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First Principles
- What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country
- Narrated by: James Lurie
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
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Publisher's summary
The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author offers a revelatory new book about the founding fathers, examining their educations and, in particular, their devotion to the ancient Greek and Roman classics—and how that influence would shape their ideals and the new American nation.
On the morning after the 2016 presidential election, Thomas Ricks awoke with a few questions on his mind: What kind of nation did we now have? Is it what was designed or intended by the nation's founders? Trying to get as close to the source as he could, Ricks decided to go back and read the philosophy and literature that shaped the founders' thinking, and the letters they wrote to each other debating these crucial works—among them the Iliad, Plutarch's Lives, and the works of Xenophon, Epicurus, Aristotle, Cato, and Cicero. For though much attention has been paid the influence of English political philosophers, like John Locke, closer to their own era, the founders were far more immersed in the literature of the ancient world.
The first four American presidents came to their classical knowledge differently. Washington absorbed it mainly from the elite culture of his day; Adams from the laws and rhetoric of Rome; Jefferson immersed himself in classical philosophy, especially Epicureanism; and Madison, both a groundbreaking researcher and a deft politician, spent years studying the ancient world like a political scientist. Each of their experiences, and distinctive learning, played an essential role in the formation of the United States. In examining how and what they studied, looking at them in the unusual light of the classical world, Ricks is able to draw arresting and fresh portraits of men we thought we knew.
First Principles follows these four members of the Revolutionary generation from their youths to their adult lives, as they grappled with questions of independence, and forming and keeping a new nation. In doing so, Ricks interprets not only the effect of the ancient world on each man, and how that shaped our constitution and government, but offers startling new insights into these legendary leaders.
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John and John Quincy Adams: rogue intellectuals, unsparing truth-tellers, too uncensored for their own political good. They held that political participation demanded moral courage. They did not seek popularity (it showed). They lamented the fact that hero worship in America substituted idolatry for results; and they made it clear that they were talking about Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson. When John Adams succeeded George Washington as President, his son had already followed him into public service and was stationed in Europe as a diplomat.
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Very insightful and rewarding adding understanding
- By William on 05-12-19
By: Nancy Isenberg, and others
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The Virginia Dynasty
- Four Presidents and the Creation of the American Nation
- By: Lynne Cheney
- Narrated by: Nan McNamara
- Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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A vivid account of leadership focusing on the first four Virginia presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe - from the best-selling historian and author of James Madison.
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Captivating
- By Jean on 11-19-20
By: Lynne Cheney
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The Case for Nationalism
- How It Made Us Powerful, United, and Free
- By: Rich Lowry
- Narrated by: Roy Worley
- Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Case for Nationalism, Lowry explains how nationalism was central to the American Project. It fueled the American Revolution and the ratification of the Constitution. It preserved the country during the Civil War. It led to the expansion of the American nation’s territory and power, and eventually to our invaluable contribution to creating an international system of self-governing nations.
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Truth does matter !
- By CFC on 11-06-19
By: Rich Lowry
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Give Me Liberty
- A History of America's Exceptional Idea
- By: Richard Brookhiser
- Narrated by: Tony Messano
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Nationalism is inevitable: It supplies feelings of belonging, identity, and recognition. It binds us to our neighbors and tells us who we are. But increasingly - from the United States to India, from Russia to Burma - nationalism is being invoked for unworthy ends: to disdain minorities or to support despots. As a result, nationalism has become to many a dirty word.
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Extraordinary!
- By Cynthia M. Suprenant on 12-23-19
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Inventing a Nation
- Washington, Adams, Jefferson
- By: Gore Vidal
- Narrated by: Paul Hecht, Gore Vidal
- Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Volumes have been written about George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, but no previous work captures the intimate and vital details the way Inventing a Nation does. Vidal's consummate skill takes you into the minds and private rooms of these great men, illuminating their opinions of one another and their concerns about crafting a workable democracy.
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Reader Beware: Mixed with a political agenda
- By Robert on 09-09-04
By: Gore Vidal
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Churchill's Shadow
- The Life and Afterlife of Winston Churchill
- By: Geoffrey Wheatcroft
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 23 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Winston Churchill is generally considered one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, revered for his opposition to appeasement, his defiance in the face of German bombing of England, his political prowess, and his memorable speeches. He became the savior of his country, as prime minister during the most perilous period in British history, World War II, and is now perhaps even more beloved in America than in England. This revelatory book takes on Churchill in his entirety, separating the man from the myth that he so carefully cultivated.
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A few facts and a quote in context, would be nice.
- By Arlene on 01-30-22
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The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History
- By: Gary W. Gallagher - editor, Alan T. Nolan - editor
- Narrated by: Keith McCarthy
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Was the Confederacy doomed from the start in its struggle against the superior might of the Union? Did its forces fight heroically against all odds for the cause of states’ rights? In reality, these suggestions are an elaborate and intentional effort on the part of Southerners to rationalize the secession and the war itself. Unfortunately, skillful propagandists have been so successful in promoting this romanticized view that the Lost Cause has assumed a life of its own.
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Putting down "The Great Pro-Slavery Rebellion"
- By Buretto on 07-30-18
By: Gary W. Gallagher - editor, and others
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American Sphinx
- The Character of Thomas Jefferson
- By: Joseph J. Ellis
- Narrated by: Susan O'Malley
- Length: 15 hrs
- Unabridged
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For a man who insisted that life on the public stage was not what he had in mind, Thomas Jefferson certainly spent a great deal of time in the spotlight. Historian Joseph J. Ellis sifts the facts shrewdly from the legends and the rumors, treading a path between vilification and hero worship in order to formulate a plausible portrait of the man who still today "hover[s] over the political scene like one of those dirigibles cruising above a crowded football stadium, flashing words of inspiration to both teams".
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So: they did the DNA and … time to change appendix
- By Jamanosa on 11-03-21
By: Joseph J. Ellis
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The War on History
- The Conspiracy to Rewrite America’s Past
- By: Jarrett Stepman
- Narrated by: Chris Abell
- Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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America is hopelessly divided, but more worryingly, the ideas and “mystic chords of memory” that rest at the cornerstone of our civilization and bind the generations are being severed, attacked, and forgotten. The left has set out to shatter these bonds with a war on American history - the fundamental concepts, institutions, and icons that make our country what it is. And we have failed to protect our history, allowing Hollywood, educators, and the media to rewrite the story of America. We have ignored the invaluable lessons of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
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Culture war, not history
- By J. Pulton on 03-08-21
By: Jarrett Stepman
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Lincoln in Private
- What His Most Personal Reflections Tell Us About Our Greatest President
- By: Ronald C. White
- Narrated by: Ronald C. White
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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A deeply private man, shut off even to those who worked closely with him, Abraham Lincoln often captured “his best thoughts", as he called them, in short notes to himself. He would work out his personal stances on the biggest issues of the day, never expecting anyone to see these pieces of writing, which he’d then keep close at hand, in desk drawers and even in his top hat. The profound importance of these notes has been overlooked, because the originals are scattered across several different archives and have never before been brought together and examined as a coherent whole.
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A Good One--Highly Recommend
- By Jeffy on 04-18-23
By: Ronald C. White
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Systems: Using First Principles Thinking to Advance Your Career or BusinessesThis book aims to introduce professionals and entrepreneurs who want to be innovative and stand out from the crowd to First Principles Thinking. It offers them a set of guidelines or a system that they can apply to examine and tackle work and business problems or challenges. At Coaching for Better Learning (CBL), we believe a good system is the key to stress-free improvement, growth and success. We also coach our clients on leveraging First Principles Thinking to create innovative solutions and rise above the ...
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The Declaration of Independence identified “the pursuit of happiness” as one of our unalienable rights, along with life and liberty. Jeffrey Rosen, the president of the National Constitution Center, profiles six of the most influential founders—Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton—to show what pursuing happiness meant in their lives....
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First Principles
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Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was already an established figure in the fields of philosophy, biology, sociology, anthropology and with an established interest in evolution, when Darwin produced his ground-breaking On the Origin of the Species (1859). But Spencer viewed evolution in wider terms—including ‘the social organism, ethical and metaphysical matters.' He was keen to offer a complete framework of the philosophy of evolution and, in 1862, published his First Principles.
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Silent Earth
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Important book for all
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What listeners say about First Principles
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Capallpedia
- 05-13-21
US early government formatio thinking
A good understanding of the basis our leaders in our early government used to form their opinions and their actions. both good and bad it's an excellent perspective and in listening gives us a good perspective for different things that have happened in our history such as what's happening today and in each major self initiated insult we've experienced throughout our history.
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- George
- 10-10-22
This book ties them together
I’ve read dozens of books about the founding and the founding fathers, this one relates each to the others. The same can be said about the chronology of events. In so doing, it delivers many aha moments!
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- Michael
- 06-10-23
Brilliant
I really loved this book. This is a new approach to understanding the founders of our country; one I've never encountered before. That translates into I learned something new about them, about America and maybe even about me as an American. I've always had trouble with Jefferson and Adams. Jefferson because of his massive contradictions, Adams, well, because he's Adams. Now I think I understand them better. Ricks gets Washington and Madison or at least I agree with him. I don't think he understood Hamilton nearly as well. I've already read/ listened to it twice. James Lurie gives a masterful performance. Just a wonderful book!
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- PW
- 02-12-24
Outstanding
Knowing what the Framers read helps one appreciate the intent behind The Constitution — the intent behind our country.
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- Jim
- 11-18-20
Required Reading for Every Patriot
Well researched. Accessible. Presents the continuing strengths of our Constitutionand perilsof human authorityin goverment .
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7 people found this helpful
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- Lawrence
- 05-06-21
Brilliant book
I read the book and enjoyed it so much I listened to the audio version. The reader was excellent .
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1 person found this helpful
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- D Duncan
- 11-11-21
History and writing at its best
The only word I can use for this piece is Brilliant. The author presents background that I was never aware of. As author he can present comparisons as much as he would like and I enjoy his opinions. Who knew the Romans and Greeks had so much influence on our founding fathers. By the end of the book I am want for more. I will purchase the paperback because there is so much excellent information in this audible edition. By the way the narrator is EXCELLENT. The narrator makes all the difference in the world in Audible books. Thanks Thomas Ricks for this amazing piece of research.
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- Coyote
- 09-21-23
Enlightening Read
A fundamental and essential presentation in the understanding and perpetuating our American experiment!
Great research.
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- Linda Viviane
- 06-29-24
Required listening
Put a whole different light on the history of the constitution and TRUE American values. Should be required Knowledge in every school And for anyone who wants to run for public office. VIRTUE! Maybe politics wouldn’t be the mess it is now if people today understood the Founding Fathers valued it when they wrote the Constitution more than guns.
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1 person found this helpful
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- CommentDante
- 08-13-22
Virtue Or Faction? That is the Question
An excellent story and production how the literature of Greek and Roman antiquity fired the imagination of our republic’s founders.
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