The Men Who United the States

America's Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible

By: Simon Winchester

Narrated by: Simon Winchester

Simon Winchester, the acclaimed New York Times best-selling author of Atlantic and The Professor and the Madman, delivers his first book about America: a fascinating popular history that illuminates the men who toiled fearlessly to discover, connect, and bond the citizenry and geography of the U.S.A. from its beginnings.

How did America become “one nation, indivisible”? What unified a growing number of disparate states into the modern country we recognize today? To answer these questions, Winchester follows in the footsteps of America’s most essential explorers, thinkers, and innovators, such as Lewis and Clark and the leaders of the Great Surveys; the builders of the first transcontinental telegraph and the powerful civil engineer behind the Interstate Highway System. He treks vast swaths of territory, from Pittsburgh to Portland, Rochester to San Francisco, Seattle to Anchorage, introducing the fascinating people who played a pivotal role in creating today’s United States.

Throughout, he ponders whether the historic work of uniting the States has succeeded, and to what degree. The Men Who United the States is a fresh look at the way in which the most powerful nation on Earth came together.

©2013 Simon Winchester (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

A melodious exploration of nationhood

Well written, thought provoking and a genuine exhaultion of the connection of American people from a British immigrant turned American. Not a comprehensive American history, no doubt, but a mellifluous ode of a land becoming a nation, indivisible.

fantastic

great listen. very detailed. awesome narration by the author. could listen to his voice all day

Extremely Informative & Well Read

I am often cautious when purchasing an audiobook that is read by its author; quite frankly, more often than not, they are not good readers. However, this is absolutely not the case with Simon Winchester; he masterfully reads his material, delightfully infusing it with a subtle wit and charm.

The myriad stories he tells are expertly woven together and endlessly fascinating. This is no boring history lesson. Quite the opposite, the book clearly shows the tremendous impact various immigrants—and their immediate descendants—have had on the development of the United States, covering a spectrum of infrastructure. Highly recommended!

Sarcastic

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I doubt it, the history of the story is lost by his opinionated commentary.

Would you ever listen to anything by Simon Winchester again?

Doubtful

Any additional comments?

HIs overarching criticism made the book more like being stuck in a college class with a very opinionated liberal professor

Inoperative Approach

The Men Who United the States had a new approach to the American Story of Exploration and Innovation. It was easy to listen to and very interesting.

Plot Driven

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It is fascinating.

What other book might you compare The Men Who United the States to and why?

Krakatoa, The Professor and the Madman, because they are also full of action, science, and detailed descriptions of beautiful places or complex people.

What does Simon Winchester bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has a calm voice, much needed in this turbulent time.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"We have more similarities than differences".

Any additional comments?

The biographic material makes this book dynamic and riveting. It is one of my favorite Winchester books. I've read almost all of them.

great historical stories

These are great stories both national and personal. winchester is a great journalist and orator. A meaningful listen.

excellent history of United states evolution

This book offers a different perspective on American history. Entertaining and informative, it teases the imagination about the future.

great history lesson

I was skeptical of his structure of the earth elements to frame the book, but it was very well done and his narrative and interesting facts, kept me riveted. The author would have made a great history teacher!

Pleasant trip through history

Winchester is easy and enjoyable to listen to throughout this book. He paints a beautiful picture of how America came together through the different elements as a theme. Some stories that are familiar and some that are not, which hold almost as great a signifigance to how the nation became what it is today.