Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History Audiobook

" This is a deeply, masterfully researched & incredibly moving story despite being presented as a series of facts. Pleased I listened to it before noticing it had mixed reviews as I might have skipped it otherwise. "

" Gwynne thoroughly researched this topic and presented a thorough and entertaining history. My only complaint is I listened after a Bryson book and by comparison Gwynne is dry. "

" I thoroughly enjoyed the content and narration of this epic explanation of a time not so long ago. Epic and a wealth of knowledge of those times. "

" Incredible book. Insane that this is all true. The audiobook format is great and the narration is impressive. Recommend to everyone. "

" Very informative, exciting stories, interesting characters, takes you to the different place and time "

" This is an excellent book! It gives you so much information about the plains Indians... things that you never learned in school... and I live in Texas! I recommend this to everyone. I usually do not read these type of books. "

" Amazing story of Texas and the southwest. It's hard to imagine how hard people were required to be back then. Hard to imagine how this inevitable conflict could've been resolved. Amazing story of tribalism. "

" Great Book. As a Texas native I really enjoyed learning the history of the Comanche Nation and where many decisive actions took place. What an amazing time in our history. "

" A very interesting and enoyable history of America's westward expansion and the lives of indians. An eye opener. "

" A clear eyed view of the history of, and around the Comanche nation, in the 1830's to 70's. By necessity, the story draws in threads of the impact on the southern plains of the Spanish introduction of the horse to the area and what is known about the early history of the Comanches and their rise to dominance on the southern plains via both evidence and stories and is a deeply researched and complete piece of work all wrapped around stories of the settlers, the Rangers, the soldiers and the Comanches of that era. We have been binge listening to it as it has filled in this gaping hole in our knowledge of American history. Wonderful book. "

" I loved reading this. Quanah Parker is fascinating. "

" A well done book but too much detailed history to keep my interest. "

" "Empire" provided the best Texas History education I ever received in school. Amazing book! "

" I wanted to follow up Philbrick's "Last Stand" with another book about the 1800s and the conquering of the West at the expense of the Native Americans so I picked up "Empire..." having read some interesting reviews. Mistake. Just because you repeat something does not mean that it makes for interesting reading. After reading several times repeatedly, " Mounting infantry onto horses to fight the best horseman in the world was a mistake", I had enough. I get it already. The Comanches were great horseman and vicious fighters. We do not have to hear several hundred examples of how they scalped pregnant women to make a point. And what was that point afterall? The southwest circa 1840-1890 was cruel? Harsh? Got it. I just didn't care for the characters, the storyline which jumped all over the place, the land. Blah. The author just dumps fact after fact about Indian/ white man cruelty, border wars etc. A much read some about the innate nature of man and how it displays itself during this period is Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian". I just couldn't give Gwynne any more of my time. "

" Good read about the last Native American resistance to Western expansion. Focused on the Comanches and the settlement of west Texas and the rather brutal form of warfare practiced there (on both sides). The last leader was a half white Comanche whose mother had been taken captive and then chose to 'go native.' Good read. "

" Good, bad or indifferent, I am a Texan and this unflinching book about this part of Texas (for the most part) history held my interest from the first word through the last. I was riveted. Having been to and through most of the physical locations helped this book come alive for me. One of the better books I have read. "

" This book is really well written and rids me of any romantic notions I might have had about the American West. Both the cowboys and the indians sucked. "

" Interesting history, though it wanders a bit. The depictions of the Comanches is quite condemning - our image of "the noble Indian" is turned on its head. The lesson to take away is that people usually judge others by how we ourselves would behave, without taking culture into context. "

" Great book! Enjoyed learning some aspects of Quanah that I didn't know previously. "

" Excellent read. Evocative style creates sympathy for both the Native People and the Newcomers. I learned a lot that I didn't know. He organized his material--and there's so much of it!--with amazing facility. What a great historical writer! "

" Raw and rugged, this is the story of the native people of the high plains on a collision course with the westward-bound Europeans. Unflinching history of this time and place in US history. I found it a fascinating read. "

" Amazing read, very interesting and enlightening. "

" This book is non-fiction and was interesting from the front to the end. Quanah Parker, half breed and son of Cynthia Ann Parker, stolen by Indians, was raised by Indians and bore an Indian Chief. Very graphic, live you in a different understanding of how the west was won. "

" Truly one of the best books I’ve read is some time. A “no holes bared” look at the decimation of so many lives in the expansion of the United States west ward and the collision of cultures that resulted in the wars of the “High Planes” to the “Southwest Territories“. And the story of the men that not only defined the times but, redefined themselves. Excellently written and informative. "

" Pretty enthralling. "

" Very interesting read but would have liked more information on Quanah's life "

" Incredibly fascinating story; the book itself is a little heavy on the details of battles, lighter than I had hoped on the story of Quanah himself. Changed my perspective of American history. "

" I wish I'd known more about Quanah Parker and the Comanches when I was growing up in Oklahoma. Gwynne's well-told tale compresses two hundred years of conquest and characters into a fast read that left me wanting more. "

" Interesting history of Comanches and their leader Quanah Parker. "

" Yes, the Comanches were badasses, but they don't deserve or need all this "empire" hyperbole Gwynne foists on them. Still a fascinating read tho. "

" To quote one of my friends who suggested this book. When you read this book it is like listening to your favorite professor giving a lecture. Everything is well documented. Highly educational!!! "

" A very interesting look at the fate of the Comanche Indians. Not a pretty picture either from the Indian or the white perspective. But the content was very non-partial; an honest look at that time in history. Pretty graphic so not for the faint of heart. "

" Really informative and interesting but was too detailed and dense for me... didn't finish. The story of the Comanches and the impact of horses on their culture is fascinating. "

" One of the best books I've read in a long time. History that reads like the most exciting thriller. Great insights into the expansion of the United States into the West and the crushing cultural conflict that decimated Native American tribes. Fascinating and brilliantly written. "

" very difficult to read, jumped around too much, research good but was disappointed with the title it was miss leading. very little on Quanah "

" Excellent writing astute observations about the Commanches. "

" Fabulous historical update on the good, bad, and ugly in decisions and actions made by all sides. No fluff in this read, just the truth. "

" Outstanding history of the Comanche tribe and the loss of all they had in the end. I had no idea they were so brutal. "

" Interesting historical read, not novel like. Author geeks out on Native American culture at times, but fascinating book and people "