The Men Who United the States - by Simon Winchester (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"Simon Winchester never disappoints, and The Men Who United the States is a lively and surprising account of how this sprawling piece of geography became a nation. This is America from the ground up. Inspiring and engaging." --Tom Brokaw

Simon Winchester, acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Atlantic and The Professor and the Madman, delivers his first book about America: a fascinating popular history that illuminates the men who toiled fearlessly to discover, connect, and bond the citizenry and geography of the U.S.A. from its beginnings.

How did America become "one nation, indivisible"? What unified a growing number of disparate states into the modern country we recognize today? To answer these questions, Winchester follows in the footsteps of America's most essential explorers, thinkers, and innovators, such as Lewis and Clark and the leaders of the Great Surveys; the builders of the first transcontinental telegraph and the powerful civil engineer behind the Interstate Highway System. He treks vast swaths of territory, from Pittsburgh to Portland, Rochester to San Francisco, Seattle to Anchorage, introducing the fascinating people who played a pivotal role in creating today's United States.

Throughout, he ponders whether the historic work of uniting the States has succeeded, and to what degree. Featuring 32 illustrations throughout the text, The Men Who United the States is a fresh look at the way in which the most powerful nation on earth came together.

From the Back Cover

New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester follows the footsteps of America's most crucial innovators, thinkers, and explorers, from Lewis and Clark and the leaders of the Great Surveys of the West to the builders of the transcontinental railroad and the great highway systems to show how these daring men from three centuries left their mark on America's natural landscapes through courage, ingenuity, and hard work. Winchester brings together the breathtaking achievements of those American pioneers who helped to forge and unify the new nation, and who toiled fearlessly to bond the citizens and the geography of the United States from its very beginnings. This sweeping narrative is an unforgettable journey of unprecedented scope across time and open spaces, providing a new lens through which to view American history, led by one of our most gifted writers.

Review Quotes

"Entertaining. ... A pleasure." -- New York Times Book Review

"A rousing tribute to the alliances, agencies, and inventions - from Lewis and Clark to the Internet - that underpin our more perfect union. A stunning, highly original feast of a book." -- STACY SCHIFF, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Cleopatra

"Vivid, valuable. ... An extraordinary, propulsive tale." -- Wall Street Journal

"An impeccably researched, erudite, well-told tale, peppered with occasional grace notes." -- Miami Herald

"An elegantly written account... filled with fascinating information." -- Boston Globe

"[M]esmerizing and fascinating... Mr. Winchester is a master storyteller, and all the individuals, places, and events that he passionately writes about come to life in exquisite detail." -- New York Journal of Books

"Winchester has found a thematic way to tell this familiar story so it seems fresh and informative, even fascinating." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Winchester provides surprising insights into our social history, further enriching his narrative with accounts of his personal odysseys around the country. The results are highly recommended for public and school libraries and all readers looking for new and stimulating perspectives on the history of America." -- Library Journal

"A most genial storyteller" -- Las Vegas Weekly

"[I]nformative and absorbing" -- The Oregonian (Portland)

"Simon Winchester never disappoints, and The Men Who United the States is a lively and surprising account of how this sprawling piece of geography became a nation. This is America from the ground up. Inspiring and engaging." -- Tom Brokaw

"What makes this book so enjoyable is that he ties the development of these advances to some brilliant but idiosyncratic personalities." -- BookPage

"He ... freshens U.S. history by refusing to tell it through the usual suspects." -- Seattle Times

"The subtitle promises readers a sackful of exciting tales-and the author delivers. This is a clever, engaging and original look at what would seem well-trodden historical paths; but Winchester, delightfully, breaks a fresh trail." -- The Economist

"The tales he weaves were more engaging than most contemporary fiction." -- Zócalo Public Square