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by: Stephen E. Ambrose
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 973
EAN: 9780743202756
ISBN: 0743202759
Label: Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: November 11, 2002
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: October 15, 2002
Sales Rank: 614422
Studio: Simon & Schuster
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Editorial Review:
Book Description:
In To America, Stephen E. Ambrose, one of the country's most influential historians, reflects on his long career as an American historian and explains what an historian's job is all about. He celebrates America's spirit, which has carried us so far. He confronts its failures and struggles. As always in his much acclaimed work, Ambrose brings alive the men and women, famous and not, who have peopled our history and made the United States a model for the world.
Taking a few swings at today's political correctness, as well as his own early biases, Ambrose grapples with the country's historic sins of racism, its neglect and ill treatment of Native Americans, and its tragic errors (such as the war in Vietnam, which he ardently opposed on campus, where he was a professor). He reflects on some of the country's early founders who were progressive thinkers while living a contradiction as slaveholders, great men such as Washington and Jefferson. He contemplates the genius of Andrew Jackson's defeat of a vastly superior British force with a ragtag army in the War of 1812. He describes the grueling journey that Lewis and Clark made to open up the country, and the building of the railroad that joined it and produced great riches for a few barons.
Ambrose explains the misunderstood presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, records the country's assumption of world power under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt, and extols its heroic victory of World War II. He writes about women's rights and civil rights and immigration, founding museums, and nation- building. He contrasts the presidencies of Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout, Ambrose celebrates the unflappable American spirit.
Most important, Ambrose writes about writing history. 'The last five letters of the word 'history' tell us that it is an account of the past that is about people and what they did, which is what makes it the most fascinating of subjects.'
To America is an instant classic for all those interested in history, patriotism, and the love of writing.
Amazon.com:
'I am a storyteller by training and inclination,' writes the late Stephen Ambrose in To America, his final book. And what a storyteller. One of the most respected and popular historians of his era, Ambrose had a passion for making the events of the past both relevant and entertaining. In these pages, he touches on many of the subjects that he devoted his career to, including presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, the journey of Lewis and Clark, the building of the transcontinental railroad, and the citizen soldiers of World War II. He also writes about his own personal story and his role as a historian. In detailing a family camping trip to Wounded Knee (an outing which directly led to his dual biography of Crazy Horse and George Armstrong Custer) or offering tips on vivid historical writing (keep your narration in chronological order; keep the reader guessing; and never use the passive voice), he shares what it is like to reflect upon the triumphs and mistakes of the past and why it is so important to pass those stories on to the next generation.
In this brief yet satisfying book, Ambrose moves seamlessly from one topic to the next with contagious enthusiasm and unapologetic optimism. Along the way he points out the inherent absurdity of political correctness, and even takes himself to task for past biases and for sometimes failing to consider his subjects within the context of their own times and not his own. He does not shy away from writing about America's sins, both past and present, but Ambrose's undying faith in his country and his fellow citizens is inspiring. --Shawn Carkonen
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Very dense with information
I, like many other readers/history buffs, greatly respect Ambrose for his ability to take a portion of history and give it personality and make you care.
This book is really a compilation of medium length forays into different aspects of American history. So, if you want a book that covers a wide variety of historical topics but still gives you a ton of information, pick this one up. This would be a fantastic vacation book for the history buff.
As I mentioned in the title, this book is ... Read More
Rating: - Great read on American history
Stephen E. Ambrose writes in a descriptive and knowledgeable, yet fun tone that continues to draw readers back to each of his compelling books. "To America" is no exception to this as it shows an interesting view on main historical happenings in the United States from foundation to present day. After reading this book I was left with many new details and actualities about our nations' history. Ambrose sheds a new light on historicalfigures such as the Founding Fathers, Nixon, Theodore Roosevelt, ... Read More
Rating: - Excellent Collection of Non-Fiction Papers
My mother-in-law gave me this book as a gift. It not a title I would have selected myself, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The rather than a single contiguous work, it is twenty essays (too formal a word) about some of the commonly held 'truths' in Modern America about issues in our history. Mr. Ambrose introduces the issue, the 'commonly' held position on modern america, then describes how he formulated his opinion as he researched different projects. The issues addressed include: The duality of Thomas ... Read More
Rating:  - Flawed, but informative read, as much 'By America' as 'To America'
I bought this book not really knowing what to expect, but as an aspiring historian, I could not resist the final, personal work of one of America's greatest historians' (at $7 to boot). Providing a diverse set of passages that, though they don't always tie together very well, are a pleasure to read.
Early on, Ambrose describes various instances of American history he feels are important, defining moments. These are OK, and Ambrose often attempts to `set the record straight' on different areas ... Read More
Rating: - A debt to those who went before
I have loved many of Ambrose's books, but this one really brought home to me the debt we have to those who went before. He's not afraid to say someone is not absolutely perfect (i.e. Jefferson) or absolutely evil (i.e. Nixon). But what he does show is that the American way, with a sense of right and wrong, has prevailed up to the end of the 20th Century, and by implication, that sense of right and wrong need to be there for us to continue into the 21st Century.
Thank you, Mr. Ambrose, for this ... Read More
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