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Summary: Undaunted Courage
Review: This is a terrific book for both entertainment and historical study. I highly recommend that anyone even slightly interested in enriching their knowledge on the founding of the United States read Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage". Having read this for a U.S. history class, my knowledge of the Louisianna Purchase, Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether was greatly increased to an extent much further than a traditional text book could have acheived. "Undaunted Courage" is a must read.
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Summary: Loved this book!
Review: I don't really consider myself much of a history buff, so I thought it would be hard to "get through" this book. But to my surprise I absolutely loved it! The story is so compelling, and Ambrose does an excellent job of leading us along on the expedition. It has opened up a new world for me, and really sparked an interest in Lewis' time period. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!
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Summary: So good, you'd hardly know you were reading history.
Review: This book is the most exciting piece of non fiction I've ever read. Ambrose makes the reader feel as though they are right there with the expedition as they battle disease, starvation, treacherous whitewater, hostile indians and the environment itself as they struggle to cross the unexplored interior of the United States. The Lewis & Clark expedition I learned about in school was seriously lacking in excitement when compared to this chronicle. The beginning of the book is somewhat tedious as Ambrose spends what seems like far too many pages listing off the various supplies obtained and preparations made for the voyage. Once the expedition begins, however, the book is hard to put down. The extensive use of the actual diaries of the expedition members lends a vibrance to the descriptions of the various tribes of Indians, wildlife, and natural obstacles encountered. The diaries also offer a glimpse into the personalities of these famous figures and their crew. The holes left by the diaries and other historical documents are deftly filled in by Ambrose. He further colors the characters, settings, and situations with well grounded inference. Additionally, the author's detailed treatment of the political situation in the United States at the time places this journey in great historic and political perspective. Highly recomended!
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Summary: A book that made turning the next page fun
Review: I suppose I have never given proper credit to Lewis and Clark, or Thomas Jefferson, for the expansion of our country. I always looked at the whole event as just a back packing trip that we learned about in elementary school. Jefferson had a plan for the U.S., and it was to be that we would set our own course, not follow in another's path. In order not to follow in Europe's footsteps, the people had to band together and unite a continent as one strong nation. Ambrose did a brilliant job placing the reader right into the adventure. Reading this book reminded me of the frolicsome feeling that I got when I was a young boy reading Huck Finn. Each page filled my imagination and left me wondering how the next chapter would end.
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Summary: Undaunted Courage- A snapshot from American History
Review: The book details the Lewis and Clark expeditions beginning in 1803, and ending with their last voyage in September 1809. There are illustrations and drawings, along with maps tracing the journeys through a wild and wooly American frontier. The book is very descriptive and very lengthy, at 521 pages. From the beginning, Stephen Ambrose describes Meriwether Lewis as an adventurer, a naturalist, and ever eager for a new adventure. The oil painting by Charles Peale was a nice touch. There was a lot of information regarding Meriwether's boyhood and growing up in young America. I got the impression that he was a pretty rough and tumble kid, just the sort of personality you'd expect from a person of the frontier. Even his mother was pictured as a self-sufficient individual. I liked the part about her killing the deer and having it prepared by the time the men returned home from "hunting". If I were going to live in the wilderness with Indians in the woods, I would've wanted her there. Stating the book is long is a tremendous understatement. It is immense, full of detailed descriptions of the players at the time, the equipment, armaments, the vessels, everything. Maybe a bit overdone. There are also references to events and relationships with present day situations. For example, Lewis' Newfoundland "Seaman" delighted everyone in catching and killing several black squirrels, providing for the hot meal that evening. It was a good imaginative representation of the time period and the first journey. I don't feel it was necessary to add that there are almost no black squirrels left today. We humans know we have dealt most wild animals a terrible hand. My objections though are few. The descriptions of the land, the journey, and the cultures that were encountered were well written. This is the kind of book that should be read at a slower pace, stopping at times to reflect on what it must have been like back then. Besides getting to know Lewis and Clark, the book affords a personal view of President Thomas Jefferson. I highly recommend the book for anyone who likes an adventure, and especially is proud to be an American.
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Summary: Undaunted Courage Review
Review: I found this story to be incredible. i have learned about the Lweis and Clark expedition before in History classes, but this book brought it to life. The intricate details that Stephen Ambrose weaves into this book make you feel like you are in the story, tracking across the West right along with Lewis and Clark. I found it interesting how Ambrose started the book with the history behind Lewis as he was growing up, and how he got into the trip. I also liked how Jefferson was brought into the story as well. What these men went through was amazing. The hardships they went through and the things they saw are incredible. It is hard to think of someone doing something like this in today's day. Ambrose does a great job getting the reader involved in the story, once the story begins. I recommend this story to all that like to read.
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Summary: Attention Adventurers!
Review: This is a MUST READ book for all adventurers! The opening chapters are a bit "slow", describing Jefferson, Lewis and their relationship. These are very important chapters though. They help to better understand the expedition. As the expedition evolves, Ambrose's descriptions and comments seem to flow as swift as a river. In school we only scratched the surface of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Undaunted Courage gave me a better appreciation for what actually happened.
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Summary: Undaunted Courage
Review: Until you have read this book, you could never truly understand the Lewis & Clark expedition you have always learned about in school. I really did not know much about their journey until I read this incredible book. When I first saw how many pages were in this book I will be honest that I thought it might be a little long and boring. I was wrong, once you get in to reading it, it is a lot better than I thought it would be. Lewis was an incredible man to have on the journey with abilites that helped them along the expedition, he was definitely designed to be in tune with nature. Not only did Lewis & Clark learn a lot along the way so did Thomas Jefferson from these incredible two men and their sidekick Sacagawea. And for that matter so did I just from reading this book. However, I was disappointed with the ending of the book and the life altering decision made by Lewis. This was the perfect time for me to read the book with the release of the gold dollar coins with Sacagawea on them. I wondered who she was and why she was important enought to be honored with her portrait on these new coins. After reading the book I learned why she was instrumental to the expedition. If you want to understand part of an incredible historical expedition and find out why Sacagawea was honored with her portrait on our new gold coins read this book, I highly recommend it!
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Summary: Amazing
Review: This book tells a truly amazing and inspiring story. The fact that a group of less than 30 men and 1 woman were able to make it to the Pacific and back, with all the obstacles they faced, is amazing. Without this type of bravery and free-spirited exploration, the expansion into the West would have been slowed. I also couldn't believe how brazen these explorers were in some situations, and how they seemed to have no fear. This book is inspiring in that it shows what can be accomplished by individuals if they put their mind to it. I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: A Lengthy, Informative Voyage
Review: Undaunted Courage is a tribute not only to the great mission of Lewis and Clark, but also to Ambrose's ability as both storyteller and researcher. This book made the entire experience of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (nearing it's 200th anniversary) come alive from the page. The tome is packed with excellent facts and background not only about the two adventurers themselves, but also about their aides, equipment, food and supplies, and the Indian cultures that they encountered. However, the book is, as a great many well-researched texts are, dry in many places and a good deal lengthier that it needs to be. In all, however, it paints a wholly accurate portrait of the great deeds and harrowing adventures that Lewis and Clark encountered, and their lives afterward.
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