Rating: 
Summary: The Quest for the Golden Spike
Review: There is no-one quite as good as Stephen Ambrose in re-telling tales of muscular American deeds. Short sentences. Bold men. Lots of 'em. Digging. Behind the macho veneer, however, is an intelligent account of how and why the transcontinental railroad came into being. As Ambrose explains, Northern victory in the Civil War was a sine qua non of building a railroad: until then, no-one could agree on a route (or the slave status of the territories it would run through). The bravery and endurance required of its makers was equal to that required to defeat the South: in a real sense, the railroad was an equally heroic sequel, featuring many of the same performers - Dodge only the most conspicuous example.
Rating: 
Summary: Rushed into print...needed editing...
Review: I'm reluctant to give a book by Stephen Ambrose just three stars, but this book didn't meet my expectations, even after reading and accepting the author's comments in his "Acknowledgements."
First, this is a complicated and elaborate story -- the building of two separate railroads that eventually met in Utah. The story, for lay-readers, needs to be greatly simplified, with emphasis on internal review and transition, since the author is trying to tell two completely separate stories.Ambrose, apparently, was handicapped in not having good/adequate primary source material in the form of letters, diaries, journals, etc. from the leading players in this 19th century epic. Keep in mind the book's subtitle: "The Men Who Built The Transcontiental Railroad, 1863-1869" -- Ambrose clearly intended to tell us the story of these men and their contributions, etc. The "men" are pretty much depicted like the biographical sketches you'd find in high school United States history textbooks.
Early in the narrative I was bothered by the excessive repetition of facts and incidents, making me wonder whether the first draft was even proofread.
The book really has two highlights -- the photos and the Epilogue.
Where I think Ambrose made a strategic error in trying to tell the story without a continuing chronological/geographical narrative of the construction of both the UP and CP, leaving the reader bewildered by personalities/names jumping from one location to another, often in search financing.
"Nothing Like It In The World contains lots of facts, not much substance -- the book doesn't live up to it's title. Sorry, Stephen, but this book deserved more time and energy.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing Like it in the World
Review: This is one of the most important books of this century. Ambrose captures the hardships, incredible accomplishment,and achievements of many people here. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to know how to reach a goal, and to all students everywhere.Janis Dietz,The University of La Verne
Rating: 
Summary: I Wish I read these reviews first!!
Review: I have always enjoyed Ambrose' WWII material, but this was close to unforgiveable. The Lee-McLellan order error was outrageous and Simon and Schuster couldn't have had an editor read the final much less edit the book. An incredible waste of talent and subject matter. I had the book for months on the shelf and read it to fill time and because it was a Stephen Ambrose. Don't bother!
Rating: 
Summary: Great subject, poorly edited and written
Review: I have read about five or six Stephen Ambrose books enjoyed this one the least. I'm no expert in grammar, but the use of the word "loan" as a verb is unforgivable and used hundreds of times incorrectly. Where was the editor in the production of this book? We pay first class prices for these books and get a mediocre product. There were times also where he repeats the same story told in a previous chapter. Made me wonder at times if I had mismarked the spot where I had left off. I thought it was a fascinating subject covered in a slipshod fashion.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing Story--Average Narrative
Review: This is not the first Ambrose book I have read, but only with this one was I conscious of Ambrose's irritating writing eccentricities. I can live with the sentence fragments since everyone else seems to use them these days, too, but his use of the word "astronaut" for explorer of the West is far too specialized, and then when he repeated it several times, I grew quite annoyed. Recommended, but if you are an exacting reader of style, be forewarned: it needs a severe editor.
Rating:
Summary: Is that a light...?
Review: This is my seventh book by Ambrose. Although I'm enjoying it, I'd rank it seventh. I've been enjoying it for many months now. Each page contains great Americana and each page takes about a week to read.
Rating:
Summary: Dissappointing
Review: Part way through the book I realized the full meaning of the title: the book IS about the enterprising abilities of the people who built the railroad, but not much more. While the story of their effort is nothing short of amazing I kept waiting for Ambrose to provide the broader historical impact that the railroad had our society, economy, people, and cultures. Alas, it didn't happen for me. For example, I wanted to know much more about the Chinese workers whom without, Ambrose makes clear, the Western half of the railroad would not have been built. Who were the Chinese before the railroad, who were they after the railroad, what was their perspective then, what is it now? We learn about of their contributions as labor, their living conditions, and their hard work but not enough for such key players in this story. I also wanted to know much more about the Native Americans whose 13,000-year history was, arguably, more abruptly changed by the railroad than any other event since Columbus. This incredibly important event in Native American history was whittled down to the attacks on the surveyors and builders. Moreover, it appeared to be heavily told from the railroad builder's perspective, thus they were portrayed as a nuisance. I wanted to know much about the economic and social impact that the railroad had on the country. Like the CA gold rush, the transcontinental railroad was an engine of emigration that encouraged people West and encouraged immigration to the US from abroad. The railroad encouraged new communities in the West, those communities interacted with the land, the animals, the environment, with the Native Americans and with each other. Overtime, these interactions are an important part of what defines the US. In sum, if you are interested in the railroad history, in engineering, and logistical endeavors then you will certainly enjoy this book. However, if you are interested in the broad impact that large enterprises have on history then you may find the book disappointing
Rating:
Summary: A Disappointing Effort From a Master Historian
Review: I am not sure of whether the story of this book is not as dramatic as that of other Ambrose books, or whether the subjects of the book are not as heroic, or even whether the storytelling is not as engrossing. One thing is for certain: This is the only book by Stephen Ambrose that I had trouble finishing. One can hardly find fault with the meticulous research and the attention to detail exemplified in the book, and yet, the story moves at a glacial pace. This book contains many interesting facts (such as the story of Leland Stanford, who would eventually found the University that carries his name), but in no way approaches the same intensity and reverence of "D-Day" and "Citizen Soldier." Not a "must-have" but a "nice-to-have" for any Ambrose fan.
Rating:
Summary: A Little Off Track
Review: Initially, I was very excited about the book, as it combined my love of history with my interest in American railroad. That it was published by Stephen Ambrose only added to my excitement. Unfortunately, the book left me very disappointed. The research seems haphazard, and in fact, the author tells us that the research was done by his children and others -- IT SHOWS! I also found the book difficult to read though it is not boring. It was difficult to read because there are few develped thoughts within any chapter. Rather, the narrative is very jumpy, proceeding from the UP railroad to the CP railroad, to different individuals at random. I did learn many things about the process of building the railroad, but all in all, I was disappointed with what I expected to be a really great history.
|
