Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1449489 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From Amazon.com
"I am a storyteller by training and inclination," writes the late Stephen Ambrose in To America, his final book. And what a storyteller. One of the most respected and popular historians of his era, Ambrose had a passion for making the events of the past both relevant and entertaining. In these pages, he touches on many of the subjects that he devoted his career to, including presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, the journey of Lewis and Clark, the building of the transcontinental railroad, and the citizen soldiers of World War II. He also writes about his own personal story and his role as a historian. In detailing a family camping trip to Wounded Knee (an outing which directly led to his dual biography of Crazy Horse and George Armstrong Custer) or offering tips on vivid historical writing (keep your narration in chronological order; keep the reader guessing; and never use the passive voice), he shares what it is like to reflect upon the triumphs and mistakes of the past and why it is so important to pass those stories on to the next generation.

In this brief yet satisfying book, Ambrose moves seamlessly from one topic to the next with contagious enthusiasm and unapologetic optimism. Along the way he points out the inherent absurdity of political correctness, and even takes himself to task for past biases and for sometimes failing to consider his subjects within the context of their own times and not his own. He does not shy away from writing about America's sins, both past and present, but Ambrose's undying faith in his country and his fellow citizens is inspiring. --Shawn Carkonen

From Publishers Weekly
Before his recent, untimely death from cancer, Ambrose seemed to feel he had reached that age when a historian should write a memoir, which means writing yet another history book but replacing footnotes and analysis with anecdotes and opinions. Ambrose castigates the slave-holding founders of American liberty, celebrates the heroes of the slighted Battle of New Orleans and argues that white settlers treated Native Americans no worse than the tribes treated one another. On he goes, damning and praising, through the Vietnam War (which he firmly opposed), appending personal observations on racism, immigration, women's rights and America's nation-building mission. Halfway through, he pauses to recount his development as a historian and writer, from his master's thesis and his biographies of Eisenhower and Nixon to his more recent, bestselling books Undaunted Courage, Nothing Like It in the World and numerous titles on WWII. This personal narrative, dropped into the middle of the book, with revelations about his family life and encounters with famous war veterans, is what Ambrose fans really want to read. It is a pity that Ambrose (or his editors) decided to structure his ruminations and reflections according to historical chronology, because readers looking for his life story will have to take notes and write it themselves. In the process, Ambrose apparently hopes, they will learn what he claims the study of other men's lives has taught him: a broad-minded sympathy that acknowledges an individual's flaws yet focuses on positive achievements.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Popular historian Stephen E. Ambrose, who died last year at age 66, shares his views on the evolution of the United States and on his own life. He notes that U.S. history is full of contradictions, starting with Thomas Jefferson, who held slaves but inspired the eventual end of slavery through his eloquent writings. Ultimately Ambrose is optimistic about our nation's progress. Even in his own life, he finds contradictions, recalling his own failure to break up a campus men's club and reconciling it with his later support for women's rights. Jeffrey DeMunn reads Ambrose's words with a personal tone that makes you forget that the voice you're hearing isn't Ambrose's. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Not his greatest - I liked him less afterward
As a reader of many of Stephen Ambrose's books I find it painful to speak negatively about his work in this one, however I would be less than honest to say this is a great book.

Much of the first part of the book is taken up with historian Ambrose talking about historical figures he used to be more critical of, but now in his more enlighted stage of life he is willing to overlook their warts and see the good they did or at least tried to do.

This type of thinking is common perhaps more common at the end of life when we try to place a more charitable spin on other's actions, but what a shame he felt not the need to soften and reasses his first wife's life and death by suicide. Instead he barely mentions her death and dismisses it by saying she was depressive.

He shares his personal views, views in some cases markedly out of character with the men whose valor and principles he has become a household name writing about. I felt a vauge sense of disappointment that he was not cut out of the same cloth and was instead self-absorbed, disrespectful and callow. His facts are not always straight and his personal forthrightness highly questionable. He engages in Clintonian type non-denial-denials such as asserting I was not fired and then allowing although the univerisity let it be known they would be much happier if I would find other employment. Technically it is true, but when presented as a non-firing becomes a lie. When your employer tells you to leave you are fired even if the words are not used, and half truths are the very worst trait a historian can possess.

I am sorry I read this book not because it is bad, indeed much is good and enlightening especiall the section on Nixion. No I am sorry I read it for what it told me about the writer. Sorry I like the author less. Most of all sorry he didn't quit while he was ahead.

His Final Lecture - Read and Appreciate
A summary of events and important people in American history from the beginning of our independence to the present century, Stephen E. Ambrose takes us on a journey of enlightenment from his perspective, allowing us to form our own opinions while eagerly reading his.

Part autobiographical, he shares his personal history and the love and support from his wife and five children. They researched together, spent vacations in the west exploring the Lewis and Clark trail, and respected one another. How refreshing.

As the title aptly reads, Personal Reflections of an Historian, the reader is captivated by his unique stories which include his long association with Dwight Eisenhower whom he reveres as the brightest and wisest leader of the past century; his part in establishing a World War II National D Day Museum in New Orleans; his encounter with a German officer; a thrilling description of the Battle of New Orleans; his research on Richard Nixon; the war in Vietnam, and many many more insightful
chapters on various subjects.

Every chapter of this book for Americans is worthy of our reading time so that we too, can form our own opinions concerning each subject. It should be required reading as an overview of our country with its movers and shakers, heroes and villians, mistakes and progress, for all our leaders - the president included!

I was impressed by the fact that this worthy historian is unashamed to admit his own bias in some cases and how he eventually changes his thinking as he makes new discoveries.

He compares a number of presidents and their leadership, as well as taking us to the battlefields with America's brave fighting men. Thanks to this author and his numerous books, and to Tom Brokaw, we will not be allowed to forget the price paid by the veterans in all our wars.

Wonderful stories, interesting reflections from a well-educated professor and historian, and a great book for a discussion group. Read and enjoy!

Amateurish
Ho-Hum, not his best by any means. I found his sick sexual comments distracting, added nothing and below that of someone with his credentials.