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

Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

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

History stories

Any American will appreciate this effort
While respect for civil discourse in the public square has been challenged, there seems to be great forces that think they benefit by dividing Americans
This book encourage me to align with those who United the States

Love letter to USA from a Brit, BUT…

Absolute pleasure for anyone who enjoys history and vignettes. Author mentions well-known figures, but most interestingly brings out those incredibly important, but forgotten people vital to building this republic. Author seems to have a internal debate between his love affair with the United States with all its flaws, and his quintessentially British tendency to romanticize concentration of power. While he continuously provides insightful and substantive commentary on American, ingenuity, and individual initiative, the only low moments of the book are brief sidetracks into pseudo, political commentary, which indicate a strong leftist, big government prejudice, while at the same time celebrating the results that only happen in a free market based system.
As someone who enjoys both technology and history, I still strongly recommend the read, you will just have to suffer through moments of romanticizing, centralization of power generally, along with a somewhat bizarre conclusion, regarding a “one world government“ utopia.
His storytelling is first rate and triggered numerous searches on my part regarding individuals. I had either never heard of or barely.
Interestingly, this book released in 2013 unintentionally foreshadows, the abuses and frightening ease of totalitarian tactics rapidly implemented during the Covid crisis in western culturally “free“ people.
I am curious the authors thoughts of this period , whether he stay true to “liberal” principles, or fell like so many into line with the fascist tactics used by what we now know to be a very ill-informed small minded set of “ elite“, public health officials.

A little slow but worth sticking it out.

The characters are unknown to many and little remembered in history but one comes away with a deep appreciation of the greatness of our country and it's amazing people. Another great history of our of the USA from a different angle.

Interesting US History

Expanded upon important events in US History by providing background and details not typically known.

Enjoyed listening to the author narrate the book. After finishing, immediately, downloaded another of his books.

Would have been fantastic without the bias.

Extraordinarily researched and written in a captivating style. Winchester’s depth of knowledge is profound. I had mixed feelings about his narration. It was a plus to have his personal experiences told by himself but his haughty tone often came across as a lecture. When he chose to throw his options in it was a real distraction and took a while to shake off. When he stuck to the facts without his personal bias the book was really enriching!

History revisited

For a person who loves history, this was a great read. As much as I've read a learned things I never knew, as well as gaining a new perspective on some I did know. I was sorry to have the book end.

Wow

Men behind the scenes. History from a tremendous perspective. Facts on facts with a story tying them together....thank you

Simply superb

Maybe I just enjoy listening to an Englishman read, but Mr. Winchester has written a superb, different take on the exploratory geniuses who helped this country become what it has become. It is well written, highly informative, and well read. For lovers of American history, it is blissful.

The ties that bind

That the United States should be united was not a foregone conclusion, although we tend to think it was an effortless, natural occurrence. Mr. Winchester looks at the many threads that help pull it into one and created the connections that helped keep it together. He does not go the normal route of political founders, parties or ideal but look at the physical and communication links. Rivers, canals, railroads, telegraph, telephone, etc. he explores their characteristics, the forgotten (who should be remembered) who pushed, created, built and used these to have a giant, unrecognized role in creating the United States of America.

100% Worthwhile

Took a while to engage my interest, but once I settled in, this book was enriching, amusing, and inspiring of productive reflection on our current moment in history.

Also, as always with Winchester, it is elegantly written.