From Thomas Jefferson's birth in 1743 to the California Gold rush in 1849, America's Manifest Destiny comes to life in Morgan 's skilled hands. Jef...
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Oct 31, 2011
Prologue xix to xx Author states that the high American birthrate fueled the American expansion not the reverse. A country is moved forward by the hope and need engendered by the willing to have children and look forward to a new and better day. American dies a little more each day that the birthrate declines. Later on the page, he notes that the immigration northward of the Mexican people is as unstoppable as the earlier expansion to the Pacific of the Americans of colonial times for the sa
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Feb 10, 2012
Laura
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Lions of the West: Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion by Robert Morgan is a fascinating biography of many of the known and unknown giants that helped to make the westward migration of Americans possible. This book provides brief biographies of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, David Crockett, Sam Houston, James K. Polk, Winfield Scott, Kit Carson, Nicholas Trist, and John Quincy Adams. The biographies focused on how each of these men helped the western expansion. Morgan stressed t
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Sep 26, 2011
Sharon
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This book was very well written and entertaining. It is a collection of biographies of famous people who were instrumental in the western movement. I have read other books about our Manifest Destiny, but none of them had quite this approach or were as easy and interesting to read. Each chapter is a like a novella of the person's life, each about 40 pages in length. Highlighted are the lives of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), David Crockett, Sam Houston, Jam
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Oct 16, 2011
Denise
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I won this book through a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. I definitely enjoyed it much better then the dry history books I had to deal with in school. I found the writing to be interesting and it definitely kept my attention. It is obviously informative but almost on a more personal level as opposed to 'these are the dry, boring facts'. As a person who is always interested in history, especially from the beginnings of our country, I was able to pay attention to the book, instead of constantl
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Oct 12, 2011
Cynthia
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I really enjoyed this First Reads win. If I had read this book when I was in school instead of the dry class texts, I might have had more of an interest in my history lessons. It is well written and quite interesting.
Broken into biographical segments, Robert Morgan takes the reader along for the ever-westward expansion into North America by the United States. Each chapter focuses on a different figure in history who played a prominent role in our country's obsessive push to explor More...
Broken into biographical segments, Robert Morgan takes the reader along for the ever-westward expansion into North America by the United States. Each chapter focuses on a different figure in history who played a prominent role in our country's obsessive push to explor More...
Nov 20, 2011
Larry
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Robert Morgan examines the careers of the well known (Jefferson, Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Kit Carson), the lesser known (Polk, Houston, Crockett), and the largely forgotten (Winfield Scott, Nicholas Trist, John Chapman). In the first group, he often brings new insights, emphasizing, for instance, Jefferson's scientific interests, especially his interests in mammoths. (Is this the beginning of "going to see the elephant"?) My only quibble is that several others could have made the li
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Jan 14, 2012
Adrian
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A brief collection of longer essay-sized biographies on figures, famous and some forgotten, all influential in the early development of the American West.
The book is very accessible, and filled with good anecdotes about all of the figures - famous and obscure alike. A good insight into the early days of the West, and the heroic idealism and villainous greed which it inspired.
The book is very accessible, and filled with good anecdotes about all of the figures - famous and obscure alike. A good insight into the early days of the West, and the heroic idealism and villainous greed which it inspired.
Feb 12, 2012
Socraticgadfly
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OK, but not great, including one notable historical error. (Andrew Jackson never "won" the election of 1824 only to lose it later.) Had I not learned a few things about Winfield Scott in the chapter on him, I might have three-starrred the book.
Sep 22, 2011
Amy
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This was one of the most interesting books I have read. The information that is held between it's covers is well written and interesting. It holds your attention and does not bore you with just plain facts and dates but, brings the history to you in a well written story form. This book will come in handy if my boys ever have to write a report on any of the subjects plainly spelled out in this book. My favorite chapters were on Johnny Appleseed and Kit Carson. Yes, Johnny was a true man and not
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Jan 04, 2012
Caryn
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If history class was this interesting there would be a lot more history majors. The book tells about many different historical figures that were prominent in the Western expansion. The political intrigue was fascinating.
Feb 12, 2012
Kathleen
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What a great read! I'm fortunate to have an indulging audience who will let me read aloud from it and talk about the especially good parts. Reading about Kit Carson now - lovely insight into Arapahoe culture. What Robert Morgan does better than anyone else is knit the different events of an era together so the reader sees how events impact each other and how they contribute to the big picture. He finds scraps and tidbits of fascinating information that bring the story to life.
Feb 12, 2012
Jenny
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This is a free book from the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.
A historical read about the US Westward Expansion told in 10 chapters through the biographies of 10 Americans (Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, John Chapman, David Crockett, Sam Houston, James K. Polk, Winfield Scott, Kit Carson, Nicholas Trist, & John Quincy Adams). Although I learned a lot in reading this book, I struggled with the writing style which was narrative versus "journalistic" at times. It also did not hol More...
A historical read about the US Westward Expansion told in 10 chapters through the biographies of 10 Americans (Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, John Chapman, David Crockett, Sam Houston, James K. Polk, Winfield Scott, Kit Carson, Nicholas Trist, & John Quincy Adams). Although I learned a lot in reading this book, I struggled with the writing style which was narrative versus "journalistic" at times. It also did not hol More...
Aug 02, 2011
Yay! My daughter won a copy on Goodreads...I wanted this one...lol
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Feb 10, 2012
Denise
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I can't quite put my finger on what it was about this book that annoyed me.
Oct 25, 2011
Aileen
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What a meaty read! This is the kind of history book I can really get into. I recommend this book to anyone. I am going to encourage my kids to read it. Well written, and interesting, I am glad I won it on First Reads! If I taught history, I would require my students to read this.
Oct 17, 2011
Shannon
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I enjoyed this book and learned so much about the men who's actions and dreams helped make this country great. My favorite was the chapter of David Crockett since I have never read to much about him. I know about him from movies and such. Very well written.
Dec 15, 2011
Terry
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Too little on too many subjects. Excellent fiction writer, and I am looking forward to reading his bio of Daniel Boone. I could not get past the introduction and a skimming of chapters.
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