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Summary: A long long long long book
Review: I had always been interested in Lewis and Clark but this book was just too much. This book had no real catch. I assume that it was pretty much accurate but there was nothing in it that made me want to turn the page. I had to physicaly force myself to get through it. In other words don't read this book unless you either are Lewis and Clark. ( I think that even they would fall asleep during this book) or your life depends on getting through it.
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Summary: great historical book, well written
Review: A very good history of lewis & clark adventure through the indian country of the north west
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Summary: Undaunted Courage is a joyful bit of history to read.
Review: Undaunted Courage explores all aspects of the Lewis and Clark expedition. It gives a biographical account of Lewis that details the life of a Virginian plantation owner through childhood into his adult years. The importance that land played to plantation owners accounts for Lewi's strong interest in expanding knowledge about land in North America. This land was an untapped resource, Jefferson, as well as other educated people of the time were anxious to discover and obtain what the United States had to offer them. Ambrose clearly emphasizes the political aspects of the expedition. These were to find an all water route to the Pacific Ocean for the benefit of trade. As with all military endevors, the costs of this venture had to be justified. Jeffereson as well as Lewis had to "sell" their proposal to those who were opposed to the idea. Like all things, some, mainly the Federalists in this case, thought the United States already owned enough land. Ambrose does a magnificant job of including the misconceptions about the land, Native Americans, and the expedition itself, without making the reader feel that the American forefathers were uneducated. In fact, Ambrose does quite the opposite. He portrays the vast amount of knowledge that these men knew about their world. The fact that they were hungry for more knowledge of America proves just how educated they were. The wonderful details of everyday life on the expedition included from letters and journal entries allow the reader to feel present. These are the things that make the book different from ordinary history books. We are able to see what Lewis was actually like, how he treated his men, what he thought of Indians, and perhaps more importantly, what he thought of the world around him. Lewis was entering a world that had not been written about, explored, or tamed by any other white man. His descriptions of what are ordinary to us in modern society provide a new appreciation of the United States and all which it stands for.
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Summary: "Undaunted Courage": A Great Adventure
Review: "Undaunted Courage" is a historical account of the Lewis and Clark expedition by the great historian and author Stephen Ambrose. Ambrose grew up in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the epitome of small town life, and felt suffocated until he left to attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It was here that he earned a bachelor's and later a Ph.D. in American History. He is best known for his book D-Day and the biographies of both Presidents Nixon and Eisenhower. After reading the journals of Lewis and Clark and later following the expeditions trail, Ambrose has brought this historic movement, also known as the "Corps of Discovery", to the public. Although the book seems to be very slow at first it later turns into a real page-turner. "Undaunted Courage" is a predominantly biographical account of Lewis and Clark, mainly Meriwether Lewis, from a Virginian planter at the age of eighteen to his fall after the expedition. Ambrose also explores what he believes to be the tragic end of Meriwether Lewis contrary to the opinion of other respected historians. Lewis suffered from bouts of depression which became more severe after the failure of the expedition. It was his extreme depression along with alcoholism and debt that Ambrose believes caused Lewis to commit suicide. Hired by President Jefferson to explore the uncharted American west, find a water route to the Pacific ocean, and to have good relations with the Native Americans, Meriwether Lewis set out with fearlessness. After recruiting William Clark, and several other men who were promised land at the end of the journey, Lewis embarked on a two and half year journey. Lewis reports the progress of the expedition to the President with unwavering devotion. In this biographical account Ambrose also explores his own experiences on that famous trail and the journals of both Lewis and Clark, using direct quotes, and also offering his own alternative routes which he believes could have changed the history of America had they been chosen by the famous duo. Ambrose's admiration for the duo brings to light the trail blazing fearlessness of both Lewis and Clark from the way in which their militant expertise guided them through unknown territory to the way in which they fearlessly handled the many Indian tribes along the way. Ambrose does an excellent job of displaying the determination of these two men. Ambrose's own expertise lends to the feeling of realism of each reader. This historical work of art disguised as an adventure is so breath taking that one can't help but to feel a part of it all. This is a must read for not only any history buff but for anyone who has been mystified by the stories of Lewis and Clark. There will be no unanswered questions left.
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Summary: This is an incredible book!
Review: This is a book that takes a while to get into but once you are in you don't want to get out. The start of the book is slow going where they talk about the life of Meriwether and the preparation that is required for the trip. Then once you get to the trip it is incredibly interesting to find out how we met with some of the Native Americans for the first time.
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Summary: Reads like fiction
Review: A wonderful bedtime read. This reads like the best fiction
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Summary: Riveting account of Lewis & Clark's journey to the Pacific!!
Review: Well written account of the Lewis & Clark journey for President Jefferson. A must read for any student of American history. Ambrose weaves the tale and the excitement builds as the men overcome early obstacles to finally make way on the river. Any person who enjoys the outdoors will love this book
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Summary: Really Disappointing.
Review: I've read Ambrose's other works, like D-Day, and loved it. The problem with this book is that it seems, simply, written for and by a simpleton. The prose, which perhaps was meant to be elegantly spare, instead leaves you with a kind of "yeah, so?" reaction. One of the few books I've actually had to give up on. I just couldn't take it.
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Summary: Internet and Society
Review: "Undaunted Courage" is a remarkably detailed account of the Lewis and Clark ventures, known as the "Corps of Discovery", which relies on the journals of Lewis, Clark, and others that accompanied the expedition. Stephen Ambrose, also the author of New York Times bestseller D-Day and the biographies of Nixon and Eisenhower, successfully recreates this American journey to the Pacific for the reader by using direct quotes from the journals from start to finish. This allows the reader to fully understand the emotions and the actions behind the friendships, hardships, and first encounters with Native Americans and unknown land, the members of the expedition endured. During the tour, Ambrose critques and analyzes decisions made by the crew and then offers an alternative route that, if taken, may have changed history forever. The main goal of the expedition was Jefferson's quest to find an all water route to the Pacific ocean and to make peaceful relations with the Native Americans. Jefferson was confident that Meriweather Lewis, his personal secretary and close friend, was the best suited man for the job. Jefferson and Lewis had the utmost respect for each other, and Jefferson trusted that Lewis would use his best judgement to ensure that the expedition be a success. Lewis felt his long time friend, William Clark, would best be suited to be his equal on the journey, and together they would lead a crew of men to the Pacific ocean and back. Lewis and Clark chose their crew based on prior military experience, reputation, and endurance, and promised the men land once the expedition was completed. This served as an incentive for the men, however most were excited to have the opportunity to explore the unkown. Lewis and Clark both had complimentary skills that would be necessary for the success of the expedition. Lewis was knowledgeable about medicine and botany, and a skilled writer, while Clark was useful in mapping their progress. However, Jefferson and Clark both noted that Lewis seemed to suffer from depression, possibly genetically inherited from his father, but not thought to be too serious. Ambrose points out specific dates that Lewis quit writing in his journal, possibly due to depression. Once the journey concluded, and an all water route was not found, it became apparent that Lewis's depression was more serious than suspected. Lewis felt that the expedition was a failure, and that he had disappointed Jefferson, alos he was unable to find love. He turned to excessive drinking, lying, and put himself into debt. The only failure he was responsible for was his failure to realize the significance of his discoveries. Lewis's failure to realize this may have possibly contributed to why people today are unaware of the contributions this hero has made to history. However, once you read Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" you will rediscover history and have answers to questions you thought you would never have. You will find this book hard to put down because of the excitement and surprised Ambrose induces by introducing us to material that will allow us to put pieces of history together that bring us to the present day. I must say that the book does begin slowly, however once the expedition is on their way, it is a page turner right to the very end.
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Summary: Armchair time travel for those born centuries too late
Review: I, a 30ish female mystery reader, purchased this book because the cover caught my attention and to prove to myself that I could read something besides brain candy. Basically the same reason I read "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking, and "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" a few years ago. This book may turn me into a permanent non fiction reader by choice. I read the early chapters with the attitude of a school girl preparing for an exam and laid the book aside for a few months. Last week I picked it up again as a nighttime sleep inducer and found myself enthralled for hours. My excitement has increased with each new chapter and I'm trying to draw it out because I don't want to reach the end. My husband has suffered through my reading incredible sections aloud and my new desire to visit many of the places discussed. I wish to thank Stephen Ambrose for the tremendous effort to bring this story to life. He has enabled me to see the continent as it originally was with the excitement of an early explorer searching for knowledge. I was transported.
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