Badass
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Narrated by:
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L. J. Ganser
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By:
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Ben Thompson
About this listen
A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live
Throughout history - from the bone-crushing age of antiquity to the sack-tearing modern era - there have been larger-than-life ass-kickers with a natural talent for unleashing their epic bloodlust on anyone who crossed them. They built empires, smashed armies, and ravaged civilizations for wealth, glory, and ultimate supremacy. Sometimes villains, sometimes heroes, sometimes criminally insane, they had one thing in common: They were all Badass!
Chandragupta Maurya
An Indian warlord who commanded an army of drunken war elephants and employed an elite detachment of highly trained female bodyguards
Peter Francisco
An unsung hero of the American Revolution, this powerful giant battled the British with a massive five-foot-long broadsword
Wolf the Quarrelsome
A mysterious barbarian leader who only appears in history twice - and both times he's kicking someone's ass
Bhanbhagta Gurung
A fearless Gurkha who won the Victoria Cross by clearing out six Japanese foxholes with nothing more than grenades, a bayonet, and a knife
From Alexander the Great to George S. Patton, from Genghis Khan to Bruce Lee, this pantheon of ass-kicking awesomeness should inspire you to quit your stupid job and dive headfirst into a new career as a professional badass.
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Empire of Blue Water
- Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe that Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign
- By: Stephan Talty
- Narrated by: John H. Mayer
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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He challenged the greatest empire on earth with a ragtag bunch of renegades and brought it to its knees. This is the real story of the pirates of the Caribbean. Henry Morgan, a 20-year-old Welshman, crossed the Atlantic in 1655, hell-bent on making his fortune. Over the next three decades, his exploits in the Caribbean became legendary. His daring attacks on the mighty Spanish empire on land and at sea determined the fates of kings and queens, and his victories helped shape the destiny of the New World.
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Morbid Terrorists?
- By Jack on 11-11-08
By: Stephan Talty
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The Hundred Years’ War
- A Captivating Guide to the Conflicts Between the English House of Plantagenet and the French House of Valois That Took Place During the Middle Ages
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Richard L Walton
- Length: 3 hrs
- Unabridged
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The Hundred Years' War changed language, national identity, weaponry, and even the way people think about war. It is part of the greater narrative of human history and gives a snapshot of how human nature can behave when pressed by the extremity of such a conflict - sometimes with unspeakable honor and courage and other times with cowardice, selfishness, and arrogance.
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Interesting
- By Hammer on 04-09-19
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Their Backs Against the Sea
- The Battle of Saipan and the Greatest Banzai Attack of World War II
- By: Bill Sloan
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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In the midst of the largest banzai attack of the war, US Army Lt. Col. William O'Brien, grievously wounded and out of ammunition, grabbed a sabre from a fallen Japanese soldier and flailed away at a small army of assailants, screaming to his men, "Don't give them a damn inch"! When his body was recovered the next day, 30 dead enemies were piled around him. The Battle of Saipan lasted 25 hellish days in the summer of 1944, and the stakes couldn't have been higher. If Japan lost possession of the island, all hope for victory would be lost.
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Thank you!
- By Robert on 01-29-19
By: Bill Sloan
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Thirteen Soldiers
- A Personal History of Americans at War
- By: John McCain, Mark Salter
- Narrated by: John McCain
- Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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John McCain’s evocative history of Americans at war, told through the personal accounts of 13 remarkable soldiers who fought in major military conflicts, from the Revolutionary War of 1776 to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Fascinating and Insightful
- By Majorie on 11-21-14
By: John McCain, and others
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Empires of the Sea
- The Contest for the Center of the World
- By: Roger Crowley
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Empires of the Sea tells the story of the 50-year world war between Islam and Christianity for the Mediterranean: one of the fiercest and most influential contests in European history. It traces events from the appearance on the world stage of Suleiman the Magnificent through "the years of devastation" when it seemed possible that Islam might master the whole sea, to the final brief flourishing of a united Christendom in 1571.
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Brilliant detail, exciting story
- By Tad Davis on 08-17-08
By: Roger Crowley
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Killing Jesus
- A History
- By: Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
- Narrated by: Bill O'Reilly
- Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Millions of people have thrilled to best-selling authors Bill O'Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln, works of nonfiction that have changed the way we view history. Now the anchor of The O'Reilly Factor details the events leading up to the murder of the most influential man in history: Jesus of Nazareth. Nearly 2,000 years after this beloved and controversial young revolutionary was brutally killed by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion human beings attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God.
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The Jesus story in context
- By Kimberly on 10-01-13
By: Bill O'Reilly, and others
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Legion versus Phalanx
- The Epic Struggle for Infantry Supremacy in the Ancient World
- By: Myke Cole
- Narrated by: Alexander Cendese
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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From the time of Ancient Sumeria, the heavy infantry phalanx dominated the battlefield. Armed with spears or pikes, standing shoulder to shoulder with shields interlocking, the men of the phalanx presented an impenetrable wall of wood and metal to the enemy. Until, that is, the Roman legion emerged to challenge them as masters of infantry battle.
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I might be a niche market for this but I loved it
- By Jonathan on 12-17-18
By: Myke Cole
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African Kaiser
- General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and the Great War in Africa, 1914-1918
- By: Robert Gaudi
- Narrated by: Paul Hodgson
- Length: 18 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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At the beginning of the twentieth century, the continent of Africa was a hotbed of international trade, colonialism, and political gamesmanship. So when World War I broke out, the European powers were forced to contend with each other not just in the bloody trenches - but in the treacherous jungle. And it was in that unforgiving land that General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck would make history.
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Well Written, Well Read, Well Done!
- By Matthew on 02-25-17
By: Robert Gaudi
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American Gun
- A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms
- By: Chris Kyle, William Doyle
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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At the time of his tragic death in February 2013, former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most accomplished sniper in U.S. military history, was finishing a remarkable book that retold American history through the lens of a hand-selected list of firearms. Kyle masterfully argues that guns have played a fascinating, indispensable, and often under-appreciated role in our national story. He carefully chose ten guns to help tell his story, ranging from the American long rifle to the modern M-16, and uses these guns as a platform for exploring American history.
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An Important Look at US History
- By harry on 06-24-13
By: Chris Kyle, and others
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Goodbye, Darkness
- A Memoir of the Pacific War
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
- Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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This memoir offers an unrivaled firsthand account of World War II in the Pacific - what it looked like, sounded like, smelled like, and most of all, what it felt like to one who underwent all but the ultimate of its experiences.
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The best war memoir ever
- By Doug on 05-31-07
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A Foot Soldier for Patton
- The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army
- By: Michael C. Bilder, James Bilder
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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A rarely frank account of the US infantry experience in northern Europe, A Foot Soldier for Patton takes the listener from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself. Patton's army is best known for dashing armored attacks; its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm, the greatest fighting was done by Patton's long undersung infantry.
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Wonderful book
- By Dr. Z on 09-16-21
By: Michael C. Bilder, and others
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Bloody Ridge and Beyond
- A World War II Marine's Memoir of Edson's Raiders inthe Pacific
- By: Marlin Groft, Larry Alexander
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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On the killing ground that was the island of Guadalcanal, a 2,000-yard-long ridge rose from the jungle canopy. Behind it lay the all-important air base of Henderson Field. And if Henderson Field fell, it would mean the almost certain death or capture of all 12,500 marines on the island. But the marines positioned on the ridge were no normal fighters - they were the hard-fighting men of Edson's Raiders, an elite fighting unit within an already elite Marine Corps.
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A Masterful Account
- By Arthur on 01-25-18
By: Marlin Groft, and others
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The Mosquito Bowl
- A Game of Life and Death in World War II
- By: Buzz Bissinger
- Narrated by: George Newbern
- Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, college football was at the height of its popularity. As the nation geared up for total war, one branch of the service dominated the aspirations of college football stars: the United States Marine Corps. Which is why, on Christmas Eve of 1944, when the 4th and 29th Marine regiments found themselves in the middle of the Pacific Ocean training for what would be the bloodiest battle of the war – the invasion of Okinawa—their ranks included one of the greatest pools of football talent ever assembled.
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War Story Interrupted Briefly by a Football Game
- By William G. Stuart on 10-14-22
By: Buzz Bissinger
What listeners say about Badass
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Bret
- 04-12-10
Brilliant Badass Book
This book was well written and highly engaging. It serves almost as a primer to wet the appetite of any reader. I find myself hunting down other books in Audible to learn more about many of the historical figures in the books.
Note to Audible: You might want to consider seeing how many historical books or bios you could add or at least link up to via a promotion or on this book's profile page. I'd love to add more books related to many of the badasses discussed!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Brandon
- 07-06-10
A bit slow
The humor gets a little tiring after a few chapters, and if you read for ~30min at a time (ie commute to work), you get lost in each historical figure and have a difficult time remembering who's story we're hearing.
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Overall
- Philip
- 11-24-09
Unconventional
If you weren't put off by the title and you enjoy a great story narrated with gusto, this might be the book for you. I loved it but I don't think any english teacher is going to recommend it. Review the author's web site, badass.com, to read some story lines on 'badass' history characters to get a flavor for his 'over the top' writing style. The author, himself, is badass and doesn't care one bit for someone's sensibilities. He just likes to tell a great story in a fun way. L
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9 people found this helpful
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- Sara
- 05-08-12
Amusing but too juvenile
Is there anything you would change about this book?
The writing got very repetitive, someone was always about to rip someone's face off or tear their guts out along with various other phrases that were used over and over again.
What was most disappointing about Ben Thompson???s story?
I think I was hoping for a bit more historical fact and less exaggeration, most of these stories would've been plenty impressive without the over top descriptions.
What does L. J. Ganser bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?
I doubt I would've finished reading the book- the narrator was very good.
Any additional comments?
After reading it I found out he had a blog where he does Badasses of the week- I think one short post a week would be easier to handle as the repetitive phrasing wouldn't be so obvious.
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- C M Garland
- 10-12-10
The Greatest Book Ever!!
Hands down the most awesome, amazing, and entertaining book I have ever experienced. Nothing will ever come close to it in any way ever. If you don't like it you have absolutely no taste, and should go live on a deserted island somewhere waiting for the end of the world.
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Overall
- Jordan
- 01-22-10
It's a historical comedy
Really, the title and the discription of the book says it all. This book is history as told by a comedian. I personally think it's a nice change from the stuffy history books that I am used to. Some other reviewers complain that the humor is stupid and immiture. I admit that this humor is not for everyone,The author uses a lot of exageration comedy when it comes to talking about the people in this book. If you are in high school or college and want to read an interesting and funny history book, then this is the book for you.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Berserk
- 02-13-12
One of the best most fun books EVER
Look Badass is funny, but also factual, the humor is what really sold it for me. This book as gotten some not so great reviews by guys trying to bash the way it was written. Which I feel is unjust; Gentlemen this is not a stiff collegiate essay or a history channel documentary. However, this is a light hearted romp that is a joy to listen to and can appeal to anyone. Buy this book you don't have to be interested in History to really enjoy it. As for me I absolutely adore Badass and if I'm in a bad mood or feeling unmotivated I just listen to this and it always helps.
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2 people found this helpful
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Performance
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Story
- Steaven Chan
- 01-20-13
Pretty Cool!
Would you consider the audio edition of Badass to be better than the print version?
although I haven't seen the printed edition, I'm sure listening to a good narrator reading the funny and amusing lines are icing on the cake.
What does L. J. Ganser bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
It's very light hearted narration of the different characters you seldom hear in the history books. Learned a few people I possibly would never know as well.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I listen this audio book with my kids (teen agers) and even they have a few nice chuckle. Besides, they also learn a few characters as well.
Any additional comments?
There are a lot more people I think that should've been included but, over all, I really enjoyed the book. Great job.
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Overall
- Vicky
- 02-12-10
accurate but hilarious history!
This had me laughing so hard that I kept having to rewind so my husband could hear it; yet the history is accurate. I LOVE this book!
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5 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 10-05-13
Fun and Interesting, but at times can be vulgar
This book is put together well and is really fun to listen to. I've listened to it several times and I just don't seem to get tired of it. Ganser's narration is incredible and extremely easy to listen to. The chapters are pretty short and offer an overview of some really cool historical figures, some I've never heard of! Thompson's writing though can be pretty vulgar at times. Since he's writing about badasses, I guess that's to be expected. However, I reduced this star count by one simply because after eight+ hours of vulgarity it just got tiresome. This is fun to listen to and well worth the money if you can take the vulgarities. For the most part, that doesn't bother me and this book was fun to listen to.
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