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Martin Van Buren
- A Captivating Guide to the Man Who Served as the Eighth President of the United States
- Narrated by: Duke Holm
- Length: 2 hrs and 1 min
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Publisher's summary
Explore the captivating life of Martin Van Buren
History chiefly remembers Martin Van Buren as the eighth president of the United States (1837– 1841). He was also, however, notable for achieving many firsts in American politics. He was the first American president to be born a citizen of the country, and not a British subject. He was the first Dutchman and the first man without Anglo-Saxon ancestry to serve as president. He was the first and only American president to have been raised in a language other than English. He was also the first New Yorker to ascend to the Oval Office in the White House, at a time when Manhattan was becoming the urban heart of a future America (as it is today). Historians have also recognized him as the first "professional politician" to occupy the presidential seat. His expressed capacity for political intrigue, strategic pragmatism, and politically expedient “non-committalism” has earned him his fair share of critics and detractors.
The darkness of his times (the first depression, the question of slavery, the forceful relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands) easily come to mind, but America was also hurtling towards the future we live in during Van Buren’s reign. The seeds of the modernity we recognize so well - railway networks, democracy, the printing press - were sowed in his era.
Six small townships and cities - in Maine, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas - still bear his surname. To understand the history of American politics, one must understand Van Buren’s often overlooked legacy. This audiobook will give you an in-depth understanding of this man, born a tavern owner's son, who became one of the founders of the Democratic Party. Get this audiobook now to learn more about Martin Van Buren!
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Unlike other biographies, the Making of America series goes beyond individual narratives linking influential figures to create an overarching story of America's growth that will deepen understanding of the country we live in today. This bundle featuring Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Jackson tells the story of American constitutional history from the founding of the nation through the end of the Civil War.
By: Teri Kanefield
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The Birth of Modern Politics
- Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828
- By: Lynn Hudson Parson
- Narrated by: Milton Bagby
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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The 1828 presidential election, which pitted Major General Andrew Jackson against incumbent John Quincy Adams, has long been hailed as a watershed moment in American political history. It was the contest in which an unlettered, hot-tempered southwestern frontiersman, trumpeted by his supporters as a genuine man of the people, soundly defeated a New England "aristocrat" whose education and political resume were as impressive as any ever seen in American public life.
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a very good popular history book
- By D. Littman on 01-29-10
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A History of the American People
- By: Paul Johnson
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 48 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Johnson's monumental history of the United States, from the first settlers to the Clinton administration, covers every aspect of American culture: politics, business, art, literature, science, society and customs, complex traditions, and religious beliefs. The story is told in terms of the men and women who shaped and led the nation and the ordinary people who collectively created its unique character.
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A British conservative's view of American history.
- By Mike From Mesa on 06-17-09
By: Paul Johnson
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Adams vs. Jefferson
- The Tumultuous Election of 1800
- By: John Ferling
- Narrated by: Jack Garrett
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Award-winning author John Ferling is a leading authority on the American Revolution. His entertaining and enlightening histories have greatly improved our understanding of early America and the Founding Fathers. Now Ferling opens a window to the past and explores the contentious presidential election of 1800.
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Outstanding work of interpretive history
- By D. Littman on 11-01-04
By: John Ferling
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American Heritage History of the Presidents
- By: Michael R. Beschloss
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 25 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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From George Washington's reluctant oath-taking through George W. Bush's leadership challenges after September 11, 2001, we view ambitious and fallible men through the new lens of the 21st century. Where did they succeed? Where did they fail? And what do we know now that we could not have known at the time?
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Good but Far from Great
- By Michael on 07-11-20
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Andrew Jackson, Southerner
- By: Mark R. Cheathem
- Narrated by: Trevor Thompson
- Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Many Americans view Andrew Jackson as a frontiersman who fought duels, killed Indians, and stole another man's wife. Historians have traditionally presented Jackson as a man who struggled to overcome the obstacles of his backwoods upbringing and helped create a more democratic United States. In his compelling new biography of Jackson, Mark R. Cheathem argues for a reassessment of these long-held views, suggesting that in fact "Old Hickory" lived as an elite southern gentleman.
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Lesser Work than HW Brands or John Meacham's books
- By Jose on 05-10-17
By: Mark R. Cheathem
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The 56
- Liberty Lessons from Those Who Risked All to Sign the Declaration of Independence
- By: Douglas MacKinnon
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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The urgent need to honor the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence came to Douglas MacKinnon, fittingly enough, on the Fourth of July. While doing research for a column meant to remind the American people of that date’s critical importance, he came across example after example of those from the left and the far left—be they in the mainstream media, activists, or anarchists—calling for not only the “canceling” of the Fourth of July, but the continued smearing, censorship, and canceling of our Founding Fathers.
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Must read for every U.S. citizen!
- By DK Holmes on 05-24-22
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Madison's Gift
- Five Partnerships That Built America
- By: David Stewart
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Short, plain, balding, neither soldier nor orator, low on charisma and high on intelligence, Madison cared more about achieving results than taking the credit. To reach his lifelong goal of a self-governing constitutional republic, he blended his talents with those of key partners. It was Madison who led the drive for the Constitutional Convention and pressed for an effective new government as his patron George Washington lent the effort legitimacy.
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Excellent history of our nation's founding
- By JJay on 02-23-15
By: David Stewart
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George Washington: History in an Hour
- By: David B. McCoy
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 1 hr and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Love history? Know your stuff with History in an Hour.George Washington – a figure synonymous with American history. His image is known worldwide, marked on American currency, postage stamps – even a state is named after him. George Washington in an Hour explores the man beneath the symbol. This is the essential chronicle of Washington’s life – his rise from middle class Virginian upbringing to America’s first President, elected unanimously twice.
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Great information packed into one hour
- By Jerry on 04-08-22
By: David B. McCoy
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James Madison
- By: Richard Brookhiser
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Eminent historian Richard Brookhiser presents a vivid portrait of James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution” and one of America's greatest statesmen.
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OK book but not a biography
- By Joel Mayer on 08-05-12
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Title = Truth in Advertising
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Terrible book :( Incredibly TEDIOUS.
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What listeners say about Martin Van Buren
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- Enanymous
- 08-04-20
What 5.00 gets you
Summary. A few interesting facts. Narrator seemed to mispronounce several words. Wish for better options.
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- Tim McGreer
- 09-08-23
Martin Van Buren was more….
President Van Buren was apparently more than a one term President. Americans often admire a President whom goes to and leads the Country in winning wars. But America often thinks little about Presidents whom keep the Country out of a War. Van Buren did so twice in just four years. This is a short read (listen). But it says a lot about the man and the history of our Nation during his time.
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- Kyle Perkins
- 06-10-18
Luckily Found It
Not enough books on Martin Van Buren, especially in audio format. He is such a fascinating President!
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- Jennifer Gray
- 09-25-20
I Was Ultimately Disappointed
At only two hours, it was the longest biography at the time I got it, so points for trying. But the author did not dig into any contexts as to why the world and times around this president were there way they were. He rarely used in-text citations of personal correspondence of either the protagonist or antagonists, nor did the author give any useful insight into the President's "lengthy autobiography." My greatest critique is the text reads much like a B paper written by a student, notwithstanding what the author personally injects as to what he believes the "Democratic Party embodies today."
Points to the narrator, whose voice was clear, even through earplugs under my motorcycle helmet. It is often a struggle for me to hear deeper voices when I'm on the highway, so I appreciated that.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-15-21
Thankful for a Van Buren book
Thankful for a Van Buren book. Good read for all levels of knowledge. Highly encourage others to read.
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- Joyce
- 10-13-21
disappointed
The reading was jerky with sentences broken up. Basically facts of Van Buren's life but very little detail. Some data were wrong such as the year of a party's convention. Sloppy.
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- Bill Pennock
- 10-16-23
Way to Brief. But no full audio biography found
this was way to short to cover a life and Presidency. Van Buren apparently kept us out of two wars by negotiating well. Many other things were just touched on barely. I would not buy this again or any of the other very short biographies. In addition at the end of the reading the authors stated this "Without Van Buren the ideas of free market, personal liberty, free trade and reduced government intervention would not be at the core of the Democratic Party today". I have a hard time seeing that any of the 4 of these ideas are even at the edges of the Democratic Party and certainly not at the core.
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- HouseJack
- 07-18-24
short and not very in depth
a very surface level, brief overview of the presidency of MVB. no real details about his life outside his political career. the narrator mispronounces a number of words
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- albionmark
- 03-04-21
Short, but interesting
I didn't know much about Martin van Buren, and some interesting information is in this. Pronunciations of some of the words used was unique, to say the least, which is why I gave "performance" a 3 instead of 4.
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- Anonymous User
- 06-12-18
A great deal of information
Amusing and sensitive detailing of a President I knew only from Seinfeld. If you are going to listen to a biography of Martin Van Buren, this should be the one.
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