Cattle Kingdom

The Hidden History of the Cowboy West

By: Christopher Knowlton

Narrated by: John McLain

A revolutionary new appraisal of the Old West and the America it made

The Open Range cattle era lasted barely a quarter-century, but it left America irrevocably changed. These few decades following the Civil War brought America its greatest boom-and-bust cycle until the Depression, the invention of the assembly line, and the dawn of the conservation movement. It inspired legends, such as that icon of rugged individualism, the cowboy. Yet this extraordinary time and its import have remained unexamined for decades.

Cattle Kingdom reveals the truth of how the West rose and fell, and how its legacy defines us today. The tale takes us from dust-choked cattle drives to the unlikely splendors of boomtowns like Abilene, Kansas, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. We venture from the Texas Panhandle, to the Dakota Badlands, to the Chicago stockyards. We meet a diverse array of players - from the expert cowboy Teddy Blue to the failed rancher and future president Teddy Roosevelt. Knowlton tells us how they and others like them could achieve so many outsized feats: killing millions of bison in a decade, building the first opera house on the open range, driving cattle by the thousand, and much more. Cattle Kingdom is a revelatory new view of the Old West.

©2017 Christopher Knowlton (P)2021 Tantor

Thorough coverage

These is a very sell thought out book about the Cattle drives, cattle Kingdoms, the Beef Trust, the influx of European moneyed interests and the phenomenal business innovations that accompanied the birth of an industry. The roles played by Swift and Delmonico's were especially enlightening.

very well

a lot of research went into this book. i have learned a lot of history.

Great treatment of history of the American west

I very much enjoyed learning more about a key period in the development of the American west, as well as the country, in an unvarnished chronology covering the varied contributions by individuals, countries, government, and business. Particularly interesting, was the lasting image of the noble cowboy on present day America and the world. Well narrated

Truly The Store of The COWBOY

Amazing read. I have listened to it multiple times. The history, the luster, the strive to bring a dream to life and romance of the west is all in this book. Wish I could of been there.

Interesting bits and pieces of Info

Overall, I thought it was an interesting book on the Cattle years, and the rise and fall of the industry. I’ve listened to a ton on the west, but little on the cattle industry alone.
Parts of the book broke up into mini biographies.
What I didn’t like was some of the personal opinions and shadow of political correctness/woke thoughts.
The author was almost apologetic that Teddy Roosevelt was an avid hunter. Citing it was before Darwin’s evolution theory, just odd and very college campus feeling. He also went on a little tangent on Owen Wister, and speculated where his views on women came from.
It’s just strange to be learning about western history, then all of a sudden feel like you’re talking to a Poli-Sci major at a state school.

I did appreciate him quoting one of the Time Life “The Old West” books. He certainly took his research seriously.

Don’t listen for these weak people reviews! This books is for the strong!

This books is the history of the real America! if you like you are a strong person! woke wussies will not like it cause they are weak!

I Had No Idea

Fascinating, in depth history of the West and its impact on our nations evolution. It uncovers the truth behind the myth.

Important history, well told, with insights into the financial basis

The author’s knowledge of financial theory is impressive, and he demonstrates a thorough understanding of the forces and effects. The section on the Johnson County War is well told and disturbing, as is right.

Interesting account of the open range era

Very interesting. Lots of research. Great accounts of what life was like back then. Would recommend!

Excellent!

Maybe the best book Zi have ever read on the American West and the cattle industry.