The Will of the People

The Revolutionary Birth of America

By: T. H. Breen

Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

Over eight years of war, ordinary Americans accomplished something extraordinary. Far from the actions of the Continental Congress and the Continental Army, they took responsibility for the course of the revolution. They policed their neighbors, sent troops and weapons to distant strangers committed to the same cause, and identified friends and traitors. By taking up the reins of power but also setting its limits, they ensured America's success. Without their participation there would have been no victory over Great Britain, no independence. The colonial rebellion would have ended like so many others - in failure.  

The driving force behind the creation of a country based on the will of the people, T. H. Breen shows, was in fact the people itself. In villages, towns, and cities from Georgia to New Hampshire, Americans managed local affairs, negotiated shared sacrifice, and participated in a political system in which each believed they were as good as any other. Presenting hundreds of stories, Breen captures the powerful sense of equality and responsibility resulting from this process of self-determination.  

With striking originality, Breen restores these missing Americans to our founding and shows why doing so is essential for understanding why our revolution ended differently from others that have shaped the modern world.

©2019 T. H. Breen (P)2019 Tantor

Mediocre Narration

The narrator sounds like he's telling the story to 5th graders. Condescending. I quit after an hour of it.

Interesting, but ruined for me by the narration

Loved the ideas & plan to buy the book instead.

The narrator's performance style would have been good with a children's book in a 2nd or 3rd grade classroom if he had read more slowly. Exaggerated emoting, sing song in places and too fast. I found the combination hindered my ability to process the author's meaning. Also, not the narrator's fault, but his vocal quality lacks any feel of the gravitas that enhances thoughtful history like the author has written in this intriguing book.