In this account of an unprecedented feat of engineering, vision, and courage, Stephen E. Ambrose offers an historical successor to his universally acclaimed Undaunted Courage.
Nothing Like It in the World is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroad. In Ambrose's hands, this enterprise comes to life.
The U.S. government pitted two companies -- the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroads -- against each other in a race for funding, encouraging speed over caution. At its peak, the work force approached the size of Civil War armies, with as many as 15,000 workers on each line. The surveyors, the men who picked the route, living off buffalo, deer, and antelope.
In building a railroad, there is only one decisive spot -- the end of the track. Nothing like this great work had ever been seen in the world when the last spike, a golden one, was driven in Promontory Peak, Utah, in 1869, as the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific tracks were joined.
Ambrose writes with power and eloquence about the brave men -- the famous and the unheralded, ordinary men doing the extraordinary -- who accomplished the spectacular feat that made the continent into a nation.
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"Very interesting book on how the transcontinental rr was built. I learned a lot that I had never thought of before. I like to know the "hows" of some of history's big moments, which are usually only glossed over. I am glad I was not one of the guys swinging sledge hammers for years building the rr."
— Madelyn (4 out of 5 stars)
“Richly readable...[Stephen Ambrose] bears the reader on of wonder and excitement.”
— New York Times Book Review“Climb aboard...this lively tale, a colorful, edifying story of US history...Ambrose is the bard of American accomplishment.”
— New York Post“Historian Stephen Ambrose has done it again...Ambrose should be read as much for his muscular prose and talent to get at the heart of the matter as for his research.”
— USA Today“This magnificent tale...is magnificently told.”
— Time“Drawing on diaries, memoirs, letters, telegrams, newspaper accounts, and other primary sources, Ambrose celebrates the railroad’s unsung heroes—the men who actually did the backbreaking work.”
— Publishers Weekly“DeMunn’s full-text reading is clear and well modulated. The book is chocked with piquant detail.”
— AudioFile" 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. "
— Aaron, 2/20/2014" so interesting!! But it might be for history nerds only. "
— Stacy{s}, 2/16/2014" 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, 2/9/2014" Stephen Ambrose does churn them out like butter but this is a good one. "
— Eliza, 2/8/2014" Enjoyable, especially when it covers the feats of strength and organization required for tracklaying and tunnel digging. It would have been better if Ambrose did not frequently interrupt himself to tell us how important and amazing everything is. "
— Nick, 2/4/2014" I thought this book was okay. The building of the railroad was a monumental feat and I wanted to know more about it. There was a lot of information in this book, maybe too much and the book seemed to drag at some points because of it, especially on the chapters concerning the money that went into it. The other problem I had with it was that many, many people have said the author has gotten numerous facts wrong with this book. So the entire time I was reading the book I was wondering what was true and what wasn't. As a journalist myself, I have a big problem with that. THe good things about the book was learning more about the big four and Judah. I live very close (about two blocks away) from Judah St in San Francisco where an N-train takes me into the city at least 2-3 times a week. So that was cool learning about those guys. And Clement, who also has a street named after him in San Francisco. The book really made me want to take a trip to Lake Tahoe near Truckee and go to see all the railroad history there as well. I think this book is for history fans, but approach with caution. Not all of this may be true. "
— Tom, 1/26/2014" If you think that new technology, captialism and corruption is a new thing, check it out. A great story well told. "
— Chuck, 1/19/2014" An informative read but not as engaging as some other Ambrose books. "
— Daniel, 12/3/2013" I read this book so that my dad and I could discuss it. I found it to be very boring and repetitive. My dad, on the other hand, loved it. "
— Heather, 11/7/2013" This book was not real entertaining but was an interesting account of the challenges to build a transcontinental railroad. Easy to read with lots of good detail. "
— Dave, 10/15/2013" A very good read. Full an interesting facts and historical insifghts. One of my most recommended titles. "
— Tom, 9/10/2013" I seem to be on an American history kick, but this was the least interesting to me out of what I've read in the past few months. It's a full-history to be sure, but I was utterly bored by the passages about the budgeting, money, bonds, land grants, interest, capitalists, scandals, corruptions, etc. "
— Sean, 5/31/2013" Easy story to read and kept my interest. I enjoy this time period. "
— John, 5/18/2013" Great book just more history of this great country. "
— Tim, 12/21/2012" The story of the building of the transcontinental railroad "
— Mike, 7/12/2012" I cheated, listened to this in the car, but it was fascinating to me since I have driven the transcontinental route (I-80 from nebraska to california) several times. "
— Anne, 3/15/2012" A good summary of an important event that has faded in these times. "
— Mark, 12/15/2011" An easily readable account of the building of the first U.S. transcontinental railroad by the Union and Central Pacific companies in the late 1860's. Focus is upon the men behind the building as well as a lot of information regarding the trials and tribulations of building the railroad. "
— George, 12/13/2011" Facsinating history. "
— Brett, 8/28/2011" From big titans to workers (mostly immigrants from China and Ireland, plus recently freed slaves) historian Stephen Ambrose takes it back in time to put there on the front lines of the Transcontinential Railroad. The history in the book really comes alive. "
— Richard, 7/30/2011" Ambrose makes history come alive. Never thought a "history book" could be so enjoyable. The story is worth knowing, we don't appreciate what a tremendous achievement the transcontinental railroad was. "
— Jason, 7/12/2011" I like Stephen Ambrose a lot, but this was not his best work. The story was laid out chronologically and from both railroads perspective - but this led to a monotonous text. The epilogue was worth reading. "
— Bill, 6/30/2011" I enjoyed this book, largely because I took field trips into northern Utah to see some of the locations where the railroad was initally positioned. You can still see remains to the rail bed though the rail is long gone. "
— Greg, 5/20/2011" Easy-to-read history of the bulding of the U.S. transcontinental railroad and the characters who made it happen. "
— Fred, 5/2/2011" 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.
Jeffrey DeMunn is an American film, television, and stage actor. He graduated from Union College in 1969 and then spent two years at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre school in England. He is best known for his roles in several Frank Darabont films, including The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Majestic. His is also featured in numerous television roles, most recently in the adaptation of The Walking Dead comic book series. In addition to his film and television performances, DeMunn has lent his voice to several audio books, including The Colorado Kid, Dreamcatcher, and Letters for Emily.