The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant: Part 1: The Early Years, West Point, Mexico

By: Ulysses S. Grant

Narrated by: Peter Johnson

Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States and commander of the Union forces in the Civil War, tells the story of his life in his own words. In this opening volume, Grant covers his early years, including his time at the U.S. military academy at West Point and his service during the Mexican War under Zachary Taylor. Grant wrote his memoirs in order to rescue his family from debt and they were published as he lay dying of throat cancer. Today, they are an American classic.

Public Domain (P)1999 Recorded Books, Inc.

Critic reviews

"No American president has told his story as powerfully as Ulysses S. Grant." (William S. McFeely, historian)

an amazing man with an amazing story

I am embarrassed to say that I hadn't been asleep to the significance of Ulysses s Grant and his greatness. what a man of undeniable character and moral fortitude and complete opposition 2 much of what was happening in his times and certainly also and I'll position of much of our world now. The first portion of his story give such an insight into the man that he was in the leader he became. I strongly recommend to this especially as it is written in his own hand.

Great book, easy to listen to

I'm really enjoying part 1. The writer is so unassuming, so down to earth. You'd think he was part of the "slacker" generation who just "happened into success." The reality is that Grant was least likely to succeed. His stories about the Mexican war, and the politics behind it give a better 1st person narrative of the times than current history books on the same period. I really liked the guy as I listen, and the narrator is pretty easy to listen to also. Proved the old adage that providence plays a part in the affairs of life.

Wonderful!

This audiobook is amazing! It is an autobiography of Ulysses S. Grant. Mr. Grant was made a General and President for a reason. His language is eloquent and witty. His life was quite interesting. Peter Johnson does a great job narrating. His voice is soothing, his rhythm is excellent, and his timing and tone are perfect. Very young readers might get bored with it. However, I highly recommend this audiobook to any person of any age. Thank you and enjoy!

General Grant

With few words his message was clear and concise. Love the books on the presidents as my American History knowledge is gaining with every book I listen to.

fascinating point of view

The beginning seems a little bogged down with the Mexican American War but I came away with A much greater appreciation of it. Keep listening...Grant's take on politics in the late 1850's and early 1860's is fascinating.

A bit to much

There was a.bit too many details about the battle plaanns.. o ooo refer tje.human stories

Personal Memoirs of USGrant Part 1

Not professional in terms of writing style but excellent in getting a glimpse of the person writing... simple - straight forward - matter of fact. This must have been the style of a humble yet successful general.

Snappy Concise Humorous and Informative

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is one of the most pleasantly surprising books I have ever purchased. I finished "American Ulysses by Robert C White" and was so impressed purchased Volume 1 of this three volume work. The man writes like Mark Twain, packs so much time, humour, travel and genuine inforormation so easily I finished it wanting more.

Further, I learned more about the causes of the war in the last half hour as the previous 50 years. For instance, Texas was recently secured with national blood and treasure, included more land area then almost every nation on earth. Yet it become a slave territory of little population succeeding into The Confederacy. Further, confederate sympathizers managed to disburse military and other assets out of Northern control.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant: Part 1: The Early Years, West Point, Mexico?

All those things were interesting, However, the last chapter was invaluable for my understanding what motivated the North so vehimently. This had long been something of a mystery to me.

What about Peter Johnson’s performance did you like?

Tone and pace match the pace and humor of the text.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No particular episode rises significantly above the general high litterary, historical and iformational presentation. One surprising feature of the style is its lack of any sort of combat melodrama or self conscious gravity. And this volume includes noteworthy millitary drama behind the steady narrative.

Any additional comments?

I am dissappointed Grant has so consistently been portraid as something of a ner do well looser. For instance, prior to the war he was a "clerk" in his fathers store. I never knew his father had that store as an absentee investment. Grant aways presents himself as comming from modest priviledge, and though he often uses self depricating humor he gives no evidence of any terrible decline in fortunes during his pre war endeavors.

A good overview of Grant's war

Grant's memoirs are considered the most readable, concise and approachable war memoirs ever published in any era. I'm finding this to be true. His language is surprisingly modern, and Grant has a habit of reminding you who people are when they are re-introduced several pages later -- it makes the overall feel of the book one of a narrative rather than a history.

The narrator, though somewhat bland, suits his source material rather well, and doesn't distract much from the book.

I'm disappointed that they've broken up Grant's memoirs into three separate audiobooks, but I can live with that thanks to my subscription. If you want excruciating detail about the Civil War, buy Foote's histories. For a broader overview of Grant's war, with the perspective of the commanding General, read these memoirs.

Grant personal notes on Spanish American War.

So much I did not know! Missed opportunities to end war and save lives.