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Brave Companions
- Portraits in History
- Narrated by: David McCullough
- Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Historical
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In February 1945 the Allies obliterated Dresden, the 'Florence of the Elbe'. Explosive bombs weighing over 1,000 lbs fell every seven and a half seconds and an estimated 25,000 people were killed. Was Dresden a legitimate military target or was the bombing a last act of atavistic mass murder in a war already won? From the history of the city to the attack itself, conveyed in a minute-by-minute account from the first of the flares to the flames reaching almost a mile high best-selling author Sinclair McKay creates a vast canvas and brings it alive with touching human detail.
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At the end of the last century, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a booming coal-and-steel town filled with hardworking families striving for a piece of the nation's burgeoning industrial prosperity. In the mountains above Johnstown, an old earth dam had been hastily rebuilt to create a lake for an exclusive summer resort patronized by the tycoons of that same industrial prosperity, among them Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Mellon.
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Truman
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-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 63
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 56
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Hailed by critics as an American masterpiece, David McCullough's sweeping biography of Harry S. Truman captured the heart of the nation. The life and times of the 33rd president of the United States, Truman provides a deeply moving look at an extraordinary, singular American.
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4 out of 5 stars
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- By Anonymous User on 07-02-19
-
The American Spirit
- Who We Are and What We Stand For
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: David McCullough
- Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 1
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Story4 out of 5 stars 1
Over the course of his distinguished career, David McCullough has spoken before Congress, colleges and universities, historical societies, and other esteemed institutions. Now, at a time of self-reflection in America following a bitter election campaign that has left the country divided, McCullough has collected some of his most important speeches in a brief volume designed to identify important principles and characteristics that are particularly American.
-
1776
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: David McCullough
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 64
In this stirring audiobook, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence, when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Absorbing and well narrated
- By Tom on 29-04-09
-
Dresden
- The Fire and the Darkness
- By: Sinclair McKay
- Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
- Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
In February 1945 the Allies obliterated Dresden, the 'Florence of the Elbe'. Explosive bombs weighing over 1,000 lbs fell every seven and a half seconds and an estimated 25,000 people were killed. Was Dresden a legitimate military target or was the bombing a last act of atavistic mass murder in a war already won? From the history of the city to the attack itself, conveyed in a minute-by-minute account from the first of the flares to the flames reaching almost a mile high best-selling author Sinclair McKay creates a vast canvas and brings it alive with touching human detail.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Gripping
- By Steve on 10-04-20
-
The Great Bridge
- The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
- Length: 27 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 16
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 15
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 15
This monumental book tells the enthralling story of one of the greatest accomplishments in our nation's history, the building of what was then the longest suspension bridge in the world. The Brooklyn Bridge rose out of the expansive era following the Civil War, when Americans believed all things were possible.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Magnificent Epic
- By Tommy on 28-02-17
Summary
From Alexander von Humboldt to Charles and Anne Lindbergh, these are stories of people of great vision and daring whose achievements continue to inspire us today, brilliantly told by master historian David McCullough.
The best-selling author of Truman and John Adams, David McCullough has written profiles of exceptional men and women past and present who have not only shaped the course of history or changed how we see the world but whose stories express much that is timeless about the human condition.
Here are Alexander von Humboldt, whose epic explorations of South America surpassed the Lewis and Clark expedition; Harriet Beecher Stowe, "the little woman who made the big war”; Frederic Remington; the extraordinary Louis Agassiz of Harvard; Charles and Anne Lindbergh, and their fellow long-distance pilots Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Beryl Markham; Harry Caudill, the Kentucky lawyer who awakened the nation to the tragedy of Appalachia; and David Plowden, a present-day photographer of vanishing America.
Different as they are from each other, McCullough's subjects have in common a rare vitality and sense of purpose. These are brave companions: to each other, to David McCullough, and to the reader, for with rare storytelling ability McCullough brings us into the times they knew and their very uncommon lives.
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What listeners say about Brave Companions
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Randall
- 28-01-19
I USUALLY LOVE THIS GUY
Like I said, I usually love McCullough's work but... I have listened to almost everything in the catalog and truly loved, John Adams, 1776, The Path Between 2 Seas, (and several more). But wasn't real happy with Mornings on Horseback and am very unhappy with this "Brave Companions". The first few chapters were historically interesting , but then it started downhill. Every chapter seem more boring than the last. It seemed like McCullough started rambling aimlessly, and then got political. Going so far to say JFK was the only president to study history (sorry I paraphrased that). I always grow tired of the Kennedy worship. I like hearing the authors own voice (in small amounts), but would much rather have heard Edward Hermann again.
107 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- James
- 02-10-17
Just could not get into it
I was excited to get yet another David McCullough book, especially one which he narrates himself. I tried on multiple sittings to listen to it, but it was nothing like his other books. I found it extremely boring. It's such a shame since I have found his other works to be fantastic.
30 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Rick
- 24-06-17
Blah! Blah! Blah!
I expected more from David McCullough as this is far from his finest work. He chose a bunch of nobodies, who didn't really do a whole lot. With the exception of Roosevelt, and Lindbergh his list of notables is pathetic at best, and darn near put me to sleep. I was bored to tears! And to make the story even harder to stomach, it sounded as though McCullough had marbles in his mouth while he read the book. I'm not sure how others were able to give this title such high marks. I found it nothing short of painful.
36 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- A. Clive King
- 30-06-17
So boring
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
people who like lists of people and subjects they will never hear about again!
What could David McCullough have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
put his pen down
What didn’t you like about David McCullough’s performance?
Just boring....
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Severe disappointment
33 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Ms.
- 21-05-18
Disjointed
I have liked all the other McCullough books I have read but not this one. In fact, I skipped big portions of it. It is a disjointed collection of separate chapters with little connection. I ended up skipping many chapters if I did not find them interesting since they were not connected.
30 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 13-12-17
Okay
Some interesting stories, but the liberal bent is hard to overlook. I feel there was too much of the authors opinion and not enough of individual's correspondence to shape the content.
17 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- JFH
- 12-05-17
Disappointing and poorly read rehash
This a reading of some 15 articles by McCullough, many of them quite old and uninteresting today. Perhaps 5 are worth listening to, involving interesting forgotten figures. I found myself frequently hitting fast forward. To make matters worse, McCullough's once gray voice has faded to a mumble.
35 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- J&ML
- 10-09-16
There are better books to read by David McCullough
I have read many of David McCullough books and I love the way he writes but this is a relatively old book (1991) and many of the chapters are out of date. The reason is that most of the chapters are NOT stories of lesser known but interesting Americans as the description suggests. Instead the subjects are a collection of his thoughts on Congress, history, the 20th century and friends that he admires, etc. It sounds like a collection of pieces that he had written 30-50 years ago. Some of them were interesting but some were boring and of little interest. I suggest that you will be better served to read some of his other books.
15 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jon Zemans
- 02-10-15
Hard to listen to this one, sorry to say
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
I had high hopes, given other very good work by this author. Found it hard to listen to. Some very interesting characters, but really hard to focus, given the performance.
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
There really wasn't one.
What didn’t you like about David McCullough’s performance?
His voice.
Could you see Brave Companions being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?
Absolute NOT!
36 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Robin G G
- 25-06-17
Interesting idea, well done but not his best
Is there anything you would change about this book?
I found myself not always interested in each of the chapters. As always it was well done, well researched but McCullough's interests aren't necessarily congruent with the rest of us. Some it it held my attention but much didn't eg; the Kentucky strip mine chapter was too long and too depressing. He remains one of my favorite authors
10 people found this helpful