What do you think?
Rate this book
Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise
Reconstruction begins where, for most Americans, the story of the Civil War The North is victorious and slavery is abolished. But what happened next was one of the most important decades in American history, a moment when our country grappled with its original sin and imagined — and briefly enacted — a more perfect union.
Drawing from archives, letters, diaries, court records, eyewitness testimonies and some of America’s most accomplished scholars and storytellers, The Unfinished Promise explores this unprecedented historical moment in rich, kaleidoscopic detail. The series unpacks a time when a determined band of reformers attempted to radically reimagine American society — from the Constitution to the roots of its economy to the very nature of citizenship itself.
Reconstruction was a time when Americans struggled over fundamental questions about our country. Who gets to be a citizen? Who has the right to vote? Who can own property? In short, who belongs? The Unfinished Promise explores what America might have looked like if Reconstruction had truly succeeded, and how the ultimate backlash to Reconstruction prevented our country from becoming a truly multiracial democracy.
Guiding us through this extraordinary moment in American history is best-selling author and host of Revisionist History Malcolm Gladwell. He’ll have help from luminaries, historians, and storytellers such as President Barack Obama, Jelani Cobb, Wyatt Cenac, David Blight, Kidada Williams, and Eric Foner. This is a series about why America has yet to make good on the promise of Reconstruction, and how it still might.
An Audible Original in partnership with History Channel. Produced by Higher Ground and Pushkin Industries.
Drawing from archives, letters, diaries, court records, eyewitness testimonies and some of America’s most accomplished scholars and storytellers, The Unfinished Promise explores this unprecedented historical moment in rich, kaleidoscopic detail. The series unpacks a time when a determined band of reformers attempted to radically reimagine American society — from the Constitution to the roots of its economy to the very nature of citizenship itself.
Reconstruction was a time when Americans struggled over fundamental questions about our country. Who gets to be a citizen? Who has the right to vote? Who can own property? In short, who belongs? The Unfinished Promise explores what America might have looked like if Reconstruction had truly succeeded, and how the ultimate backlash to Reconstruction prevented our country from becoming a truly multiracial democracy.
Guiding us through this extraordinary moment in American history is best-selling author and host of Revisionist History Malcolm Gladwell. He’ll have help from luminaries, historians, and storytellers such as President Barack Obama, Jelani Cobb, Wyatt Cenac, David Blight, Kidada Williams, and Eric Foner. This is a series about why America has yet to make good on the promise of Reconstruction, and how it still might.
An Audible Original in partnership with History Channel. Produced by Higher Ground and Pushkin Industries.
Audible Audio
Published June 4, 2026
About the author
Malcolm Gladwell
155 books40.9k followersMalcolm Timothy Gladwell is a Canadian journalist, author, and public speaker. He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996. He has published seven books. He is also the host of the podcast Revisionist History and co-founder of the podcast company Pushkin Industries.
Gladwell's writings often deal with the unexpected implications of research in the social sciences, such as sociology and psychology, and make frequent and extended use of academic work. Gladwell was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011.
Gladwell's writings often deal with the unexpected implications of research in the social sciences, such as sociology and psychology, and make frequent and extended use of academic work. Gladwell was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2011.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 17, 2026
A great way to learn about Reconstruction. Malcolm Gladwell interviews prominent historians who have written about Reconstruction or the people who were notable during this period. I especially enjoyed learning about the obscure stories of everyday people who lived through Reconstruction. I also enjoyed hearing former President Barack Obama discuss Reconstruction's importance. This book should inspire readers to pick up other books to learn more about this important period in American history.
June 19, 2026
This is an Audible audio edition which examines the post Civil War time commonly referred to as Reconstruction Era. The presentation is primarily the work of Malcom Gladwell who uses his story telling skills to provide a compelling story. The co-author credit indicated for Barack Obama is a marketing tactic to attract attention. I appreciated his involvement but it was limited and scattered. Obama does join into conversation with Gladwell at various points throughout the presentation, and his comments do add an interesting perspective, but there are many other scholars and researchers who also are part of this audio edition.
This audio work focuses on individuals who played important roles during the Reconstruction Era, and brings their quotations and testimonials to life by using professional narrators. I don't know how Fredrick Douglas' voice sounded in real life, but his narration in this work is how he should have sounded. I am still haunted by the testimonial of a victim of violence that is delivered in the voice of a black woman (in fifth chapter).
The following portion of this review consists of short descriptions of the contents found in the eight chapters of this audio edition.
The first chapter provides an introduction to the Reconstruction Era. It was a time of both hope and change. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were passed in relatively short period of time, and many modern rights are now based on those amendments.
The third chapter tells the story of to two women, one of whom served as a school teacher for the Freedman’s Bureau. The story is based upon correspondence between them and it does make reference to violence against the work of the Freedman’s Bureau, but I felt this section other than being an interesting story doesn’t add much to the subject of Reconstruction.
The fourth chapter is about nine black men who originally organized what eventually became Alabama State University. Its origin story had to be rediscovered, and it provides an example of the importance of eduction in the minds of the black population.
The fifth chapter describes some horrific stories about violence directed at the black population in the South. Apparently some whites couldn’t tolerate the thought of blacks owning and farming their own land.
The sixth chapter tells the story of Frederic Douglas’ involvement with the Freedman’s Bank. He was used by others in an effort to use his name to assure depositors that their money was safe. It wasn’t, and the bank failed. This incident tarnished Douglas' reputation.
The seventh chapter addresses the compromise of 1877 which resulted in the removal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending the Reconstruction Era. Gladwell asks the question, in light of the high cost of the Civil War that made possible the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, how could the nation seem to forget all about that and let White supremacy have its day? Obama enters into the conversation again in this section and says that the country had other concerns, primarily economic.
The eighth chapter talks about how the history of the Reconstruction Era got completely turned around and was remembered in history books as a mistaken and failed effort. I liked this quotation which is a variation of the saying that the South won the peace.
This audio work focuses on individuals who played important roles during the Reconstruction Era, and brings their quotations and testimonials to life by using professional narrators. I don't know how Fredrick Douglas' voice sounded in real life, but his narration in this work is how he should have sounded. I am still haunted by the testimonial of a victim of violence that is delivered in the voice of a black woman (in fifth chapter).
The following portion of this review consists of short descriptions of the contents found in the eight chapters of this audio edition.
The first chapter provides an introduction to the Reconstruction Era. It was a time of both hope and change. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were passed in relatively short period of time, and many modern rights are now based on those amendments.
It's absolutely a new beginning for the United States. You want to understand rights in America? You gotta go to Reconstruction. You want to understand the role of government in society? Gotta go to Reconstruction. You want to talk about what governments owe their people, and what people owe their governments? You gotta go to Reconstruction. You want to talk about race in America? You gotta go to Reconstruction. To bring you this story, we dig through old archives, letters, diaries, court records, eyewitness testimony.Fredrick Douglas is the first individual discussed in the second chapter. He had been a well known abolitionist speaker prior the the Civil War, and after the war became a champion of freedmans' rights. Andrew Johnson is also covered in this chapter.
The third chapter tells the story of to two women, one of whom served as a school teacher for the Freedman’s Bureau. The story is based upon correspondence between them and it does make reference to violence against the work of the Freedman’s Bureau, but I felt this section other than being an interesting story doesn’t add much to the subject of Reconstruction.
The fourth chapter is about nine black men who originally organized what eventually became Alabama State University. Its origin story had to be rediscovered, and it provides an example of the importance of eduction in the minds of the black population.
The fifth chapter describes some horrific stories about violence directed at the black population in the South. Apparently some whites couldn’t tolerate the thought of blacks owning and farming their own land.
The sixth chapter tells the story of Frederic Douglas’ involvement with the Freedman’s Bank. He was used by others in an effort to use his name to assure depositors that their money was safe. It wasn’t, and the bank failed. This incident tarnished Douglas' reputation.
The seventh chapter addresses the compromise of 1877 which resulted in the removal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending the Reconstruction Era. Gladwell asks the question, in light of the high cost of the Civil War that made possible the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, how could the nation seem to forget all about that and let White supremacy have its day? Obama enters into the conversation again in this section and says that the country had other concerns, primarily economic.
The eighth chapter talks about how the history of the Reconstruction Era got completely turned around and was remembered in history books as a mistaken and failed effort. I liked this quotation which is a variation of the saying that the South won the peace.
“… you could say the South lost the war, but won the historiography."The ninth and final chapter reviews how Reconstruction was remembered in popular culture through discussion of movies in particular.
June 10, 2026
I grew up in the South. Almost everybody I knew was long over the Civil War. We knew that slavery was wrong, that Lincoln was a great president and that it was good that the union was preserved, but still there was a general sense that Reconstruction was a time of foreign occupation and failed ideas where carpetbaggers and scalawags had their way. Gradually as I grew up and got some education, I began to see things differently. I came to understand that the "Lost Cause" interpretation of history was horribly wrong and that rise and rule of Jim Crow after Reconstruction came to an end was a point of great shame for the South. But then in the end, the thing that finally completely turned me around on Reconstruction was Kermit Roosevelt's fine book, "The Nation That Never Was" in which he posits that our true founding fathers who created the ideas of justice, equality and democracy that we hold dear today were not Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton and their gang, but were the Radical Republicans who championed Reconstruction and pushed through the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution. These men who I had despised turned out to be the true heroes. Wow! So this audio book by Malcolm Gladwell and Barak Obama was preaching to the choir as far as I was concerned.
I enjoy Malcolm Gladwell's books, but they almost always deliver a popularized dumbed down version of their subject matter. And Barak Obama is a political animal - I gladly voted for him twice, but every time the guy opens his mouth I feel like there as an element of positioning that bugs me a little. But those qualities of the two authors that sometimes don't sit well with me are perfect for delivering the message of this book. People need to know more about Reconstruction, its great ideas and how it was sabotaged, and a lot more people will get that message from this short audio book by two famous guys that will ever read the Roosevelt book or any of the other serious history books about Reconstruction. So go Malcolm and Barak! You are doing God's work here!
I enjoy Malcolm Gladwell's books, but they almost always deliver a popularized dumbed down version of their subject matter. And Barak Obama is a political animal - I gladly voted for him twice, but every time the guy opens his mouth I feel like there as an element of positioning that bugs me a little. But those qualities of the two authors that sometimes don't sit well with me are perfect for delivering the message of this book. People need to know more about Reconstruction, its great ideas and how it was sabotaged, and a lot more people will get that message from this short audio book by two famous guys that will ever read the Roosevelt book or any of the other serious history books about Reconstruction. So go Malcolm and Barak! You are doing God's work here!
June 9, 2026
As a white person growing up in the Pacific Northwest, then living in many Northern states and the Caribbean, the topic was interesting, but didn't become personal until I moved to the South. Talking about Reconstruction with many Southerners brings out scars that seem very new, and there are still some open wounds, after all these years.
The audiobook is well paced and stays on topic for a short fact filled running time of less than five hours. I appreciated the live, well researched comments by living historians and the appropriately dramatized contributions read from testimonies and experts such as Frederick Douglas and W.E.B. Dubois who are no longer living.
All that I know about Reconstruction and its aftermath I learned from reading history and carefully curated historical fiction during the 60 years after my formal education. I learned even more from this well produced audiobook.
The audiobook is well paced and stays on topic for a short fact filled running time of less than five hours. I appreciated the live, well researched comments by living historians and the appropriately dramatized contributions read from testimonies and experts such as Frederick Douglas and W.E.B. Dubois who are no longer living.
All that I know about Reconstruction and its aftermath I learned from reading history and carefully curated historical fiction during the 60 years after my formal education. I learned even more from this well produced audiobook.
November 1, 2026
I would guess reconstruction is not a period of American history that is widely known. This little audiobook told the story reasonably well.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, the central question was how to reintegrate the South and define the status of 4 million formerly enslaved people. President Andrew Johnson took a lenient approach, letting Southern states back quickly with minimal conditions. (Andrew Johnson was a rare Southern Democrat for the union. He was chosen by Lincoln to help reunification and turns out to be a disaster. Lincoln obviously didn’t plan for him to take over; John’s was the first president to be impeached — although saved by 1 vote; he quickly became very a much lame duck: Republicans passed one law after another with veto-proof majority.)
Congress, controlled by Republicans passed the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and guaranteed voting rights. During this "Reconstruction" phase (1867–1877), Black men voted and held office in significant numbers for the first time. For a brief window, it looked like a genuine multiracial democracy might take root in the South. But groups like the KKK systematically terrorized Black voters and officeholders. The 1876 presidential election was very close and nobody knows who really won. So a backroom deal was struck — Republicans got the presidency, and federal troops left the South. Reconstruction collapsed almost overnight.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, the central question was how to reintegrate the South and define the status of 4 million formerly enslaved people. President Andrew Johnson took a lenient approach, letting Southern states back quickly with minimal conditions. (Andrew Johnson was a rare Southern Democrat for the union. He was chosen by Lincoln to help reunification and turns out to be a disaster. Lincoln obviously didn’t plan for him to take over; John’s was the first president to be impeached — although saved by 1 vote; he quickly became very a much lame duck: Republicans passed one law after another with veto-proof majority.)
Congress, controlled by Republicans passed the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and guaranteed voting rights. During this "Reconstruction" phase (1867–1877), Black men voted and held office in significant numbers for the first time. For a brief window, it looked like a genuine multiracial democracy might take root in the South. But groups like the KKK systematically terrorized Black voters and officeholders. The 1876 presidential election was very close and nobody knows who really won. So a backroom deal was struck — Republicans got the presidency, and federal troops left the South. Reconstruction collapsed almost overnight.
July 7, 2026
I was supposed to read something fun next. Instead, I ended up with this one. Which was fun in its own way.
This is a Malcolm Gladwell podcast-turned-audiobook. And, if you are familiar with those, you can expect all the same excellent editing and production quality, superb voice acting and the chance to hear directly from Gladwell's various contributors.
Gladwell remains one of the great modern storytellers of history, especially in the way he brings historians, archivists, experts, witnesses and other voices into conversation with one another.
This was also an extraordinarily good accidental follow-up to Ben Rhodes’ All We Say. Frederick Douglass reappears, now beyond Lincoln and emancipation, and the brief survey of Reconstruction shows just how quickly progress can advance and retreat. The promises of freedom were made, partially realized, betrayed, and left unfinished.
Both books ultimately arrive at a similar place: American greatness is not an inheritance or an accomplished fact. It exists, in the unfinished pursuit of a more perfect union. A quick listen, an excellent introduction to an era I have not studied nearly enough, and another reminder of how much I enjoy learning history by letting different books talk to one another.
So, I feel like I have done my civic duty in reading American history in honor of the 250th.
Now a beach read?
This is a Malcolm Gladwell podcast-turned-audiobook. And, if you are familiar with those, you can expect all the same excellent editing and production quality, superb voice acting and the chance to hear directly from Gladwell's various contributors.
Gladwell remains one of the great modern storytellers of history, especially in the way he brings historians, archivists, experts, witnesses and other voices into conversation with one another.
This was also an extraordinarily good accidental follow-up to Ben Rhodes’ All We Say. Frederick Douglass reappears, now beyond Lincoln and emancipation, and the brief survey of Reconstruction shows just how quickly progress can advance and retreat. The promises of freedom were made, partially realized, betrayed, and left unfinished.
Both books ultimately arrive at a similar place: American greatness is not an inheritance or an accomplished fact. It exists, in the unfinished pursuit of a more perfect union. A quick listen, an excellent introduction to an era I have not studied nearly enough, and another reminder of how much I enjoy learning history by letting different books talk to one another.
So, I feel like I have done my civic duty in reading American history in honor of the 250th.
Now a beach read?
August 20, 2026
I know so little about this period of American history but Jubilee (Margaret Walker) sparked my interest. This was a good starter/intro and referenced several other authors/books and another podcast that I can check to learn more (starting with Eric Foner for books and the podcast Seizing History).
June 10, 2026
Truly insightful and eye-opening.
September 21, 2026
If you’re completely unfamiliar with the Reconstruction Era, this is an excellent place to start.
But a quick note is necessary, I concur with many reviewers here, ultimately this program provides a large bait and switch. Teasing the program as a series of talks between Gladwell and Barack Obama, it really is more of a podcast with different Gladwell correspondents interviewing experts and figures involved with studying Reconstruction.
This is a shame on multiple fronts. I never knew just how knowledgeable Obama is regarding history. I knew his expertise in social justice, organizing, and the Constitution but I found I could listen to him discuss Reconstruction all day. He presents a keen intellectual and surprisingly even handed understanding of Reconstruction. He can discuss the horrors of the era while putting them in their academic context. How he never loses his cool will always impress me. I know I could not do so well. I can’t wait to have more history from him.
Since this program really boils down to Gladwell and ‘Special Guest Barack Obama,’ I found myself getting really tired of Gladwell’s voice and his “I can’t believe I never knew this” hosting character. It almost caused me to DNF the program in the first few chapters.
The only reason I stayed was to listen to great historians like David Blight, Manisha Sinha, and Eric Foner. I’m glad I did, because while the interviewers who did the heavy lifting were unknowns, they did a remarkable job of digging into the Reconstruction era.
But a quick note is necessary, I concur with many reviewers here, ultimately this program provides a large bait and switch. Teasing the program as a series of talks between Gladwell and Barack Obama, it really is more of a podcast with different Gladwell correspondents interviewing experts and figures involved with studying Reconstruction.
This is a shame on multiple fronts. I never knew just how knowledgeable Obama is regarding history. I knew his expertise in social justice, organizing, and the Constitution but I found I could listen to him discuss Reconstruction all day. He presents a keen intellectual and surprisingly even handed understanding of Reconstruction. He can discuss the horrors of the era while putting them in their academic context. How he never loses his cool will always impress me. I know I could not do so well. I can’t wait to have more history from him.
Since this program really boils down to Gladwell and ‘Special Guest Barack Obama,’ I found myself getting really tired of Gladwell’s voice and his “I can’t believe I never knew this” hosting character. It almost caused me to DNF the program in the first few chapters.
The only reason I stayed was to listen to great historians like David Blight, Manisha Sinha, and Eric Foner. I’m glad I did, because while the interviewers who did the heavy lifting were unknowns, they did a remarkable job of digging into the Reconstruction era.
July 2, 2026
I think I was overly excited for this and my own hopes, as someone who already has read a lot on the Reconstruction, left me wanting.
It seemed superficial and not on the same par as other produced works. It felt "unfinished" itself.
It seemed superficial and not on the same par as other produced works. It felt "unfinished" itself.
October 23, 2026
Malcolm Gladwell has always had an exceptional talent for offering readers a fresh perspective on subjects that deserve to be explored, understood, and viewed through a different lens. Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise is another powerful example of his ability to spark curiosity and encourage deeper reflection.
I listened to the Audible Original, and the historians and narrators provide remarkable insight into the constitutional changes brought about by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. Through an extensive collection of historical recordings and government documents, listeners are immersed in the political resistance, racial violence, and backlash that shaped this pivotal period in American history. Hearing these voices and accounts brings the struggles of Reconstruction into sharper focus and serves as a sobering reminder of the forces that challenged the promise of equality.
I appreciate how Gladwell breaks down such a complex period in our nation's history, presenting it in a way that captures attention and leaves the listener wanting to learn more.
Growing up in Northeast Ohio and attending public school during the 1970s and 1980s, I can honestly say that these topics were never meaningfully covered in my American history classes. We owe it to ourselves to revisit our history, confront the parts that were overlooked or left untold, and remain open to learning truths that may challenge what we thought we knew.
I often finish Gladwell's work feeling more informed.
I listened to the Audible Original, and the historians and narrators provide remarkable insight into the constitutional changes brought about by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. Through an extensive collection of historical recordings and government documents, listeners are immersed in the political resistance, racial violence, and backlash that shaped this pivotal period in American history. Hearing these voices and accounts brings the struggles of Reconstruction into sharper focus and serves as a sobering reminder of the forces that challenged the promise of equality.
I appreciate how Gladwell breaks down such a complex period in our nation's history, presenting it in a way that captures attention and leaves the listener wanting to learn more.
Growing up in Northeast Ohio and attending public school during the 1970s and 1980s, I can honestly say that these topics were never meaningfully covered in my American history classes. We owe it to ourselves to revisit our history, confront the parts that were overlooked or left untold, and remain open to learning truths that may challenge what we thought we knew.
I often finish Gladwell's work feeling more informed.
October 25, 2026
In Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise, Malcolm Gladwell and a team of historians look at Reconstruction – the post US Civil War period - from a variety of perspectives rather than from straight, chronological, history. In many ways it is a documentary about making needed changes to the Constitution and a look at how some of the prominent people at the time affected change, including Andrew Johnson and Fredrick Douglas. As the title indicates, it was a promising period, but one that Gladwell says was not finished.
I was impressed with the audio production which Gladwell hosted. It was produced by a partnership between the History Channel and Audible and included commentary from several historians. The structure is very much like a podcast with Gladwell discussing the period with the history specialists. While Barack Obama made a few poignant reflections, adding him to the program was mostly window dressing.
I was impressed with the audio production which Gladwell hosted. It was produced by a partnership between the History Channel and Audible and included commentary from several historians. The structure is very much like a podcast with Gladwell discussing the period with the history specialists. While Barack Obama made a few poignant reflections, adding him to the program was mostly window dressing.
October 11, 2026
Malcolm Gladwell and Barack Obama offer a compelling, highly accessible breakdown of one of the most critical and misunderstood eras in American history. By examining the post-Civil War political climate, constitutional amendments, and economic shifts alongside personal human stories, the narrative provides a clear lens into the structural foundations of modern social and political issues. Gladwell’s sharp analytical storytelling pairs beautifully with Obama’s reflective, high-level perspective. Even for international readers without a deep background in U.S. history, this work presents a fascinating case study in post-conflict nation-building, political backlash, and the ongoing struggle for civic equality. Highly recommended for anyone interested in political philosophy, history, and social dynamics.
October 26, 2026
A horrifying history, powerfully told. This series brings to life a period of American history I thought I understood: the years after the Civil War, when newly emancipated Black Americans built schools, voted, and held office, and were met with relentless, daily brutality for it. Historians like Kellie Carter Jackson, Kidada Williams, and Jelani Cobb make it vivid and urgent. I'm ashamed to admit how much of this I didn't know, even after taking Black History courses in college. What stays with me most is how recent it really is. This happened only about 150 years ago, its consequences are still with us today, and many of the same injustices continue. More than anything, it left me wanting to learn more. Essential listening.
September 18, 2026
Not really a book but definitely worth listening. This is a mature understanding of history where many US citizens agree happily stick at the elementary school level of history. Everyone should listen to this and understand that history isn’t political. Our understanding and interpretation of history grows and matures with more information. I loved learning about people and events I’d never known before (evidence of the whitewashing of history). History is complicated, and it’s all right to believe simultaneously in the greatness of democracy and the horrors of racial discrimination. The title of this conversation is spot on. The scholars, research, and analysis are impeccable.
June 15, 2026
Malcolm Gladwell and Barak Obama... need one say more? What an interesting performance, and great content. I had not thought about the reconstruction as such a pivotal period of American history, and this book opened my eyes and has inspired me to dig into that time in our country's past that had such profound impact on nearly all the major issues of our time. I was also horrified at some of the descriptions of cruelty and violence directed at African Americans during the Jim Crow period. I liked this listen very much.
June 27, 2026
This was a thought provoking book about reconstruction. I enjoy listening to historical pieces and I had wished it would have delved more into the 40 acres and a mule which was a famous promise made to newly freed enslaved people by the U.S. government following the Civil War. Though short-lived, it represents a crucial piece of Reconstruction-era history and the struggle for reparations and economic independence. The main purpose of this book was to highlight that reconstruction never really happened.
July 5, 2026
This was really interesting and informative. I appreciated the wide array of contributors and sub-topics that were presented. There are so many books I want to read now that were referenced by the various speakers. It matters so much to me to see history recorded by people with courage and determination to give an accounting of what actually happened, and not an edited version to make others comfortable with our nations history of racism, white supremacy, and classism. Highly recommend this one.
September 30, 2026
This is a great listen! Although short (only about 5 hours), it is profound in how it articulates how Recontruction began and how it was hijacked and aborted by White Southern Racists. So much of United States history is not properly taught in our schools - at least not taught in a manner that offers a complete picture of what happened and why. Much of what is taught has been shortened and is taught without proper context. To be well educated, an individual needs to actively seek out additional sources to develop meaningful understanding of our history.
June 22, 2026
To be honest, I’m probably like most other average Americans, my knowledge of Reconstruction is very limited. This book - I listened to the Audiobook version - revealed just how limited my knowledge was. I plan to change that over the next year. I’m no slouch to American history…and through Heather Cox Richardson I’ve learned a lot about her particular area of expertise - the 1850’s onward. This quick read/listen…will whet your appetite to dive deeper if history is your thing.
June 23, 2026
With Americas 250th coming up, I’ve been trying to find books that address parts of our history that aren’t glorious, but that further teach me what it means to be an American. History helps us determine what type of American you want to be.
This is well sourced, well produced, and touches on more personal stories of people who lived during Reconstruction as a representation of what different groups of people were doing and what they accomplished.
This is well sourced, well produced, and touches on more personal stories of people who lived during Reconstruction as a representation of what different groups of people were doing and what they accomplished.
August 8, 2026
As someone who went to a small, private Christian school where the history teacher's favorite subject was Bible, I didn't really learn much history. What I did learn, had a bias, that I didn't really understand until adulthood. I'm constantly discovering how much I don't know about history. This book of interviews, discussions, and readings from historical materials is a great intro into Reconstruction. It makes me want to read more on that time period.
August 16, 2026
This audiobook-from-podcast experience was quite remarkable! More of a documentary than a narrated book, it was still substantive with remarkable stories and well-documented conclusions. While it wasn't comprehensive (and there were some weird rabbit trails), I found myself enlightened, and eager to learn more about the reconstruction era.
Never again will I tolerate hearing people say, "Well the Civil war ended and the slaves were freed - why are we going on about race?"
Never again will I tolerate hearing people say, "Well the Civil war ended and the slaves were freed - why are we going on about race?"
October 29, 2026
Terrible missing the whole concept of Freedom, perhaps like Jefferson stated.
Industry of victimhood, and will also be the same forever until people just stop talking about it. Do you know the only record of Moses taking the people from their volunteer servitude is written text… to believe or not to believe. Perhaps that’s why he continued along until they all died over and over to start as a clean slate and yet someone wrote it down and now how are people still dealing with it.
Industry of victimhood, and will also be the same forever until people just stop talking about it. Do you know the only record of Moses taking the people from their volunteer servitude is written text… to believe or not to believe. Perhaps that’s why he continued along until they all died over and over to start as a clean slate and yet someone wrote it down and now how are people still dealing with it.
June 17, 2026
Malcom Gladwell is the perfect author to guide us through such a disturbing time. As a Northerner, I have always wondered how the teaching of the Civil War and the following years differed in our textbooks. I was NOT prepared for the betrayal and the depth of inhumanity. This book has truly caused me to pause and think more deeply.
July 5, 2026
Starts out a bit desultory with some (in my opinion) non sequiturs. But later goes into details that are not well known historically to the general public. I found myself reflecting, on the kind of things I was taught in school. And reflecting on the time I lived in the south and the feelings that were still prevalent there.
July 17, 2026
Thoughtful conversation between Gladwell and Obama used to frame a series of historical vignettes illustrating the freed slave experiences after reconstruction, substantially in education, banking and government, and sketching lines from that to the present. Not as in depth as I would have liked, but a good listen with insightful perspectives from several experts.
July 31, 2026
Interesting coverage of the Reconstruction era in US history following the Civil War. There is a lot I don’t know about it. Some of it is heartbreaking and other stuff gives you hope.
Since this is a little podcast-y with multiple interviewees the structure suffers slightly. Throughout it remains accessible and engaging.
Since this is a little podcast-y with multiple interviewees the structure suffers slightly. Throughout it remains accessible and engaging.
August 2, 2026
This is my first read (listen) into reconstruction. I enjoyed the dialog between Gladwell and Barack Obama, but I was lost in the long chapter about the love letters between two women, and like most of Gladwell's book, I thought he overgeneralized the takeaways of the reconstruction to fit a simplistic thesis.
August 5, 2026
I learned a lot. I wish everyone my age,(Baby Boomer) would read or listen to the book. People need to learn that what they have been taught is not necessarily correct. I have been thinking more and more about representation in art, life, and history really makes a difference. People need to do more research and bring more truths into the light of day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews