It is my habit to avoid giving a 5-star rating because there will always be something better to come down the pike.

In this case, I would give this book 7 stars if I could.

Mr. Ambrose has given us three books in one. In the first, he editorializes about the books he has written. As is often stated, it is not the task of an historian to editorialize and he doesn't. But, in this case, he's given himself permission to tell us how he feels about some of things he written about. Secondly, he tells us how he came to write what he has written and the challenges each work presented. In the third case, he tells us how each book has affected him, his family, and his close friends because he has written as he has.
The editorializing is succinct. This bears great weight if for no other reason than the fact he did tremendous research for each book. He mightnot be the last word on any of the subjects but he does close the book as far as he is concerned.
I suspect that the more thorough a book becomes, the more difficult it is to write. In effect, he banishes the difficulties in favor of the final product.
Finally, in how his books affected him in his personal life, I suspect it is also true that the greater involvement of the author the harder it becomes to let go of it.
For all these reasons, and more, I highly recommend this book. ( )

A personal reflection on American history from a leading US Historian. It is a wide-ranging collections of essays about America's past and his views and opinions of the events and people that shaped this country. It also includes many things about his personal life and how it relates to the history of our country. Short read, good book! ( )

Ambrose once again continues to lay out history in a way that anyone from a high school student to a PHD candidate can read and learn from. In this book he not only lays out the history presented in his other books and the stories from his life that served as the ideas behind the topics but he gives lesson that all Americans can read and learn something from. He lived through some of the most momentous occasions of the 20th Century and has learned a lot. He admits where his opinions on topics have changed, and why, while still explaining not only his reasoning but the historical lessons that he gleamed along the way.

A great read for anyone wanting to get into the mind of an historian while also being a great look at the politics, topics and ideas surrounding many moments in the 20th Century. ( )

Ambrose once again continues to lay out history in a way that anyone from a high school student to a PHD candidate can read and learn from. In this book he not only lays out the history presented in his other books and the stories from his life that served as the ideas behind the topics but he gives lesson that all Americans can read and learn something from. He lived through some of the most momentous occasions of the 20th Century and has learned a lot. He admits where his opinions on topics have changed, and why, while still explaining not only his reasoning but the historical lessons that he gleamed along the way.

A great read for anyone wanting to get into the mind of an historian while also being a great look at the politics, topics and ideas surrounding many moments in the 20th Century. ( )

An amazing book! A personal reflection on American history from a leading US Historian. Goes into showing the American spirit and what made this country great. Lewis and Clarke's expedition, manifest destiny, and the war of 1812 are just some points. Stephen Ambrose seamlessly blends historical fact with his view on how these events forged who we are today as a country, a society, and a free people! Truly a book every American should read! ( )