The Men Who United the States: America's Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible

Winchester, Simon

ISBN 10: 0062355635 ISBN 13: 9780062355638

Publisher: Harperaudio, 2014

Synopsis

For more than two centuries, E pluribus unum—Out of many, one"—has been featured on America's official government seals and stamped on its currency. But what unified a growing number of disparate states into the modern country we recognize today?

Simon Winchester follows the footsteps of America's most crucial innovators, thinkers and explorers, from Lewis and Clark, to the builders of the first transcontinental railroad and the curmudgeonly civil engineer who oversaw the creation of more than three million miles of highway. Winchester travels across vast swaths of the American landscape, from Pittsburgh to Portland, Seattle to Anchorage and Truckee to Laramie, using the five classical elements—Wood, Earth, Water, Fire, and Metal—to chart the contributions these adventurous leaders made to connect the diverse communities within the United States and ensure the future of the American project begun in 1776.

The Men Who United the States is an unforgettable journey of unprecedented scope across time and open spaces, providing a new lens through which to view American history, led by one of the most gifted writers.

About this title

Review:

"Simon Winchester never disappoints, and "The Men Who United the States" is a lively and surprising account of how this sprawling piece of geography became a nation. This is America from the ground up. Inspiring and engaging."--Tom Brokaw

"Vivid, valuable. ... An extraordinary, propulsive tale."--Wall Street Journal

"Winchester provides surprising insights into our social history, further enriching his narrative with accounts of his personal odysseys around the country. The results are highly recommended for public and school libraries and all readers looking for new and stimulating perspectives on the history of America."--Library Journal

"[M]esmerizing and fascinating... Mr. Winchester is a master storyteller, and all the individuals, places, and events that he passionately writes about come to life in exquisite detail."--New York Journal of Books

"Winchester has found a thematic way to tell this familiar story so it seems fresh and informative, even fascinating."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"What makes this book so enjoyable is that he ties the development of these advances to some brilliant but idiosyncratic personalities."--BookPage

"A most genial storyteller"--Las Vegas Weekly

"[I]nformative and absorbing"--The Oregonian (Portland)

"He ... freshens U.S. history by refusing to tell it through the usual suspects."--Seattle Times

"Entertaining. ... A pleasure."--New York Times Book Review

From the Back Cover:

New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester follows the footsteps of America's most crucial innovators, thinkers, and explorers, from Lewis and Clark and the leaders of the Great Surveys of the West to the builders of the transcontinental railroad and the great highway systems to show how these daring men from three centuries left their mark on America's natural landscapes through courage, ingenuity, and hard work. Winchester brings together the breathtaking achievements of those American pioneers who helped to forge and unify the new nation, and who toiled fearlessly to bond the citizens and the geography of the United States from its very beginnings. This sweeping narrative is an unforgettable journey of unprecedented scope across time and open spaces, providing a new lens through which to view American history, led by one of our most gifted writers.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harperaudio
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0062355635
• ISBN 13: 9780062355638
• Binding: Audio CD