America the Beautiful

Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great

By: Candy Carson, Ben Carson MD

Narrated by: Dion Graham

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

What is America becoming? Or, more importantly, what can she be if we reclaim a vision for the things that made her great in the first place?

In America the Beautiful, Dr. Ben Carson helps us learn from our past in order to chart a better course for our future. From his personal ascent from inner-city poverty to international medical and humanitarian acclaim, Carson shares experiential insights that help us understand:

• What is good about America
• Where we have gone astray
• Which fundamental beliefs have guided America from her founding into preeminence among nations

Written by a man who has experienced America's best and worst firsthand, America the Beautiful is at once alarming, convicting, and inspiring. You'll gain new perspectives on our nation's origins, our Judeo-Christian heritage, our educational system, capitalism versus socialism, our moral fabric, healthcare, and much more.

An incisive manifesto of the values that shaped America's past and must shape her future, America the Beautiful calls us all to use our God-given talents to improve our lives, our communities, our nation, and our world.

©2011 Ben Carson, Candy Carson (P)2011 Zondervan

Great introduction to Ben Carson.

Where does America the Beautiful rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This ranks in my top 10%.

What was one of the most memorable moments of America the Beautiful?

I particularly enjoyed the background about Ben Carson's upbringing by a single mom in poverty. It is incredible to see how his mother did not let her circumstances define who she was or lower her expectations for her two boys. She truly sounds like a great American woman.

Have you listened to any of Dion Graham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, this is my first.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book is touching. I feel that I know more about Ben Carson and what he stands for.

Any additional comments?

Vote Carson!

Finger on the pulse

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

Dr. Carson makes some very relevant points given today's focus away from what really matters. Back to the basics, back to the Constitution, and back to a genuine value system that encompasses accountability and love.

What other book might you compare America the Beautiful to and why?

Any book written by Conservatives with a fundamental focus on the Constitution. Or, Tom Brokaw's latest book.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Dion Graham?

Ben Carson.

If you could give America the Beautiful a new subtitle, what would it be?

"My thoughts on how to restore the Great American Experiment."

Any additional comments?

Dion Graham has a nice voice, but reads each sentence as if it were a stand alone melodramatic point. It gets very distracting.

Outstanding!

Thank you Dr. Carson. A must-read. This is a well-developed argument supporting the decline of America and what regular Americans can do to turn it around.

Read this thoughtful, inspiring presentation ...you'll enjoy it!

It was so good, I have listened to it twice!

If you could sum up America the Beautiful in three words, what would they be?

Refreshing common sense.

Any additional comments?

Even though this is common sense, it is nice to hear it reiterated in a straight forward package and easy to understand (for low information voters). Spot on topics.

Great success story & reasonable ideas for America

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the Dr Carson's refusal to become a victim because of his early circumstances.

Smart people with substance... who needs em?

Our country gravitates to all the wrong types of people. Among other statistics, divorce rates show we have no idea what we're doing when it comes to judging who is good people and who is not. Ben Carson is good people. My kids had to read and write about Ben Carson's life so I thought I would read about another blowhard liberal like Obama. I am shocked to see the teachers recommending Ben Carson as a person to be read about frankly. But when you read about Ben Carson you read about a guy who worked hard got a little lucky but really seems to be a guy you want to root for because he was probably almost always doing the right thing. Guy is not oriented toward politics, yet and if you read this book and understand a little bout economics, business, and politics you'll see he is naive.

I'd like to see a smart hard working accomplished person who hasn't thought about political office get thrown into a high political office. As this book shows he hasn't thought deeply about all the issues, but he certainly is a good person for a representative democracy. Remember the days when you were supposed to pick someone you trusted? No longer. We have smart unaccomplished people who are professional politicians because they constantly know how a vote or stance on a political issue will impact their next election. Instead of figuring out what the right thing to do is they just conduct a poll.

Anyway, Ben Carson lays it bear for all to read. What motivates him, what he thinks makes this country great, what should be done to get us headed in the right direction, etc. It is a good book and he is a great guy. However, don't get this book thinking it is a book written by a slick politician. Some of his answers strike me as wrong and some as non-starters politically. I'd hire this guy as my representative tomorrow as he is earnest, honest and accomplished. Unfortunately, books like this will make him politically untenable. Above all else our country want politically tenable people because we are weak people who lack good judgment.

So get this book if you find his life story interesting and want to know more about his philosophies, beliefs, etc. Don't get it thinking this guy is the answer to our country's problems. He's too good a man for that.

A truly great listen

Where does America the Beautiful rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

First

What did you like best about this story?

A great source of wisdom

Which scene was your favorite?

Ben Carson overcoming his difficult childhood situation

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

When Ben sat in his bathroom for hours with fear of his own anger and then leaves a changed man

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book to everyone. It is a great perspective on issues very relevant to the times

Carson Nails the American Dream & How to Get There

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

Dr. Ben Carson's America the Beautiful is an excellent book for its educational and entertaining value. To accomplish what he did, from where he came was outstanding.
America is one of the few places that this story could happen.

An excellent read for young and old alike.

David Foster

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The story where he shared his shortcomings and how he overcame them through prayer and hard work.

Have you listened to any of Dion Graham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The Working Poor - Both were well done.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The American Dream

Any additional comments?

No

Common Sense Rationale

Would you listen to America the Beautiful again? Why?

Yes, I plan to put it on CD's to listen over and over.

What was one of the most memorable moments of America the Beautiful?

I remember vividly the expression of Dr.Carson's decision not to blame the current generation of white people for the sins of the past generations of slave owners. He admits that perhaps reparations should be made but asked pointedly, "From whom should we get them?" explaining that no one living today had anythng to do with the past deeds of their forebears.

Which character – as performed by Dion Graham – was your favorite?

Since this book is non-fiction, no characers are present. However, Dion Graham is very articulate and easy to understand in his reading, just as Dr. Carson is in his speeches.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Injustice and prejudice are everywhere but can be overcome. Things in our current government administration which seem irrational to me are just as irrational to all people who seek truth for truth's sake, not for personal gain or fulfillment of revenge in some vendetta against a segment of our population. Dr. Carson was treated to miserable unkindness by his teacher, who should have been very proud of and thankful for him in her class. (I would have been!) But he CHOSE not to let that stop him and moved on in our American Dream society. I admire this man more than I could ever tell him or show anyone. He is unafraid of speaking up for his faith in Christ and his reliance on the Bible. He is a true hero to people of every shade of the skin color rainbow (whether they acknoweldge that fact or not) because he seeks truth and does not tolerate the "shades of gray" that modern progressives want to foist on our population. And as he says, "Let the media try to dig some dirt on him - he as NOTHING to hide!" All the leftist/statists can do is twist his words and foment anger with that twisting. However, he shows in this book that he's a really smart man with a great sense of humor, so he'll be very word-crafting careful in what he says.

Any additional comments?

I wish Dr. Carson well and pray for his strength and courge as God taps him on the shoulder to run for President of the United States in 2016. American needs this kind of common sense rationale.

Dr. Ben Carson is a genius

What made the experience of listening to America the Beautiful the most enjoyable?

All his understanding and so many different subjects.

What was one of the most memorable moments of America the Beautiful?

Hearing that he wasn't the smartest kid his in elementary school.

Have you listened to any of Dion Graham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't, but his performance in this one was really good.

If you could give America the Beautiful a new subtitle, what would it be?

How America can remain a super power.

Any additional comments?

It is a must read for all children in high school.