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Summary: What A Shame
Review: I took the advice of that author, Norman Thomas Remick, who wrote that sterling review of this book and, generally, complimented Stephen Ambrose as being the best. He is right. This book was great, and Ambrose probably **was** the best. I also went on to read Remick's book, "West Point..Thomas Jefferson" which is factually drawn from Jefferson's own readings and writings. It's important enough that everyone should read it. A real sleeper. What a shame it doesn't get more of a push.
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Summary: Agree With Author
Review: I agree with author Norman Thomas Remick ("West Point:..Thomas Jefferson") who said that Stephen Ambrose was the best, ever, at informing the public by making history interesting. "Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson..." is a great example of what this wonderful author and historian gave to America. He passed away this year. I hope someone comes along to fill his shoes (perhaps Mr. Remick?), because Stephen Ambrose shall, indeed, be missed.
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Summary: Parents Beware!
Review: Parents, If you're looking for a good history book for your children to read, please beware. While Ambrose credibly presents the exploits of the Corps of Discovery, he also fails to resist the modern urge to talk about their sex lives. Descriptions of the men's sexual practices with the Mandan indian women and their varied venereal diseases are offered for our enlightenment. The author also regales us with the curious sexual rituals of the Mandans, themselves. In addition, for no particularly beneficial reason, Ambrose relates to us how cold the winter was by offering us the natural consequences to one who would chooose to relieve himself out-of-doors. Parental caution is advised.
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Summary: Unabashed admiration for Lewis and Clark
Review: You don't have to do any reading between the lines, nor in fact, go far into this book before you realize that the 1803-1806 journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark into the unknown American west, holds a very special place in Stephen Ambrose's heart. He says as much; "in short, we have been obsessed with Lewis and Clark for twenty years". And understandably so. It is a fascinating tale. As told here by Ambrose it is part biography of Lewis, part travelogue, and pure history writing at it's finest. Although Lewis and Clark are central, the journey is as much a story of the vision and ambitions of president Thomas Jefferson, who in fact authorized the trip. "From Jefferson's point of view, the captains [Lewis and Clark] were on an expedition to explore newly acquired territory, to find the water route to the Pacific, to extend commerce, to collect specimens for science, and to establish an American claim on the Oregon country". From this description of objectives we get a clear picture of the times and the spirit of adventure; the sense of elan and the feeling of optimism that was typical of the young American nation. The unknown west was seen by the intellectual Jefferson as some sort of quest, an eager venture to be undertaken by his explorers. Ambrose describes it all in loving detail and is able to recreate this sense of enthusiasm for the west with it's promises for the future of America. Ironic then, that the instrumental character - Meriwether Lewis is shown to be a man of anything but good cheer and optimism. While a competent soldier and good leader for the expedition, the man was alcoholic and suffered bouts of deep depression. His ending was grim, convincingly argued and poignantly portrayed by Ambrose, as an act of suicide by a demented mind.
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Summary: Fresh, new story of Lewis & Clark in you-are-there language
Review: This is a fresh, new story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition which brought about major expansion of U.S. land and population. A thorough researcher, author Stephen Ambrose provides new insights into the character and motivation of those who conceived the Expedition and those who carried it out. Undaunted Courage is written in day-by-day "you are there" language... you feel the excitement, danger, brutal hardship and triumphs that this courageous band of thirty experienced during the two-year period of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, May 1804 to September, 1806. You experience fully these profound events in our history because writer Ambrose is particularly skillful at presenting vivid word pictures of our country at the time Jefferson became president, March 4, 1801. The U. S. Population was over five-million. Our smaller boundaries ranged from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, the Great Lakes and the Gulf Most people lived within fifty miles of water: the interior was a vast, unexplored wilderness. Nothing, in those days, moved faster than a horse, and as far as anybody knew, nothing ever would. That's why Jefferson promoted finding a water route to the Pacific. It took six weeks to move information overland from the Mississippi River to Washington D.C. Sixty years later, when Lincoln took office, information moved almost instantly by telegraph. New research brought to light in this best seller reaffirms the towering stature of the leading players, Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark. Throughout the book, one becomes increasingly aware of the extraordinarily high degree of energy, intelligence, intuitive judgement and sheer physical prowess of these historical figures, particularly Thomas Jefferson, who stands out as a brilliant thinker-and-doer in the development and growth of this country, yet not without his own quixotic, very human foibles. For anyone with a genuine interest on how America came to be, this is surely a must-read book.
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Summary: Underestimates the reader's imagination and memory
Review: I was disappointed in this book, which I listened to on tape. It was terribly wordy, and took every opportunity to drum in the obvious or reiterate the dangers, deprivations, triumphs, etc. It seems to be a characteristic of popular histories to assume that the reader has no imagination and lots of time, and that fattened-up-by-repetion-or-too-much-detail is better. I did think that the information delivered was interesting and balanced. Still, the L & C expedition, as well as the lives of its participants and leaders, are interesting and inspiring enough not to need alot of commentary.
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Summary: Fun Reading But Incomplete As History
Review: This is a biography of Lewis and not, as most assume, a history of the Lewis and Clark exploration. Ambrose himself goes to great length to point this out. One wonders if some reviewers caught on to this conspicuous difference. Undaunted Courage is worthwhile reading and a lot of fun. The best parts of the book focus on Lewis's Virginia roots, his relationship with Jefferson, and the leadership qualities of both Lewis and Clark during the expedition. The writer highlights the exceptional and worthy contributions Lewis made to natural science during their journey. Ambrose's treatment of the tragic decline of his subject toward suicide is balanced, thoughtful, and respectful. If there is a weakness to this book it is the familiar tendency of Ambrose to slip into slang to keep his material readable. Popular history has its trade-offs, I suppose. This biography might be disappointing to serious historians but won't disappoint the average reader.
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Summary: Thorough, Honest
Review: I really enjoyed this book and looked forward to reading it every day. I found it a little difficult in the beginning (although I'd just finished the Harry Potter series, so maybe my brain wasn't tuned up). It's very dense reading--there's a lot of detail, which I appreciated--I felt like I was getting as close to honest as Ambrose could determine himself. I also enjoyed Ambrose's narrative commentary and footnotes. Maps were also helpful and useful. This is a book that I will always recommend!
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Summary: A bit wordy, but holds your interest
Review: The book basically follows the journals of Lewis & Clark as they make their way west. It gets a bit tedious at times to hear of how Lewis shot yet another buffalo for dinner or took a walk, but if you just move through it at a good pace you'll enjoy the ride.
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Summary: A book that will always be remembered
Review: "Undaunted Courage," by the great American author Stephen E. Ambrose is a book that will always be remembered. I found the up close look at Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and William Clark priceless. However, the backbone of this well-researched and superbly written book is the tale of brave men exploring an unknown frontier and only losing one member of the party. Moreover, Ambrose documents the "essential honesty" that distinguished Lewis and Clark from other explorers like Hernando DeSoto and Francisco Pizarro who were looking for gold or wanted to convert Indians to Christianity. Ambrose also does an excellent job of informing the reader the sad truth of American Indian Policy which at the time of the expedition was, "get out of the way or get killed." Nevertheless, this truly special book examines Jefferson, the "empire builder,"...Lewis, the fellow Virginian with a rich family history and a passion for exploration and Clark, the professional soldier and pragmatic friend who provided valuable leadership during key moments of the trip. Lewis, Jefferson and Clark helped the United States become a continental power stretching from sea to sea. Ultimately, the news of Lewis and Clark's return and the subsequent published journals triggered a rush for the mountains across the nation. This is a wonderful book...because the partnership of Lewis and Clark is arguably the most famous in American history. Highly recommended. Bert Ruiz
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