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To America

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About this listen

 Completed shortly before Ambrose's untimely death, To America is a very personal look at our nation's history through the eyes of one of the twentieth century's most influential historians.

Ambrose roams the country's history, praising the men and women who made it exceptional. He considers Jefferson and Washington, who were progressive thinkers (while living a contradiction as slaveholders), and celebrates Lincoln and Roosevelt. He recounts Andrew Jackson's stunning defeat of a superior British force in the battle of New Orleans with a ragtag army in the War of 1812. He brings to life Lewis and Clark's grueling journey across the wilderness and the building of the railroad that joined the nation coast to coast. Taking swings at political correctness, as well as his own early biases, Ambrose grapples with the country's historic sins of racism; its ill treatment of Native Americans; and its tragic errors such as the war in Vietnam, which he ardently opposed. He contrasts the modern presidencies of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, and Johnson. He considers women's and civil rights, immigration, philanthropy, and nation building. Most powerfully, in this final volume, Ambrose offers an accolade to the historian's mighty calling. 20th Century Americas Military Modern United States World War American History Theodore Roosevelt Imperialism Social justice Latin American Imperial Japan Africa Franklin D Roosevelt
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Ambrose's reputation as a patriotic American historian is well established. In this book he explains largely through reminiscences his philosophy and personal view of history especially that of US 20th century military engagements and the men who fought in them. He is a great story teller for sure. And his warm and wise personality shines through his writing. Its strange though that he makes no allusion to the corruption of America's democratic process nor to what people refer to as the US warfare state. And this book was written only a few years ago.

Engaging & interesting

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