The Men Who United the States

For more than two centuries, E pluribus unum—"Out of many, one"—has been featured on America's official government seals and stamped on its currency. But how did America become "one nation, indivisible"? Simon Winchester addresses these questions, bringing together the breathtaking achievements of those American pioneers who helped, with their multitudes of callings, to forge and unify the new nation, and who toiled fearlessly to discover, connect, and bond the citizens and the geography of the United States from its very beginnings. At once intimate and deeply inspiring, this sweeping narrative details how these daring men from three centuries, some famous, some forgotten, left their everlasting mark on America's natural landscapes through courage, ingenuity and hard work.
The Men Who United the States is an unforgettable journey of unprecedented scope across time and open spaces, providing a new lens through which to view American history, led by one of the most gifted writers in the English language.

“Entertaining. ... A pleasure.” — New York Times Book Review
“A rousing tribute to the alliances, agencies, and inventions - from Lewis and Clark to the Internet - that underpin our more perfect union. A stunning, highly original feast of a book.” — STACY SCHIFF, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Cleopatra
“Vivid, valuable. ... An extraordinary, propulsive tale.” — Wall Street Journal
“An impeccably researched, erudite, well-told tale, peppered with occasional grace notes.” — Miami Herald
“An elegantly written account... filled with fascinating information.” — Boston Globe
“[M]esmerizing and fascinating… Mr. Winchester is a master storyteller, and all the individuals, places, and events that he passionately writes about come to life in exquisite detail.” — New York Journal of Books
“Winchester has found a thematic way to tell this familiar story so it seems fresh and informative, even fascinating.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Winchester provides surprising insights into our social history, further enriching his narrative with accounts of his personal odysseys around the country. The results are highly recommended for public and school libraries and all readers looking for new and stimulating perspectives on the history of America.” — Library Journal
“A most genial storyteller” — Las Vegas Weekly
“[I]nformative and absorbing” — The Oregonian (Portland)
“Simon Winchester never disappoints, and The Men Who United the States is a lively and surprising account of how this sprawling piece of geography became a nation. This is America from the ground up. Inspiring and engaging.” — Tom Brokaw
“What makes this book so enjoyable is that he ties the development of these advances to some brilliant but idiosyncratic personalities.” — BookPage
“He … freshens U.S. history by refusing to tell it through the usual suspects.” — Seattle Times
“The subtitle promises readers a sackful of exciting tales-and the author delivers. This is a clever, engaging and original look at what would seem well-trodden historical paths; but Winchester, delightfully, breaks a fresh trail.” — The Economist
“The tales he weaves were more engaging than most contemporary fiction.” — Zócalo Public Square