America and Americans and Selected Nonfiction

By: John Steinbeck

Narrated by: Henry Strozier

Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

More than three decades after his death, John Steinbeck remains one of the nation's most beloved authors. Yet few know of his career as a journalist who covered world events from the Great Depression to Vietnam. Now, this original collection offers a portrait of the artist as citizen, deeply engaged in the world around him. In addition to the complete text of Steinbeck's last published book, America and Americans, this volume brings together for the first time more than 50 of Steinbeck's finest essays and journalistic pieces.

©2003 The Estate of John Steinbeck (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A feast of good reading." —Jay Parini, Los Angeles Times

"Captures Steinbeck's fierce and unrelenting moral vision, while providing an intriguing glimpse of the writer's life and work." —Chicago Tribune

How spot on

Chilling how spot on he is on today's issues. John Steinbeck is always an enjoyable read/listen.

Short but Sweet

A very nice collection spanning Steinbeck‘s career, observing everything from migrant workers to the US at war. As usual the writing is excellent it’s not sometimes sad.

Great listen

I had forgotten how much I missed Steinbeck. Recommend highly. We have not changed much in the past 60 years.

Some of the best of Steinbeck

I started reading and rereading Steinbeck a few years ago. His grounded presentations of Americans provides great comfort and pride for me in this extraordinary nation.

History

An in-depth history of his career which gives insight into his major novels . Supports George Bernard shaws views of history : the only thing we have learned about history is we haven’t learned anything new

Wonderful!

For folks who relish Steinbeck’s fiction, this book is an absolute must. Through all these samples of the vast nonfiction he wrote, one gets a deep and profound understanding of the values, beliefs, and emotions that drove this great writer.

For those who may not know or care as much for Steinbeck, this book is still invaluable. Steinbeck understood America and its people with depth and clarity. His writing is a window into our country during the many decades he observed and wrote about it. Even more, he knew who we are and what we’re capable of. So, it’s valuable for us all to inform our role as citizens and our sense of our challenges and our potential as we move forward in the future.

I particularly think it’s worthwhile to get the wisdom of a true, classic liberal. It’s a beautiful thing that all, including today’s liberals, would benefit greatly from.

The narration is superb.

An American genius

Before this the only Steinbeck book I read was Grapes of wrath. I’m so glad I read this book and found out so much more about John Steinbeck‘s life. I enjoyed hearing The insight of his life growing up in Salinas and then listening to his articles and news reports around the world. There is so much to his life that I didn’t know before and I’m glad I picked this book up and read it. Well worth your time in my opinion.

Great novelist, average essayist.

I love Steinbeck as a novelist, but his non-fiction does not quite reach the very high bar set by his fiction.

Great Listen

Steinbeck at his best. The reader is perfect in tone and speed. Enjoyed the in depth writing. Steinbeck was on point back then to what America is now.

Really good Steinbeck journalism.....no kidding!

The title of this book kept me from reading it for many years even though I love Steinbeck. The title suggested that the book was a vapid piece of bragging about what a wonderful place America is....well, I do not disagree that America is wonderful and great, but I did not want to hear my beloved Steinbeck doing some kind of Readers Digest puff piece on America. Wow! Was I wrong! This book is great Steinbeck writing....nothing short of his usual perceptive and feeling prose. It reminds me a bit of Travels with Charley in that this book is non-fiction and a report on the state of American and Americans during the fifties and sixties mostly, with some World War II stuff added. One or two pieces are among the last of Steinbeck's last writings....the essays on Vietnam deal with his trip to that county during the war in 1967, and Steinbeck died less than two years later. His mature, late-life writing is simply great, as indeed most of his work was from at least 1939 forward. Thank God I took a chance on this book....good Steinbeck prose is as good as any prose ever written, and there is very good stuff here. Finally, much of what he includes here is humorous, very reminiscent of some of Twain's journalism with tongue in cheek, such as his Innocents Abroad or Roughing It. Listen and enjoy! (PS...the narrator is excellent, the sound quality excellent also)