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Grant

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Mark Bramhall

48 Hours 1 Minutes

Penguin Audio

October 2017

Audio Book Summary

The #1 New York Times bestseller and New York Times Book Review 10 Best Books of 2017

“Eminently readable but thick with import . . . Grant hits like a Mack truck of knowledge.” —Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic

Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow returns with a sweeping and dramatic portrait of one of our most compelling generals and presidents, Ulysses S. Grant.
 
Ulysses S. Grant's life has typically been misunderstood. All too often he is caricatured as a chronic loser and an inept businessman, or as the triumphant but brutal Union general of the Civil War. But these stereotypes don't come close to capturing him, as Chernow shows in his masterful biography, the first to provide a complete understanding of the general and president whose fortunes rose and fell with dizzying speed and frequency.
 
Before the Civil War, Grant was flailing. His business ventures had ended dismally, and despite distinguished service in the Mexican War he ended up resigning from the army in disgrace amid recurring accusations of drunkenness. But in war, Grant began to realize his remarkable potential, soaring through the ranks of the Union army, prevailing at the battle of Shiloh and in the Vicksburg campaign, and ultimately defeating the legendary Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Along the way, Grant endeared himself to President Lincoln and became his most trusted general and the strategic genius of the war effort. Grant’s military fame translated into a two-term presidency, but one plagued by corruption scandals involving his closest staff members.

More important, he sought freedom and justice for black Americans, working to crush the Ku Klux Klan and earning the admiration of Frederick Douglass, who called him “the vigilant, firm, impartial, and wise protector of my race.” After his presidency, he was again brought low by a dashing young swindler on Wall Street, only to resuscitate his image by working with Mark Twain to publish his memoirs, which are recognized as a masterpiece of the genre.
 
With lucidity, breadth, and meticulousness, Chernow finds the threads that bind these disparate stories together, shedding new light on the man whom Walt Whitman described as “nothing heroic... and yet the greatest hero.” Chernow’s probing portrait of Grant's lifelong struggle with alcoholism transforms our understanding of the man at the deepest level. This is America's greatest biographer, bringing movingly to life one of our finest but most underappreciated presidents. The definitive biography, Grant is a grand synthesis of painstaking research and literary brilliance that makes sense of all sides of Grant's life, explaining how this simple Midwesterner could at once be so ordinary and so extraordinary.

Named one of the best books of the year by Goodreads • Amazon • The New York Times • Newsday • BookPage • Barnes and Noble • Wall Street Journal

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Reviews

  • Nathan S.

    Terrific read covering an expansive period across Grant’s life highlighting his triumphs and tribulations along the way. Highly recommended.

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  • Michael H.

    Although very different people “Grant” by Ron Chernow is as good as “Hamilton.” In short I thought they were both excellent! Well worth the time invested. Highly recommend.

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  • Archie Worsham

    Fantastic book, felt I knew the man by books end.

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  • Bruce K.

    After Alexander Hamilton, this book is not the same. The book seems to be preoccupied with Grant's alcohol addiction and although he may have been able to limit the effects of this disease, the constant third party bickering and opinions do not put Grant in the best light considering the efforts he went through to control the disease. Although this was a noteable accomplishment, the constant third party reference takes away from the real genious and generosity that protreyed the man. Similar incidents in Hamilton were handeled much better by this author.

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  • David M.

    This book gives great insight into the aspects of Grant's life that he omitted in his autobiography. It talks about his turbulent presidency, his marriage and his struggles with alcohol. It fills those in nicely. A great book.

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  • Donald A.

    A great read. it tells you of a period of time in our country's history that was in turmoil after the Civil War.

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  • Richard N.

    General/President Grant's is one of the best books I've read in my 84 years - the man's incredible history is brought to life by perfect narration.

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  • Allen F

    It’s a long book but very interesting to learn of all that happen in Grants life !

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