In Our Own Words: Extraordinary Speeches of the American Century

by Robert G. Torricelli (Editor), Andrew Carroll (Editor), Doris Kearns Goodwin (Foreword)

This bestselling collection of American oratory is the most comprehensive anthology of its kind: a record of twentieth-century America captured in the words that inspired and infuriated, electrified and galvanized its people. Decade by decade, generation to generation, history unfolds in the famous and infamous expressions of Americans from all walks of life: poets and politicians, artists and astronauts, soldiers and sports legends, preachers and pacifists, humorists and hell-raisers.
In Our Own Words bears witness to the forces that swept our nation -- two World Wars, Prohibition, the Depression, the Cold War, the Civil Rights era, Vietnam, the Reagan era, and beyond -- and features the voices of Theodore Roosevelt * Booker T. Washington * Mark Twain * Emma Goldman * Woodrow Wilson * Marcus Garvey * Oliver Wendell Holmes * George S. Patton * Pearl Buck * Orson Welles * Jackie Robinson * Joseph McCarthy * Rachel Carson * Vince Lombardi * Barry Goldwater * John F. Kennedy * J. Edgar Hoover * Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. * Malcolm X * Richard M. Nixon * Frank Zappa * Elie Wiesel * Charlton Heston * Ryan White * Duke Ellington * Billy Graham * Barbara Jordan * Bill Clinton * Cesar Chavez * Helen Keller...and dozens of others who tell the story of their age from their podiums and soapboxes, courtrooms and convention halls.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Politics, Reference, Essays, Government

480 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 1999

Reviews

[Sangria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this a bit all year with my sons. Actually whoevers available, lol. We're a busy clan. I hate to say this, but Im not sure teachers have the time or focus on history anymore. So, instead of feeling bad about it, we pick it up at home like fireside chats. Some kids read Harry Potter, my kids get Teddy Roosevelt & Kennedy. This is a wonderful book, and leads to many searches online for factual history, & Ken Burns documentary films. I'll be sad one day when they all become strong men but I hope this will be something they remember. Going to read Doris book on FDR next.

[Jon]

A suberb collection, being handed a copy of this book back in high-school sparked a love of oratory that keeps me glancing back at it for references. I'd strongly suggest it for any curriculum involving rhetoric.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read. I've been considering moving speech from a stand-alone class to integrated into my larger curriculum, but this book makes me want to keep it since there is so much more for me to include now! Major decisions need to be made...

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't the kind of book you read from cover to cover; it's more the kind of book you pull off the shelf and read for inspiration. Every great American speech given in the last 100 years is included here. Naturally, King, Kennedy, and FDR, are included, but dozens more, too, and all are every bit as inspiring and pack emotional wallops. Patton's famous speech, shortened for the film, is included. So is Reagan's speech to the nation the evening the Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff. Fascinatingly, there is even a short speech, written-out but never delivered, by Eisenhower taking the blame for the failure of the D-Day invasion. (Since the invasion was a success, that speech was never delivered.)

This is a wonderful collection of inspired words. Read it and be moved, even to tears, at times.

[Nicholas Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I REALLY love what I've read here. While I didn't agree with all of the opinions of the different speakers, it was great to hear their viewpoints expressed articulately and eloquently. What I liked most about this book was how I was able to see how our nation has changed during the last century in response to the various issues and concerns that have surfaced over the years. An excellent collection of very well-written speeches. Highly recommended.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable. It contains invaluable speeches from Americans on various topics. Americans come from different backgrounds. These speeches prove it. This book is a must have for anybody who loves America.

[Mike]

Got this as a gift (no way I would ever buy something written by this jerk) but maybe I'll look it over. I see a speech by Lombardi which may be worth reading.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five star compilation of speeches, though a low-quality compiler. Read this for a speech writing class.

[Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book club selection.