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The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America
Timed for the 250th anniversary of one of America’s most famous founding Paul Revere’s legendary ride, newly told with fresh research into little-known aspects of the myth that every American learns in school
On April 18, 1775, a Boston-based silversmith, engraver, and anti-British political operative named Paul Revere set out on a borrowed horse to fulfill a dangerous but crucial task to alert American colonists of advancing British troops, which would seek to crush their nascent revolt. Revere was not the only rider that night, and indeed, he had completed at least 18 previous rides throughout New England, disseminating intelligence about British movements. But this ride was like no other, and its consequences in the months and years to come—as the American Revolution morphed from isolated skirmishes to a full-fledged war—became one of our founding legends.
In The Ride, Kostya Kennedy presents a dramatic new narrative of the events of April 18 and 19, 1775, informed by fresh primary and secondary source research into archives, family letters and diaries, contemporary accounts, and more. Kennedy reveals Revere’s ride to be more complex than it is usually portrayed—a coordinated series of rides by numerous men, near-disaster, capture by British forces, and finally success. While Revere was central to the ride and its plotting, Kennedy reveals the other men (and, perhaps, a woman with information about the movement of British forces) who helped to set in motion the events that would lead to America’s independence.
Thrillingly written in a dramatic, unstoppable narrative, The Ride re-tells an essential American story for a new generation of readers.
On April 18, 1775, a Boston-based silversmith, engraver, and anti-British political operative named Paul Revere set out on a borrowed horse to fulfill a dangerous but crucial task to alert American colonists of advancing British troops, which would seek to crush their nascent revolt. Revere was not the only rider that night, and indeed, he had completed at least 18 previous rides throughout New England, disseminating intelligence about British movements. But this ride was like no other, and its consequences in the months and years to come—as the American Revolution morphed from isolated skirmishes to a full-fledged war—became one of our founding legends.
In The Ride, Kostya Kennedy presents a dramatic new narrative of the events of April 18 and 19, 1775, informed by fresh primary and secondary source research into archives, family letters and diaries, contemporary accounts, and more. Kennedy reveals Revere’s ride to be more complex than it is usually portrayed—a coordinated series of rides by numerous men, near-disaster, capture by British forces, and finally success. While Revere was central to the ride and its plotting, Kennedy reveals the other men (and, perhaps, a woman with information about the movement of British forces) who helped to set in motion the events that would lead to America’s independence.
Thrillingly written in a dramatic, unstoppable narrative, The Ride re-tells an essential American story for a new generation of readers.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2025
151 people are currently reading
8856 people want to read
About the author
Kostya Kennedy
20 books70 followersKOSTYA KENNEDY is the Editor in Chief of Premium Publishing at Dotdash Meredith. A former Senior Writer and Editor at Sports Illustrated, he is the author of the forthcoming book The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America as well as True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson, the New York Times bestsellers 56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports, and Pete Rose: An American Dilemma. All three books won the CASEY Award for Best Baseball Book of the Year. He has taught at Columbia and New York University, and he lives in Westchester County, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
March 23, 2025
Combining a biography and history, Kostya Kennedy brings the history and characters to life in
The Ride – Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America.
The book focuses on the night of the famous ride, April 18 – 19, 1775. However, it sets the scene with information on Revere from the time he is fifteen when he was a bell ringer at the Old North Church and an apprentice silversmith to his father.
Revere was a silversmith, an engraver, a dentist, and an anti-British operative and express rider. While an artisan, he talked with and was friends with the wealthy, other artisans, tradespeople, and farmers. Revere was eager, curious, hardworking, confident, intelligent, persevering, and had a social manner that enabled him to deliver and gather information on behalf of the rebel leaders such as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Joseph Warren. He also had a large family to support and thus, the multiple ways he had of making money. Revere firmly believed the colonists needed to resist the ever-increasing efforts the British had taken to intimidate and subdue them. Each new decree brought widening discontent and he spread the word of events and actions between Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
The author has a style of writing that is thought-provoking and provides new-to-me information about Revere and the fateful ride. I found it especially interesting to see how different the rides of Revere and William Dawes were on that night. My one small quibble was that there was some repetitiveness in the book. It’s also highly focused on the events of and leading up to the night of April 18, 17175. Thus, it isn’t a full biography. However, the title tells readers where the focus will be.
Overall, this was an excellent, but focused biography and colonial history book that was well-researched and written in an engaging manner. The author visited many of the locations and provides an extensive bibliography of books, articles, websites, documents, and more.
St. Martin’s Press and Kostya Kennedy provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 25, 2025.
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My 4.47 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Revere was a silversmith, an engraver, a dentist, and an anti-British operative and express rider. While an artisan, he talked with and was friends with the wealthy, other artisans, tradespeople, and farmers. Revere was eager, curious, hardworking, confident, intelligent, persevering, and had a social manner that enabled him to deliver and gather information on behalf of the rebel leaders such as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Joseph Warren. He also had a large family to support and thus, the multiple ways he had of making money. Revere firmly believed the colonists needed to resist the ever-increasing efforts the British had taken to intimidate and subdue them. Each new decree brought widening discontent and he spread the word of events and actions between Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
The author has a style of writing that is thought-provoking and provides new-to-me information about Revere and the fateful ride. I found it especially interesting to see how different the rides of Revere and William Dawes were on that night. My one small quibble was that there was some repetitiveness in the book. It’s also highly focused on the events of and leading up to the night of April 18, 17175. Thus, it isn’t a full biography. However, the title tells readers where the focus will be.
Overall, this was an excellent, but focused biography and colonial history book that was well-researched and written in an engaging manner. The author visited many of the locations and provides an extensive bibliography of books, articles, websites, documents, and more.
St. Martin’s Press and Kostya Kennedy provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 25, 2025.
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My 4.47 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
March 25, 2025
This is a well-written, entertaining, meticulously researched biography. It is interesting and informative, and gives a detailed account of Paul Revere's famous ride, and the events preceding and following it, as well as an enlightening description of his life and family. The beautiful pictures at the beginning of each chapter add depth in their illustration of this work. This book has piqued my interest in learning more about the historical figures mentioned in the book, and visiting the sites that are mentioned. I especially enjoyed the reference to Paul Revere's great-great-great-great granddaughter, and the message that a single conscious act can change the world. Many thanks to Mr. Kennedy, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this fascinating book. This is my honest opinion.
March 21, 2025
Wonderful work by author Kostya Kenned,y who gives us a much more detailed look into the man Paul Revere. As we near the 250th anniversary of the ride Kennedy begins by posing questions as to how the American Revolution would have turned out had Revere not made that ride, even to the point of asking if the Revolution would have happened at all? From there we learn a lot about Revere's life and for me I found out so many details I was unaware of about Revere, and his role as an Express Rider and his role of getting messages throughout the Boston/New York/Philadelphia corridor. Revere was known as trusted by all in the Patriot group and it made perfect sense for him to make the ride. Yes William Dawes also helped, but nobody carried the gravitas of Revere whose words prompted others to ride out and get out the notice. Thoroughly researched and well written this is a book that we all should take the time to read. Solid 4.5****
February 13, 2025
I received a free copy of, The Ride, by Kostya Kennedy, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. One of the most famous rides, we have heard about is Paul Revere on April 18, 1775, Paul Revere made history. This ride of men and women will never be forgotten. This was a good read, very informative.
April 9, 2025
Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere are words that generations of school children memorized for their language arts classes. Written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1860, the poet memorialized a ride that otherwise would have been a footnote to history. In another ten days, the United States will celebrate the two hundred fiftieth year since the ride of Paul Revere (no rhyme intended), which occurred on the evening of April 18, 1775. One of by land and two if by sea, and I on the opposite shore shall be, ready to ride and spread the alarm to every Middlesex village and farm. The British were coming to Lexington and Concord, having had enough of the revolutionaries’ attempts to thwart their presence in the colonies. On the morning of April 19, the British fired the “shot heard around the world” at Lexington Green. Someone would have had to warn Massachusetts country folk that the Red Coats were coming, and that someone was Paul Revere. I might have been among the last generation of middle school students to memorize classic American poetry for recitation. I chose Paul Revere’s ride because of the historical significance, and, always the nerd, myself in 1991 found these words written in 1860 to be fun and upbeat. When I found out that one of my favorite sports writers Kostya Kennedy switched over to write about a historical event, I knew it would be a must read that I had to finish prior to that April 18 anniversary.
Before delving into Revere, I want to laud the author Kennedy for switching genres. Many people who prefer reading fiction believe that nonfiction is one genre rolled into one. As a primarily nonfiction reader, I can attest that this is not the case. Memoirs, history tomes, biographies, and niche writing require different skill sets. Kennedy started out writing for Sports Illustrated and then wrote full length books about Pete Rose, Joe DiMaggio, and Jackie Robinson. Like myself, his preferred genre is baseball history. Being passionate about the subject, his words resonate with his readers, especially those who are equally passionate about baseball. Needless to say, his take on Jackie Robinson, a man whose life has been explored from every angle possible, presented itself as a unique concept for a book. I was surprised when I found out that Kennedy would be writing a history book but grew excited to see how he would present his subject matter. Kennedy began his research by doing what he knew as a sports reporter, interviewing those associated with both the Old North Church in Boston and the Paul Revere Museum in Concord. His sections that grew out of these interviews held the book in place. Then he switched to researching 18th century history to build upon his subject, filtering out myth from fact. Because Kennedy is a novice history writer, at times the storyline fell flat because he had run out of interview subjects. He still had a book to weave together, which at times fell flat; however, I believe that Kennedy deserves praise for branching out.
The subject of this book, Paul Revere. His grandfather Apollos Revoire emigrated from France to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and began his silversmith trade. Once in the colonies, he changed the last name to Revere and eventually he gave the trade to his son, Paul Sr. The celebrated Paul Revere apprenticed under his father and then took over when his father passed when the younger Paul Revere was only nineteen. In addition to being a silversmith, Revere wrote articles for the Sons of Liberty and learned dentistry when the profession was just beginning. He fitted ivory dentures for his good friend the doctor Joseph Warren, people choosing their doctors and dentists at the time based on skill and principles rather than overall knowledge and schooling. It makes sense that Revere excelled in dentistry because like smithing, the trade involved intricate use of the hands; however, dentistry is not what Revere best made a name for himself in. Prior to his famous ride, Revere was a sought after express rider in the northern colonies and became one of a group of colonists who the British sought to capture. Everyone knew of Paul Revere, a man who rode on twelve rides between Boston, New York, Virginia, Philadelphia, and back to his home. He risked being caught or killed on each trip, but these rides paid well, and Revere was the father to seven (eventually nine) children. During the years leading up to independence where the British taxed and tariffed most products, Revere sought a way to supplement his income. He did so by riding and delivering messages to sons of liberty throughout the colonies. Revere’s rides paid sbout £4 each, which was as much as £1520 in today’s money, not a small amount for a large family.
By April 18, 1775 the HMS Somerset made land at Charleston. The Red Coats lead by Thomas Gage would arrive by water in an attempt to overwhelm the colonists at Lexington. For those well versed in history these sections might sound repetitive but are exciting nonetheless. The Sons of Liberty needed someone to ride to warn the people of Lexington and Concord that the British were coming, and they counted on their best express rider Paul Revere. A savvy rider, Revere knew that he needed backups in case he was caught. For this role he selected William Dawes, a man whose family who first arrived in Massachusetts in 1620. Dawes’ descendente believe that he should be as remembered in history as Revere but c’est la vie. Kennedy’s thesis is that the name revere denotes awe. He was a consummate people person and communicated well with all he encountered. Revere notified people along his route and they did get up and armed, and then these country farmers notified their neighbors in turn. Wirh his speed and commitment Revere enabled the colonists to mobilize in order to meet and face off against the British. By 1860 the United States was once again on the eve of war. Revere at that time was but a footnote to history. Longfellow’s poem reminded Americans of Paul Revere the patriot and his commitment to his country. Longfellow also perhaps mobilized Americans to be ready to fight for their beliefs while elevating Revere to iconic status.
Reading about Paul Revere’s ride and recalling how much of Longfellow’s poem I committed to memory was indeed fun; however, Kennedy did not acquire enough information to write a full length comprehensive biography about Revere. Because I love history and biographies, I was looking forward to a lengthy exploration of Revere’s life. Kennedy only writes of Revere in relation to the revolutionary years with a few other tidbits thrown in. He interspersed what information he had with his take on early slavery in the Massachusetts colony as well as Longfellow’s poem and a history of the ride itself. As he is a reporter, I thought the most intriguing sections of the book were Kennedy’s visit to the Old North Church and his interview with Boston attorney Paul Revere III. The lightest moment in the entire narrative came when Revere III spoke about a ride his father took to Lexington albeit in a car one April 18. This anecdote put the original Paul Revere’s place in American history in perspective as he warned country folk to be up and to arm. Approaching April 18 and the ride’s two hundredth fiftieth anniversary, I thought Kennedy’s book explained the ride for novice historians. I laud him for branching out from baseball writing although I feel that is still his best writing. With more practice and polish, Kostya Kennedy can become a top flight history writer and I am curious to see which historical figure he chooses to tackle next.
3.5 stars
Before delving into Revere, I want to laud the author Kennedy for switching genres. Many people who prefer reading fiction believe that nonfiction is one genre rolled into one. As a primarily nonfiction reader, I can attest that this is not the case. Memoirs, history tomes, biographies, and niche writing require different skill sets. Kennedy started out writing for Sports Illustrated and then wrote full length books about Pete Rose, Joe DiMaggio, and Jackie Robinson. Like myself, his preferred genre is baseball history. Being passionate about the subject, his words resonate with his readers, especially those who are equally passionate about baseball. Needless to say, his take on Jackie Robinson, a man whose life has been explored from every angle possible, presented itself as a unique concept for a book. I was surprised when I found out that Kennedy would be writing a history book but grew excited to see how he would present his subject matter. Kennedy began his research by doing what he knew as a sports reporter, interviewing those associated with both the Old North Church in Boston and the Paul Revere Museum in Concord. His sections that grew out of these interviews held the book in place. Then he switched to researching 18th century history to build upon his subject, filtering out myth from fact. Because Kennedy is a novice history writer, at times the storyline fell flat because he had run out of interview subjects. He still had a book to weave together, which at times fell flat; however, I believe that Kennedy deserves praise for branching out.
The subject of this book, Paul Revere. His grandfather Apollos Revoire emigrated from France to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and began his silversmith trade. Once in the colonies, he changed the last name to Revere and eventually he gave the trade to his son, Paul Sr. The celebrated Paul Revere apprenticed under his father and then took over when his father passed when the younger Paul Revere was only nineteen. In addition to being a silversmith, Revere wrote articles for the Sons of Liberty and learned dentistry when the profession was just beginning. He fitted ivory dentures for his good friend the doctor Joseph Warren, people choosing their doctors and dentists at the time based on skill and principles rather than overall knowledge and schooling. It makes sense that Revere excelled in dentistry because like smithing, the trade involved intricate use of the hands; however, dentistry is not what Revere best made a name for himself in. Prior to his famous ride, Revere was a sought after express rider in the northern colonies and became one of a group of colonists who the British sought to capture. Everyone knew of Paul Revere, a man who rode on twelve rides between Boston, New York, Virginia, Philadelphia, and back to his home. He risked being caught or killed on each trip, but these rides paid well, and Revere was the father to seven (eventually nine) children. During the years leading up to independence where the British taxed and tariffed most products, Revere sought a way to supplement his income. He did so by riding and delivering messages to sons of liberty throughout the colonies. Revere’s rides paid sbout £4 each, which was as much as £1520 in today’s money, not a small amount for a large family.
By April 18, 1775 the HMS Somerset made land at Charleston. The Red Coats lead by Thomas Gage would arrive by water in an attempt to overwhelm the colonists at Lexington. For those well versed in history these sections might sound repetitive but are exciting nonetheless. The Sons of Liberty needed someone to ride to warn the people of Lexington and Concord that the British were coming, and they counted on their best express rider Paul Revere. A savvy rider, Revere knew that he needed backups in case he was caught. For this role he selected William Dawes, a man whose family who first arrived in Massachusetts in 1620. Dawes’ descendente believe that he should be as remembered in history as Revere but c’est la vie. Kennedy’s thesis is that the name revere denotes awe. He was a consummate people person and communicated well with all he encountered. Revere notified people along his route and they did get up and armed, and then these country farmers notified their neighbors in turn. Wirh his speed and commitment Revere enabled the colonists to mobilize in order to meet and face off against the British. By 1860 the United States was once again on the eve of war. Revere at that time was but a footnote to history. Longfellow’s poem reminded Americans of Paul Revere the patriot and his commitment to his country. Longfellow also perhaps mobilized Americans to be ready to fight for their beliefs while elevating Revere to iconic status.
Reading about Paul Revere’s ride and recalling how much of Longfellow’s poem I committed to memory was indeed fun; however, Kennedy did not acquire enough information to write a full length comprehensive biography about Revere. Because I love history and biographies, I was looking forward to a lengthy exploration of Revere’s life. Kennedy only writes of Revere in relation to the revolutionary years with a few other tidbits thrown in. He interspersed what information he had with his take on early slavery in the Massachusetts colony as well as Longfellow’s poem and a history of the ride itself. As he is a reporter, I thought the most intriguing sections of the book were Kennedy’s visit to the Old North Church and his interview with Boston attorney Paul Revere III. The lightest moment in the entire narrative came when Revere III spoke about a ride his father took to Lexington albeit in a car one April 18. This anecdote put the original Paul Revere’s place in American history in perspective as he warned country folk to be up and to arm. Approaching April 18 and the ride’s two hundredth fiftieth anniversary, I thought Kennedy’s book explained the ride for novice historians. I laud him for branching out from baseball writing although I feel that is still his best writing. With more practice and polish, Kostya Kennedy can become a top flight history writer and I am curious to see which historical figure he chooses to tackle next.
3.5 stars
April 3, 2025
This is a short biography and history about a famous transformative night, the ride that changed everything. Paul Revere was not alone on April 18, 1775 riding out to warn that an attack was imminent by the British soldiers, but his story is the one that best known. Revere’s ride was also the most effective, where William Dawes was a bit slower, or maybe not as personable as Revere.
The book provides a small amount of biography of Paul Revere. He was named after his father who was also Paul Revere, after he changed from his French name Apollos Rivoire. Revere was a bell ringer in 1750, a teenager then, and pledged himself along with several other boys to always ring the bells at Old North Church at least one evening a week for a year.
Revere was given to joining societies and at twenty-five joined the Masons, the St. Andrew’s Lodge which was formed in dissent to the elite St. John’s Lodge whose members were mostly loyal to the Crown. This group of men grew close friendships through the years and tended toward rebellion and independence through the 1760s and later. It was through this group that Paul Revere became the man who rode the horse on that fateful night.
It felt momentous to read this as we approach the 250 year anniversary. While I knew about Paul Revere and his ride, as we are taught as children, this book filled in many details of the man and the night. The book is somewhat narrow, but not exclusively focused on the ride. I enjoyed learning a tidbit about his many generations later descendants who have been named Paul Revere and are carrying it through the years, with the youngest now being the 4th, although the Patriot Paul Revere is his six-times great-grandfather.
I listened to this book on audio, but did not particularly enjoy the narrator. The way he had of speaking is not a style that I liked, almost like shouting but not loudly. Perhaps it is a just a quirk of mine and others will have no problem with the narrator.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
The book provides a small amount of biography of Paul Revere. He was named after his father who was also Paul Revere, after he changed from his French name Apollos Rivoire. Revere was a bell ringer in 1750, a teenager then, and pledged himself along with several other boys to always ring the bells at Old North Church at least one evening a week for a year.
Revere was given to joining societies and at twenty-five joined the Masons, the St. Andrew’s Lodge which was formed in dissent to the elite St. John’s Lodge whose members were mostly loyal to the Crown. This group of men grew close friendships through the years and tended toward rebellion and independence through the 1760s and later. It was through this group that Paul Revere became the man who rode the horse on that fateful night.
It felt momentous to read this as we approach the 250 year anniversary. While I knew about Paul Revere and his ride, as we are taught as children, this book filled in many details of the man and the night. The book is somewhat narrow, but not exclusively focused on the ride. I enjoyed learning a tidbit about his many generations later descendants who have been named Paul Revere and are carrying it through the years, with the youngest now being the 4th, although the Patriot Paul Revere is his six-times great-grandfather.
I listened to this book on audio, but did not particularly enjoy the narrator. The way he had of speaking is not a style that I liked, almost like shouting but not loudly. Perhaps it is a just a quirk of mine and others will have no problem with the narrator.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
Read
March 25, 2025At first I was skepical that anyone could get an entire book from Revere's eighteen-mile ride on a single night during the complex mess that we now call the Revolutionary War.
But I LOVRD this book.
It's exactly the kind of history I like most: well researched evocations of all the people involved, not just military leaders. Kennedy takes the time to give vivid biographical sketches of key people on both sides (key being those around Revere, including some whose names are scarcely a footnote in broader histories), and then conveys a cinematic feel for the geography of the time. What it must have been like to live there. What everyone saw. What the survivors said later.
Then, after the Ride, we get a sketch of the poem that kept the legend alive, and then brief sketches of other famous riders.
All in all, I thought it was a terrific book for the sort of person who walks the Freedom Trail, or goes to various sites, and squints past telephone poles and stuccoed box buildings and automobiles and all the other detritus of modern life for what it must have been like in those tense days.
But I LOVRD this book.
It's exactly the kind of history I like most: well researched evocations of all the people involved, not just military leaders. Kennedy takes the time to give vivid biographical sketches of key people on both sides (key being those around Revere, including some whose names are scarcely a footnote in broader histories), and then conveys a cinematic feel for the geography of the time. What it must have been like to live there. What everyone saw. What the survivors said later.
Then, after the Ride, we get a sketch of the poem that kept the legend alive, and then brief sketches of other famous riders.
All in all, I thought it was a terrific book for the sort of person who walks the Freedom Trail, or goes to various sites, and squints past telephone poles and stuccoed box buildings and automobiles and all the other detritus of modern life for what it must have been like in those tense days.
August 16, 2025
Libby app, Overdrive was better
----
On this episode of listening to books I own:
This was really interesting and I couldn’t put this down when I had the time and spoons 🥄 to devote to it.
Wondering if Paul Revere was ADHD? Would make sense in ways.
Sone stuff I knew already (gonna listen to the Wadsworth poem one of these days, haven't listened to it since I was younger) but still managed to learn some other things:).
I do agree that the other riders deserve more credit, hopefully they get it and more people learn about their courage on that night 🌙 .
Imagine what may have happened/changed if anything had gone differently the night of the Ride.
Added a few more places to my bucket list ✨️ 👌. Paul Revere was an interesting person for sure.
Would recommend 👌 👍🏼 👏 Go learn something :)
----
On this episode of listening to books I own:
This was really interesting and I couldn’t put this down when I had the time and spoons 🥄 to devote to it.
Wondering if Paul Revere was ADHD? Would make sense in ways.
Sone stuff I knew already (gonna listen to the Wadsworth poem one of these days, haven't listened to it since I was younger) but still managed to learn some other things:).
I do agree that the other riders deserve more credit, hopefully they get it and more people learn about their courage on that night 🌙 .
Imagine what may have happened/changed if anything had gone differently the night of the Ride.
Added a few more places to my bucket list ✨️ 👌. Paul Revere was an interesting person for sure.
Would recommend 👌 👍🏼 👏 Go learn something :)
December 19, 2024
The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America
by Kostya Kennedy is an enjoyable nonfiction that highlights the infamous Revere.
I know I should know more about our nation’s history, and it is sad I know more about English and Scottish history…but oh well…I am trying..aka reading this book. Even though I do know more about the Revolutionary War era than others ( due to the British involvement), this was an excellent refresher and an addictive read all the while learning so much more…
The presentation was easy to follow, engaging, and not overwhelming or intimidating. Something that is clearly right up my alley. I really enjoyed it.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and St Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/25/25.
by Kostya Kennedy is an enjoyable nonfiction that highlights the infamous Revere.
I know I should know more about our nation’s history, and it is sad I know more about English and Scottish history…but oh well…I am trying..aka reading this book. Even though I do know more about the Revolutionary War era than others ( due to the British involvement), this was an excellent refresher and an addictive read all the while learning so much more…
The presentation was easy to follow, engaging, and not overwhelming or intimidating. Something that is clearly right up my alley. I really enjoyed it.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and St Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/25/25.
April 24, 2025
In his book, Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America, Kostya Kennedy gives a well-researched, well-written account, not only of Paul Revere’s most famous ride, but of his background, his work and his family. He provides information about the lead up to the revolution and tells about other riders including the possibly untrue ride of a young girl. Kennedy’s writing style avoids the too often dry pedantic style of many historians making this a very interesting, accessible, and, dare I say, entertaining account of probably the most famous ride in all history. I read an eARC of the book while listening to the audiobook narrated by Johnny Heller who does an excellent job.
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for this book in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for this book in exchange for an honest review
January 18, 2025
First I’d like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy that allows me to provide an honest review.
With that said, Wow! What an amazing book. I have long loved all things about the American Revolution and Colonial times. I have read many books on these topics. I had yet to read anything about Paul Revere or his famous ride. There was so much that I didn’t know. I couldn’t put this book down. It was a very easy read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you are interested at all in this amazing part of history, I highly recommend this. Such a good book.
With that said, Wow! What an amazing book. I have long loved all things about the American Revolution and Colonial times. I have read many books on these topics. I had yet to read anything about Paul Revere or his famous ride. There was so much that I didn’t know. I couldn’t put this book down. It was a very easy read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you are interested at all in this amazing part of history, I highly recommend this. Such a good book.
April 11, 2025
A 20 page term paper stretched into 266 pages.
March 8, 2025
I grew up in New England, walked The Freedom Trail, visited Paul Revere’s home, and thought I had a good foundation of the role Paul Revere played in the winning of the Revolutionary War. However, The Ride added a deeper, richer understanding of this historic figure. I never thought I could be gripped by the events of that April night two and a half centuries ago, but I galloped through the story the way Revere must have pushed on to carry his messages. The cardboard figure I knew from reciting Longfellow’s poem became a flesh and blood man of determination and courage, a man of such leadership he galvanized those around him.
To be honest, the author plays a little loose with details he could not really know, but which make the events come alive on the page. In doing so, he turns a chapter of a dusty old textbook into a vibrant story of the early days of our country, a time about which we can all be proud.
To be honest, the author plays a little loose with details he could not really know, but which make the events come alive on the page. In doing so, he turns a chapter of a dusty old textbook into a vibrant story of the early days of our country, a time about which we can all be proud.
February 2, 2025
This book is about what really happened with the ride of Paul Revere. The book is well written and researched although a little repetitive in spots. It covers briefly the life of Paul Revere prior to the ride. The author does a good job in detailing the events that took place that night and the next day. He also covers William Dawes, the second rider, who is often overlooked. Overall a good read for those interested in the true history of the events and not just the legend.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
May 15, 2025
Mr. Kennedy's historical account of Paul Revere was not the one we studied in grade school.
According to Mr. Kennedy there were other riders that historical night of April 18, 1775 other than Revere.
But because of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem of the 'Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,' that Paul Revere's name and his name alone would be known as the only rider that night.
According to Mr. Kennedy there were other riders that historical night of April 18, 1775 other than Revere.
But because of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem of the 'Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,' that Paul Revere's name and his name alone would be known as the only rider that night.
November 4, 2025
I learned much about Paul Revere's ride. First I did not know he was paid to do this ride and had done many rides in his life to supplement his income. He was the best of the best at riding and delivering information. I learned he was not the only rider, they sent out two men fearing Paul Revere would not make it because of his notoriety as a Son of Liberty. He was well known among the British. There is a Paul Revere III and a Paul Revere IV, descendants of Paul Revere who partipate in keeping Paul Revere's story alive. The reader learns about the horses used to carry out such long rides. Before technology this was the best way to spread the word.
August 13, 2025
This book just didn't do it for me. Everyone knows the basic story of Paul Revere's ride, and this book did not add much insight, historical artifacts, or commentary beyond what I already know from an APUSH class 15 years ago.
The narrative itself is fine: the lead up to the Revolution, "One if by land, two if by sea" lanterns in the Old North Church, and the recount of the ride itself are enough to keep the reader entertained and finish the book.
I feel like the author went too far to try and make the verbiage and phrasing simple enough for a reader of any age. I think the book would have been more effective with a more academic, erudite tone while including the language of the time. Whenever a person in the book talked, it sounded like a random American in 2025, not 1775. Was hoping for more of a technical, academic exploration of Paul Revere's life and ride, so I was a bit disappointed overall.
The narrative itself is fine: the lead up to the Revolution, "One if by land, two if by sea" lanterns in the Old North Church, and the recount of the ride itself are enough to keep the reader entertained and finish the book.
I feel like the author went too far to try and make the verbiage and phrasing simple enough for a reader of any age. I think the book would have been more effective with a more academic, erudite tone while including the language of the time. Whenever a person in the book talked, it sounded like a random American in 2025, not 1775. Was hoping for more of a technical, academic exploration of Paul Revere's life and ride, so I was a bit disappointed overall.
May 25, 2025
Writer Kostya Kennedy's 2025 book The Ride is a brief, engagingly-written biography of American Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere (1734-1818), focusing largely on his storied midnight ride on April 18, 1775 to warn Boston minutemen of British army troops assembling. As a result of Revere and his compatriots' alerts, both armies met at sunrise on April 19 at the battles of Lexington and Concord, the first major military campaign of the war.
Though Revere's ride remains well-recognized today, what's probably less well-known are that there were other midnight riders (William Dawes and Samuel Prescott), that Revere was briefly captured and detained by British troops midway through his ride, and the broader context leading up to why the ride took place -- all of these are explored in this book. I enjoyed this quick read -- Kennedy's prior sports journalism experience definitely factors into crafting a compelling, action-packed narrative here.
My statistics:
Book 155 for 2025
Book 2081 cumulatively
Though Revere's ride remains well-recognized today, what's probably less well-known are that there were other midnight riders (William Dawes and Samuel Prescott), that Revere was briefly captured and detained by British troops midway through his ride, and the broader context leading up to why the ride took place -- all of these are explored in this book. I enjoyed this quick read -- Kennedy's prior sports journalism experience definitely factors into crafting a compelling, action-packed narrative here.
My statistics:
Book 155 for 2025
Book 2081 cumulatively
May 14, 2025
I think this felt at times more like an info dump than a book, and it got a little hard to read. Along with it being a bit repetitive and the first half or so being a straight biography of Revere and not really focusing on the ride itself, I’m not sure this was what I was expecting. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but I’ll admit I enjoyed Kennedy’s book on Jackie Robinson immensely more than this one.
Also, the tagline of “The Night that Saved America” left a sour taste in my mouth because, well *gestures broadly at 2025*. 2.5 rounded up
Also, the tagline of “The Night that Saved America” left a sour taste in my mouth because, well *gestures broadly at 2025*. 2.5 rounded up
March 14, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest evaluations of its merits.
All most people know about Paul Revere comes from history books and the Longfellow poem, but this rich narrative brings to life his times, his contemporaries, the geography, and even the British ship HMS Somerset anchored in the Charles River that the famous rider had to avoid as he rode to Lexington to warn Adams and Hancock of the massing British Army. If you ever read one book on this figure and his famous ride, this is that book..
All most people know about Paul Revere comes from history books and the Longfellow poem, but this rich narrative brings to life his times, his contemporaries, the geography, and even the British ship HMS Somerset anchored in the Charles River that the famous rider had to avoid as he rode to Lexington to warn Adams and Hancock of the massing British Army. If you ever read one book on this figure and his famous ride, this is that book..
January 31, 2025
Kostya Kennedy’s The Ride reads as quickly as Paul Revere himself, while providing an easily readable and well researched accounting of events leading up to Revere’s ride itself and events after. It occasionally strays away to tell a connected story, which can drive me crazy, but here the stories are so interesting that I don’t really mind. I imagine Kennedy does take a little liberty in describing the surroundings of Revere, but doing so doesn’t take away from the factual events and makes it so much more interesting to read. I could almost put myself in 1775 Boston with his writing. Kennedy also explores Longfellow and his decision eighty-five years later to write the now famous poem about Revere’s ride, on the brink of the Civil War. In closing, he looks at Revere’s descendants and continued impact on our country today, a fitting end on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the ride itself. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 31, 2025
The Ride; Paul Revere in the night that saved America by Kostya Kennedy, the author not only recreate the night Paul Revere let everyone know the British were coming but tells us how the economic atmosphere was all the way down to Paul Revere‘s favorite horse‘s name. She goes further to let us know where Mr. Revere sat in the upper echelon which I was shocked to learn was closer to the bottom. This book was very well researched with every detail having to do with that night. The only thing I didn’t like in the book was despite the fact Paul Revere owned no slaves ever in his life and she had to go back two generations to find a relative who did own one she still felt the need to stop and tell us everyone Mr. revere interacted with that had a slave and their names where they got them and if they didn’t have them who they were related to that did. There were other times in the book where talking of slavery and or abolition was apropos to the story but at other times it seemed the author did their best to work it in whether it fit or not. I love history and had this book been called the slaves of the revolution I would’ve definitely been just as excited to read that because I believe everyone’s story needs to be told but I thought that these additions were pointless in the main scheme of the story especially when she would pontificate on whether the slave answered the door or the homeowner because that’s not only not the point of the story it totally takes away all the greatness that Paul Revere wrist for his country. that part of the narrative just seemed ill placed and out of context for the story the author was telling. From the Boston tea party to Paul Revere’s ride I think the author did a great job retelling the story putting everything in order and this is a book I definitely recommend the above about who own slaves was just a small part of the book and I just found it it didn’t fit with the narrative. Yet here I am continuing to go on and on about it so I digress. there’s even a chapter on Longfellow, who has been the champion for many downtrodden but most obviously he put pen to paper to retell the ride of Paul Revere. This was a great book and one I definitely absolutely recommend.#NetGalley, #SaintMartin’sPress, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #KostyaKennedy, #TheRide,
January 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this nonfiction book! Timed perfectly to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride, this was a very enjoyable look at not only the famous ride, but Revere himself.
The book was very easy to read and flowed nicely. The ride is focused on more towards the end of the book, but I think the author did a good job of sorting through lots of other information to include what was necessary in the beginning of the book.
I am someone that has enjoyed nonfiction, and particularly historical nonfiction, for a very long time and I enjoyed this book. However, I would also highly recommend it for folks that are interested in reading history books, but find the prospect of a 600+ page book daunting. I think this book would be a perfect introduction to the genre to them, as it is half that length and very easily read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for a review!
The book was very easy to read and flowed nicely. The ride is focused on more towards the end of the book, but I think the author did a good job of sorting through lots of other information to include what was necessary in the beginning of the book.
I am someone that has enjoyed nonfiction, and particularly historical nonfiction, for a very long time and I enjoyed this book. However, I would also highly recommend it for folks that are interested in reading history books, but find the prospect of a 600+ page book daunting. I think this book would be a perfect introduction to the genre to them, as it is half that length and very easily read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for a review!
April 16, 2025
Reads like a movie - it's factual history!
January 24, 2025
We are a few months away from the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride. A momentous and consequential event that is deserving of recognition and renewed appreciation. Luckily this book provides just that. The author presents a fantastic account of the events of, and leading up to, April 18, 1775, when Revere and William Dawes set out to alert the masses that the British were indeed coming. An easy and pleasant read, this book moves at the same pace of an express rider, and I found myself enjoying every page. In many ways the book feels more like a guided tour than just your typical narrative account, which I very much appreciated. I found it to be well written, very thoughtful, and quite interesting from beginning to end. I would highly recommend this book! A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book, and I will definitely be picking up a copy for my own!
November 1, 2025
Just like Paul's ride, this book moves right along.
This is an old story that US folk have all heard often in our growing up days . . .I grabbed this as a seasonal read - North American continent history in November. Kostya Kennedy sits a reader down and we are off! But as he tells the story, he pauses as needed to pull the layers apart - this is what is myth, this is what happened (or probably happened), and here's about 5 things at that same time that you've never heard about. . .
Absolutely inspiring, people doing something about changes they wanted to happen - and we are the benefactors these many generations on that journey. A great read!
And BONUS: Johnny Heller as narrator! His distinctive voice, kept slipping me back in time to radio listens of smacking baseballs, sports shouts and all the men in the room leaping off their chairs, or just dad and me getting a game in before his ham radio sessions. . . .
*A sincere thank you to Kostya Kennedy, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:51d
This is an old story that US folk have all heard often in our growing up days . . .I grabbed this as a seasonal read - North American continent history in November. Kostya Kennedy sits a reader down and we are off! But as he tells the story, he pauses as needed to pull the layers apart - this is what is myth, this is what happened (or probably happened), and here's about 5 things at that same time that you've never heard about. . .
Absolutely inspiring, people doing something about changes they wanted to happen - and we are the benefactors these many generations on that journey. A great read!
And BONUS: Johnny Heller as narrator! His distinctive voice, kept slipping me back in time to radio listens of smacking baseballs, sports shouts and all the men in the room leaping off their chairs, or just dad and me getting a game in before his ham radio sessions. . . .
*A sincere thank you to Kostya Kennedy, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:51d
July 7, 2025
The Ride tells the true story of Paul Revere’s legendary midnight ride during the American Revolution, but goes far beyond the basic version of the story we learn about in school.
I read this as I’ll be visiting Boston, Lexington and Concord again this fall and I’ve been reading books on the history in those areas to get prepared. The font in this book is big, with the lines spaced pretty far apart, and at only a couple of hundred pages, I thought it'd be a breezy read. For the most part, it was, but there were a few occasions where the tangent into one topic or another felt like it may have gone on for too long, while other parts of Paul’s life were slightly neglected. Those occasions seemed to be when the author personally got interested in a given topic, but it may not have contributed a lot to the overall story (that’s just an assumption of course). For example, there’s a whole section about the HMS Somerset which was a British boat that loomed menacingly in the harbor, which was worth mentioning, but there’s a history on its creation and then subsequent battles, etc. that didn’t feel particularly needed in such detail in relation to The Ride.
I was intrigued that this book was so new, having just come out a few months ago, and hoped there might be new information, never before read, etc. I can’t say for certain that there was any brand new information released here, but I can say that it felt well researched and illuminated so many new details about the ride that I’d never heard before like the actual dialogue between Revere and the British soldiers when he was captured that was so interesting to read and so cinematic.
This isn’t a traditional and complete biography of Paul Revere. Mostly what is included seemed to be any stories from his life that might give an indication of what created the man who later did complete his famous ride. For example, at the beginning of the book, there’s a short introduction and then the story jumps ahead to when Paul Revere is 15 years old and is in charge of ringing the bells at the Old North Church. The author says, “Ringing a bell like this was, finally, a means to alert people to something happening, to summon them to a place and to engage them in a common thought, to get the message out, to let them know that there was a reason to prepare themselves, to gather and to act.” Again, the stories seemed to be chosen specifically as they are there to foreshadow what's to come.
I have to admit, I was a little skeptical of author Kostya Kennedy’s retelling of this story as he seems to be best known for his books on baseball and it seemed like this was the first time he really branched out into this sort of history in this way. But I did enjoy this book and learned a lot about the particulars of that famous night. I felt like I was right there on the ground with Paul Revere as he was captured, or right there with some of his compatriots in Lexington, etc. I felt the thrill of the Ride. For those reasons, I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a deeper dive into Paul Revere’s Ride.
I read this as I’ll be visiting Boston, Lexington and Concord again this fall and I’ve been reading books on the history in those areas to get prepared. The font in this book is big, with the lines spaced pretty far apart, and at only a couple of hundred pages, I thought it'd be a breezy read. For the most part, it was, but there were a few occasions where the tangent into one topic or another felt like it may have gone on for too long, while other parts of Paul’s life were slightly neglected. Those occasions seemed to be when the author personally got interested in a given topic, but it may not have contributed a lot to the overall story (that’s just an assumption of course). For example, there’s a whole section about the HMS Somerset which was a British boat that loomed menacingly in the harbor, which was worth mentioning, but there’s a history on its creation and then subsequent battles, etc. that didn’t feel particularly needed in such detail in relation to The Ride.
I was intrigued that this book was so new, having just come out a few months ago, and hoped there might be new information, never before read, etc. I can’t say for certain that there was any brand new information released here, but I can say that it felt well researched and illuminated so many new details about the ride that I’d never heard before like the actual dialogue between Revere and the British soldiers when he was captured that was so interesting to read and so cinematic.
This isn’t a traditional and complete biography of Paul Revere. Mostly what is included seemed to be any stories from his life that might give an indication of what created the man who later did complete his famous ride. For example, at the beginning of the book, there’s a short introduction and then the story jumps ahead to when Paul Revere is 15 years old and is in charge of ringing the bells at the Old North Church. The author says, “Ringing a bell like this was, finally, a means to alert people to something happening, to summon them to a place and to engage them in a common thought, to get the message out, to let them know that there was a reason to prepare themselves, to gather and to act.” Again, the stories seemed to be chosen specifically as they are there to foreshadow what's to come.
I have to admit, I was a little skeptical of author Kostya Kennedy’s retelling of this story as he seems to be best known for his books on baseball and it seemed like this was the first time he really branched out into this sort of history in this way. But I did enjoy this book and learned a lot about the particulars of that famous night. I felt like I was right there on the ground with Paul Revere as he was captured, or right there with some of his compatriots in Lexington, etc. I felt the thrill of the Ride. For those reasons, I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a deeper dive into Paul Revere’s Ride.
March 28, 2025
"The Ride" is a well-written history detailing the events leading up to the Battle of Lexington and Concord, including the rides of Paul Revere and others to warn the Boston countryside of the British army’s approach. Author Kostya Kennedy begins the book with an introduction to Revere himself, a silversmith, engraver, artist, and even dentist, with a passion for liberty and the ability to ride long distances quickly to facilitate communications among various colonies. Kennedy includes sketches of such notables as English General Thomas Gage, his wife Margaret, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Dr. Joesph Warren as well as descriptions of important events such as the Townsend and Intolerable Acts, The Boston Massacre, The Boston Tea Party, The Suffolk Resolves, The First Continental Congress, and Lexington and Concord. Kennedy also imparts some of the flavor of the times with descriptions of what 1775 Boston was like. All in all, a good choice for readers interested in American Colonial History, Paul Revere, and/or the American Revolution.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Kostya Kennedy for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest and independent opinion.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Kostya Kennedy for providing me with a complimentary ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest and independent opinion.
March 3, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. It is an in depth commentary of the ride of Paul Revere and others that fateful April night. The insights into all the other people involved was excellent. Mr Kennedy does an excellent job of describing the world around this ride and all the people involved and patriots and British alike. Also there is great insight into Longfellow, who wrote the poem that immortalized the ride. Finally Kennedy brings us to present day and discussion with Paul Revere’s descendant about what knowledge has been handed down. A fantastic read!
May 16, 2025
Fabulous and fresh account of Paul Revere’s ride
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