Actual Rating 2.5

This nonfiction work discusses Paul Revere and the most famous night he (and others) rode to warn the revolutionaries about the British movements. And it's released just in time for the 250th anniversary of America's battle for independence and Paul Revere's ride.

The narrative of this one could have been stronger. There was a lot of wandering and backstory and doubling back that weakened its readability in my opinion. It was indicative of the level of research the author put into this book, which is quite impressive. And there's a lot to learn from this work if you don't mind a more wandering history.

I appreciated the author's focus on trying to separate the myth/legend from what actually happened that night. But this work was a weird in between. There wasn't enough information to be a full biography of Revere. But the details included were much more expansive than the single night or the events leading up to that night. Then there were also a lot of imaginative scenes included that were more fiction than nonfiction, which added to the oddness of the mix.

This history wasn't the most engaging, but it was informative. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In his book, Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America, Kostya Kennedy gives a well-researched, well-written account, not only of Paul Revere’s most famous ride, but of his background, his work and his family. He provides information about the lead up to the revolution and tells about other riders including the possibly untrue ride of a young girl. Kennedy’s writing style avoids the too often dry pedantic style of many historians making this a very interesting, accessible, and, dare I say, entertaining account of probably the most famous ride in all history. I read an eARC of the book while listening to the audiobook narrated by Johnny Heller who does an excellent job.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for this book in exchange for an honest review

Listening to The Ride by Kostya Kennedy, I realized just how little I actually know about the night of Paul Revere's famous ride. I found I knew even less about his life outside of that one defining moment in time. The book is very well written and easily accessible for those who might be wary of starting a non-fiction book. Reading The Ride in 2025 was also slightly surreal based on current events in the world. I also read this completely accidentally on the 250th anniversary of one of the most famous rides in United States history. So many little moments had to be successful and had to happen the way they did for American's to get their independence from Great Britain.

I learned so much in a really engaging way about the life of Paul Revere and the night of April 19, 1775. Reading through everything that I did, it was actually surprising that the night played out the way it did. There were so many moments that led to the ride that could have led to disaster, the planning wasn't always the most coordinated, there were secret treasonous documents with some of the big players on their person when the events were happening, and there were men who were detained by the British. It really is just so surprising that this night played out the way it did. It was also interesting listening to what we don't know about that time, and how there were other men (and maybe a woman), who were integral in the rides taking place at the itme but their stories were overshadowed by Revere's famous ride. The book also examines how not everything presented as historical fact can be confirmed, and may be stories that were written long after the people involved were able to tell their stories.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Ride, and Johnny Heller did a great job at the narration. I actually looked up some of the other work he has done, and for someone that does a lot of different genres, they did really well at narrating a narrative non-fiction novel. Their pacing and inflection was great, and their voice was clear. It was an easy listen largely due to the way they narrated the novel. If audiobook is your preferred medium, this is a really well done audiobook.

If you as a reader have even a pinch of interest in the Revolutionary War and the events leading up to it, this is one of the best times to read it during the 250th anniversary of the famous ride of Paul Revere.

Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A mini biography of Paul Revere and the story of The Ride on the night of April 19, 1775. A great amount of interesting background information I had never heard before, including Mark In Chains, which I found fascinating. Kennedy includes the stories of many of the other men who rode that night, both those who completed their rides, and those who were stopped by the British. A satisfactory retelling of the story in its 250th anniversary.

A great read on one of the most famous nights in American history. It's interesting to see what, through the years, we've gotten right and wrong. It was a great listen and I think any history buff would enjoy it!

The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America by Kostya Kennedy is a fascinating exploration of the legendary midnight ride of Paul Revere. Kennedy skillfully separates fact from fiction, delving into the historical context of April 1775 and the pivotal role Revere played in the American Revolution. The book examines the broader network of riders and the critical events leading up to the battles of Lexington and Concord.
Kennedy's narrative is both engaging and informative, offering fresh perspectives on Revere's life as a silversmith, revolutionary, and messenger. The book also highlights lesser-known figures like William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, who contributed to the success of the midnight ride. Enhanced by historical illustrations and photographs, the story brings to life the courage and strategic thinking of the early patriots.
If you're interested in American history or enjoy uncovering the truths behind iconic events, this book is a compelling read. It provides a nuanced look at the complexities of the Revolutionary era while celebrating the enduring legacy of Paul Revere. Would you like to explore more books on similar historical themes?

For anyone who has studied even the basics of the American Revolution in school, Paul Revere’s ride was legendary, but that said, how much were we really taught about him? In my own case, I can honestly say not much, so I was eager to learn more and this book was exactly what I was looking for.

At only 304 pages long, this is not a lengthy biography, but it does provide some background information on Revere. By and large though, it focuses on the lead-up to that night and Revere’s role as an anti-British political operative. It was a pretty fascinating read in that it revealed Revere to be a pretty major player among those who were actively resisting the efforts by the British to control them and that he had actually made quite a few rides throughout New England disseminating intelligence about British movements.

In addition to learning more about Revere, I was also intrigued to learn that he was not the only rider that night. That was new information to me.

I enjoyed the writing and the audiobook narration, especially once I got to the actual ride because it’s described in such a way that even though I ultimately knew how it ended, it was still exciting and suspenseful, and I liked the way Revere’s obstacles, from challenging terrain to evading British soldiers who were tailing him, were described.

Lastly, I liked that the author managed to tie in the poem from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that so many of us grew up hearing. That was a nice full circle moment for me. “Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere...”

If you’re looking for a full biography, this probably isn’t the book for you, but if you’re looking to learn a little more about Revere and maybe a lot more about his role leading up to the American Revolution, I think this is a solid choice.

This is a short biography and history about a famous transformative night, the ride that changed everything. Paul Revere was not alone on April 18, 1775 riding out to warn that an attack was imminent by the British soldiers, but his story is the one that best known. Revere’s ride was also the most effective, where William Dawes was a bit slower, or maybe not as personable as Revere.

The book provides a small amount of biography of Paul Revere. Revere was a bell ringer in 1750, a teenager then and pledged himself along with several other boys to always ring the bells at Old North Church at least one evening a week for a year.

Revere was given to joining societies and at twenty-five joined the Masons, the St. Andrew’s Lodge which was formed in dissent to the elite St. John’s Lodge whose members were mostly loyal to the Crown. This group of men grew close friendships through the years and tended toward rebellion and independence through the 1760s. It was through this group that Paul Revere became the man who rode the horse on that fateful night.

It felt momentous to read this as we approach the 250 year anniversary. The book is somewhat narrow, but not exclusively focused on the ride. I enjoyed learning a tidbit about his many generations later descendants who have been named Paul Revere and are carrying it through the years, with the youngest now being the 4th, although the Patriot Paul Revere is his six-times great-grandfather.

I listened to this book on audio, but did not particularly enjoy the narrator. The way he had of speaking is not a style that I liked, almost like shouting but not loudly. Perhaps it is a just a quirk of mine and others will have no problem with the narrator.

Kostya Kennedy combines biography with evocative narrative in The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America. There are many things that I appreciate this book; a few of those characteristics are 1) an extensive glossary filled with historical facts, such as famous people, battles, and politics; 2) an exploration of Paul Revere's life starting in his teen years and continues past his infamous ride; 3) a discussion about slavery in America. Kennedy provides readers with a broad historical context regarding early American colonial life. The narrative is thoughtful and well-researched.

Thank you #KostyaKennedy, #MacmillianAudio, #JohnnyHeller, and #NetGalley for my audio ARC.

Johnny Heller did an excellent job narrating this audiobook.

"Listen my children, and you should hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; The Ride of Paul Revere

This is an excellent book about Paul Revere, the history of the time right before the War of Independence, and his famous ride [along with other people and events that I had never heard of!! It was a bit mind-blowing]. I learned quite a bit [and wished I could remember the whole poem; we had to learn it in school and we all knew the WHOLE thing at one time] and highly recommend this book for any history buff, especially of that time frame. I am so glad I was able to read this.

Johnny Heller is in my top 10 of favorite narrators and so it is easy to recommend him for any book he is narrating, but I can especially here because he truly makes this story come to life and made an already enjoyable read that much better. You will not be sorry if you choose to listen to this outstanding book. Very well done!!

I was invited to read/review this ARC by the publisher [St. Martin's Press] and I thank them, Kostya Kennedy, Johnny Heller - Narrator, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for a copy of this arc for my honest opinion.

I highly enjoyed this. I can only imagine how much research and time was put into this. It was worth it! The story was very captivating and I will definitely be listening to this again.

The Ride by Kostya Kennedy is an excellent introduction into Paul Revere the person as well as his most famous act. In The Ride, Kennedy sets up the stage for Revere's ride by telling of his adolescence and adult years.

I learned a lot reading this book and considering how little I know about the revolutionary period, I found this very easy to follow. I enjoyed the audio version of it, the narration is excellent. I feel that there were a few redundant sections that could have been edited down but altogether this was an enjoyable read full of new to me information.

Did you have to read (or perhaps memorize) Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow when you were in school? Even if you didn't you probably remember from the history lessons the famous line, "One if by land, and two if by sea" referring to the number of lanterns that the sexton at a local church was to hang to notify the patriots of the coming British forces. And that is probably all you know about Paul Revere. At least that is all I know about him.

I enjoyed a book about Benedict Arnold a couple of years ago and I feel like I need to learn more about the American Revolution and those who fought for a free and democratic society.

As with any history nonfiction book I pick up, I never know exactly what I'm getting into. Sometimes is a dry read with long lists of dates and names. Other times, it is more of a narrative story. Thankfully, The Ride is the latter. I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed Johnny Heller's narration.

I'm starting to think the reason we only learned about this one ride of Paul Revere is because there is little to really know about the man. He was an express rider during the American Revolution - his job was to carry communications to various patriot leaders. Because of this, he was often out of the fray of any of the battles.

Kennedy includes a few more tidbits about Revere's life including his family, his career as a silversmith, and his rise in the political scene. But a lot of the book was about various events that he was not directly involved with. Also, the author uses speculation to transition between various subjects and therefore touches on the issue of slavery a bit more than I was expecting in a book about the American Revolution.

I thought that the book jumped around a bit which made it difficult to follow as an audiobook. But my attention may have wandered a little as well which contributed to my confusion. If you regularly listen to history or other nonfiction podcast, you shouldn't have a problem with it.

I liked that the author brought up the poem in the final chapters of the book. He also spent some time mentioning Revere's fellow rider William Dawes, who has all but been forgotten by history. I remember a few years ago hearing about a female Paul Revere. Kennedy shares the story as well. The girl (she was only 16 years old at the time) was named Sybil Ludington. Finally, he concludes with stories from Revere's descendant Paul Revere III, which ends the book on a light but poignant note.

An interesting point - April 18 is the 250th anniversary of the famous ride, making it the perfect time to pick up this book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/04/the-ride-paul-revere-and-night-that.html

The Ride explores Paul Revere’s famous ride through the New England country side warning that the British were coming 250 years after the events took place. Mr. Kennedy goes in depth on the subject providing background on Paul Revere’s life, other rides Revere took around that period, and examined other who rode those same nights to warn that the British were coming.

This was a very detailed account of the famous event. The research Mr. Kennedy did, shows well in this book and makes it for an excellent read. I found that these details added to the depth of the book without making the book feel bogged down by too much detail. I found I learned many new things about Paul Revere’s ride. The narrator had a good pace as he was reading the book and his voice was perfectly suited for a historical book.

This is an excellent book about a famous event. If you are a history major, or just want to learn more about the founding of America as we move closer to 250 years as a country, this book is well worth a read or listen. Thank you to NetGalley, Kostya Kennedy, and Macmillan Audio for a free advanced readers copy for an honest review.

Kennedy takes on the legend of Paul Revere that we all learned as a child and apples new research, danger and perhaps a more coordinated effort amongst multiple riders that originally thought.

Overall this appears to be a well researched book. However. Presented in audio it seemed to have an odd structure where the timeline was jumping back and forth and that characters change abruptly that made it confusing to listen to. I found the interesting, but might be better in physical format,

I love a well-told, easy to follow book about history. Kennedy is great with satisfying that desire.

I really enjoyed learning more about Revere and the night of his ride. My only wish is that there was more history in the book!

Thank you, Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook.

The Ride is well written and concise. Repeatedly, I thought to myself that the reader is given enough context and detail to immerse into the historical moment and yet only just enough so that it didn't feel like a slog. Johnny Heller is a great narrator, easy to listen to, and very clear to understand even at a quick speed.

I learned many new things from this book and was excited to add new detail to the names, events, and places that I've previously read about. The author does not go on tangents, but he does include some fascinating insights on life in that time and place and Paul Revere (such as the section of the book that explores his ability to perform under pressure and mentions the pop science book Choke by Sian Beilok on that topic).

I've added this book to my growing list of history nonfiction highlighting well-known names that were never well explained in school! I recently read a similar book about Benedict Arnold, and following that one with this book highlighting the details of Paul Revere's famous ride is super neat! There seems to be a trend in writing approachable, shorter (though not too short) nonfiction, and I'm stoked to see it! This story is taught in schools, but only in the briefest detail. It was very cool to dive in! It's a fascinating and significant bit of our American past, and though nonfiction can be challenging to read, I find it highly rewarding to read books such as this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an e-arc to listen and review honestly and voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Audio ARC!

The Ride is a fascinating look at the man behind the myth. Paul Revere is known for one thing only, and it was really nice to learn more about his fascinating life. I especially enjoyed learning about the other important rides made by Revere, and learning about the other people who rode at the same time, or in subsequent days, carrying the message of the onset of hostilities. In addition, it was very interesting to learn about Revere's military career during the American Revolution. A must-read for American history buffs!

Wow, what a stunning narrative around Paul Revere’s contribution to the American Revolution. Filled with relevant and captivating stories about direct and adjacent events, Kostya Kennedy’s The Ride was the most interesting version I’ve ever read (well… listened to). Johnny Heller’s narration was riveting (albeit sped up to 1.75x, which is pretty standard for me!). Heller’s voice and intonation were so good that my three year old even asked to be able to “listen to that story” with me.

An excellent history lesson! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

ONE night that saved America
April 18, 1775 was the night before the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The night before the infamous "Shot Heard Around the World." What if the ride had never happened? A big thank you to Brown Beauty, the horse who carried him with excellence on that night.

TWO lanterns if by sea
The tower of the North Church was briefly illuminated by two lanterns at Revere's request to signal that the British were moving by water to invade.

THREE score Patriots were on the Crown's list of "enemies." Paul Revere was one of them having assisted with the Boston Tea Party and participated in other rebellious activities.

FOUR professional hats for Revere. He was a self-taught silversmith, engraver, and dentist as well as being a rider for the Patriots.

FIVE stars for a book that is perfect for reading as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of this famous night on April 18, 2025. Go with a print version if you can to see the fabulous photos and historical documents.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a DRC as well as Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC. I was glad I paired the two so I could see the visuals in the print copy.