Grant

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 23 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow returns with a sweeping and dramatic portrait of one of our most compelling generals and presidents, Ulysses S. Grant.

Ulysses S. Grant's life has typically been misunderstood. All too often he is caricatured as a chronic loser and an inept businessman or as the triumphant but brutal Union general of the Civil War. But these stereotypes don't come close to capturing him, as Chernow sows in his masterful biography, the first to provide a complete understanding of the general and president whose fortunes rose and fell with dizzying speed and frequency.

Before the Civil War, Grant was flailing. His business ventures had ended dismally, and, despite distinguished service in the Mexican War, he ended up resigning from the army in disgrace amid recurring accusations of drunkenness. But in war, Grant began to realize his remarkable potential, soaring through the ranks of the Union army, prevailing at the battle of Shiloh and in the Vicksburg campaign, and ultimately defeating the legendary Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Along the way Grant endeared himself to President Lincoln and became his most trusted general and the strategic genius of the war effort. Grant's military fame translated into a two-term presidency but one plagued by corruption scandals involving his closest staff members.

More important, he sought freedom and justice for black Americans, working to crush the Ku Klux Klan and earning the admiration of Frederick Douglass, who called him "the vigilant, firm, impartial, and wise protector of my race". After his presidency, he was again brought low by a dashing young swindler on Wall Street, only to resuscitate his image by working with Mark Twain to publish his memoirs, which are recognized as a masterpiece of the genre.

With lucidity, breadth, and meticulousness, Chernow finds the threads that bind these disparate stories together, shedding new light on the man whom Walt Whitman described as "nothing heroic...and yet the greatest hero". Chernow's probing portrait of Grant's lifelong struggle with alcoholism transforms our understanding of the man at the deepest level. This is America's greatest biographer bringing movingly to life one of our finest but most underappreciated presidents. The definitive biography, Grant is a grand synthesis of painstaking research and literary brilliance that makes sense of all sides of Grant's life, explaining how this simple Midwesterner could at once be so ordinary and so extraordinary.

©2017 Ron Chernow (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Compelling story of an American Icon

Having just finished Chernow’s Hamilton I was wanting more. So to Grant I appreciate the nuances of personality the author pulls through the facts. Reading Grants memoir at the same time I feel that these two books provide a fairly complete portrait of this famous American who was so gifted and flawed. I listened to the abridged version which I felt was quite complete. With this background on the politics of 19th century America my next read is Chernows Titan, the story of John D Rockefeller Sr which should give a good picture of how the economy of America changed in the last part of the 19th century as a result of the Civil War. I find it charming that Chernow so loves his subjects while also presenting the good and not-so-good of them as people. And now I wonder if Lin Manuel Miranda has read Grant. Could be a good musical. As an FYI - 25% of the 2 million Union soldiers were immigrants!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent

I thoroughly enjoyed Grant. Great history, lessons of humanity, and awe inspiring courage in the face of dark times.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A comprehensive study of US Grant

Mr. Chernow brings a well detailed narrative to the listener, about one of the most controversial people in our nation’s history, Ulysses S. Grant. Utilizing first person accounts from those who new him, and primary sources of his time, Chernow takes us on a chronological journey of the man’s life. Writing of his life as young man, through his early military career, Civil War generalship, the presidency and post career. While taking side trips looking at his family, friendships, and personal demons.

Mark Bramhall’s performance was clear and inspired. Overall, a great book to spend your commute listening to, as I did.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

INCREDIBLE AMERICAN STORY!

Such an underrated presidency! History always talks about Lincoln but we never hear about the aftermath at that time. Grant led an amazing life and this was wonderfully illustrated!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

We'll worth reading.

For me, Ron Chernow made the iconic Civil War general into a very human man. The detailed, well researched biography provided a picture of Grant that goes beyond his military life, including financial downfalls that Grant never mentioned in his autobiography. Well done!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

now to his autobiography <br />well done chernow <br />Rocco

well done
a little prove my point but still
no lies that I could see
and if a man is besmitten like chernow he get a pass for glossing over the more discreditable parts

A great book about a great man

I wish I could give more than five stars for the story. I am ashamed I knew so little of Grant before this. Strongly recommend.

Grant was complex (as we all are)

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. It revealed details of his life that were so fascinating to me. He is a true American hero. An amazing story of his strengths, his weaknesses, his highs, and his lows. Well done audiobook.

Excellent biography!

Well written and researched. The audio book was an easy listen. Narrator did an excellent job.

Insight into another era and a great man.

Grant was a great man. As he said in his Memoirs, "Man Preposes, God disposes." And that is applicable to Grant's life. He had no intention of being a great military leader, but he was. He had no inclination towards politics, but he was President twice. He never thought of himself as an author, yet his Memoirs is very good.

He was a man much maligned by the likes of the "Lost Cause" Southerners. This book dispels those notions.

The performance was excellent. The story was great. I didn't know if I could handle the shorter version at 24 hours, but I really couldn't stop listening.