Liberty for All?

A History of US, Book 5

By: Joy Hakim

Narrated by: Christina Moore

Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Early nineteenth-century America could just about be summed up by Henry David Thoreau's words when he said, "Eastward I go only by force, but westward I go free." It was an exuberant time for the diverse citizens of the United States, who included a range of folk, from mountain men and railroad builders to whalers and farmers, as they pushed forward into the open frontier. And all their hopes and fears are captured in Liberty for All? In addition to colorful accounts of the massive westward migration, the California Gold Rush, a war with Mexico, the Oregon boundary conflict, Texas and the Alamo, Liberty for All? takes a deep look at the issue that began to gnaw at the country's core: how, in the land where "all men are created equal", could there be slaves?

A History of US is a 10-volume, award-winning series about the birth and development of the United States. Master storyteller and lifelong student of American history Joy Hakim takes readers from 9 to 99 on a breathtaking journey, from the Ice Age to the 21st century.

©1993, 1999, 2003 Joy Hakim (P)2002 Recorded Books, LLC

Liberty for All, a fast moving look

At a time when the train begun to run and technology begun to make inroads, this fast moving narrative is in most parts like a cliff hanger, especially the passionate display on slavery

Love the history books

Joy Hakim's history books are very enjoyable to listen too. Instead of summing up a moment in history in a dry paragraph, she tells you a story that keeps the reader wanting to listen and provokes one's thinking. I highly recommend them for junior high age and up.

Great survey of pre-Civil War US history

Would you consider the audio edition of Liberty for All? to be better than the print version?

My 12 year old and I are certainly enjoying the audio version better than we would the printed text. We find the narrator engaging and we get more covered since we can do other things while we listen. Some people have been concerned that the format wouldn't work on audio since there are sidebars with information in the text. It seems pretty seamless to us on audio.

Any additional comments?

This is a great series. Aimed at middle and high schoolers, I certainly have learned a lot as an adult. It would work well for an adult who is new to American history, but it also helped me brush up on facets of American history that I had forgotten.