In American History in high school I think we spent 10 minutes on Lewis and Clark. Too bad this book hadn't been available back then. It describes in fascinating detail the ultimate camping trip.

One of the amazing things about the Lewis and Clark journey was how the Corp of Discovery would temporarily split up then re-unite hundreds of miles downstream. They would do this by leaving a note on the riverbank for the other party. Seems like they left a lot to chance, doesn't it?

The operatic ending has Mr. Lewis alone in a shack on the Natchez Trace with the "failures" of his life running through his brain. A tragic ending to an exhilarating story.

Will somebody please adapt Undaunted Courage into a musical or opera? ( )

Histgory of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Tremendous detail about events that are almost stranger than fiction. Long and involved but worth the ride. Amazing that the history would have been impossible without a huge amount of goodwill from Native Americans along the trip. ( )

If you ever had any curiosity or interest in Lewis and Clark, this book is a must read. ( )

Ambrose manages to get both too melodramatic and too casual on occasion throughout this book, but it's nonetheless a wonderful read. Highly recommended.

Very readable, as Ambrose usually is. ( )

This piece of work is one which should be studied in every high school in the country. The bravery displayed and the adversity faced by the members of this expedition are not to be believed.

It is easy in this day and time to downplay the significance of this journey, however by reading this account, a full appreciation of the hazards faced by the expedition can perhaps be attained. No maps, hostile Indian tribes, constant hunger, wild animals and constant insect infestation (clouds of mosquitoes drove some mad), bitter weather, etc.

The picture painted by Ambrose is vivid. A fascinating story told by a less talented writer and historian would not have been nearly as effective. ( )

Steven Ambrose makes the Lewis and Clark expedition come alive with a wonderful history. Using Meriwether Lewis journals the reader gets to explore the new territory together. An interesting and enjoyable read. ( )

Stephen Ambrose writes more than a recounting of Lewis and Clark's expedition of the Louisiana Purchase. It is a bull biography of Meriwether Lewis. IThe book gives details of Lewis's youth and growing up and how Jefferson took Lewis under his wing. This history privides informaton regarding Lewis selctionas a leader to this expediton and the intense trining he underwnet in order to prepare for this long trek. It gives reference to the fact that Lewis received what would have been considered a Masters degree and completed it in several months. This volume references many of the discoveries Lewis made (or at least passed on to the western world). It also goes into detail about the long and difficult journey to the Pacific Coast. There are times when Ambrose does not have information form Lewis or very little from Clark, that he does take license and extrapolate his own thoughts. However, this does not really take away form the book and it is one I highly enjoyed and would recommend. ( )

Ambrose has written prolifically about men who were larger than life: Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Colonel Custer. Here he takes on half of the two-headed hero of American exploration: Meriwether Lewis. Ambrose, his wife and five children have followed the footsteps of the Lewis and Clark expedition for 20 summers, in the course of which the explorer has become a friend of the Ambrose family; the author's affection shines through this narrative. Meriwether Lewis, as secretary to Thomas Jefferson and living in the White House for two years, got his education by being apprenticed to a great man. Their friendship is at the center of this account. Jefferson hand-picked Lewis for the great cross-country trek, and Lewis in turn picked William Clark to accompany him. The two men shook hands in Clarksville, Ohio, on October 14, 1803, then launched their expedition. The journals of the expedition, most written by Clark, are one of the treasures of American history. Here we learn that the vital boat is behind schedule; the boat builder is always drunk, but he's the only one available. Lewis acts as surveyor, builder and temperance officer in his effort to get his boat into the river. Alcohol continues to cause him problems both with the men of his expedition and later, after his triumphant return, in his own life, which ended in suicide at the age of 35. Without adding a great deal to existing accounts, Ambrose uses his skill with detail and atmosphere to dust off an icon and put him back on the trail west. History Book Club main selection; BOMC split selection; QPB alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. (Publishers Weekly)

It took me a few attempts to get through the initial biography of Lewis growing up to get to the good stuff (the exciting tale of the expedition) in the middle. But this book tried to both be a biography of Lewis in addition to following the expedition, which IMHO, wasn't really necessary. Stephen Ambrose thoroughly examined the relationship between Lewis and Jefferson, and their friendship. The wrap-up analysis at the end was interesting, but again, was a bit of a slog to go through the depressing end of his life.

Ambrose clearly has an appropriate sense of appreciation for their travails and of Lewis' original writings. He often gives us snippets from Lewis' journals, which left me wanting to hear more from that and less praise of them. But at other times Ambrose must have thought that the action wasn't exciting enough because he often indulged in 'What If...?' scenarios that I thought could have been cut.

Some of the more interesting portions of the text were about the interplay between the expedition and the Sioux, Mandans, the Osage, Blackfoot, and other tribes, as well as the inter-tribal politics and war, most of which went right over Lewis' head. To me, its amazing they were able to communicate at all, given the number of people that had to be involved for translation of a single conversation! Talk about a game of Telephone!

I listened to the unabridged audiobook, but it took me a while to get used to narration by Barrett Whitener. To be honest, at first I really didn't like the way he read - the ends of his sentences were somewhat breathy and clipped - and I felt pauses between sentences were oddly timed. I found that turning my iPod to the Faster setting made it easier. With enough time (the unabridged is nearly 22 hrs!) I got used to it and could turn it back to the Normal setting. ( )

2933 Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West, by Stephen E. Ambrose (read 7 Dec 1996) This purports to be a biography of Meriwether Lewis (born 18 Aug 1774 in Virginia, killed himself 11 Oct 1809 at Grinder's Inn, 72 miles south of Nashville, TN) but mainly tells of the Expedition. What a story it is! It is really hard to believe what these men put up with, and how lucky they were. I never realized just what an awesome feat the expedition was. This was a very rewarding and excellent book. ( )

wonderful history of that great exloration of the West. I was inspired to read it after the family trip to Yellowstone, which we thought was rough at 70 mph.

The beginning and end of the book are a bit like quicksand to get through, the former talking about Lewis' life growing up and the latter recounting everything after the adventure. But the hefty middle portion covering Lewis and Clark's trip to the Pacific and back is like reading a children's adventure book. Amazing.

The account truly gives you the feeling and appreciation for being one of the first "Americans" to see the Rockies or a Great Plains' worth of Buffalo. If only I could see those scenes for real! ( )

very thorough detailed account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Plenty of background, but not so much as to be overwhelming. Haven't finished yet. ( )

As Ambrose follows the Corps of Discovery on their journey to the Pacific, he comments on the significance of their activities, and weaves in passages from the Journals. ( )

The book presents the definitive account of one of the most momentous journeys in American history. Ambrose follows the Lewis and Clark Expedition from Thomas Jefferson's hope of finding a waterway to the Pacific, through the heart-stopping moments of the actual trip, to Lewis's lonely demise on the Natchez Trace.

This book charged my interest in Lewis and Clark. Ambrose's own enthusiasm for the expedition's story, his own experiences tracing the trail, and his appreciation for the heroic are what drives the narrative. I found it to be inspirational. ( )