The Untold History of the United States

By: Oliver Stone, Peter Kuznick

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

"At last the world knows America as the savior of the world!"
--Woodrow Wilson

The notion of American exceptionalism, dating back to John Winthrop’s 1630 sermon aboard the Arabella, still warps Americans’ understanding of their nation’s role in the world. Most are loathe to admit that the United States has any imperial pretensions. But history tells a different story as filmmaker Oliver Stone and historian Peter Kuznick reveal in this riveting account of the rise and decline of the American empire. They trace the American empire through the bloody U.S. suppression of the Filipino struggle for independence; the establishment of U.S. financial hegemony via World War I; the repeated U.S. interventions, covert operations, and wars in Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East; the transformation of America into a prying national security state; the accumulation of vast fortunes by the wealthiest Americans; and troubling assaults on U.S. constitutional liberties.

Aided by the latest archival findings and recently declassified documents and building on the research of the world’s best scholars, Stone and Kuznick construct an often shocking but meticulously documented "people's history" of the American empire that offers startling context to the Bush-Cheney policies that put us at war in two Muslim countries and show us why the Obama administration had such a difficult time cleaving a new path.

Stone and Kuznick will introduce listeners to a pantheon of heroes and villains as they show not only how far the United States has drifted from its democratic traditions but the powerful forces that have struggled to get us back on track. The authors reveal that:

• The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were militarily unnecessary and morally indefensible.
• The United States, not the Soviet Union, bore the lion’s share of responsibility for perpetuating the Cold War.
• The U.S. love affair with right-wing dictators has gone as far as overthrowing elected leaders, arming and training murderous military officers, and forcing millions of people into poverty.
• U.S.-funded Islamist fundamentalists, who fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan, have blown back to threaten the interests of the United States and its allies.
• U.S. presidents, especially in wartime, have frequently trampled on the Constitution and international law.
• The United States has brandished nuclear threats repeatedly and come terrifyingly close to nuclear war.

American leaders often believe they are unbound by history, yet Stone and Kuznick argue that we must face our troubling history honestly and forthrightly in order to set a new course for the 21st century. Their conclusions will astonish even experts, but there is one question only listeners can answer: Is it too late for America to change?

©2013 Oliver Stone & Peter Kuznick (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

a real eye opener for

real eye opener of US and world political history and if true and very disappointing

I really enjoyed it.

It builds off of Howard Zinn's work really well. I'd recommend reading "A People's History of the United States" first. I really enjoyed it.
My only gripe was the movie trailer style narrator reading it.

Eye opening

Very informative. This book is apt to change your perspective on the United States of America

every American citizen must read this book

A people's history of the American Empire. This well researched and vetted book is not one of conspiracy, but historical facts contradictory to the notion of American exceptionalism. It is a history of the dark side of American Empire, its militaristic impact on the poor people of the world and its own citizens, and it's betrayal of its most intimate and virtuous ideals. But it is also a book of hope, cataloguing those who pushed for a fair and just world, a world of equity and peace. Especially now (right before the 2020 election), the American consciousness needs salvation from the clutches of tribalism, corporatism from the democratic party and neo-fascism from trump, and the only way for this country to save it's soul is for it to take a hard look in the mirror, and come to grips with it's sins, mistakes and malfeasance. This book offers than opportunity.

narration is done impeccably. I just finished and feel sobered, inspired, and the need to cry.

should be included in our U.S. history classes

this is a great book that exposes the shamefull actions of our nation that get hushed and swept under the rug.

The truth on American History

I loved it. It cleared a lot of darkness of America history. Great Job

Pretty far too the left, but eye opening

The worst part of the editing is the changes in volume. Otherwise, the production is just fine.

Mostly about the failed foreign policies of the last 120 years and the effects on domestic policy, politics, and perception. Very anti - establishment.

While in my title I say that it is pretty far to the left, there are many libertarian aspects to the perspective.

Fantastic!

Obliterates the triumphalist narrative that we are all taught in school... A must-read for anyone who cares about peace and justice.

Enlightening Expose All Americans must know

We need to realize our history needs to be told with the unvarnished truth so that subsequent generations will not make the same mistakes. The good and the bad and those who don't give a damn, should know the seeds of those who have come before us and after us reside in our own hearts. Oh, periled human race doomed to make the same mistakes, do not model your behavior after the world but transform your thinking to that of Jesus Christ and you will know what the perfect and good will of God.

interesting behind the scenes history

Any additional comments?

I found this to be an interesting "behind the scenes" trip through historical events that we all THINK we know about, but only really have a basic Disneyesque knowledge of. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in more than the standard narrative you think you know about the history and current events that have produced the world we live in today. It was so interesting, I searched out the film version, but was shocked to find they seemed to have absolutely no relationship to each other. I only watched part of one episode of the film version, but found the film to be just more of the "same old stuff" that I could have watched on cable any time over the last six decades. I got the feeling that the film was designed as the "standard narrative" for public consumption and entertainment, but the book was meant to be the other half of the story for people who watched the film and then asked, "but what about...??"