Andrew Jackson

His Life and Times

De: H.W. Brands

Narrado por: John H. Mayer

The extraordinary story of Andrew Jackson—the colorful, dynamic, and forceful president who ushered in the Age of Democracy and set a still young America on its path to greatness—told by the bestselling author of The First American.

The most famous American of his time, Andrew Jackson is a seminal figure in American history. The first “common man” to rise to the presidency, Jackson embodied the spirit and the vision of the emerging American nation; the term “Jacksonian democracy” is embedded in our national lexicon.

With the sweep, passion, and attention to detail that made The First American a Pulitzer Prize finalist and a national bestseller, historian H.W. Brands shapes a historical narrative that’s as fast-paced and compelling as the best fiction. He follows Andrew Jackson from his days as rebellious youth, risking execution to free the Carolinas of the British during the Revolutionary War, to his years as a young lawyer and congressman from the newly settled frontier state of Tennessee. As general of the Tennessee militia, he put down a massive Indian uprising in the South, securing the safety of American settlers, and his famous rout of the British at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 made him a national hero.

But it is Jackson’s contributions as president, however, that won him a place in the pantheon of America’s greatest leaders. A man of the people, without formal education or the family lineage of the Founding Fathers, he sought as president to make the country a genuine democracy, governed by and for the people. Jackson, although respectful of states’ rights, devoted himself to the preservation of the Union, whose future in that age was still very much in question. When South Carolina, his home state, threatened to secede over the issue of slavery, Jackson promised to march down with 100,000 federal soldiers should it dare.

In the bestselling tradition of Founding Brothers and His Excellency by Joseph Ellis and of John Adams by David McCullough, Andrew Jackson is the first single-volume, full-length biography of Jackson in decades. This magisterial portrait of one of our greatest leaders promises to reshape our understanding of both the man and his era and is sure to be greeted with enthusiasm and acclaim.

Look for H.W. Brands's other biographies: THE FIRST AMERICAN (Benjamin Franklin), THE MAN WHO SAVED THE UNION (Ulysses S. Grant), TRAITOR TO HIS CLASS (Franklin Roosevelt) and REAGAN.

©2005 H.W. Brands (P)2005 Books on Tape

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Illuminating both the mettle of a fascinating leader and the crucible in which American democracy was forged....[Brands'] effort is intensely engaging....A bracing, human portrait of both a remarkable man and of American democracy as it was transformed from a 'government of the people' into a 'government by the people'." (Publishers Weekly)

"This complete and completely enveloping biography indelibly establishes Jackson's abiding sense of duty in serving democracy....A distinguished treatment certain to be the most authoritative and comprehensive account for some time." (Booklist)

sweeping

What made the experience of listening to Andrew Jackson the most enjoyable?

covers the best and worst of what made the US what it is. Thank God

Good background on what the country was like

A long book but well worth the time is you like American history of the era.

outstanding

the book tells the full story of his life. he was a Titan of his times.

Great story about a great man

So much info I did not know about this great American. Excellent narrator and gripping stories

A profound & riveting profile of a Great American

I have long sought historical writings that fulfill the desire I have for knowledge and understanding. In the research and expository of HW Brands Andrew Jackson has come to life. He is fierce and magnanimous. He is a definitive example of our American Spirit. Brands delves deep into the life of Jackson and leaves you with a scent and taste of life in America during his lifetime. You feel you are a part of the scenery of his life. Brands does a masterful job of bringing Jackson to life. His approach does not involve political correctness, nor is it politically flavored. It is an honest assessment of a man who experienced a life of suffering with magnificent discipline. You will not find this volume written with a bias. It is a work of integrity.

compelling but a bit biased and lite on details

Brands isn't a genocide apologist, but he does go to great lengths to explain (if not justify) why Jackson decided to push through the infamous Indian Removal Act. Brand's aim is to convince us of the validity of Jackson's argument: that long-term peaceful coexistence between American farmers and Indians was impossible, and that their removal was therefore inevitable - or at least was necessary to preclude another bloody war.

But he doesn't provide any counterargument; he doesn't quote AJ's contemporaries who were against the Removal Act, nor does he interrogate the historians who have argued that there were other solutions besides forced removal.

Brands narration is usually objective, but a lot of info is omitted vis a vis the Removal Act, seemingly to avoid an ignoble depiction of his subject. The fact that the Trail of Tears - the defining event of Jackson's legacy - is given only 2 or 3 paragraphs, is inexplicable.

On the plus side, this is an eloquently written and compelling book with lots of info on wider historical events to help contextualize the period Jackson lived in - a feature I always appreciate in such biographies.

Minor pet peeve: Brands' text is sparse on minutae to a fault. He'll frequently say something like "... most states in the Northeast supported the policy" - ok, so which state(s) didn't support it? I get that stats can get boring, but his penchant for summation often left me wanting more details.

Comprehensive account of an adventurous life

Where does Andrew Jackson rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Brands has written a comprehensive memoir that reveals the character of a person who often placed his life and honor on the line in order to preserve his steadfast democratic beliefs. For any historical fanatic this biography is a winner.

What other book might you compare Andrew Jackson to and why?

I'd compare it to Ulysses S. Grant by William McFeely

Which scene was your favorite?

I found his treatment of the Native Americans interesting considering he had adopted two Native American boys.

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

Because there were some points where the author went into too much needless detail, I would not have been able to listen to it in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

Brand's biography is a work that spans the entire life of President Jackson. His life is filled with stories by which legends are made, and Brands takes a careful look at all of them, giving detail appropriately to those that are important.

The best part about Brands biography is the format. It is a fine blend of character-driven and plot-driven scenes where all the necessary background information is provided and all the repercussions of the events are included.

Overall, the biography offers an adventurous and at times inspiring tale of a truly democratic President written by an articulate and careful pen. If you are looking for a biography that brings you equally to both character and place, without emphasizing one over the other, this is the one.

What a wealth of history eloquently written in a dynamic prose.

The author provides great insight, deep background to characters, cultural explanations and point in time comparisons.

The model populist president

What did you like about this audiobook?

Excellent story and well spoken. I was struck by the parallels between Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump as both battle not only the opposition party but also the establishment of their own party. Both also believe strongly in the rights of the states--but not at the expense of the Union.

Jackson is more admirable and important after this

Jackson exhibited all of the strengths and weakness of the American people themselves. This book puts him in a historical context that shows how important he was to this union.