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  • These Truths

  • A History of the United States
  • Written by: Jill Lepore
  • Narrated by: Jill Lepore
  • Length: 29 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (31 ratings)

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These Truths

Written by: Jill Lepore
Narrated by: Jill Lepore
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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
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about These Truths

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Jill Lepore should not narrate.

Nice overview of the American ‘experiment’, as the author calls it; but with less of an emphasis on all the details of what happened through US history, vs the why. She weaves a nice thread of the key turning points, figures and missed political and social opportunities that left their mark on the American identity.

But dear god Jill Lepore should not narrate. She is waaaaaay to precious (and near impossible to hear) when reading certain parts, and comically bad when putting on an impersonation to quote people.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

so interesting!

So much information, fascinating history for me being Canadian and an amazing portrait of not learning the lessons of your past. Loved that the author voiced it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good story, poor audio

Great history overall. First parts were stronger than the rest, as it seemed the details tailed off as the book went on. Poor audio quality with so many volume variations, chopping mistakes with parts being repeated, and stumbles on words that were kept in.

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