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Don't Know Much About the American Presidents  By  cover art

Don't Know Much About the American Presidents

By: Kenneth C. Davis
Narrated by: Arthur Morey, Kirby Heyborne, Mark Bramhall, Kenneth C. Davis
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Publisher's summary

For more than 20 years since his New York Times best seller Don't Know Much About History first appeared, Davis has shown that Americans don't hate history, just the dull version dished out in school.

Now Davis turns his attention to what is arguably the most important and most fascinating subject in American history: our presidents. From the heated debates over executive powers through the curious election of George Washington in 1789 and, for more than 200 years, up through the meteoric rise of Barack Obama, the presidency has been at the heart of American history. From the low lights to the bright lights, from the intellectuals to the disasters, from the memorable to the forgettable and forgotten, Davis tells all the stories. He uses his entertaining question-and-answer style to chart the history of the presidency itself as well as debunk the myths of America's leaders and recount the real stories of these very real people.

For history buffs and history-phobes alike, this entertaining audiobook is packed with memorable facts that will change your understanding of the highest office in the land and the men who have occupied it.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2012 Kenneth C. Davis (P)2012 Random House Audio

What listeners say about Don't Know Much About the American Presidents

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Too Biased

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

I would recommend anybody to any friend because I believe the more you read the more you will learn. So, yes I would recommend this book to a friend.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'm not sure yet.

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

Hearing the narrators gives me a completely different perspective because they pronounce words more fluidly then me.

What else would you have wanted to know about Kenneth C. Davis’s life?

No Comment

Any additional comments?

The reason why I say this book is way to biased is because of the grading scale the author uses. Why couldn't he just present the facts and let the reader grade the presidencies? He gave A+'s to every president who abused their powers and expanded more government. But gave C's and below to every president who believed more in limited government.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very informative. Excellent

Would you consider the audio edition of Don't Know Much About the American Presidents to be better than the print version?

This book will tell you everything you want to know about each President. Very very informative. Details details details!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not a book you can listen to in one sitting. I found it best to listen about one President at a time, take a break, and then move on to the next.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Better in visual format

This book, while filled with facinating material contains too many charts and other visual cues to translate well into audio format. Reading charts aloud doesn't quite convey the spatial organization evident when the chart is viewed, it comes thru sounding like a very dull list. These lists cause regular breaks in the narrative analysis disrupting the flow of information. I recommend getting this book in bound paper or on Kindle, it would be much clearer.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A left leaning review of history

What did you like best about Don't Know Much About the American Presidents? What did you like least?

I liked the brief discussion of events in each administration.I did not like the left leaning comments that increased for recent presidents.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

I liked the use of several narrators

What else would you have wanted to know about Kenneth C. Davis’s life?

He should have stated up front his political bias. Everyone has one..I think all Journalists and "historians" should place their political bias in plain view up front. Then what they say can be more easily understood

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Truely a must have for any history buffs

What did you love best about Don't Know Much About the American Presidents?

Was able to see that times may change but situations dont, we will always have a good economy then bad economy no matter the era and same for presidents.

What did you like best about this story?

Didnt feel like a lecture, felt like a scolar teaching you all his wisdom.

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

So many small details you would miss if you read it where some one reading it to you you can comprehend those details all that much better

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No this is a book you listen to one or two presidents in one sitting then take a break and come back. Gives you great breaking points.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not Suited to Audiobook Format

I tried for about 2 months to get hooked into this book. I really enjoy US Presidential History and thought this would be a breezy overview I could listen to while working. I thought wrong.
This book might be just fine in its print edition, however the endless recitation of bullet points and timelines is enough to drive you bonkers in an audiobook format. I could handle it if it was only something that popped up every now and again, but the “date - event” list format takes up a substantial amount of this book. Add slow, dry narration to it and you’ve got yourself a wonderful instrument of torture, but an unlistenable audiobook- that should’ve never been made into an audiobook to begin with.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Slow starter but stick with it

Good book and recommended despite its faults.

1) Book slanted to the left. The author obviously has a dislike for Regan. Additionally, Barbara Bush gets a better review then George H W Bush

2) Each president is divided into 4 sections with each section getting a different narrator.This style does take a little getting used to.

3) Book covers all presidents up to and including Bill Clinton. Would have been interesting the review on Bush #43.

.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Thorough and unbiased

This book follows a basic structure of documenting the life and presidency of each of the United States presidents from George Washington to Barak Obama, as well as their qualifications, associations, achievements and special notes, culminating in a final grade for each president. It was an excellent journey across American history.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very informative

Enjoyable & informative. Improved my knowledge of POTUS considerably. Surprised with the rating for Jackson, A - was expecting C based upon the narrative.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Easy crash course. I learned a lot

This book is exactly what you would expect it to be. Easy listening. A nice little chunk on each president, and the occasional factoid about the office of the presidency. Nothing edgy or controversial, no strong opinions, just basically the general common wisdom on each one. Washington, Lincoln and FDR get top honors, as everyone would expect. James Buchanan and GWB get roasted. Reagan gets the predictable over rating, with Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton taking a backseat. Andrew Jackson is an excellent story line, but like Reagan he gets an A despite having plenty of downside. Still, these are pretty mainstream views and the author goes decidedly mainstream in his assessments. If you expect that going in, there will be no disappointments. Arthur Morey isn't a showy narrator, but the man has talent. He is a master of enunciation, emphasis, cadence, and clarity. Steady all the way, and never distracts. I've heard him narrate a ton of books and he's one of my very favorites. Overall, this material is excellent in the sense that it is accessible and well packaged. A sharp, professional production that is easy to listen to no matter what your politics are. Informative, but also fun.

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2 people found this helpful