Rating: 
Summary: History that reads like fiction!
Review: Ambrose has accomplished what few have . . . history that reads like fiction. Ambrose takes you on the journey with Lewis and Clark, allows you to experience the marvels of sight, sound, and emotional ups and downs that the entire group that completed the journey must have felt. He enlivens history.
I recommend history teachers of all levels of school seriously consider requiring their students to read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Best History Book I've Ever Read!
Review: Undaunted Courage is, without a doubt, the most
interesting history book that I've ever read.
There is one chapter in particular that reads
as if it were a novel. Hard to put this book down
and I highly recommend it to anyone interested
in this era of our nation's history.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing!
Review: I'm actually in the middle of this book. It's completely fascinating! Lewis' descriptions of seeing thousands of animals grazing about leaves me breathless. One can only imagine what virgin sights unfolded before his eyes. Nature at its finest! Unspoiled, verdant landscapes! It's gratifying to know that Lewis was aware of his place in history and was appropriately awed! A great book! Can't wait to finish it.
Rating:
Summary: Opening of the American West
Review: Coming from a different culture, I was provided with an accurate, comprehensive and exciting introduction to early american history including slavery in early America, drive and foresight of Thomas Jefferson, rigors of the expedition that found a way (although not an all water route that Jefferson would have liked), Louisiana Purchase, native american traditions and the early american perspectives on dealing with the natives etc., reading this book. The narrative, especially, the quoted Lewis's words are interesting. Though spelling that was used is outrageous in those times, it never once hindered my reading the book. This is a gripping account of a critical chapter of American history
Rating:
Summary: A cheaper version of the Lewis and Clark Expo.
Review: Full of real people, animals, fern and fauna. Adventure and insight of the wilderness, as no one will ever see again. The author, Stephen Ambrose inspired by his own personal interest in the expedition, swiftly takes you down the rivers, across the plains, and through the mountains; through the eyes of Meriwether Lewis. The account of the Indians is also facinating, in how we first represented ourselves, an impression that continued for the next 100 years. Could not put this book down!
Rating:
Summary: An outrageously good historical adventure; superb!
Review: I have not read a book this fine in at least a decade. The pace, the soundness of judgement, the quality of the research, and the overall excitement of the trip reported make this a terrific, truly unforgettable piece of writing. I have recommended it to dozens of friends, and now via the Net perhaps a stranger or two! If you are curious about the early expansion of the U.S., the nature of European-Native American interaction, the politics of the Jeffersonian era, or the physical rigors confronted by Lewis and Clark, the anguish of slavery in 19th century America, you will enjoy this book
Rating: 
Summary: A for content; C for writing
Review: If my history teacher had graded this book, she no
doubt would have reminded us that we cannot forget good writing when we leave English class. The content was fascinating, but the style was
turgid and boring. Ironically, Anbrose criticizes
Lewis' writing in a sentence that is 8 1/2 lines
long!
I learned a lot about the times in which Lewis lived, but what was surprisingly weak was the
sense of wonder at the magnificent discoveries the expedition made.
This was especially surprising in light of
Ambrose's personal interest in the outdoors.
It was an interesting book, but why is everyone
raving
Rating:
Summary: What More Could You Ask For?
Review: What a read! This book captivates from the beginning and hold on until the bitter end. A spectacular story put beautifully on paper by Ambrose. Ambrose's book sheds new light on the history of this fascinating expedition. A read I would reccommend to anyone
Rating:
Summary: I wish I had it to read all over again
Review: I loved this book and its evocation of a time when nothing -- no thought, no business, no commerce -- traveled faster than a horse. This is historical writing and reading at its best
Rating:
Summary: Stepping into Paradise
Review: One elaborate sentence governed the emergence of the American West. It was penned by President Thomas Jefferson to Captain Meriwether Lewis, in 1803: "The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river, & such principal stream of it, as, by it's [sic] course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregan [sic], Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purposes of commerce." With Jefferson's pronouncement the stage is set for Stephen E. Ambrose and Undaunted Courage, his masterful re-telling of the story of the Corps of Discovery, as the expedition members were called, and especially of Lewis, its 30 year-old commander.
Foregoing a college education to take over running of the family plantation in Virginia, Lewis was at an early age already an established member of the community. When the Louisiana Purchase became reality, it was to Lewis, his Private Secretary and friend of two years, that Jefferson turned to head the expedition.
Accordingly, in May, 1804 Lewis, joined by William Clark and 29 others, crossed the Missouri and began his famous trek to explore the vast plains and mountains beyond the then-limits of civilization. Twenty-eight months later they emerged from the wilderness to a country that had never really expected to see them again. Early chapters are devoted to circumstances surrounding the outfitting of the expedition. Then, in Chapter 8 we set out on this tremendous voyage of discovery, a monumental undertaking that would prove to be a watermark of scientific knowledge of the new continent, achieving high praise for some, and grave disappointment to others. (Lewis had difficulty obtaining success after the expedition, committing suicide in 1809.) Ambrose calls him "the greatest of all American explorers," and this fine book brings Lewis and his company to life. I think you will enjoy it.
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