The Glory and the Dream

A Narrative History of America, 1932 - 1972

By: William Manchester

Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach

Length: 57 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

This great time capsule of a book captures the abundant popular history of the United States from 1932 to 1972. It encompasses politics, military history, economics, the lively arts, science, fashion, fads, social change, sexual mores, communications, graffiti...everything and anything indigenous that can be captured in print.

The Glory and the Dream chronicles the progress of life in the United States, from the time William Manchester and his generation reached the beginning of awareness in the desperate summer of '32 to President Nixon's Second Inaugural Address and the opening scenes of Watergate. Masterfully compressing four crowded decades of our history, Manchester relives the epic, significant, or just memorable events that befell the generation of Americans whose lives pivoted between the America before and the America after the Second World War.

©1974 William Manchester (P)1994 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

So Incredibly interesting!

Unbiased History Lesson! Stuff you've forgotten from those Jr. High & HS lesson, recapped here. Fabulous to look back at the lives and times of leaders in years gone by. Hours and hours of interesting stories. Makes you wish, you could've lived 100 years ago to see all the amazing things that have happened over time.

Explains many commonplace references

If you are like me, many of the common English language references carried some meaning but not a full understanding to me. As I listened to this audiobook I gained the historical significance of many words or phrases that I had read or heard in conversation. McCarthyism. I like Ike. The Vietnam war. Pearl Harbor. If you want to know what was happening in our world, the United States of America. Both politically and in society, you will enjoy this book. It is long and takes perseverance to complete, but do not rush and, most of all, enjoy learning about our history.

Highly recommend

Thorough, engrossing, excellent. Can't recommend highly enough. Made my endless drives so much more entertaining. 60 hours well spent. Thanks.

a tour de force

This book is an outstanding panorama of U.S. history that stretches from the New Deal to Nixon. I found it difficult to pull myself away. It is a timepiece, reflecting the values of an earlier era. Manchester's take on Berkeley's Free Speech movement was weak, but there was so much that strong. In the first segments there were minor technical glitches, but they were insignificant. Highly recommended.

Jeff Riggenbach, the reader, was perfect for the book.

Great book - recording needs to be fixed though

Would you listen to The Glory and the Dream again? Why?

I might listen to it again in the future- as some of the details could need refreshing, and I found the experience relaxing.

What other book might you compare The Glory and the Dream to and why?

I'd compare it to the podcast "Whistlestop" from John Dickerson (of Slate's Political Gabfest and Face the Nation - I purchased this at his recommendation) - it has the same sort of appreciation of the multiple perspectives of history from the big events to the little cultural details that just belies a love of history that becomes infectious.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really enjoyed the section on the Bay of Pigs invasion - I had never understood JFK's decision until I heard the whole story here.

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

This is audiobook was practically it's own hobby - it's a great value for 1 credit.

Any additional comments?

There were some damaged areas of the audio files, and my attempts to address them with audible support were failures. (Support basically didn't closely read my comments after asking me where to detail the issues with the audio book

10/30/13 - Simpy one of the best

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

This book is really great. I was skeptical about some of the reviews where the listener heard audio glitches. They must have fixed that because I only ever heard one noticible glitch in a book that is two whole volumes.

I first read Manchester's The Last Lion Pt. 2 - Alone, and I thought he was a great author but this book blew me away. It is a narrivitve history and one that everyone should read and listen to.

I plan on listening to it again down the road, it was that good.

Who was your favorite character and why?

No favorites, there are hundreds.

Great book but....

The narrator seemed to want to finish the book as fast as possible! It was only listenable at 3/4 speed!

compelling

If you could sum up The Glory and the Dream in three words, what would they be?

This book is unturnoffable.
It is a gripping reminder of a period of our history that is very relevant to today

What other book might you compare The Glory and the Dream to and why?

Any Barbara Tuchman, which from me is high praise from me

What about Jeff Riggenbach’s performance did you like?

It was ok, not the best reader, but serviceable

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

fascinating

Any additional comments?

Really good

Fantastic cultural and political history

Written like a biography of America, with profiles of important people, story lines covering important events, and broad, colorful descriptions of pop culture, demography, and every day life. Particularly fantastic perspectives on political events, from the perspective someone who lived though all of these events (the author was born in 1922), with many of these events covered during the 17 years in which this book was written (1957-1974). Without a doubt, this is what allowed the author to give this book it's remarkable, almost autobiographical feel.

Most important books on US from 1937-1972

Would you listen to The Glory and the Dream again? Why?

Matybe. It is very very long -- over 40 hours. I listen as I get up in the morning, drive to work and come back. Wonderful experience.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Glory and the Dream?

Too many to review: It's history. Lots and lots of critically important information and dates.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Riggenbach’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He's amazing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Lots. Again, in the history of 40 or so years, it's a wonderful story.

Any additional comments?

Everyone should listen. It's wonderfully written -- full of color and lively. Well recorded. Transfixing.