Andrew Jackson

His Life and Times

By: H.W. Brands

Narrated by: John H. Mayer

The extraordinary story of Andrew Jackson—the colorful, dynamic, and forceful president who ushered in the Age of Democracy and set a still young America on its path to greatness—told by the bestselling author of The First American.

The most famous American of his time, Andrew Jackson is a seminal figure in American history. The first “common man” to rise to the presidency, Jackson embodied the spirit and the vision of the emerging American nation; the term “Jacksonian democracy” is embedded in our national lexicon.

With the sweep, passion, and attention to detail that made The First American a Pulitzer Prize finalist and a national bestseller, historian H.W. Brands shapes a historical narrative that’s as fast-paced and compelling as the best fiction. He follows Andrew Jackson from his days as rebellious youth, risking execution to free the Carolinas of the British during the Revolutionary War, to his years as a young lawyer and congressman from the newly settled frontier state of Tennessee. As general of the Tennessee militia, he put down a massive Indian uprising in the South, securing the safety of American settlers, and his famous rout of the British at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 made him a national hero.

But it is Jackson’s contributions as president, however, that won him a place in the pantheon of America’s greatest leaders. A man of the people, without formal education or the family lineage of the Founding Fathers, he sought as president to make the country a genuine democracy, governed by and for the people. Jackson, although respectful of states’ rights, devoted himself to the preservation of the Union, whose future in that age was still very much in question. When South Carolina, his home state, threatened to secede over the issue of slavery, Jackson promised to march down with 100,000 federal soldiers should it dare.

In the bestselling tradition of Founding Brothers and His Excellency by Joseph Ellis and of John Adams by David McCullough, Andrew Jackson is the first single-volume, full-length biography of Jackson in decades. This magisterial portrait of one of our greatest leaders promises to reshape our understanding of both the man and his era and is sure to be greeted with enthusiasm and acclaim.

Look for H.W. Brands's other biographies: THE FIRST AMERICAN (Benjamin Franklin), THE MAN WHO SAVED THE UNION (Ulysses S. Grant), TRAITOR TO HIS CLASS (Franklin Roosevelt) and REAGAN.

©2005 H.W. Brands (P)2005 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Illuminating both the mettle of a fascinating leader and the crucible in which American democracy was forged....[Brands'] effort is intensely engaging....A bracing, human portrait of both a remarkable man and of American democracy as it was transformed from a 'government of the people' into a 'government by the people'." (Publishers Weekly)

"This complete and completely enveloping biography indelibly establishes Jackson's abiding sense of duty in serving democracy....A distinguished treatment certain to be the most authoritative and comprehensive account for some time." (Booklist)

sweeping

What made the experience of listening to Andrew Jackson the most enjoyable?

covers the best and worst of what made the US what it is. Thank God

Good background on what the country was like

A long book but well worth the time is you like American history of the era.

outstanding

the book tells the full story of his life. he was a Titan of his times.

Good, but take it with a grain of salt

The narrator is excellent.

The book is informative, but it is biased in favor of Jackson more than you would expect from a biography. For example: "Jackson's appeal to the American people was the appeal of the chieftain to the tribe. They loved him because he was their protector, their hero. But they also loved him because because he embodied their hopes and fears..." It isn't quite that extreme everywhere, but praise of Jackson is direct, while criticism is oblique. Count while listening how many times you hear a variation of "[Jackson's opponent] has a point that [insert point], but all things considered, Jackson was right to do what he did."

There is an important point which gets left out of the discussion of the Bank War: the connection of the bank issue to modern times. You paid for this book with notes issued by the modern Bank of the United States (the Federal Reserve).

The book also missed out by not spending more time on Jackson's personal experience owning slaves. Yes, it is discussed, but not in great detail. See "Washington: A Life" for an example of what this discussion could have been. I feel without it, we are missing out on a chance to look into his mindset on this issue.

Please also note that Tecumseh's speech, read with great dramatic flare by John Mayer early in the book, is apocryphal.

Controversy Brushed Aside for Great Man Story

What made the experience of listening to Andrew Jackson the most enjoyable?

The narrative was engaging and fun to follow.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Confusion. I thought more would be said about Jackson's involvement in the forcible resettlement of the Cherokee Indians. I also thought more would be said about Jackson's financial interests in land gained by his betrayal of the Creek Indians. While Brands mentions these issues, they get short treatment while other less controversial issues (including veneration of Jackson) are given longer passages.

Have you listened to any of John H. Mayer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. No complaints about the narrator. Often historical audiobooks can be dry. Mayer makes this book enjoyable to listen to.

Any additional comments?

I wish Brands had allowed himself to be more critical of his subject. He by no means is a Jackson apologist - there's plenty of criticism of Jackson's often irrational use of violence -still, the biography seems to brush aside some controversies that had much more historical impact beyond Jackson's life.

"The Federal Union: It Must Be Preserved."

Brands' sympathetic biography of America's first true populist president is worthwhile for its consistent reminder that Unionism wasn't always anathema to the South and that populism is just as divisive then as it is today.

Jackson was, if nothing else, a polarizing figure as his political ascendancy marked the death-knell for the Federalists and those few hangers-on that remained within the Democratic-Republican party (J.Q. Adams). Jackson was one of those rare creatures, a Southern Unionist, and watching him navigate the various (and repeated) nullification debates is fascinating, as its unionism (Federal over state power) was so foreign an idea to Jeffersonians while his populism ("regular" people being the source of political authority and power) rubbed so many Federalists and their successors the wrong way. Jackson's approach to alienate elements of both sides while still remaining intensely popular is nothing short of amazing as it ushered in a wholly new way to view America's approach to representative democracy (with the latter part gaining prominence).

On a personal level, Brands does a fine job shining light on Jackson's almost chilvalric/Don Quixote-like devotion to his mother, wife, and elevation of women generally. It wasn't until the bizarre Eaton affair where the wife of won of his aides fell afoul of Washington society that marked a shift in his view of the fairer sex. I've read a couple bios of Jackson and the amount of energy that all involved spent on what is essentially gossipy drama still astounds me.

Brands doesn't shy away from Jackson's treatment of American Indians but he places it in the proper context of Jackson's view of the Nation. Jackson allied with multiple tribes during his military career and and generally treated them with respect due as allies. But when it came time to decide between letting tribal interests (or Supreme Court decisions) have authority over or dictating the interests of the nation, it's a foregone conclusion which direction Jackson would choose.

Jackson's physical ailments and volcanic temper as a result are also highlighted as is his truly fascinating early life. With Jackson's multiple duels an prominent feature I kept going back to Ron Burgundy's line "Brick KILLED a guy!" This 2005 bio was clearly the impetus for Brands' 2018 "Heirs to the Founders" that tried to be a triple bio of Henry Clay, John Calhoun, and Daniel Webster--three highly influential Americans during the time. But unlike that work which was weakened by trying to be three biographies in one and never settled enough on one or enough on a theme, Brands is at his best in this singular focus on a individual that demands a singular focus.

Ultimately, Jackson comes across as a man that was easy to hate, easy to love, and impossible to ignore. A fine biography.

Everrything

Every single thing you want to know.
Beginning to end
Smarter than you and me

An Insightful View in U.S. History

The story flowed well and kept me entertained, yearning for more. The author referenced personal correspondence from the subject, his friends, and his enemies to build a complete picture of Jackson's life and times. I knew little about the man on our $20 bill, but I am now soundly Jacksonian!

The must listen on Andrew Jackson

Brands seamlessly blends his detailed analysis of Jackson's life with historical context, easy to follow character profiles on contemporary rivals and friends (both personal and political), and most importantly giving us the family man who exists concurrently with the fiery general and political trailblazer. John H. Mayer does this book great justice!

GREAT book!!

If you have any interest in American History this is a must read. I learned more about American History than all my years of High School and College combined.