Scan barcode
jmrprice's review
3.0
An interesting glance into the lives of John and Jessie Fremont - along with the politics, struggles, and beliefs of the 1840s through the 1860s.
musicdeepdive's review
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
4.25
Very good introductory work that will introduce some to John and many more to Jessie, even with the title being as hyperbolic as it seems. Not quite full biographies of either of them, but a demonstration of their importance that's presented in an engaging manner.
cojack's review
4.0
Really interesting book. American politics in the mid 1800s (like 1830s to early 1850s) tends to get viewed only in broad strokes, at least in my experience. It was a pivotal and fascinating time for the US. I knew little about Fremont, despite growing up in a town named after him. He's certainly no hero and made some of the same poor decisions time after time. To say Jesse Benton Fremont was ahead of her time is an understatement. They were a true power couple, and she was an expert at managing PR and creating a narrative around Fremont and his exploits. I listened to the audiobook, and Steve Inskeep of course did a great job. It was like listening to NPR segments. The book felt rushed at the end. I had to pull up the Wikipedia page for the 1856 election to keep everything straight. There were so many players and people switching parties and such that I had a hard time keeping track of it while listening. The physical book might have been better in that instance. And I don't buy the notion that the Fremonts had a hand in the run up to the Civil War. I mean, there were a lot of factors involved and their views and actions were part of the mix, but I think in a more minor way that Inskeep wants to suggest.
spartanjess's review against another edition
5.0
I selected this book because I appreciate Steve Inskeep’s reporting for NPR and also enjoy his voice. His book “Imperfect Union” taught me history I was unaware of and provided a reminder how aspects of history repeat themselves over and over. If you are inclined to learn more about American history or past women that helped form our country and certainly were not given their due, this is an excellent audio book to choose.
statman's review
3.0
I didn't know much about Fremont before reading this book. He did have an impact on the settling of the western United States such as influencing Brigham Young to settle in the Salt Lake Valley and giving San Francisco as the Golden Gate. This book stops at the end of his failed presidential election in 1856 and says very little of the last 30+ years of his life after that. Jessie certainly had a big impact in building Fremonts fame and persona.
chelsblack's review
4.0
I am always impressed at the breadth of knowledge Inskeep shows about his subject matter, and this book is no different. Inskeep does a fantastic job of balancing their incredible qualities with their despicable ones; Jessie was anti-slavery but very much a racist, and John was a fearless leader that often put his charges in harm's way. I thoroughly enjoyed this read about a subject matter of which I knew very little.