the same stage of life as Ambrose, and liking it.”
— AudioFile“Quickly perusable, congenial confessions for the authors huge readership.”
— Booklist" I enjoyed the stories of the relationships...especially the last chapter in discussing his relationship with this father... "
— Eric, 1/14/2014" A look at friendship in true Ambrose style. A very enjoyable read. "
— Scott, 12/1/2013" Not Ambrose' best, but a likeable read. "
— Thomas, 11/8/2013" Very enlightening connection made between leadership and friendships "
— Jim, 10/18/2013" Interest and easy read. "
— Carl, 10/12/2013" An interesting look at some of the personal history of the author "
— Rod, 7/29/2013" A short audiobook, but I didn't listen to all of it. I mostly got the end, which was about his father. That part was very sweet. "
— Erin, 5/29/2013" This is a great look at male friendships. It's short and goes quick. I gave this book as a gift to my groomsmen. "
— Kent, 5/3/2013" several short stories about friendship. good, quick read. "
— Len, 2/21/2013" Some of this book was solidly okay, but some of it was pretty good. I liked reading about some of the strong friendships of great historical characters. "
— Ellis, 1/7/2013" A little disappointing, but maybe that is because I am of the female persuasion. Ambrose' book, "Undaunted Courage" is the seminal novel on Lewis and Clark. "
— Dayla, 11/15/2012" This is an author I like and the book was a quick read about friendship. Interesting insight of his personal friendships as well as some historical figures like Eisenhower and Patton, Lewis and Clark, Easy Company in WW II, and others. A good book. "
— Jim, 9/9/2012" Good book, great topic that us alpha men rarely talk about. Appreciate the friend that recommended this read. "
— Shane, 7/26/2012" This one really makes you appreciate your guy friends. I love you guys...you know who you are. "
— Dan, 7/8/2012" Very personal but very much appreciated the portion on Eisenhower. "
— Bcoghill, 3/10/2012" Listened to this one on a trip. Good car book. "
— Nancy, 3/7/2012" I need to add this to my favorites list. Mr. Ambrose makes a strong argument for a man's need for male relationships. It made me realize that I hadn't done enough to foster the male relationships in my life, so I made an effort to start doing that. It's a quick, good read. "
— David, 3/1/2012" Another great story by Stephen Ambrose. If you want to know how/who/where the railroads were built and joined east/west, then this is the book.<br/> "
— Aaron, 4/27/2011" I've always like railroads, but this book made me even more interested. It's really amazing what these men accomplished, and I wonder if it could even be done today if it had to be again... "
— Marie, 3/5/2011" The building of the Transcontinental Railroad. A great demonstration of what America is capable of. "
— Scot, 2/17/2011" A bit repetitive, but very informative of the inner workings of government and big business. <br/> "
— Linda, 11/4/2010" An informative read but not as engaging as some other Ambrose books. "
— Daniel, 10/27/2010" Stephen Ambrose tells the story of the Transcontinental Railroad, which is a big story, but he breaks it up into easily digestible bits, with lots of human interest along the way. I had not realized Abraham Lincoln's interest and expertise in railroads. "
— Donna, 10/21/2010" Nothing Like it in the World was one of the more interesting history books I've read. The detail in the book and profiles of various important characters in the westward expansion of the U.S. rails system is terrific. "
— Michael, 10/14/2010" How the west was REALLY won... "
— Reid, 10/13/2010" A good summary of an important event that has faded in these times. "
— Mark, 9/6/2010" I really enjoyed this book. I can't imagine there is any better one volume source on the building of the first transcontinental railroad. Very easy to read and very enjoyable. "
— Andy, 8/24/2010Stephen 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.
Nelson Runger’s voice has been recorded in dozens of audio productions and won him two AudioFile Earphones Awards. His ability to convey difficult, scholarly material with eloquence and ease has earned him critical acclaim, including an AudioFile Best Voice in Biography & History for his reading of Nixon and Kissinger.