Military Audiobooks | History

Within Arm's Length: A Secret Service Agent's Definitive Inside Account of Protecting the President

Dan Emmett was just eight years old when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The events surrounding the president's death shaped the course of young Emmett's life as he set a goal of becoming a U.S. Secret Service agent—one of a special group of people willing to trade their lives for that of the president, if necessary. Within Arm's Length is a revealing and compelling inside look at the Secret Service and the elite Presidential Protective Division (PPD). Using stories from some of the author's more high-profile assignments in his twenty-one years of service, Emmett describes the professional, physical, and emotional challenges faced by Secret Service agents. Included are never-before-discussed topics such as the complicated relationship between presidents, first ladies, and their agents; the inner workings of Secret Service protective operations; and the seldom-mentioned challenges of the complex Secret Service cultural issues faced by an agent's family.

Dan Emmett (Author), Kevin Foley (Narrator)

Audiobook

With Schwarzkopf: Life Lessons of The Bear

In every age, a leader’s courage uplifts a generation, inspires a nation, and alters the world. For many, that leader was four-star General H. Norman Schwarzkopf; for Gus Lee, that leader was his mentor “The Bear.” With Schwarzkopf: Life Lessons of The Bear is Lee’s remembrance of a man whose unflinching character and wisdom forever changed Lee’s life. Here Lee passes along the leadership lessons he learned from Norman Schwarzkopf to readers, combining the general’s wisdom with personal anecdotes that are at once poignant and relatable. In 1966, Lee was a bright, athletic, and popular junior-year cadet at West Point who was on the verge of getting kicked out due to his preference for playing poker rather than studying engineering. Then-Major Schwarzkopf challenged, tutored, and encouraged the wayward cadet onto a higher path, teaching him how to become a scholar, a soldier, and a man. Lee’s vibrant, witty narrative illuminates his more than forty-year relationship with Schwarzkopf through a firsthand account of Lee’s time at West Point and his experiences in the Army and business world afterward. Lee reveals a side of Schwarzkopf that the public rarely saw: a tenacious, intellectual man whose bristling anger with his rebellious pupil was countered by moments of surprising emotional warmth and an inspiring commitment to always do right, no matter how difficult. Schwarzkopf’s unwavering values and wise counsel helped Lee face difficult decisions and deal with crises at West Point, in the military, business, marriage, and in life, and brought the two men together in an unlikely friendship. Through vivid accounts of his time with Schwarzkopf and his own personal struggles and triumphs, Lee shares the knowledge and insight of his mentor with listeners, delivering easy to understand but deeply impactful lessons for life.

Gus Lee (Author), Mel Foster (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story

Amidst all of the criticisms of America's war in Iraq, one essential voice has remained silent . . . until now. In his groundbreaking new memoir, Wiser in Battle, LTG (Ret) Ricardo S. Sanchez, former Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq, reports back from the front lines of the global War on Terror to provide a comprehensive and chilling exploration of America's historic military and foreign policy blunder. With unflinching candor, Sanchez describes the chaos on the Iraqi battlefield caused by the Bush Administration's misguided command of the military, as well as his own struggle to set the coalition on the path towards victory. Sanchez illuminates the fallout of the communication breakdown between the leadership on the battlefield and the politicians in Washington. The first book written by a former on-site commander in Iraq, Wiser in Battle is essential reading for all who wish to understand the current war and the American military's role in the new century.

Ricardo S. Sanchez (Author), Ricardo S. Sanchez (Narrator)

Audiobook

Winston Churchill: A Biography of a British Prime Minister

WINSTON CHURCHILLSir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill’s seemingly evergreen legacy has lived long past his death on January 24, 1965. He was a man who, despite the challenges he faced over the course of his life, showed great determination, intellect, political wisdom, and unparalleled leadership skills. Churchill was born on November 30, 1874, into a world much different than our own, yet there is much we can and should learn from his story. He rose to political prominence before World War I, and over the course of his political career, he came into conflict or alliance with some of history’s other big names, like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, among others. This book aims to provide a quick look into the life, achievements, lessons, and legacy of one of the most prominent leaders in recent memory, Sir Winston Churchill.

Joseph Greene (Author), Jason Renault (Narrator)

Audiobook

Winkle: The Extraordinary Life of Britain’s Greatest Pilot

Brought to you by Penguin. Pre-order the daring life story and astonishing adventures of Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown - Britain's greatest-ever pilot. Small in stature but immense in reputation and talent, there was more to Eric 'Winkle' Brown than met the eye. The pilot who set the standard for Britain's golden age of aviation, Winkle cemented his worldwide fame with incredible skill, extraordinary daring - and nerves of steel when things went wrong. From shooting down Luftwaffe bombers from the deck of a carrier in the Battle of the Atlantic and narrowly escaping death when his ship was torpedoed, to accumulating a never-to-be repeated litany of world records and firsts as a test pilot, his unparalleled flying career saw him take the controls of over four hundred different kinds of aircraft - more than any other pilot in history. A rival to Chuck Yeager and hero to Neil Armstrong, by the time of his appearance on Desert Island Disc's 1000th episode Winkle had become a legend in his own lifetime, and by his death, a national treasure. But despite his enormous fame, there have always been mysteries at the heart of Winkle's story. To truly understand this fascinating but secretive man is to grapple with questions that have intrigued and confounded biographers throughout his extraordinary life. Drawing on previously unseen documents and unfettered access to Winkle's own personal archive Paul Beaver records a life with more twists and turns than a Battle of Britain dogfight - which was, of course, something Winkle had taken part in himself - uncovering the complex and enigmatic man behind the legend - the real story of Britain's greatest pilot. A story Winkle insisted could only be told after his death . . . ©2023 Paul Beaver (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Paul Beaver (Author), Paul Beaver, Steve John Shepherd (Narrator)

Audiobook

William Wallace: The History, Facts, and Fight for Freedom of a Scottish Hero

The Film 'Braveheart' has it right on some points but does a bad job with historic precision with others, most likely because they're just attempting to dramatize a Hollywood film, not promoting dull precision. Let's see what info we can learn from history about the real William Wallace. William Wallace was a Scottish knight. In order to comprehend the impact of that time's knight civilization and roles, we will discuss the idea itself. We will also discuss the brutal reign of Edward I of England, the sadistic murder of William Wallace (worse than you might think), and several other factors contributing to his capture, his resistance, and his following.

Kelly Mass (Author), Doug Greene (Narrator)

Audiobook

William Tell, a Swiss hero

William Tell is an essential figure in Swiss patriotism. He is widely remembered for having shot an apple off of his son's head with a crossbow, but the story has more historical depth. Known as a very strong man and an expert shot, William Tell took part in the resistance against the rule of the Habsburg, the emperors of Austria who had vowed to dominate his country. He was arrested for disobedience, which led to the cruelest punishment a prince could think of. Tell famously succeeded, but this was not to be the end of his tribulation. His struggle for liberty eventually sparked a rebellion which marked History. Rediscover a hero's tale, the story of a central figure in Swiss history; enjoy the legend and gain a better understanding of the political struggles of the time with this lively and precise audiobook.

Anonymous (Author), Jonathan Waite (Narrator)

Audiobook

William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country: A Life

General Sherman's 1864 burning of Atlanta solidified his legacy as a ruthless leader. Yet Sherman proved far more complex than his legendary military tactics reveal. James Lee McDonough offers fresh insight into a man tormented by the fear that history would pass him by, who was plagued by personal debts, and who lived much of his life separated from his family. As a soldier, Sherman evolved from a spirited student at West Point into a general who steered the Civil War's most decisive campaigns, rendered here in graphic detail. Lamenting casualties, Sherman sought the war's swift end by devastating Southern resources in the Carolinas and on his famous March to the Sea. This meticulously researched biography explores Sherman's warm friendship with Ulysses S. Grant, his strained relationship with his wife, Ellen, and his unassuageable grief over the death of his young son, Willy. The result is a remarkable, comprehensive life of an American icon whose legacy resonates to this day.

James Lee McDonough (Author), David Drummond (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wild Bill Donovan: The Spymaster Who Created the OSS and Modern American Espionage

He was one of America's most exciting and secretive generals—the man Franklin Roosevelt made his top spy in World War II. A mythic figure whose legacy is still intensely debated, "Wild Bill" Donovan was director of the Office of Strategic Services (the country's first national intelligence agency) and the father of today's CIA. Donovan introduced the nation to the dark arts of covert warfare on a scale it had never seen before. Now, veteran journalist Douglas Waller has mined government documents and private archives throughout the United States and England, drawn on thousands of pages of recently declassified documents, and interviewed scores of Donovan's relatives, friends, and associates to produce a riveting biography of one of the most powerful men in modern espionage. The son of poor Irish Catholic parents, William Joseph Donovan married into Protestant wealth and fought heroically in World War I, where he earned the nickname "Wild Bill" for his intense leadership. After the war he made millions as a lawyer on Wall Street until FDR tapped him to be his strategic intelligence chief. A charismatic leader, Donovan was revered by his secret agents. Yet at times he was reckless, risking his life unnecessarily in war zones and engaging in extramarital affairs that became fodder for his political enemies. Wild Bill Donovan reads like an action-packed spy thriller, with stories of daring young men and women in Donovan's OSS sneaking behind enemy lines for sabotage, breaking into Washington embassies to steal secrets, plotting to topple Adolf Hitler, and suffering brutal torture or death when they were captured by the Gestapo. It is also a tale of political intrigue, of infighting at the highest levels of government, of powerful men pitted against one another. Deftly separating fact from fiction, Waller investigates the successes and the occasional spectacular failures of Donovan's intelligence career, making for a gripping and revealing portrait of this most controversial spymaster.

Douglas Waller (Author), Johnny Heller (Narrator)

Audiobook

Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life

“Courage,” Winston Churchill explained, is “the ﬁrst of human qualities . . . because it guarantees all the others.” As a naval officer, P.O.W., and one of America’s most admired political leaders, John McCain has seen countless acts of bravery and self-sacrifice. Now, in this inspiring meditation on courage, he shares his most cherished stories of ordinary individuals who have risked everything to defend the people and principles they hold most dear. “We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity for action despite our fears,” McCain reminds us, as a way of introducing the stories of ﬁgures both famous and obscure that he ﬁnds most compelling—from the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to Sgt. Roy Benavidez, who ignored his own well-being to rescue eight of his men from an ambush in the Vietnam jungle; from 1960s civil rights leader John Lewis, who wrote, “When I care about something, I’m prepared to take the long, hard road,” to Hannah Senesh, who, in protecting her comrades in the Hungarian resistance against Hitler’s SS, chose a martyr’s death over a despot’s mercy. These are some of the examples McCain turns to for inspiration and offers to others to help them summon the resolve to be both good and great. He explains the value of courage in both everyday actions and extraordinary feats. We learn why moral principles and physical courage are often not distinct quantities but two sides of the same coin. Most of all, readers discover how sometimes simply setting the right example can be the ultimate act of courage. Written by one of our most respected public ﬁgures, Why Courage Matters is that rare book with a message both timely and timeless. This is a work for anyone seeking to understand how the mystery and gift of courage can empower us and change our lives.

John McCain, Mark Salter (Author), Dan Cashman, John McCain (Narrator)

Audiobook

Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life

"Courage," Winston Churchill explained, is "the ?rst of human qualities . . . because it guarantees all the others." As a naval officer, P.O.W., and one of America's most admired political leaders, John McCain has seen countless acts of bravery and self-sacrifice. Now, in this inspiring meditation on courage, he shares his most cherished stories of ordinary individuals who have risked everything to defend the people and principles they hold most dear. "We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity for action despite our fears," McCain reminds us, as a way of introducing the stories of ?gures both famous and obscure that he ?nds most compelling-from the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to Sgt. Roy Benavidez, who ignored his own well-being to rescue eight of his men from an ambush in the Vietnam jungle; from 1960s civil rights leader John Lewis, who wrote, "When I care about something, I'm prepared to take the long, hard road," to Hannah Senesh, who, in protecting her comrades in the Hungarian resistance against Hitler's SS, chose a martyr's death over a despot's mercy. These are some of the examples McCain turns to for inspiration and offers to others to help them summon the resolve to be both good and great. He explains the value of courage in both everyday actions and extraordinary feats. We learn why moral principles and physical courage are often not distinct quantities but two sides of the same coin. Most of all, readers discover how sometimes simply setting the right example can be the ultimate act of courage. Written by one of our most respected public ?gures, Why Courage Matters is that rare book with a message both timely and timeless. This is a work for anyone seeking to understand how the mystery and gift of courage can empower us and change our lives.

John McCain, Mark Salter (Author), John McCain (Narrator)

Audiobook

Who Can Hold the Sea: The U.S. Navy in the Cold War 1945-1960

A close-up, action-filled narrative about the crucial role the U.S. Navy played in the early years of the Cold War, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Fleet at Flood Tide "James D. Hornfischer, the dean of American naval historians, has written a book of dizzying sweep and uncommon ambition."-Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers This landmark account of the U.S. Navy in the Cold War, Who Can Hold the Sea combines narrative history with scenes of stirring adventure on-and under-the high seas. In 1945, at the end of World War II, the victorious Navy sends its sailors home and decommissions most of its warships. But this peaceful interlude is short-lived, as Stalin, America's former ally, makes aggressive moves in Europe and the Far East. Winston Churchill crystallizes the growing Communist threat by declaring the existence of "the Iron Curtain," and the Truman Doctrine is set up to contain Communism by establishing U.S. military bases throughout the world. Set against this background of increasing Cold War hostility, Who Can Hold the Sea paints the dramatic rise of the Navy's crucial postwar role in a series of exciting episodes that include the controversial tests of the A-bombs that were dropped on warships at Bikini Island; the invention of sonar and the developing science of undersea warfare; the Navy's leading part in key battles of the Korean War; the dramatic sinking of the submarine USS Cochino in the Norwegian Sea; the invention of the nuclear submarine and the dangerous, first-ever cruise of the USS Nautilus under the North Pole; and the growth of the modern Navy with technological breakthroughs such as massive aircraft carriers, and cruisers fitted with surface-to-air missiles. As in all of Hornfischer's works, the events unfold in riveting detail. The story of the Cold War at sea is ultimately the story of America's victorious contest to protect the free world.

James D. Hornfischer (Author), Christopher Newton, Sharon Hornfischer (Narrator)

Audiobook

Military Audiobooks in History