Nixonland

The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America

By: Rick Perlstein

Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne

Length: 36 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

From one of America's most talented historians and winner of a LA Times Book Prize comes a brilliant new account of Richard Nixon that reveals the riveting backstory to the red state/blue state resentments that divide our nation today.

Told with urgency and sharp political insight, Nixonland recaptures America's turbulent 1960s and early 1970s and reveals how Richard Nixon rose from the political grave to seize and hold the presidency.

©2008 Rick Perlstein. All rights reserved. (P)2009 BBC Audio

Critic reviews

"A richly detailed descent into the inferno - that is, the years when Richard Milhous Nixon, 'a serial collector of resentments,' ruled the land." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Perfect narrator for the author

Perlstein's wit and sarcasm shine because of the narrator. I laughed out loud often. The rest of the time I listened with a smirk. Great listen. (I wish he narrated Perlstein's other books.

Great book, great narration

An absolute masterpiece of American history, Perlstein weaves in myriad details that make this era of American history come alive. Of the Perlstein books available on Audible, this has the best narration by far. Thorne mispronounces names and words, but his overall tone is a unique match for the author's wit and turn of phrase

Essential reading

From "ratfucking" and dirty tricks to the sleight-of-hand that robbed other agencies to create the EPA, from who killed JFK (seriously) and the planting the seeds that grew Trump's base...it's all here. ESSENTIAL reading for the understanding of why we are a nation divided--and who divided us into permanent camps.

Well researched; poorly narrated.

The author did an incredible job bringing all the cultural and political elements of the ‘60s together. He created an interesting book about a fascinating time. The narrator, however, mispronounced too many names common to any American who lived during that time. It was distracting.

good book / disappointing reading

I'm fascinated with all the insight into the inner workings of American Politics. So sad. The disappointment is the frequent mispronunciation by this reader. Many of the names are slaughtered, but the story is captivating.

Brilliant

Perlstein and Thorne are both remarkable. What incredible encapsulation of a period of metamorphosis in American life.

Wholeheartedly agreeing with Jerrold

I am really enjoying listening to this selection. It's a lively history of the turbulent years of the late fifties through the early seventies, with an emphasis on understanding how the Nixon presidency played on and widened the polarizations that are still gripping this country: gaps in education, race, social standing. How Nixon's own jealousies and resentments helped him play on the resentments of the people whom he named "The Silent Majority".
The book is interesting, well written, never dry, and it's obvious the writer is completely engaged and passionate about his subject.
OK, that's the book. It's great.
I agree with Jerrold that the publisher of this audiobook should be ashamed of the shoddy job this reader did. Not only does he mispronounce many words, but more embarrassingly, names like Dean AY-chison, Sander VAN-oker, and more. Come one, these are people in history. How could an editor let this go by? It's tough not to find it a little distracting.
Nonethless, I can almost wholeheartedly recommend this listen. The quality of the book is good enough to ignore the idiocy of the reader.

Entertaining and enlightening

Don't be intimidated by the book's length. It's well worth a listen. Perlstein is a great storyteller whose work is thorough, rich in detail, and flows. He's a craftsman. I do recommend reading "Before the Storm," his previous book, before this one.

Nixon as Mastermind

What made the experience of listening to Nixonland the most enjoyable?

I really enjoy learning about both American history and Nixon in particular, and this book certainly did not disappoint. It presented a strong narrative of the 1950s through the early 1970s, filled with well-crafted descriptions of timelines and events, and populated by the interesting characters of the era. However, the main premise veered a bit too conspiratorial for my tastes at time. Nixon, the mastermind, was posited as pulling the strings behind many of the biggest events of the era. It was easy to buy at times, but a lot of important figures and their influence on events were pushed aside in favor of a Nixon over all interpretation. Additionally, the main metaphor of the book -- that Nixon, an "Orthogonian," was paranoid of and vengeful upon "Franklins," or upper class rich kids who had everything handed to them, was briefly enlightening, but more often simply annoying and over-simplified. Nixon, whom I truly believe was a monster, was nothing if not a very complicated monster.

What did you like best about this story?

Insider details about Nixon's crimes.

What about Stephen R. Thorne’s performance did you like?

He read well and had a strong voice. He did mispronounce a considerable number of words, but the delivery was so good this was excusable.

If you could give Nixonland a new subtitle, what would it be?

Or, The American Mabuse

The Passion of the Nixon

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

Yes, I recommend the time to listen, not only for finding out what happened then, but to understand where we are now. The story starts in 1965 in Watts and covers the riots. Get used to it, and Vietnam, and politics, and economics, and pop culture. Cap it off with the lens of Nixon and you have quite a tale. To his credit Mr. Perlstein , covers a veritable who's who of American politics. Darn, he blends urban planning in with race and culture to create a compelling epic. For what its worth.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nixon is the good, the bad and ugly, all in one. Although, I have read very compelling Nixon biographies, it is the broad vistas he portrays, that makes Nixon so fascinating. While I recall some newer narratives that cover Nixon as a loving father, that is easily left aside here. If you want to know conflicts with Kissinger, and the fall of the Kennedy's this is the story. While Nixon was the only one who could go to China, his focus, and compartmentalization would lead to his downfall. Blackboard, and dirty tricks in one, loathing in another, how will we get this legislation passed, how are the hard hats doing?

Have you listened to any of Stephen R. Thorne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He must have loved it, the narrative was unending. He played well never faking it. He reminded me of some professors who could deliver some pretty turgid material and just keep going.

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

Lots of them, Nixon as VP, and relation to Ike, the Hiss case, the Checkers speech, failed elections and comebacks, Ronald Reagan. LBJ, alone is his own epic, but with Nixon it's a political wrestling match that takes your breath away. The 68 Democratic National Convention is another complex narrative well told, and by 72 you can't help but wonder if there isn't a better way.

Any additional comments?

It's not perfect, some points a strained past credulity, but this a story of America through Nixon. I would give it another listen credulity be damned.