comprehensive and well organised

really enjoyed this a good primer in how America got to where it is today!

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A formidable work expertly crafted by Jill Lepore

I found this to be a compelling listen. Narrated by the author with many intonations when the pitch was raised to a higher level for emphasis and used to great effect. There are many fascinating aspects to this history of the USA. I found it to be a riveting commentary at times, with explanations and interpretations clearly expressed. It is truly awesome to be able to produce such a scholarly and erudite piece of work and I enjoyed it immensely.

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Outstanding

This is a deeply compelling history of the United States of America from the first landings to the present. The most striking characteristic of this history is the impact of slavery on this country - and that it is on-going.
The reading is effective and entertaining. Don’t hesitate to purchase this amazing book.

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well paced

This tour of American history is comprehensive and well paced. She explores not only the lives of leaders but also African Americans and women throughout.

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A history of the United States for our time

This audiobook tells the story of America from Columbus to Trump. It has been a quite a while since I’ve been this impressed by a history book, and I listen to a lot. These Truths is a splendidly written account that the author intends to also be a civics primer. I learned a great deal about America and I enjoyed listening to it immensely. Jill Lepore looks at the subject through the theme of truth, as the nation was founded on a truth claim.

There is a heavy focus on the news media and how the development of new ways of reporting affected outcomes in each generation, which is highly relevant to present concerns. You will come away from this book knowing a lot about political campaigns. There is also for topics that aren’t usually covered in history books, such as the impact of computation (which was fascinating to discover). I particularly enjoyed finding out about the growth of Christian fundamentalism and the lives of Federick Douglas and Phyllis Schlafly. The biographical details of the figures in this book was a highlight. Lepore also discusses the writing of history and how it has been used in the past. The roots of the current partisan divides and polarization are explained.

The author narrates the book, and she does an excellent job in bringing the story to life. I was also impressed by her pronunciations. She got the correct pronunciation of Edward Coke's name (I've heard history teachers get his name wrong.)

One issue is that the last chapter repeats, but that is a minor issue.

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2 people found this helpful

Most important aspects of US history covered here

I loved this book, but friendly advice Jil Lapore should not have read it. Her voice is highly uninspiring and that what makes this book at times very mundane even so she did touched on many fundamentally important issues here.

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Best book listened to in ages

Really well read, very well written. Loved this book. It explains so well why America is what it is today.

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Essential US history

This is a fantastic listen. New takes on the origins of the USA. Written so well some of it reads like poetry.
All of it is good but the part up to the civil war and the llast 20 years are dealt with superbly.
How good to include technology is this history.
The authors political leanings are on show here but no side gets off from her brilliant interpretation.
Read so well too. At times little bits of emotion are allowed to show, which only adds to the narrative.

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A truly TRUE history of America

Jill Lepore has produced an astonishingly well-researched and well-written history of the United States. I myself am an American (educated during the 1950's and 1960's) who has always sustained a interest in European and American history. "These Truths" turned upside-down so much of what I, and millions of Americans, were taught in high school: so much braggadacio, white-washing and propaganda.
This book is a revelation and should be read by anyone who wants the truth about America past and present.

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American political history: 15th century to 2016

As the title suggests, These Truths tells the history of an American idea, enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and elaborated in the Constitution. These truths, Lepore reports, have been contestable and contested from the very beginning. In this sense, history ever repeats itself. Some readers will accuse Lepore’s telling of “liberalism”, but others will point out that she doesn’t say enough about Native American history after the early years. I think she’s at her best closet to the present, which is no mean feat, given our usual inability to be astute about what’s right before us. Her contrasting of liberal and conservative pieties in the 20th century is especially thought-provoking. On performance, Lepore is not a professional voice actor: however, her reading reminds us how valuable it is to understand the cadence of the text as intended.

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