These Truths: A History of the United States

A daunting undertaking ably completed. Miss Lepore plainly wanted to highlight aspects of our national history that traditional examinations have not. I found her emphasis on the rise of technology and pollsters in American politics unworthy of the persistent emphasis it received, but her focus on the racial implications of otherwise familiar historical events was both powerful and edifying. The poor narration, as others have observed, was an unfortunate distraction.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Really liked the book, but Ms. Lepore really should have found a professional to do the narration. Walking around with earphones on, I have very little defense when she starts shouting out the quotations. Very amateurish and annoying!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent book with a sweeping yet unique perspective on US history. However, the audio version is regrettably poor. The trend of historians reading their own work is unfortunate, and Jill Lepore’s reading underscores the folly of doing so. Her voice is generally pleasant enough (I decided to get the audio version after hearing her discuss it during an interview), but history generally, and this history in particular, comprises numerous quotations from letters, speeches, reports, etc. Ms Lepore’s attempt to give voice to these original sources is embarrassing and grating. Each historical person sounds pretty much the same: like a fifth grader reciting the Gettysburg Address in what she thinks is an appropriately “formal” voice. My advice: buy the hard copy and skip the audiobook.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

After an hour I knew which way the author was going. I have no problem with civil rights and women’s rights . She did a wonderful job in these sharpe elbows liberal interpretation. When she past over Kennedy’s wire tapping MLk, and MLk’s affairs she lost me. She never mentioned the fire bombing I’d Tokyo but was all over the Atomic Bomb I knew I couldn’t finish the book. Never mentioned Eisenhower interstate hiway system. what!!! Political Left.

Fascinating