Nothing Like It in the World

The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869

By: Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by: Jeffrey DeMunn

Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Nothing Like It in the World is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroad. In Ambrose's hands, this enterprise comes to life. The U.S. government pitted two companies - the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific railroads - against each other in a race for funding, encouraging speed over caution. As its peak the work force approached the size of Civil War armies, with as many as 15,000 workers on each line. The surveyors, the men who picked the route, lived off buffalo, deer, and antelope.

In building a railroad, there is only one decisive spot - the end of the track. Nothing like this great work had ever been seen in the world when the last spike - a golden one - was driven in Promontory Peak, Utah, in 1869, as the Central Pacific and Union Pacific tracks were joined.

Ambrose writes with power and eloquence about the brave men - the famous and the unheralded, ordinary men doing the extraordinary - who accomplished the spectacular feat that made the continent into a nation.

©2000 Stephen E. Ambrose (P)2000 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"... telling of the railroad's physical construction will be a sure winner with the author's legions of readers." ( Booklist)

"... bears the reader on shoulders of wonder and excitement." ( The New York Times)

Good Book, Poor Narration and Audio Quality

The book is good if you are interested in history, which I am. The building of the transcontinental railroad is described in detail. The problem is the narration and sound quality. The narrator speaks softly -- barely above a whisper -- and with very little energy. He does, however, speak naturally, which is a plus. His quiet delivery is made worse by the uneven audio quality. You have to turn the volume way up to hear him, and there is a noticeable hiss which can be maddening. The delivery does not do justice to an otherwise fine book.

Stellar storytelling

This book brings alive the effort and passion necessary to link the east and west. Inspired storytelling linked with impeccable detail rooted in deep research, it is a tribute to those whose lives gave us the legacy of the iron horse.

Excellent story and performance

This was very interesting, and told with all the glory and shame. Not a candy coated tale full of folklore.

Some information seemed repetitive, but could be related to playback issues mentioned below.

Playback was sketchy. Many too lengthy gaps of dead air at end of chapters, and first word of new chapter always cut off. Thought it was a Chevymylink issue, but did it on headphones too. Maybe a Samsung S7Edge issue?

Great book

As in others of his books, Ambrose tells a great story. He brings history to life and makes it super interesting. DeMunn does a great job narrating it also.

Great book, but inaudible

The building of the transcontinental railroad is one of the most amazing achievements of the US. The book is a excellent, but the audio and narrator are so quiet!!

Excellent Historical vision

Takes you back in time, when the Men of the Frontier were rough and tough, and endured hardship, the beginning of the industrialized World as we know it, beautifully narrated by Jeffery DeMunn, one of my most favorite Narrators, what a Grand story and tale of how it used to be.

Fascinating story marred by ignorant reader

Extraordinary tale of the creation of the trans-continental railroad. Fascinating characters populate Stephen Ambrose’s telling of the epic endeavor. Very entertaining and informative. The reader, however, seems like an ignorant idiot, mispronouncing words like placer and Placerville and Oregon and several others. Inexcusable, really, and frequently disconcerting. The story, however, is worthwhile and interesting. Just prepare to be bewildered by the reader’s absurd lack of vocabulary and knowledge.

Excellent

Superb history. Entertaining. Well written.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys studying history — American and World.

Excellent 5 Star Story Poor Digital Presentation

Ambrose is / was one of our preeminent story tellers. Audible should be ashamed for how they present the story. Narration ending abruptly at the end of a so-called chapter with an overly long break before next section. It's like they took the CD edition and simply made each disc a chapter. How difficult can it be in this digital age to present the book as written?

a MUST read

loved it. a must read for those who are history buffs And everyone else. it might well inspire others toward history.