| |  | Author: Stephen E. Ambrose
Publisher: audible.com
Category: Book
List Price: $49.95
Buy New: $26.23
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Avg. Customer Rating:  212 reviews
Media: Audio Download
ASIN: B0000547HG
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 211-212 of 212 | | « PREV 1 ... | | |
 Transcontinental Railroad: Different View Points August 31, 2000
78 out of 88 found this review helpful
In his new book, "Nothing Like It in The World: The Men Who Built The Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69", Stephen E. Ambrose is following the same process he has followed in his World War II books and his "Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West": he tries to bring the reader to see things from many angles: from the top ranks (Financiers, politicians, engineers) to the individual workers. He shows the life of the Chinese workers (West side) and Irish and multinational workers (East Side); describes the life of ordinary people during the construction; shows the danger of using black powder; shows the problems with the Native American populations; analyzes the presence of some 500 African Americans after the Civil War (former Slaves from the South), with at the same time the presence of former Union and Confederate veterans IN THEIR UNIFORMS on the workplace!One of the best passages relates to the last (golden) spike, at Promontory Summit, Utah. The story is breathtaking. The reader expects the final hammering of the spike -like the whole world on May 10, 1869- from San Francisco to New York, Philadelphia, Boston and even London (via the telegraph). I will not say what happened (I do not want to run the climax of the story for the reader!) In conclusion, I would strongly recommend the reading of "Nothing Like it In The World". Stephen E. Ambrose is at his best... and nobody can object with his conclusion that the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad is one of most important event of the American Nineteenth Century!
A Fascinating Read August 30, 2000
40 out of 45 found this review helpful
Ambrose has taken yet another history lesson and made it readable. In his account of one of the most ambitious engineering projects in American history, Ambrose takes us through the fascinating tale of the building of the transcontinental railroad and introduces us to the men who made it happen. The politicians, investors, engineers as well as the Chinese and Irish immigrants and defeated Confederate Soilers who labored for the project all come together in Ambrose's skillful hands as he introduces us to the ordinary and common men who worked together to make their dream come true. The narrative flows freely as the portrait of the key players takes us from the beginnings of a vision to the completed project. A very satisfying read!
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