These Truths

A History of the United States

By: Jill Lepore

Narrated by: Jill Lepore

Length: 29 hrs

Publisher's summary

In the most ambitious one-volume American history in decades, award-winning historian Jill Lepore offers a magisterial account of the origins and rise of a divided nation. The American experiment rests on three ideas - "these truths", Jefferson called them - political equality, natural rights, and the sovereignty of the people. And it rests, too, "[O]n a dedication to inquiry, fearless and unflinching", writes Jill Lepore in a groundbreaking investigation into the American past that places truth itself at the center of the nation's history.

In riveting prose, These Truths tells the story of America, beginning in 1492, to ask whether the course of events has proven the nation's founding truths or belied them.

"A nation born in contradiction, liberty in a land of slavery, sovereignty in a land of conquest, will fight, forever, over the meaning of its history", Lepore writes, finding meaning in those very contradictions as she weaves American history into a majestic tapestry of faith and hope, of peril and prosperity, of technological progress and moral anguish.

A spellbinding chronicle filled with arresting sketches of Americans from John Winthrop and Frederick Douglass to Pauli Murray and Phyllis Schlafly, These Truths offers an authoritative new history of a great, and greatly troubled, nation.

©2018 Jill Lepore (P)2018 Recorded Books

Fantastic, Unique Performance

As a historian, Jill Lepore is a master at recreating individual events to tell a larger story. Dr Lepore is not a actor with a smooth delivery and a sonorous voice, but because she is intimately familiar with the subtleties, connotations, connections, context and historical significance of the quotes that fill the book, she is able to convey the ideas, thoughts, feelings and emotions of the people she discusses, in a way that no actor possibly could. I have listened to a lot of audible histories, but I've never had an experience like this -- so vivid, so alive.

Great book, sorry she read it herself

Jill Lepore is an amazing historian, I would not wish to miss anything she writes. However I find her narration to be extremely distracting. Quotes are overdramatized to the point that it is hard to grasp their meaning. Evidently not everyone feels this way but I prefer a much more neutral reading for nonfiction, I find it is easier to absorb and more like reading it myself.

Terrible narration

Well organized and presented, but ruined by inept narration. The narrator drops her voice at the middle of most sentences to a whispering, almost inaudible level. During the times she reads a quotation she often adopts a too shrill, too fast, almost childish race through the words. I would quit subjecting myself to this exasperation, except that the material is important to learn.

Please use a professional reader/mixer!

I found the content to be interesting and informative. However, I could not comfortably listen to the content due to the authors inability to keep a consistent cadence and volume. She begins her sentences strong and loud and then tapers off at the end of each sentence making it difficult to hear the last few (and important) words of the sentence. It's very frustrating and I believe all Audible books should be read by professional readers and not their authors.

Readable Survey History - topics relevant today

A great overview history of the U.S.

One volume needs to be selective in topic areas, breadth and depth of coverage - this volume was selective.

In the areas covered some great new insights on the Founding Fathers - issues documented within the Federalist Papers and etc.

The Gilded Era (Post Civil War) introduces subject areas that remain relevant today. Supreme Court decisions such as Dredd Scott and Plessey vs. Ferguson are discussed and placed into an understandable context.

Of special interest to me was the coverage of the Post World War 2 era- some 15-20% of the work.

The Last Chapters and Epilogue cover the decline of the U.S. Middle Class and its impact upon the U.S.' political stability;the descent into Political Tribalism and one set of reasons for it.

Overall balanced perspective.

Should be of great interest to those interested in U.S. History.

Comment: I admire Jill LePore's capabilities as a historian - her narration skills leave something-to-be-desired.

The production value of this particular AudioBook was relatively poor (A repeat of the Epilogue as an example).

Carl Gallozzi
[e-mail]

The most important USHistory of my lifetime

Jill Lepore‘s these truths is a game changer in the study of US history. The author looks at US history from the perspective of the people who made that history. Not the wars, not the presidents, not the rich and famous. But the people themselves. The headlines of the eras did not tell the real story of change in America. The themes of democracy and race permeate much of the information and are incredibly helpful to understanding the powerful momentum of events in our history.

Loved the Book, Some Audio Issues

Story was excellent, great unbiased (for the most part) history of the United States. The author did a fantastic job performing the book, the only issue I had was that I had to listen at a loud volume to hear the lows in the audio, but from time-to-time (typically while delivering emphasis from a quote) the highs were ear-piercingly loud. Could very possibly have been from listening at 1.25 speed. Made it a little annoying to listen to but didn't take away enough from the overall to lose any stars!

Great Book! Timely as Hell

This well written story of America from a perspective that is broader and more honest than anything I have seen before. It is also well read by the author. I enjoyed her earnest passionate reading.

An Eye-Opening One-Volume History

This volume (and the history that Ms. Lepore is currently writing) should become standard texts for people interested in American history, as well as college and graduate students. Ms. Lepore accomplishes the brilliant balancing act of giving previously neglected groups (e.g., women, African Americans, Native Americans, etc.) their rightful place in American history without imposing an anachronistic, contemporary perspective on the key movements and events.

Phenomenal Vision of the Arc of American History

Lepore frames the scope of American History as a story created by many participants but with an overall narrative arc. Her ear for language, her gift for pacing, and her ability to structure the threads of events into a tapestry as textured and colorful as Americans themselves makes even familiar topics seem fresh. Questions such as “by what right” are we led and what is meant by “these truths” echo throughout the manuscript. Time invested in her book is time well spent.