
Revolutionary Characters
What Made the Founders Different
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Narrated by:
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Scott Brick
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By:
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Gordon S. Wood
About this listen
Revolutionary Characters offers a series of brilliantly illuminating studies of the men who came to be known as the founding fathers. Each life is considered in the round, but the thread that binds the work together and gives it the cumulative power of a revelation is this idea of character as a lived reality for these men. For these were men, Gordon Wood shows, who took the matter of character very, very seriously. They were the first generation in history that was self-consciously self-made, men who understood the arc of lives, as of nations, as being one of moral progress. They saw themselves as comprising the world's first true meritocracy, a natural aristocracy as opposed to the decadent Old World aristocracy of inherited wealth and station.
Gordon Wood's wondrous accomplishment here is to bring these men and their times down to earth and within our reach, showing us just who they were and what drove them. In so doing, he shows us that although a lot has changed in 200 years, to an amazing degree the virtues these founders defined for themselves are the virtues we aspire to still.
©2006 Gordon Wood (P)2006 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., and Books on Tape. All rights reserved. Penguin Audio is a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Of those writing about the founding fathers, [Gordon Wood] is quite simply the best." (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
People who viewed this also viewed...
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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-
-
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-
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- By: Gordon S. Wood
- Narrated by: Joel Richards
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- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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-
-
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-
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- Narrated by: Robert Fass
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The preeminent historian of the American Revolution explains why it remains the most significant event in our history
-
-
Sophisticated analyses
- By Roger on 01-25-12
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-
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- A History [Modern Library Chronicles]
- By: Gordon S. Wood
- Narrated by: Jack Garrett
- Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The American Revolution signalled a great change in the course of world history and progress. From this colonial revolt sprouted ideals of liberty and democracy, and all the aspirations and ambitions of a new people. In this work, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon S. Wood discusses the character and consequences of the revolution, grounding the events and ideas that shaped the American consciousness.
-
-
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- By Robert on 08-20-05
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-
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Performance
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-
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- Narrated by: David Baker
- Length: 26 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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In this gripping chronicle of America's struggle for independence, award-winning historian John Ferling transports listeners to the grim realities of that war, capturing an eight-year conflict filled with heroism, suffering, cowardice, betrayal, and fierce dedication. As Ferling demonstrates, it was a war that America came much closer to losing than is now usually remembered. General George Washington put it best when he said that the American victory was "little short of a standing miracle."
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Dramatic Backstory of The War for Independence
- By Amazon Customer on 11-22-15
By: John Ferling
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The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams
- By: Stacy Schiff
- Narrated by: Jason Culp
- Length: 14 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Thomas Jefferson asserted that if there was any leader of the Revolution, “Samuel Adams was the man.” With high-minded ideals and bare-knuckle tactics, Adams led what could be called the greatest campaign of civil resistance in American history. Stacy Schiff returns Adams to his seat of glory, introducing us to the shrewd and eloquent man who supplied the moral backbone of the American Revolution, bringing her masterful skills to Adams’s improbable life, illuminating his transformation from aimless son of a well-off family to tireless, beguiling radical who mobilized the colonies.
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The revolutionary
- By Charles on 11-02-22
By: Stacy Schiff
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The Purpose of the Past
- Reflections on the Uses of History
- By: Gordon S. Wood
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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History is to society what memory is to the individual. Without it, we don't know who we are and we can't make wise decisions about our future. But while the nature of memory is constant, the nature of history has changed radically over the past 40 years. Historian Gordon Wood examines the sea change in his field through consideration of some of its most important historians and their works.
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What is his point?
- By Tammy on 03-21-08
By: Gordon S. Wood
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American Dialogue
- The Founders and Us
- By: Joseph J. Ellis
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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The story of history is a ceaseless conversation between past and present, and in American Dialogue, Joseph J. Ellis focuses the conversation on the often-asked question "What would the Founding Fathers think?" He examines four of our most seminal historical figures through the prism of particular topics, using the perspective of the present to shed light on their views and, in turn, to make clear how their now centuries-old ideas illuminate the disturbing impasse of today's political conflicts.
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A fine work, even with the editorializing
- By Casey Kerrick on 11-24-18
By: Joseph J. Ellis
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His Excellency
- George Washington
- By: Joseph J. Ellis
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
- Length: 14 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Acclaimed author Joseph J. Ellis penned the National Book Award-winning American Sphinx and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Founding Brothers, a fixture on The New York Times best seller list for an entire year, and one of the most popular history books of all time. Now this master historian turns his attention to the most exalted American hero, Founding Father and first President George Washington.
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Ellis is a known liar
- By Theresa on 02-21-05
By: Joseph J. Ellis
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Bunker Hill
- A City, a Siege, a Revolution
- By: Nathaniel Philbrick
- Narrated by: Chris Sorensen
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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In the opening volume of his acclaimed American Revolution series, Nathaniel Philbrick turns his keen eye to pre-Revolutionary Boston and the spark that ignited the American Revolution. In the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party and the violence at Lexington and Concord, the conflict escalated and skirmishes gave way to outright war in the Battle of Bunker Hill. It was the bloodiest conflict of the revolutionary war, and the point of no return for the rebellious colonists.
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Another Fantastic Story by Philbrick
- By Rick on 09-30-13
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Crucible of War
- The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766
- By: Fred Anderson
- Narrated by: Paul Woodson
- Length: 29 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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In this vivid and compelling narrative, the Seven Years' War - long seen as a mere backdrop to the American Revolution - takes on a whole new significance. Relating the history of the war as it developed, Anderson shows how the complex array of forces brought into conflict helped both to create Britain's empire and to sow the seeds of its eventual dissolution. Beginning with a skirmish in the Pennsylvania backcountry involving an inexperienced George Washington, the Iroquois chief Tanaghrisson, and the ill-fated French emissary Jumonville, Anderson reveals a chain of events that would lead to world conflagration.
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A Detailed History
- By Daniel on 07-15-18
By: Fred Anderson
What listeners say about Revolutionary Characters
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Overall
- A. Ware
- 04-11-08
Not as informative as I'd hoped for
This was an interesting book, but not as many "new" things about the founding fathers as I'd hoped to hear.
And Scott Brick was not the best choice of narrator for this book. I usually enjoy his narrations, but he was a bit too low key and monotone for this type of book, and I found it hard to keep my attention on the content. A more animated read might have made this come alive a bit more.
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9 people found this helpful
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- DD
- 04-16-22
Surprisingly Relevant
As a history buff, I expected - and discovered - many new glimpses into the characters of our Revolutionary Period. But it was as a political buff, I was surprised to read of the tension and open conflict between the political elite and political populism whose divergent worldviews continue to divide our national culture today.
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- Gabbyaboutbooks
- 06-04-18
wow.
Wow. This book was amazing. Gordon Wood is a phenomenal writer. If I could have any writing style it would be his! The content is super fascinating too. Wood dedicated a chapter to the founding fathers he believed were the most influential in creating America. He had the obvious ones but he also had some surprising ones like Thomas Paine and Aaron Burr! I loved how he compared and contrasted them and brought them into the greater context of American history. That is, he didnt just talk about their lives but how their influence is still relevant in today's world. His section on public opinion and argument of how the founders created a culture that ultimately was their demise was the cherry on top of an amazing book. This was an audiobook and the narration is on point! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars! Highly recommend!!!!!!
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- Ashley King
- 03-03-23
Animated narration but
One error in the first chapter, the substitution of the word public for private which renders the quote nonsensical.
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- Roanld Tenney
- 10-29-22
wonderful summary of the founding characters
in this short book you can read about many of the most important founders from the perspective of one of the most eminent American historians. plus, I love the voice and style of Scott Brick.
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- K. Misek
- 07-31-08
Typical academic
Gordon Wood is your typical liberal "founding fathers were not what you think they were" academic writer. While he is not as vitriolic as some, he is determined for us to see the founding fathers as aristocrats more self-serving and conniving than patriotic and noble. But I admit, I keep reading him. He is interesting and knowledgeable about important aspects of American history. For a more balanced and reflective interpretation of the founding fathers, I must recommend Joseph Ellis. I trust him more, but I do admit I can not ignore Wood's work.
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14 people found this helpful
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- Jose
- 03-22-18
Nice little book for short attention span people
Great narration here, can’t do better than Scott Brick
The book is good for a generally uninformed person to start on independence era history. It’s a decent starter on history of the founding fathers. Much better than a Wikipedia search
Basically, if you have read Chernows Washington or Meachem’s Jefferson this book is a quick summary.
The best part of this book is the first chapter. That would have been enough and it would be a really good 1hr book.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Richard
- 01-13-19
ew
why would anyone ever write this. dry and slow, worse than my apush textbook, and that's saying something.
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- Michael
- 01-15-07
Wood clearly dislikes Adams
I had been really looking forward to this book. And I will admit right up front that I like John Adams so I might be letting that cloud my judgement, but Mr. Wood is clearly not very impressed with him and it shows. I have listened to and read a lot of books on the the revolutionary period and based on this book you get the impression that Adams should not even be called a founding father. I stopped listening after the Adams chapter since I could no longer trust what the author was saying. I am sorry I wasted a credit on this book.
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33 people found this helpful
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- Grange '64
- 03-09-22
The worst performance imaginable!
I have never heard such a ridiculous performance on any of the hundreds of audiobooks I’ve listened to!
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