Lone Star

A History of Texas and the Texans

By: T. R. Fehrenbach

Narrated by: John McLain

Here is a must-listen history of the Lone Star State, together with an insider's look at the people, politics, and events that have shaped Texas from the beginning right up to our days. Never before has the story been told with more vitality and immediacy. Fehrenbach re-creates the Texas saga from prehistory to the Spanish and French invasions to the heyday of the cotton and cattle empires. He dramatically describes the emergence of Texas as a republic, the vote for secession before the Civil War, and the state's readmission to the Union after the War. In the 20th century oil would emerge as an important economic resource and social change would come. But Texas would remain unmistakably Texas, because Texans "have been made different by the crucible of history; they think and act in different ways, according to the history that shaped their hearts and minds."

©2000 T. R. Fehrenbach (P)2018 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Thought-provoking, highly original...a most distinctive chapter of American and Southern history." (Virginia Quarterly Review)

Great American History

This is one of the most extensive histories on any state that I have experienced. It details the history of Texas from prehistoric times to modern times in great detail.

Great book!

Narration was excellent and made the listen enjoyable, the book was very thorough, and gives a lot of insight into the Texas experience.

What a story! Definitely makes you proud to be Texan if you are one!

This book will help you understand why students in Texas learn their state history in 4th grade and 7th grade; and if you were like me and experienced that, you’ll reflect with fond memories as you listen...

Much of this book may not be suitable for 4th or 7th graders, but it is very important to know your history - even, and maybe especially state history... or you’ll be doomed to repeat it!

Great for historical context

Fehrenbach does a good job of explaining the Texas culture and how it was shaped. The history of recent times are best found in other books but I really enjoyed the book.

All situations and events were covered in great detail.

A little bit too free with the N word, but it was written in the 1960’s.

Great book if you want to understand Texas

This should be required reading/listening for the God-knows-how-many people flooding into our state every darn day, or they’ll never get why every other car and truck have a Texas flag sticker proudly displayed on the back window. When you familiarize yourself with the struggle and obstacles the Texian settlers overcame, you’ll begin to see why a certain truck manufacturer’s slogan for in-State marketing purposes is “Built Texas Tough”.
If you buy this book, might as well look up the following words, as the author uses each one approximately 5024 times... each: “ephemeral”, “depredations”, “atomistic”. And don’t strain your ears, the narrator - whose darkly dramatic inflections resemble the voice of the Moviephone guy - keeps saying “drought” like it rhymes with “mouth”. While I enjoyed the thorough yet easy-to-follow history of the state I love best, I couldn’t help but think it would have been so much better narrated by the guy who voices the Whattaburger commercials...

Re-read just now - still FABULOUS

No need for further digging, Ted uncovers the comprehensive and special nature of Texas and Texans. I suggest new arrivals to start at LAST CHAPTER first, then start at the beginning.

I was especially surprised and move to see that Ted selected my friend and fraternity brother to start the next to last chapter in the book: Rudy de la Garza hit the nail on the head. I wish that I had known that he prefaced that chapter before he died in 2019. I have so many questions to ask him.

Unfiltered Truth

What a refreshing look back when the truth could be spoken so clearly. Brilliant narrative about Texas and the people that shaped it.

Best Book On Texas History I’ve Read

It goes much more in depth than most books on Texas history. It states events succinctly, rather than almost apologetically, as many new books on the same subject matter. It does tend to lose one’s interest in the later chapters, but the last chapter really ties it all together. Highly recommend.

Very Enlightening

Though not a native Texan, arriving here as a young man I have been here for most of my life. I always wondered why I love it here in Texas. This book has satisfied that longing. A very good read! Now I understand.