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James Buchanan: A Life from Beginning to End
- Biographies of US Presidents
- Narrated by: Matthew J. Chandler-Smith
- Length: 1 hr and 4 mins
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James Buchanan: A Life from Beginning to End
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Publisher's Summary
James Buchanan began life as a country boy in rural Pennsylvania. He would later leave the farm for law school and, after that, politics. Buchanan’s ascent to the presidency was a careful and steady rise; he checked all of the requisite boxes and took all of the necessary steps he believed the office required, but nevertheless, when Buchanan was inaugurated president in March of 1857, he had inherited a powder keg that was just waiting to explode into the turmoil that was the American Civil War.
James Buchanan has since been vilified as being the great appeaser who placated the South enough to embolden them to secede from the Union. He is frequently listed as one of the worst presidents in the history of the United States. Buchanan himself, however, always held out the hope that history would vindicate him and the role he played. In this book, we explore James Buchanan’s life - before, during, and after the American Civil War - in full.
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-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 68
He's the butt of political jokes, frequently subjected to ridicule, and almost never absent a "Worst Presidents" list where he most often ends up at the bottom. Historians have labeled him the "Worst President Ever," "Dead Last," "Unfit," and "Incompetent," to name but a few. Many contemporaries were equally cruel. H. L. Mencken called him a "nitwit." To Alice Roosevelt Longworth, he was a "slob."
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5 out of 5 stars
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Good balanced summary
- By r-audible c richardson iv on 07-18-22
By: Ryan S. Walters
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The Failed Promise
- Reconstruction, Frederick Douglass, and the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
- By: Robert S. Levine
- Narrated by: Ryan Vincent Anderson
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 30
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 27
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 26
Robert S. Levine foregrounds the viewpoints of Black Americans on Reconstruction in his absorbing account of the struggle between the great orator Frederick Douglass and President Andrew Johnson.
By: Robert S. Levine
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John Adams
- By: John Patrick Diggins
- Narrated by: Richard Rohan
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 19
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 10
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 10
Perhaps no U.S. president was less suited for the practice of politics than John Adams. A gifted philosopher who helped lead the movement for American independence from its inception, Adams was unprepared for the realities of party politics that had already begun to dominate the new country before Washington left office. But, as John Patrick Diggins shows, Adams's contributions still resonate today.
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4 out of 5 stars
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A Worthy Addition
- By Terry on 01-18-04
Related to this topic
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To Rescue the Republic
- Ulysses S. Grant, the Fragile Union, and the Crisis of 1876
- By: Bret Baier, Catherine Whitney
- Narrated by: Bret Baier
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 725
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 656
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 645
Born a tanner’s son in rugged Ohio in 1822 and battle-tested by the Mexican-American War, Grant met his destiny on the bloody fields of the Civil War. His daring and resolve as a general gained the attention of President Lincoln, then desperate for bold leadership. Lincoln appointed Grant as Lieutenant General of the Union Army in March 1864. Within a year, Grant’s forces had seized Richmond and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender.
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1 out of 5 stars
-
Couldn’t get past opening nonsense about January 6
- By Kimberly Ames on 11-25-21
By: Bret Baier, and others
-
The Duel: A Captivating Guide to the Lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Duke Holm
- Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 16
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 15
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 15
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr lived very similar lives. They were both orphaned at an early age. Both were excellent students who attended college and studied law. Both were young staff officers under General George Washington, and both became war heroes. They were both drawn to politics, and each served in the newly formed government of the United States. How was it then that these two men ended up in the most famous duel in American history?
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Franken-book, but ok...
- By Danyel Allen on 01-03-21
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James Monroe
- A Captivating Guide to the Founding Father Who Served as the Fifth President of the United States
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Desmond Manny
- Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 24
From plantation owner to diplomat to US president, James Monroe was known for his tenacity in pursuing what he thought was right, while also being honored for his fair policies, such as the Monroe Doctrine and policies to develop the country’s infrastructure. Explore more of the captivating life of James Monroe.
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5 out of 5 stars
-
Great information
- By Scott G Wickel on 01-31-23
-
The Virginia Dynasty
- Four Presidents and the Creation of the American Nation
- By: Lynne Cheney
- Narrated by: Nan McNamara
- Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 49
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 44
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 43
A vivid account of leadership focusing on the first four Virginia presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe - from the best-selling historian and author of James Madison.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Captivating
- By Jean on 11-19-20
By: Lynne Cheney
-
Adams vs. Jefferson
- The Tumultuous Election of 1800
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Jack Garrett
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 281
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 164
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 162
Award-winning author John Ferling is a leading authority on the American Revolution. His entertaining and enlightening histories have greatly improved our understanding of early America and the Founding Fathers. Now Ferling opens a window to the past and explores the contentious presidential election of 1800.
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5 out of 5 stars
-
Outstanding work of interpretive history
- By D. Littman on 11-01-04
By: John Ferling
-
Jefferson and Hamilton
- The Rivalry That Forged a Nation
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Bo Foxworth
- Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 27
The decade of the 1790s has been called the "age of passion". Fervor ran high as rival factions battled over the course of the new republic - each side convinced that the other's goals would betray the legacy of the Revolution so recently fought and so dearly won. All understood as well that what was at stake was not a moment's political advantage, but the future course of the American experiment in democracy. In this epochal debate, no two figures loomed larger than Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Biased and low quality
- By Yolanda Yzquierdo on 12-04-22
By: John Ferling
-
To Rescue the Republic
- Ulysses S. Grant, the Fragile Union, and the Crisis of 1876
- By: Bret Baier, Catherine Whitney
- Narrated by: Bret Baier
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 725
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 656
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 645
Born a tanner’s son in rugged Ohio in 1822 and battle-tested by the Mexican-American War, Grant met his destiny on the bloody fields of the Civil War. His daring and resolve as a general gained the attention of President Lincoln, then desperate for bold leadership. Lincoln appointed Grant as Lieutenant General of the Union Army in March 1864. Within a year, Grant’s forces had seized Richmond and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Couldn’t get past opening nonsense about January 6
- By Kimberly Ames on 11-25-21
By: Bret Baier, and others
-
The Duel: A Captivating Guide to the Lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Duke Holm
- Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 16
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 15
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 15
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr lived very similar lives. They were both orphaned at an early age. Both were excellent students who attended college and studied law. Both were young staff officers under General George Washington, and both became war heroes. They were both drawn to politics, and each served in the newly formed government of the United States. How was it then that these two men ended up in the most famous duel in American history?
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Franken-book, but ok...
- By Danyel Allen on 01-03-21
-
James Monroe
- A Captivating Guide to the Founding Father Who Served as the Fifth President of the United States
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Desmond Manny
- Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 24
From plantation owner to diplomat to US president, James Monroe was known for his tenacity in pursuing what he thought was right, while also being honored for his fair policies, such as the Monroe Doctrine and policies to develop the country’s infrastructure. Explore more of the captivating life of James Monroe.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great information
- By Scott G Wickel on 01-31-23
-
The Virginia Dynasty
- Four Presidents and the Creation of the American Nation
- By: Lynne Cheney
- Narrated by: Nan McNamara
- Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 49
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 44
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 43
A vivid account of leadership focusing on the first four Virginia presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe - from the best-selling historian and author of James Madison.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Captivating
- By Jean on 11-19-20
By: Lynne Cheney
-
Adams vs. Jefferson
- The Tumultuous Election of 1800
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Jack Garrett
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 281
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 164
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 162
Award-winning author John Ferling is a leading authority on the American Revolution. His entertaining and enlightening histories have greatly improved our understanding of early America and the Founding Fathers. Now Ferling opens a window to the past and explores the contentious presidential election of 1800.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Outstanding work of interpretive history
- By D. Littman on 11-01-04
By: John Ferling
-
Jefferson and Hamilton
- The Rivalry That Forged a Nation
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Bo Foxworth
- Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 28
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 27
The decade of the 1790s has been called the "age of passion". Fervor ran high as rival factions battled over the course of the new republic - each side convinced that the other's goals would betray the legacy of the Revolution so recently fought and so dearly won. All understood as well that what was at stake was not a moment's political advantage, but the future course of the American experiment in democracy. In this epochal debate, no two figures loomed larger than Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Biased and low quality
- By Yolanda Yzquierdo on 12-04-22
By: John Ferling
-
Don't Know Much About the American Presidents
- By: Kenneth C. Davis
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey, Kirby Heyborne, Mark Bramhall, and others
- Length: 23 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 239
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 210
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 209
For more than 20 years since his New York Times best seller Don't Know Much About History first appeared, Davis has shown that Americans don't hate history, just the dull version dished out in school. Now Davis turns his attention to what is arguably the most important and most fascinating subject in American history: our presidents. From the heated debates over executive powers through the curious election of George Washington in 1789 and, for more than 200 years, up through the meteoric rise of Barack Obama, the presidency has been at the heart of American history.
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3 out of 5 stars
-
Too Biased
- By Justin Swihart on 05-29-13
By: Kenneth C. Davis
-
James Madison
- By: Richard Brookhiser
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 251
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 215
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 214
Eminent historian Richard Brookhiser presents a vivid portrait of James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution” and one of America's greatest statesmen.
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4 out of 5 stars
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OK book but not a biography
- By Joel Mayer on 08-05-12
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Worst. President. Ever.