The American Revolution

An Intimate History

By: Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff, Beth Hicks, Fred Sanders, Ken Burns

From the award-winning historian and filmmakers of The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The Roosevelts, and others: a human-centered history of America’s founding struggle—expanding on the landmark, six-part PBS series to be aired in November 2025

“From a small spark kindled in America, a flame has arisen not to be extinguished.” —Thomas Paine

In defeating the British Empire and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution turned the world upside down. Thirteen colonies on the Atlantic coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired independence movements and democratic reforms around the globe.

The American Revolution was at once a war for independence, a civil war, and a world war, fought by neighbors on American farms and between global powers an ocean or more away. In this sumptuous volume, historian Geoffrey C. Ward ably steers us through the international forces at play, telling the story not from the top down but from the bottom up—and through the eyes of not only our “Founding Fathers” but also those of ordinary soldiers, as well as underrepresented populations such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, and American Loyalists, asking who exactly was entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Enriched by guest essays from lauded historians such as Vincent Brown, Maya Jasanoff, Jane Kamensky, and Alan Taylor, and woven together with the words of Thomas Paine— The American Revolution reveals a nation still grappling with the questions that fueled its remarkable founding.

Critic reviews

“A sprawling canvas in every sense, including its generous use of paintings and maps. . . . Ward and Burns offer a visual feast, conveying the full continental grandeur of North America. We see the familiar battlegrounds—Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Yorktown—but the story also ranges into the deep interior, and toward Canada and the Caribbean. . . . The book and, no doubt, its companion film will effectively ground the coming national conversation about our origins. We can’t avoid the American Revolution, so we might as well face it squarely. This hefty volume does just that, and reminds us how, against all odds, a fractious people came together in the first place. Let’s hold that thought, and see if we can get through 2026 in one piece.” —Ted Widmer, The New York Times Book Review

“A substantial work in every sense—richly illustrated, gorgeously printed, and patient in its storytelling. Ward’s prose moves with a measured, cinematic cadence. . . . This book is a long conversation across centuries, generous in its curiosity and unsparing in its clarity. . . . A history written with the conviction that understanding the past is an act of citizenship.” —Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

“This gripping, in-the-moment, thought-provoking, visually exciting history profoundly deepens our understanding of our nation's origins and how the past is shaping our volatile present. . . . Ward and Burns bring their uniquely erudite and dynamic expertise to the story of the American Revolution, [chronicling] political and military history in startling detail through eyewitness accounts." —Booklist (starred review)

“The achievement of this volume is to be forthright and occasionally critical, but still grand and stirring. All truths are self-evident for Burns and Ward, not just the easy ones. . . . The bulk of the volume is comprised of Ward’s lucid prose and exquisitely rendered details.” —Publishers Weekly

Fascinating!

The best I've found for a well rounded volume on the American Revolution. Its worthy of hearing again.

A must read for anyone interested in America.

I have hundreds of books on the American Revolution and the periods prior and after it. I grew up in South Carolina where there were over 580 battles, skirmishes and murders during that time. This book covers only a faction of those occurrences. There is no way that a 12 hour TV series, which was great, could ever fully cover this period. Neither could one book which is 10 hours longer but it did a great job on what it does cover.
. Most people have no idea of the Revolution other than Lexington & Concord and York Town. I agree with Ken Burns when he said this series was greatly needed in this period of our history because so many people have no understanding of the blood, lives and sacrifices that it took to achieve our liberty and the country where we live. The spirit of the Revolution should always be with us as we thrive for a more Perfect Union.

all the battles were cool

I liked the how there was two narrators that told different parts of the book. 5 stars

Battle-Focused

The book based on Ken Burns' series is interesting in its approach. It goes beyond the "Founding Fathers" narrative to include the perspectives of ordinary soldiers, women, enslaved and free African Americans, Loyalists, and Native Americans. Overall, though, the book focuses on the battlefield, which can be tedious at times.
My major criticism of the audio book is that there is no pdf. Compared to the print version, this is a major omission.

Detailed research

Liked - even the “heroes” were flawed - but the patient waiting for the right odds for battle - eventually the French did arrive and London pulled its support. Thanks