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On the Road
- Adventures from Nixon to Trump
- Narrated by: James Naughtie
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
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On the Road
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Summary
James Naughtie, the acclaimed author and BBC broadcaster, now brings his unique and inquisitive eye to the country that has fascinated him and drawn him across the Atlantic for half a century. In looking at America, from Presidents Nixon through to Trump, he’ll tell the story of a country that is grappling with a dream. What has it come to mean in the new century and who do Americans now think they are?
Drawing on his travels and encounters over 40 years in the ‘Land of the Free’, On the Road will be filled with anecdotes, memories, tears and laughter, reflecting Naughtie’s characteristic warmth and enthusiasm in encountering the America of Washington, of Broadway, of the small town and the plains. Naughtie watched the fall of President Richard Nixon in 1974, and subsequently as a journalist followed the story of the country – its politicians, artists, wheeler-dealers and the people who make it what it is, in the New York melting pot or the western deserts. This will be a story filled with encounters, for example with the people he has watched on every presidential campaign from the 1970s to the victory of Donald Trump in 2016.
As the 2020 presidential elections are well underway, Jim sees for himself how the main contenders are campaigning. He sees, also, how POTUS himself is dealing with impeachment proceedings and what the ordinary citizen thinks of it all.
Critic reviews
"Everything you would expect of a James Naughtie book - droll, absorbing and wonderfully perceptive." (Bill Bryson)
"An insightful account of living through momentous times...much to enjoy in Naughtie's astute memoir." (Martin Chilton, Independent)
"A revealing and at times spellbinding tapestry of a nation.... It is thought-provoking, constantly surprising and hugely entertaining. Sublime stuff." (Michael Simkins, Mail on Sunday)
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What listeners say about On the Road
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Michael and Jane Bochenski
- 08-10-20
Venus and Mars
So good to hear the familiar dulcet tones of James Naughtie reading his own memoirs. These cover some four decades+ of reflections on, and recollections of, the USA. The chapter on Venus and Mars - divided America - is the outstanding one for me. Disappointed not to have had more on the Obama years. Superb context for this year’s Presidential election dramas. Not quite Alistair Cooke but close. Michael.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- David
- 06-07-20
Warm, incisive and compelling journey of America
James Naughtie brings his charismatic style in a personal journey of American politics and their increasingly divisive effect on the American homeland and their political establishment. The effect of Trump and the stark contrast with previous political crisis is interesting. The greatness and political acumen of pre and post Obama and his own research into Lincoln fascinating. Compelling and brilliant narration by James...wish he would do more
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
- P. Hannon
- 23-07-20
Superb storytelling .
Excellent insightful writing and superb presentation. must be Non Fiction Book of the Year. IMHO.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jon & Syl
- 22-05-22
Loved it!
An excellent, interesting analysis. James Naughtie travels the US to speak to its citizens and also gives a well- considered analysis of the presidencies. I really enjoyed the book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-05-20
Excellent
I really enjoyed this tale of James Naughtie's relationship with America and it's Presidents over 6 decades. I particularly enjoyed hearing it read by James.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- brian smith
- 10-11-20
Brilliant
One of my favourite political historical books ever with the narrator describing everything in such a subliminal way
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lesley McLeod
- 23-05-20
Elegant and enlightening
Naughtie’s atmospheric evocation of everyday America digs deep beneath the surface. It is elegant and elegiac, suffused with melancholy and a sense of loss of a USA now just out of reach. You get a feeling for the country and its people but also a sense the America visited in earlier years is a ghostly echo of the country it has become. I am left feeling less hopeful about the future of the USA but with a much greater understanding of how we have arrived at this point.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mrs. G. Moynihan
- 14-01-21
A simply wonderful book
I could listen to James Naughtie reading the weather forecast and be entertained. There is more than just a wonderful speaking style to this book though, so much more. It is packed with illuminating facts and sometimes hilarious anecdotes that leave the reader wanting for more. Cannot recommend this book highly enough.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- E P
- 09-04-20
James does not like the Donald
If you are an admirer of Donald Trump this is not a book for you. Mr Naughtie excoriates Trump so completely that at times I wanted to look away. The old lefty does not pull his punches, yet there is more to this book than a Liberal rant, there is poetry in his description of small town America. A train journey to New Orleans, a late night walk in George Town and, best of all, a Thanksgiving in New England immediately after 9/11. Those who loved (as I do) this pen portraits of American campaigns on the Today program will enjoy this book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S. Place
- 03-11-20
Truely charming book
I really enjoyed listening to this, I didn't really know who James Naughtie is and picked this up on a bit of a whim but very much enjoyed the meandering path through politics and American culture over the past few decades. Well narrated with plenty of personality and history and a great read in the backdrop to the 2020 election.
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