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Waking Giant: America in the Age of Jackson Audiobook
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(3.06) - 151 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The years from 1815 to 1848 were arguably the richest period in American life. In Waking Giant, award-winning historian David S. Reynolds illuminates the era's exciting political story alongside the fascinating social and cultural movements that influenced it. He casts fresh light on Andrew Jackson, who redefined the presidency, as well as John Quincy Adams and James K. Polk, who expanded the nation's territory and strengthened its position internationally.
Waking Giant captures the turbulence of a democracy caught in the throes of the slavery controversy, the rise of capitalism, and the birth of urbanization. Reynolds reveals unknown dimensions of the Second Great Awakening with its sects, cults, and self-styled prophets. He brings alive the reformers, abolitionists, and prohibitionists who struggled to correct America's worst social ills. He uncovers the political roots of some of America's greatest authors and artists, from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas Cole and Asher B. Durand, and he re-creates the shocking phenomena that marked the age: bloody duels and violent mobs; Barnum's freaks and all-seeing mesmerists; polygamous prophets and wealthy prostitutes; table-lifting spiritualists and rabble-rousing feminists. All were crucial to the political and social ferment that led to the Civil War. Meticulously researched and masterfully written, Waking Giant is a brilliant chronicle of America's vibrant and tumultuous rise.
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"Very good overview of a lesser-known period of US history (i.e., not the American Revolution or the Civil War). A bit textbook-like, but not in a bad way, just a comprehensive history of both the political and cultural times. Colorful characters and fascinating details of the key 1820-1845 era. "
— Paul (4 out of 5 stars)
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A terrific introduction of succinct length to a period in our history that was once ignored.
— The New York Times -
“A terrific introduction of succinct length to a period in our history that was once ignored.”
— New York Times -
“A remarkable synthesis, impressive on many levels.”
— Kirkus (starred review) -
“A solid narration.”
— AudioFile
Waking Giant Listener Reviews
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VERY DISAPPOINTED, 8/2/2022
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" Pretty good read. It tells some of the events that took place during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. "
— Steve, 7/5/2013 -
" Not bad. Definitely a good overview of the period, but it's not much more than an overview. At times the writing can be simplistic and repetitive, but it generally serves its purpose well enough. "
— Hannah, 6/24/2013 -
" I got on this thing about Andrew Jackson and got a little carried away. This book was not that good, but an interesting slice of American history. "
— Kevin, 9/16/2012 -
" Fantastic. Interesting overview of the politics of the Jackson era. Surprisingly intriguing discussion of religion and utopian societies. The art stuff was not very interesting to me, but I guess it was necessary. "
— Jack, 7/23/2012 -
" I'm only a few chapters into this book, but really enjoying it. Never too late to learn American history! "
— Erin, 9/24/2011 -
" Too much depth about uninteresting topics - various religions of the times. Others have done it much better. "
— Pnorman811, 7/16/2011 -
" Good history. All over the place, but interesting. "
— Bryan, 3/13/2011 -
" an uneven portrait of the 'age of jackson', with some sound narrative and insights, and many tales of an era that seems more distant than the colonial period, especially the oddities in the public's 'taste'. Not completely convincing in its view of Jackson nor of the Whigs. "
— Steve, 1/14/2010 -
" Very good overview of a lesser-known period of US history (i.e., not the American Revolution or the Civil War). A bit textbook-like, but not in a bad way, just a comprehensive history of both the political and cultural times. Colorful characters and fascinating details of the key 1820-1845 era. "
— Paul, 11/10/2009 -
" An excellent book on 19th century America, almost exactly the right length. It is thorough, entertaining, and incisive. Its only weakness is too much time studying cultural and political movements (such as temperance and the Hudson River School). "
— Arithmomaniac, 11/6/2009 -
" Fantastic. Interesting overview of the politics of the Jackson era. Surprisingly intriguing discussion of religion and utopian societies. The art stuff was not very interesting to me, but I guess it was necessary. "
— Jack, 9/11/2009 -
" I'm only a few chapters into this book, but really enjoying it. Never too late to learn American history! "
— Erin, 7/8/2009 -
" an uneven portrait of the 'age of jackson', with some sound narrative and insights, and many tales of an era that seems more distant than the colonial period, especially the oddities in the public's 'taste'. Not completely convincing in its view of Jackson nor of the Whigs. "
— Steve, 7/6/2009 -
" Good history. All over the place, but interesting. "
— Bryan, 5/18/2009 -
" An excellent book on 19th century America, almost exactly the right length. It is thorough, entertaining, and incisive. Its only weakness is too much time studying cultural and political movements (such as temperance and the Hudson River School). "
— Arithmomaniac, 4/21/2009 -
" Too much depth about uninteresting topics - various religions of the times. Others have done it much better. "
— Pnorman811, 12/7/2008
About David S. Reynolds
David S. Reynolds is a distinguished professor at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is the author of numerous acclaimed works of nonfiction, including of Walt Whitman’s America: A Cultural Biography, winner of the Bancroft Prize and the Ambassador Book Award. His Beneath the American Renaissance won the Christian Gauss Award. He is a regular book reviewer for the New York Review of Books, the New York Times Book Review, and the Wall Street Journal.
About Arthur Morey
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.