Wilson

By: A. Scott Berg

Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb

Length: 32 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Truman, John Adams, and Team of Rivals, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning biographer of Charles Lindbergh, Maxwell Perkins, and Samuel Goldwyn sheds new light on a president and his presidency in a way that redefines our understanding of a tide-turning historical moment.

A hundred years after his inauguration, Woodrow Wilson still stands as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, and one of the most enigmatic. And now, after more than a decade of research and writing, Pulitzer Prize-winning author A. Scott Berg has completed Wilson - the most personal and penetrating biography ever written about the 28th President.

In addition to the hundreds of thousands of documents in the Wilson Archives, Berg was the first biographer to gain access to two recently discovered caches of papers belonging to those close to Wilson. From this material, Berg was able to add countless details - even several unknown events - that fill in missing pieces of Wilson's character and cast new light on his entire life.

From the scholar-President who ushered the country through its first great world war to the man of intense passion and turbulence, from the idealist determined to make the world "safe for democracy" to the stroke-crippled leader whose incapacity and the subterfuges around it were among the century's greatest secrets, the result is an intimate portrait written with a particularly contemporary point of view - a book at once magisterial and deeply emotional about the whole of Wilson's life, accomplishments, and failings. This is not just Wilson the icon - but Wilson the man.

©2013 A. Scott Berg (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Very Good

This is a great book, written from a very honest and objective perspective, lacking severe politics. The way history should be remembered.

Good not great

Woodrow Wilson is an interesting character in an American history. In many ways he led to many of the socialist agendas being perpetuated on America today. Although that is not emphasized in this book. Neither is his racist upbringing or continued thought into his presidency. Even his Christian faith is not discussed in depth. Overall I found this biography to be filled with inconsequential facts it did not take a deep look into the most interesting parts of Wilson‘s life and legacy.

A remarkable biography about a remarkable man

The splendid prose by the author does justice to the life and accomplishments of Woodrow Wilson. A true visionary.

A Well Written Journey

Terrific biography written with great understatement and attention. Gave me a much better appreciation for the man and his times.

complete, but just too long

I am happy to learn about Woodrow Wilson, a figure I did not previously know well. This biography was too long for me. Comparing it to Caro.'s multi-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson, I found the Johnson biography an easier read.

Fascinating, but that narrator!

I found this book fascinating, particularly after reading The Bully Pulpit. It filled in some large gaps in my knowledge of Wilson and WWI. But I really had to concentrate to keep my mind from wandering. The narrator has a pleasant voice, but it NEVER varies. Every sentence had the exact same cadence, no variation at all. After listening to Edward Herrmann (RIP), this guy was like Ambien. Audible, do you read these reviews and give narrators feedback? That being said, the book was well worth my credit.

Worth 32 hours of listening.

This audio book was outstanding. It balanced a look at Wilson's personal life, history and politics as was truly enlightening. It was also somewhat disturbing that the politics practiced in the early 1900s is not much different than the political posturing taking place today.

Amazing Man, Amazing Story

Curious about who President Woodrow Wilson was, I searched for recommended biographies of him and came across Scott Berg’s THOROUGH treatment of him. I was absolutely engrossed and listed to every minute of the 32 hour narration. I came away stunned by how little I had really known about this absolutely transformative figure of world history. Highly recommend this book! I did think it interesting that the reader used some non standard pronunciations—particularly “valet”.

A worthy biography

Pleasantly written and read audiobook. Sad that such a great intellect was coupled to a frail body.

Well Written

I am working my way through at least one book on each President. Wilson has been the best written and narrated so far. I found myself having a hard time taking a break from the narration. I often felt as though I were in the room as events unfolded. Well written. Very well narrated.