In Our Own Words: Extraordinary Speeches of the American Century

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

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF EXTRAORDINARY SPEECHES, ONE TIMELESS COLLECTION.
In Our Own Words is a record of the most impassioned, inspirational, and infuriating orations ever given by Americans in this century. Featured here are the words of poets and politicians, artists and astronauts, scoundrels and sports heroes, Native Americans and Nobel laureates, soldiers and civil rights activists, humorists and hellraisers. The most comprehensive collection of American oratory ever assembled, In Our Own Words includes over 150 speeches, sermons, eulogies, radio broadcasts, courtroom pleas, fireside chats, public tributes, and commencement addresses.
Beginning on the eve of the twentieth century, this collection spans the Progressive Era, the Depression, two World Wars, the civil rights movement, McCarthyism, Vietnam, feminism, the Reagan years, and the technological revolution, bringing us right up to the threshold of the new millennium, The words of these men and women, known and unknown, challenged the conscience of this country, summoned the nation to wan brought down tyrants, paid homage to fallen heroes, gave a voice to the poor and oppressed, and energized the soul and spirit of America in its most desperate times.
To hear the voices of these extraordinary Americans once again or for the first time is to sit in the front row of the history of this century, decade by decade. We find both well-known and little-known speeches by the Roosevelts and the Kennedys, Mark Twain, General George S. Patton, Ronald Reagan, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Helen Keller, Billy Graham, Malcolm X, Clarence Darrow, Rachel Carson, Will Rogers, Betty Friedan, Orson Welles, Lou Gehrig, Jane Fonda, Carl Sagan, Jackie Robinson, Charlton Heston, Pearl Buck, Vince Lombardi, Elie Wiesel, and Duke Ellington. Over a hundred more visionaries and villains, leaders and preachers, radicals and revolutionaries tell the story of their age from their bully pulpits and convention halls, their soapboxes and podiums. These are the voices of our nation.
No other century could have produced such dramatic oratory.
No other collection could have captured it more powerfully.

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

480 pages, Hardcover

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.