American Heritage's Great Minds of American History

by Stephen E. Ambrose (Reader), David McCullough (Reader)

In a series of fascinating interviews, today's best and brightest historians weigh in on the crucial moments in American history. American Heritage® Great Minds of American History takes you there, imbuing the past with an immediacy that goes well beyond the scope of formal histories. Roger Mudd's highly knowledgable questions illuminate five truly first-rate minds:

World War II and the Post-War Era

Stephen Ambrose, biographer of Eisenhower and Nixon, bestselling author of Citizen Soldiers and Undaunted Courage, and adviser to Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan offers his expert insight into war and its aftermath.

The American Revolution

Gordon Wood, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution, and renowned expert on the colonial era brings to life the birth of the first modern democracy.

America's Forgotten Era: 1865-1914

David McCullough acclaimed historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Truman, offers his stunning perspective on the dawn of The American Century.

The American West

Richard White, MacArthur Genius Award winner and author of groundbreaking books on the American West, offers his challenging views on the winning and the losing of the West.

The Civil War

James McPherson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle Cry Of Freedom, and one of the foremost experts on the Civil War offers his compelling insight into our nation's darkest and bloodiest hour.

Genres: History

Audio Cassette

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

Stephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. He received his Ph.D. in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his final years he faced charges of plagiarism for his books, with subsequent concerns about his research emerging after his death.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Heritage's Great Minds of American History by Stephen E. Ambrose conducted a series of interviews of some of today's best and brightest historians on the crucial moments in American history with highly knowledgable questions that illuminate five truly first-rate minds: World War II and the Post-War Era. The author, biographer of Eisenhower and Nixon, bestselling author of Citizen Soldiers and Undaunted Courage, and adviser to Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan offers his expert insight into war and its aftermath starting with The American Revolution, America's Forgotten Era: 1865-1914, The American West, The Civil War, and the World Wars. He provides some surprising insights into the ideas and thoughts of some of the key writers and historians of each era combined into a unique look at some of the critical times in America's history. I enjoy the contents of this book by one of my favorite authors, Stephen E. Ambrose.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Television reporter Roger Mudd conducted interviews historians: Gordon Wood (American Revolution); James McPherson (Civil War); Richard White (The West); David McCullough (period between the Civil War and WWI); Stephen Ambrose (WWI, Eisenhower and Nixon). This wasn't so much a book as a performance, rather a series of them. As you can see, some of the authors have specialties that enable first hand knowledge. I liked those best. I was disappointed that this book is not really a book, but a prerecorded series of TV shows by the History channel. Regardless, the information was good and the opinions informative.

[Debbie Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audio version of this book is a real treat. Hearing the renowned journalist Roger Mudd's voice and these famous historians answering his questions makes history come alive and reminds us how well-read journalists once were. Mudd's background knowledge and research certainly makes for remarkable interviews. Each historian sheds new light on a period of history. Especially important is their take on why history is important and how it enriches our lives.

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to a college level lecture series on America and her history and mythology.