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Nothing Like It in the World
- The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869
- Narrated by: Jeffrey DeMunn
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Nothing Like It in the World is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroad. In Ambrose's hands, this enterprise comes to life. The U.S. government pitted two companies - the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific railroads - against each other in a race for funding, encouraging speed over caution. As its peak the work force approached the size of Civil War armies, with as many as 15,000 workers on each line. The surveyors, the men who picked the route, lived off buffalo, deer, and antelope.
In building a railroad, there is only one decisive spot - the end of the track. Nothing like this great work had ever been seen in the world when the last spike - a golden one - was driven in Promontory Peak, Utah, in 1869, as the Central Pacific and Union Pacific tracks were joined.
Ambrose writes with power and eloquence about the brave men - the famous and the unheralded, ordinary men doing the extraordinary - who accomplished the spectacular feat that made the continent into a nation.
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Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Judd Bagley
- 10-11-11
I really wanted to like this book.
First of all, I think there was a change of narrators at some point, because my version was superb, while the narration offered in the sample on this page was as terrible as many earlier reviewers suggest. So, for the record, the narrator problem appears to have been fixed.
Unfortunately, the basic flaws of story telling remain problematic. I've read many works by Ambrose and have adored them all. This book fell flat for me. Thud. Just when it seemed about to get interesting, it diverged into a morass of not-so-consequential tangents that were hard to endure.
16 people found this helpful
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- andrew
- 07-14-12
Like a good novel
Reads fast, and entertaining, better than fiction, like all of Ambrose. A people's historian this is a man who knows how to make history fun. He gets human interest and writes with balance and never bores you, never bogs down in detail, but he does not forget facts and figures either. He has a catching sense of awe. The story is great and touches on all the players and angles, without casting shadows or judgements really. They're not saints, they're not devils, they are men, who cheated and stole and did giant things too. And the immigrants have their story. There are too many good episodes and haunting touches to recall, but the Chinese in the snow is something you never hear about elsewhere, and the details on the dynamite were familiar, but more deeply explored here than in any textbook I remember. I expect almost anyone will enjoy this, though perhaps skip the intro. That was done by the author, and his voice is shaky and hard to bear for as long as he goes. He was old, and I know not in good health when doing it. On the whole, I can't say enough how great it is to find a non-fiction book read like a novel. Why do these companies often hire anyone they can find who can go droning on in a monotone for days at a time to read history books like the dictionary? Do they think only boring people buy these? I don't want to think of myself as boring. Another book of Ambrose's I read through audible was brutal at times due to a flat robotic voice, but this one shines.
11 people found this helpful
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Overall
- A. Millard
- 06-09-08
Good Book, Poor Narration and Audio Quality
The book is good if you are interested in history, which I am. The building of the transcontinental railroad is described in detail. The problem is the narration and sound quality. The narrator speaks softly -- barely above a whisper -- and with very little energy. He does, however, speak naturally, which is a plus. His quiet delivery is made worse by the uneven audio quality. You have to turn the volume way up to hear him, and there is a noticeable hiss which can be maddening. The delivery does not do justice to an otherwise fine book.
17 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Michael A. Kelley
- 12-14-04
A new narrator please!
I have heard several of the Ambrose books and liked them; however, the narrator ruined this book. I found him boring and even worse ? hard to hear and understand.
15 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Joshua Tretakoff
- 04-11-03
A tragic waste
What could have been a truly fascinating book is, als ruined by the pairing of this narrator. The same man read Stephen King's Dreamcatcher, and was excellent, but this material and his style are a recipe for droning disaster. I love other books by this author, and am fascinated with railroad lore, but this was a trial to endure. Imagine endless shopping lists being read by a calm, even tone...it was a tragedy. One notable exception in otherwise excellent work from both the author and narrator.
20 people found this helpful
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Overall
- andrew w.
- 07-20-08
mediocre
I really liked Undaunted Courage but this book is really pretty boring overall.
4 people found this helpful
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- Doug
- 10-08-11
Great reading, but ....
This is a wonderful book, well researched by the renowned Stephen Ambrose. The reading or audio performance was outstanding--perfectly suited to the story--quiet, reflective, subtle. However, the content of the book was frequently redundant (as I have found in other Ambrose works) as the author repeats facts and points many times. I like Ambrose and his work--it is well researched and interesting. Moreover, Ambrose often makes salient observations that are historically significant in and of themselves. I just wish that he had written better.
3 people found this helpful
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- scott
- 09-14-10
Loved it
what a great recounting of one of the greatest physical accomplishments in American history. As a construction super and a farmer I have a different outlook on physical labor after reading this. ( no more complaining from me!) Makes one appreciate the easy life that we all enjoy. Was very interested in the political haggling that took place before construction began. highly recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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- Chandler Bridges
- 10-09-21
American history - much better understood now
Not being a history buff, I learned a lot about the hatred of the American Indians in the 1860s and a lot about the Chinese contribution to the American culture. The need for government contribution to giant advances was shown along with governmental corruption. The competitive nature of industry was elucidated. The demanding nature of some industrial leaders was shown, reminding me of what our industrial leaders today still do. The bias and fake news from the press existed in the 1860s just as we experienced it today. Ambrose is always easy and fun to read, and I enjoyed the book thoroughly.
2 people found this helpful
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- Dennis
- 01-18-03
Excellent book about 19th-Century expansion
Like "Undaunted Courage," this is a very entertaining an interesting book which if very well-read for audio. Ambrose deserves great credit for making history entertaining. A must for anyone interested in 19th-Century American history.
10 people found this helpful
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- Stewart
- 04-16-11
Fascinating, well told.
Great history, told at great pace.
The author never attempts to hide his admiration for his subjects and this book is no exception. Their achievement leaves you breathless and S E Ambrose tells the story with pace and detail.
Well written, well read.
2 people found this helpful
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- Jon
- 08-05-20
My new favourite Audiobook
As my title suggests, this is my new, favourite audiobook. I've always had an interest in the events at Promontory and I found this book fascinating. It's very detailed - there's a lot about the lobbying and politics that went on before construction even began, so if you're after a shorter book, I'd suggest Iron Rails & Iron Men, also a great book, but a lot shorter and right to the point.
I don't know if I have a different version to some other listeners, but I thought the narrator was very good. Quietly spoken yes, but not boring at all, like some are suggesting. There are some extremely long pauses between chapters, of which I'm not sure why. Sometimes it feels like you're waiting 30 seconds for the next one when you just want to listen. All in all, I think it's a great audiobook.
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- Marg Pelenyi
- 05-31-19
Magnificent
This is the third time I've listened to the story of the great men who built the railroad!