The Americas category has 777 audiobooks on Listento.it, with an average listener rating of 4.5★ across 2,631 ratings. The most-rated is Endurance.
The Virginia Dynasty
Summary
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. From a small expanse of land on the North American continent came four of the nation's first five presidents - a geographic dynasty whose members led a revolution, created a nation, and ultimately changed the world. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe were born, grew to manhood, and made their homes within a 60-mile circle east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Friends and rivals, they led in securing independence, hammering out the United States Constitution, and building a working republic. Acting together, they doubled the territory of the United States. From their disputes came American political parties and the weaponizing of newspapers, the media of the day. In this elegantly conceived and insightful new audiobook from best-selling author Lynne Cheney, the four Virginians are not marble icons, but vital figures deeply intent on building a nation where citizens could be free. Focusing on the intersecting roles these men played as warriors, intellectuals, and statesmen, Cheney takes us back to an exhilarating time when the Enlightenment opened new vistas for humankind. But even as the Virginians advanced liberty, equality, and human possibility, they held people in slavery and were slaveholders when they died. Lives built on slavery were incompatible with a free and just society; their actions contradicted the very ideals they espoused. They managed nonetheless to pass down those ideals, and they became powerful weapons for ending slavery. They inspired Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and today undergird the freest nation on earth. Taking full measure of strengths and failures in the personal as well as the political lives of the men at the center of this audiobook, Cheney offers a concise and original exploration of how the United States came to be.
©2020 Lynne Cheney (P)2020 Penguin Audio
A Furious Sky
Summary
With A Furious Sky, Eric Jay Dolin has created a vivid, sprawling account of our encounters with hurricanes, from the nameless storms that threatened Columbus' New World voyages to the destruction wrought in Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria. Weaving a story of shipwrecks and devastated cities, of heroism and folly, Dolin introduces a rich cast of unlikely heroes and puts us in the middle of the most devastating storms of the past, none worse than the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, which killed at least 6,000 people, the highest toll of any natural disaster in American history. Dolin draws on a vast array of sources as he melds American history, as it is usually told, with the history of hurricanes, showing how these tempests frequently helped determine the nation's course. Hurricanes, it turns out, prevented Spain from expanding its holdings in North America beyond Florida in the late 1500s, and they also played a key role in shifting the tide of the American Revolution against the British in the final stages of the conflict. As he moves through the centuries, following the rise of the United States despite the chaos caused by hurricanes, Dolin traces the corresponding development of hurricane science, from important discoveries made by Benjamin Franklin to the breakthroughs spurred by the necessities of World War II and the Cold War.
©2020 Eric Jay Dolin (P)2020 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
President Carter
Summary
This program includes a foreword written and read by Madeleine Albright, with a preface and introduction read by Stuart Eizenstat. The definitive history of the Carter administration from the man who participated in its surprising number of accomplishments - drawing on his extensive and never-before-seen notes. Stuart Eizenstat was at Jimmy Carter’s side from his political rise in Georgia through four years in the White House, where he served as chief domestic policy adviser. He was directly involved in all domestic and economic decisions as well as in many foreign policy ones. Famous for the legal pads he took to every meeting, he draws on more than 7,500 pages of notes and 350 interviews of all the major figures of the time to write the comprehensive history of an underappreciated president - and to give an intimate view on how the presidency works. Eizenstat reveals the grueling negotiations behind Carter’s peace between Israel and Egypt, what led to the return of the Panama Canal, and how Carter made human rights a presidential imperative. He follows Carter’s passing of America’s first comprehensive energy policy and his deregulation of the oil, gas, transportation, and communications industries. And he details the creation of the modern vice presidency. Eizenstat also details Carter’s many missteps, including the Iranian Hostage Crisis, because Carter’s desire to do the right thing, not the political thing, often hurt him and alienated Congress. His willingness to tackle intractable problems, however, led to major, long-lasting accomplishments. This major work of history shows firsthand where Carter succeeded, where he failed, and how he set up many successes of later presidents.
©2018 Stuart E. Eizenstat (P)2018 Macmillan Audio
A New Textbook of Americanism
Summary
Most people have no idea what the United States represents. Ayn Rand did grasp America's political essence down to its roots. Seventy-two years in the making, this book illuminates why the United States is "the only moral country in the history of the world." Featuring never-before-published discussions with Ayn Rand, plus work from Leonard Peikoff and the New Intellectuals.
©2018 Jonathan Hoenig (P)2018 Jonathan Hoenig
Colossus
Summary
As breathtaking today as when it was completed, Hoover Dam ranks among America's greatest achievements. The story of its conception, design, and construction is the story of the United States at a unique moment in history: when facing both a global economic crisis and the implacable elements of nature, we prevailed. The United States after Hoover Dam was a different country from the one that began to build it, going from the glorification of individual effort to the value of shared enterprise and communal support. The dam became the physical embodiment of this change. A remote regional construction project was transformed from a Republican afterthought into a New Deal symbol of national pride. Hoover Dam went on to shape not only the American West but the American century. Michael Hiltzik populates the epic tale of the dam's construction with larger-than-life characters, such as Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, William Mulholland, and the dam's egomaniacal architect, Frank Crowe. Shedding real light on a one-of-a-kind moment in 20th-century American history, Hiltzik combines exhaustive research, trenchant observation, and a gift for unforgettable storytelling in a book that is bound to become a classic in its genre.
©2010 Michael Hiltzik (P)2010 Tantor
The Entire Life Story of Ernesto Guevara: A Guerrilla Leader
Summary
There are many tales of his military might and strong character, there are those who see Ernesto “Che” Guevara as a hero and the greatest socialist mind of his time, but there are those who see him as a ruthless military leader who executed people without trials and who violated several human rights. You’ll listen about The makings of a revolutionary icon The Argentinian who liberated Cuba Exporting the revolution to the rest of the world Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s praxis philosophy And much more! Very few men have been subject to as much mysticism and admiration as Ernesto Guevara. His image has been used as the symbol for revolution, freedom, and rebellion in every corner of the world. His legend, inspired by a picture of his face taken in 1960 that made him a symbol, has been written thousands of times by people who paint it as a hero or a villain.
©2018 The History Hour (P)2020 The History Hour
The Plot to Seize the Whitehouse
Summary
Most people will be shocked to learn that in 1933 a cabal of wealthy industrialists - in league with groups like the K.K.K. and the American Liberty League - planned to overthrow the U.S. government in a fascist coup. Their plan was to turn discontented veterans into American "brown shirts," depose F.D.R., and stop the New Deal. They clandestinely asked Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Major General Smedley Darlington Butler to become the first American Caesar. He, though, was a true patriot and revealed the plot to journalists and to Congress. In a time when a sitting President has invoked national security to circumvent constitutional checks and balances, this episode puts the spotlight on attacks upon our democracy and the individual courage needed to repel them.
©2007 Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. Originally published by Hawthorne Books, Inc., New York in 1973. (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
The Peshtigo Fire of 1871
Summary
If you want to discover the history of the Peshtigo Fire of 1871, then pay attention... It’s likely true that most people picking up this book have never even heard of a place called Peshtigo. This is hardly surprising. This little town on the shores of Lake Michigan is hardly a remarkable place in the modern day. Its residents number less than 4,000, and there’s nothing particularly special about it at first glance. But one does have to look twice at its motto. “A city rebuilt from the ashes.” Peshtigo may be just another small Wisconsin town today, but 150 years ago, it really was nothing but ashes. This town was one of the hardest hit in the deadliest wildfire event in American history - and no, I’m not talking about the Great Chicago Fire, even though it also occurred on the very same night. The Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871 claimed four times as many lives as the fire in Chicago, yet this cruel twist of fate has left it almost unheard of, while the (untrue) tale of Catherine O’Leary’s cow continues to echo through the centuries with unabated vigor. The story of the Great Peshtigo Fire has not been told nearly often enough, yet it is a story that will captivate every listener. Parts of it seem to border on science fiction: trees exploding in the heat of the fire, a tornado made of flames sweeping through an entire town in a single hour, birds caught up and burned in mid-air. Yet, all of it is true, and so are the stories of the people who witnessed the fire first-hand and survived it. So if you want to learn more about the Peshtigo Fire of 1871, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button!
©2020 Captivating History (P)2020 Captivating History
A Young People's History of the United States
Summary
A Young People's History of the United States brings to US history the viewpoints of workers, slaves, immigrants, women, Native Americans, and others whose stories, and their impact, are rarely included in stories for young people. A Young People's History of the United States is also a companion volume to The People Speak, the film adapted from A People's History of the United States and Voices of a People's History of the United States. Beginning with a look at Christopher Columbus’s arrival through the eyes of the Arawak Indians, then leading the reader through the struggles for workers’ rights, women’s rights, and civil rights during the 19th and 20th centuries, and ending with the current protests against continued American imperialism, Zinn in the volumes of A Young People's History of the United States presents a radical new way of understanding America’s history. In so doing, he reminds listeners that America's true greatness is shaped by our dissident voices, not our military generals.
©2007 Howard Zinn. Previously published as a two volume set. (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Wisconsin
Summary
If you want to discover the captivating history of Wisconsin and the Peshtigo Fire of 1871, then pay attention.... Two captivating manuscripts in one audiobook: History of Wisconsin: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Badger State, Starting from the Arrival of Jean Nicolet Through the Fox Wars, War of 1812, and Gilded Age to the Present The Peshtigo Fire of 1871: A Captivating Guide to the Deadliest Wildfire in the History of the United States of America That Occurred in Northeastern Wisconsin Some of the topics covered in part one of this audiobook include: Wild Wisconsin French colonization British colonization Wisconsin as a United States territory Wisconsin as a state Wisconsin burns And much, much more! Some of the topics covered in part two of this audiobook include: Before the blaze Life in Peshtigo Ash like snow Nature lifted up its voice A Holocaust of Fire Among the ashes Flickers of hope Composed of wind and fire Wildfires through American history And much, much more! So, if you want to learn more about the history of Wisconsin, get this audiobook now!
©2021 Captivating History (P)2021 Captivating History
Becoming (Polish Edition)
Summary
The first lady of the United States of America and the first African-American in that position. A huge advocate of women. One of the most iconic and fascinating people of our times. Michelle Obama talks about her life with honesty and humor, in the same way she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revealing, Becoming is an intimate account by a sensitive and strong woman who consistently rose above the expectations of others. Her story inspires to do the same. Please note: This audiobook is in Polish.
©2019 Michelle Obama (P)2019 Agora S.A.
Empire of the Summer Moon
Summary
In the tradition of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, a stunningly vivid historical account of the 40-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West, centering on Quanah, the greatest Comanche chief of them all. Empire of the Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. The second is the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches. Although listeners may be more familiar with the tribal names Apache and Sioux, it was in fact the legendary fighting ability of the Comanches that determined just how and when the American West opened up. Comanche boys became adept bareback riders by age six; full Comanche braves were considered the best horsemen who ever rode. They were so masterful at war and so skillful with their arrows and lances that they stopped the northern drive of colonial Spain from Mexico and halted the French expansion westward from Louisiana. White settlers arriving in Texas from the eastern United States were surprised to find the frontier being rolled backward by Comanches incensed by the invasion of their tribal lands. Against this backdrop Gwynne presents the compelling drama of Cynthia Ann Parker, a nine-year-old girl who was kidnapped by Comanches in 1836. She grew to love her captors and became infamous as the "White Squaw" who refused to return until her tragic capture by Texas Rangers in 1860. More famous still was her son Quanah, a warrior who was never defeated and whose guerrilla wars in the Texas Panhandle made him a legend. S. C. Gwynne's account of these events is meticulously researched, intellectually provocative and, above all, thrillingly told.
©2010 S.C. Gwynne (P)2020 W F Howes
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (AmazonClassics Edition)
Summary
Despite being born into slavery, Linda Brent enjoys a happy childhood - until the deaths of her parents and kind mistress leave her an orphan and the property of the lascivious Dr. Flint. Linda becomes the target of his unwanted advances, which she temporarily evades by bearing the children of another man. But when Dr. Flint threatens to sell her children unless she submits, Linda hatches a desperate plan to escape, working to secure her children's freedom as well as her own. Using the character Linda Brent to narrate her own life story, Harriet Ann Jacobs reveals the unparalleled struggles of an enslaved woman. Her harrowing account of perseverance and unimaginable bravery continues to enlighten and inspire to this day. AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from iconic authors. Ideal for anyone who wants to hear a great work for the first time or revisit an old favorite, these new editions open the door to the stories and ideas that have shaped our world. Revised edition: Previously published as Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, this edition of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.
Public Domain (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Letters of a Woman Homesteader
Summary
Elinore Pruitt Stewart (1876-1933) was a homesteader in Wyoming and a memoirist who, between 1909 and 1914, wrote a series of engaging letters describing her life. The letters, which are short stories, reveal an adventurous and resourceful personality. They were first published in the Atlantic Monthly.
Public Domain (P)2019 Museum Audiobooks
Texas: A Captivating Guide to the History of Texas and Texas Rangers
Summary
If you want to discover the captivating history of Texas, then pay attention... Two captivating manuscripts in one audiobook History of Texas: A Captivating Guide to Texas History, Starting from the Arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors in North America through the Texas Revolution to the Present The Texas Rangers: A Captivating Guide to the History of a Law Enforcement Agency That Has Helped Stop Some of America's Most Infamous Criminals and Their Role in the Mexican-American War Here are just some of the topics covered in part one of this audiobook: Before Columbus Early Colonizers - Spain and France Spanish Settlers Claim the Region Americans Settle Rising Tensions Between Mexico and the Settlements The Fight for Texas Independence Begins “Remember the Alamo” and Other Major Battles Annexation to the US and the Mexican-American War Role in the Civil War Reconstruction Texas Today And much, much more! Here are just some of the topics covered in part two of this audiobook: Stephen Austin and the Founding of the Texas Rangers Growing Discontentment in Texas and the War for Texas Independence Protecting New Settlers after the Revolution Driving the Natives from Their Homes The Annexation of Texas The Mexican-American War Corruption, Loss of Popularity, Rebuilding and Restoring an Earlier Image Taking Down Bonnie and Clyde The Murder of Irene Garza Their Role Today And much, much more! So if you want to learn about the history of Texas, buy this audiobook now!
©2020 Captivating History (P)2020 Captivating History
The Hour of Fate
Summary
Bloomsbury presents The Hour of Fate by Susan Berfield, read by Jennifer Woodward. A riveting narrative of Wall Street buccaneering, political intrigue and two of American history’s most colossal characters, struggling for mastery in an era of social upheaval and rampant inequality. It seemed like no force in the world could slow J. P. Morgan’s drive to power. In the summer of 1901, the financier was assembling his next mega-deal: Northern Securities, an enterprise that would affirm his dominance in America’s most important industry — the railroads. Then, a bullet from an anarchist’s gun put an end to the business-friendly presidency of William McKinley. A new chief executive bounded into office: Theodore Roosevelt. He was convinced that as big business got bigger, the government had to check the influence of the wealthiest or the country would inch ever closer to collapse. By March 1902, battle lines were drawn: the government sued Northern Securities for antitrust violations. But as the case ramped up, the coal miners’ union went on strike and the anthracite pits that fueled Morgan’s trains and heated the homes of Roosevelt’s citizens went silent. With millions of dollars on the line, winter bearing down and revolution in the air, it was a crisis that neither man alone could solve. Richly detailed and propulsively told, The Hour of Fate is the gripping story of a banker and a president thrown together in the crucible of national emergency even as they fought in court. The outcome of the strike and the case would change the course of our history. Today, as the country again asks whether saving democracy means taming capital, the lessons of Roosevelt and Morgan’s time are more urgent than ever.
©2020 Susan Berfield (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
The Kidnapping Club
Summary
In a rapidly changing New York, two forces battled for the city's soul: the pro-slavery New Yorkers who kept the illegal slave trade alive and well, and the abolitionists fighting for freedom. We often think of slavery as a southern phenomenon, far removed from the booming cities of the North. But even though slavery had been outlawed in Gotham by the 1830s, Black New Yorkers were not safe. Not only was the city built on the backs of slaves; it was essential in keeping slavery and the slave trade alive. In The Kidnapping Club, historian Jonathan Daniel Wells tells the story of the powerful network of judges, lawyers, and police officers who circumvented anti-slavery laws by sanctioning the kidnapping of free and fugitive African Americans. Nicknamed "The New York Kidnapping Club", the group had the tacit support of institutions from Wall Street to Tammany Hall whose wealth depended on the Southern slave and cotton trade. But a small cohort of abolitionists, including Black journalist David Ruggles, organized tirelessly for the rights of Black New Yorkers, often risking their lives in the process. Taking listeners into the bustling streets and ports of America's great Northern metropolis, The Kidnapping Club is a dramatic account of the ties between slavery and capitalism, the deeply corrupt roots of policing, and the strength of Black activism.
©2020 Jonathan Daniel Wells (P)2021 Hachette Audio