• Undefeated

  • Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team
  • By: Steve Sheinkin
  • Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
  • Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (256 ratings)

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Undefeated  By  cover art

Undefeated

By: Steve Sheinkin
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
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Publisher's summary

When superstar athlete Jim Thorpe and football legend Pop Warner met in 1904 at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, they forged one of the winningest teams in American football history. Called "the team that invented football", they took on the best opponents of their day, defeating much more privileged schools such as Harvard and Army in a series of breathtakingly close calls, genius plays, and bone-crushing hard work.

But this is not just an underdog story. It's an unflinching look at the persecution of Native Americans and its intersection with the beginning of one of the most beloved - and exploitative - pastimes in America, expertly told by nonfiction powerhouse Steve Sheinkin.

©2017 Steve Sheinkin (P)2017 Listening Library

What listeners say about Undefeated

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Truly Moving

A great recount of the first true American athlete. You suffer with him throughout his young life and through his adult life as he attempts to prove his worth in a land to which his people first owned, only to find themselves (in all accounts) as outcasts and enemies. Mr. Thorpe never truly felt himself as a free and equal man, even though there were no equals.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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So much I didn’t know or even thought about

I was a pop warner player. I love every moment. The experience continues to help me be a better person 60 years later. I was sad to read of the betrayal

The Army game was wonderful

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic history on America's best athlete

Great story, great narration, great book. A great look on what His generation went through.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great untold story

Jim Thorpe rubbed shoulders with many of the great American legends of the 20th century. Too bad the times he lived in did not afford him to take his rightful place among them. Only now does it become clear what his struggle was and the contributions that he and his teammates made to the modern game of football that America loves.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredible story

What a layered, multidimensional, and compelling story of the greatest athlete in American history. This is done through a historical lens that brings incredible context to football, America's illegality ("The Indian Problem"), and even America itself. A must read.

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Truly undefeated

Great story about the hardships of Native Americans and the stuff they went through to ingrate into modern society, as well as a cool bibliographical story about a famous athlete named Jim Thorpe

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Highly inspirational, as well as educational

I found this to be a highly inspirational story, a 'page turner', that I didn't want to pause. It was also very educational and I think should be required reading in high school, to understand this part of our U.S. History better. I am not even a football fan, but found the play-by-plays exciting and enjoyable, too. I highly recommend this book. Aside from the story, the narrator was excellent, too, and it was very easy to listen to.

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3 people found this helpful

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Baconator 🍔

Narrative was good. interesting story about Jim Thorpe. good read for 🏈 fans and history buffs.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent! I couldn't stop listening!

It was sad yet wonderful! The pain inflicted yet the strength and perseverance to succeed was amazing.

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Excellent

Lived 20 miles from Carlisle. Heard many stories and recollections re: the Carlisle. This presentation made all that I heard come alive.

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