To Make Men Free

A History of the Republican Party

De: Heather Cox Richardson

Narrado por: Heather Cox Richardson

“The most comprehensive account of the GOP and its competing impulses” (Los Angeles Times), now updated to cover the Trump presidency and its aftermath.

When Abraham Lincoln helped create the Republican Party on the eve of the Civil War, his goal was economic opportunity for all Americans. Yet the party quickly became mired in an identity crisis. Would it be the party of democratic ideals? Or the party of moneyed interests?

In To Make Men Free, acclaimed historian Heather Cox Richardson traces the shifting ideology of the Republican Party from the antebellum era to the Great Recession. While progressive Republicans like Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower revived Lincoln’s vision and expanded the government, their opponents appealed to Americans’ latent racism and xenophobia to regain political power, linking taxation and regulation to redistribution and socialism. In the modern era, the schism within the Republican Party has grown wider, pulling the GOP ever further from its founding principles.

Now with an epilogue that reflects on the Trump era and what is likely to come after it, To Make Men Free is a sweeping history of the party that was once considered America’s greatest political hope, but now lies in disarray.

©2014 Heather Cox Richardson (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. © 2021 afterword by Heather Cox Richardson.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A readable and provocative account of the many paths that Republicans have taken to their current state of confusion.” (New York Times Book Review)

“The book offers a lively survey of Republican politics in all its diversity, from the ‘transformational presidency' of Abraham Lincoln (to borrow a 21st-century term) to the conservative ascendancy of Ronald Reagan.” (Washington Post)

“The most comprehensive account of the GOP and its competing impulses...an important contribution to understanding where we are today.” (Los Angeles Times)

Fantastic Presentation!

Richardson’s recounting of the Republican odyssey is astoundingly well-researched, written and narrated. Her work is a gift to all of us.

Absolutely brilliant

I’m hard-pressed to recall a more densely packed history book than this, with greater insights. In the same spirit as Barbara Tuchman, perhaps. Edge-of-your-seat storytelling and a smooth performance that doesn’t interfere with the “are you KIDDING me?!” effect of the words themselves. You don’t want to miss this one, you’ll re-listen repeatedly.

Astounding

Once again, Heather Cox Richardson tells a complete story of great importance! The information was breathtaking.

Fresh and thought provoking

This author never fail# to make me think. At 71, I still love to learn and there are so many insights this young woman brings to the table. This book should be required reading for all university students. But the rest of us would do well to listen and think about this author’s thoughts as well. I could not recommend this book more highly.

The Author holds our hand along every step!

In my desire to understand the nature of our present times from the elements of our history I can find no better guidebook.

This should be required reading/listening for all Americans!!

For those who like Heather Cox Richardson, listening to this shows how she has become a voice for our times. If the Republicans had stuck to the principles of Lincoln and last demonstrated fully by Eisenhower perhaps the USA would be in a better place than she is in now. That said, while I think STEM is very important, the States should really bring back a greater emphasis on Civics, History, and Social Studies. The USA and the world would be better off because of it. While we cannot all go “back to school” we can start a list of good works and read or listen to some books that show how the USA got here. For that list, put Heather Cox Richardson’s works at the top of that reading/listening script post haste!!

Excellent Book

Now I better understand the current political environment

the author has done a great job articulating very complex issues.


I will listen to it again.

Repubs

What an odyssey. From Lincoln to trump with stops in between as Republican invective is dumped on America , nearly always with a (un)healthy dose of dishonesty and to the detriment of our nation. Seeing it all laid out like this has been an eye-opener.

The cyclical nature of history

A main takeaway from this book for me was that at so many points I found myself thinking of current events (this review is being written in January 2024) and how much the rhetoric and actions of the Party and government are direct echoes of historic junctions that have played out before. Truly brings meaning to the idea that “those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.” Wonderful read.

Excellent book

An eminently readable and well sourced tome explaining much of what is happening now to the Republican Party today. Most highly recommended.