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jenniferstringer's review against another edition
4.0
This was required summer reading for my son's history class, and well, it was laying around the house and I was curious. I must say, it's been a while since I have read anything this academic and erudite. I read non-fiction, but usually it's written by journalists or someone looking to make it very reader-friendly. I guess Pulitzer winning authors are less concerned about such things. While the founders were revolutionary, they were very aristocratic in their behavior. But rather than having that aristocracy be based on birthright and titles based down through generations, they felt it should be based on virtue and a the ability to possess a "public disinterest", meaning that they themselves (nor anyone representing the people) should profit or benefit from their position. It was rather amusing read how the founders would complain when "men of virtue" had labored to put together legislation only to have it shot down by "rabble" who had been elected to congress while on the news the Congress of our own time debate the debt ceiling...I believe the author makes his point well and I don't think it should be very difficult for my son to write his paper - the thesis is well put
The thing that makes me a little sad was how the founders who reached more advanced years, felt the country was so off base and were disappointed in what the revolution had begotten. Then, when I speak with my grandmothers - both in their 90's, they have said they no longer understand our country and the values and direction things have gone in, and I wonder, will I feel the same at the same age? or will I find a way to feel relevant to my country's direction.
The thing that makes me a little sad was how the founders who reached more advanced years, felt the country was so off base and were disappointed in what the revolution had begotten. Then, when I speak with my grandmothers - both in their 90's, they have said they no longer understand our country and the values and direction things have gone in, and I wonder, will I feel the same at the same age? or will I find a way to feel relevant to my country's direction.
mcf's review against another edition
3.0
While I realize it's a bit unfair to criticize a book that is essentially a survey for its superficiality, that nevertheless is a frequent frustration with Revolutionary Characters, particularly in the chapters on the best known of the revolutionary generation. The sections on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and even Alexander Hamilton, for example, are disappointingly lacking in nuance, and Wood (again, probably necessarily restrained by his format) regularly falls back on obvious conclusions and arguments, even when he's attempting to be contrary. Where the book does shine, though, is in the two chapters on the men who were different from their contemporaries: Aaron Burr and Thomas Paine. Perhaps because he's freer here of broad cultural assumptions about his subjects, Wood writes with real enthusiasm about their contrariness, and his conclusions are interested and convincing.
nashley's review against another edition
4.0
A series of essays essentially outlining just how different from us the founding fathers were as seen by the cultural standards of their day. Enlightening, and sometimes quite engaging. Overall, a good introduction to the founding fathers to get a sense of them, their times, and the attitudes behind the founding of America.
My favorite essay was on George Washington - he strongly argues that Washington was - without exception - the greatest president we have ever had, an opinion I eagerly share with him.
On occasion, Wood's current political opinions filter into his argumentation (he's very disapproving of big government), but I suppose that is hard to avoid when comparing our modern-day political standards with those of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. However, I do think it biases him unfairly against Alexander Hamilton, and favorably towards Thomas Jefferson in ways I don't think are fully merited or supported by the text.
But then again I have always been, and always will be, very biased in favor of Alexander Hamilton, so take that as you will.
Not the best book I have read on the Revolutionary War and America's founders, but a good, brief introduction.
My favorite essay was on George Washington - he strongly argues that Washington was - without exception - the greatest president we have ever had, an opinion I eagerly share with him.
On occasion, Wood's current political opinions filter into his argumentation (he's very disapproving of big government), but I suppose that is hard to avoid when comparing our modern-day political standards with those of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. However, I do think it biases him unfairly against Alexander Hamilton, and favorably towards Thomas Jefferson in ways I don't think are fully merited or supported by the text.
But then again I have always been, and always will be, very biased in favor of Alexander Hamilton, so take that as you will.
Not the best book I have read on the Revolutionary War and America's founders, but a good, brief introduction.
write_of_passages's review against another edition
5.0
Gordon S. Wood has certainly done his research. Wood devotes each chapter to a different founder that spans from the usual entries, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, to the not-so-usual entries, Thomas Paine and Aaron Burr. Not only does each chapter include a thorough historiography of the biographies written for each founder, but Wood also includes a fresh, fascinating take on each of the Founders that is, per the title, different.
Taking on both everything Americans revere about the Founders as well as tackling the inconsistencies that a 21st-century audience cannot understand, Wood takes us into the world of these founders, as real men in the world they lived in, to allow us to see not only what they thought, but why they thought it and how those thoughts were different for their time. Even those well-read in the biographies of Washington and Jefferson will enjoy the syncretism Wood threads through their lives and the bodies of work that followed. Thomas Paine's chapter, as well as Aaron Burr's, together make up two of the most fascinating chapters in the work; Wood discusses why Thomas Paine is every bit a founder and why succeeding generations, as well as the revolutionary generation, failed to see him as such. Aaron Burr, as Wood notes, seemed the perfect candidate for a revolutionary founder, yet failed to become one through the actions of his own colleagues.
But Wood saves his best for last in Revolutionary Characters. Far from an epilogue, the final chapter centers on the post-revolutionary world that the founders had created, a world that - for those founders alive to witness it - spelled out their disillusionment and decline. With startling clarity, Wood takes the reader on a journey through the minds of the Revolutionary leaders, the world they lived in, and the world they created. A must read for any who finds Revolutionary America or its players interesting.
Taking on both everything Americans revere about the Founders as well as tackling the inconsistencies that a 21st-century audience cannot understand, Wood takes us into the world of these founders, as real men in the world they lived in, to allow us to see not only what they thought, but why they thought it and how those thoughts were different for their time. Even those well-read in the biographies of Washington and Jefferson will enjoy the syncretism Wood threads through their lives and the bodies of work that followed. Thomas Paine's chapter, as well as Aaron Burr's, together make up two of the most fascinating chapters in the work; Wood discusses why Thomas Paine is every bit a founder and why succeeding generations, as well as the revolutionary generation, failed to see him as such. Aaron Burr, as Wood notes, seemed the perfect candidate for a revolutionary founder, yet failed to become one through the actions of his own colleagues.
But Wood saves his best for last in Revolutionary Characters. Far from an epilogue, the final chapter centers on the post-revolutionary world that the founders had created, a world that - for those founders alive to witness it - spelled out their disillusionment and decline. With startling clarity, Wood takes the reader on a journey through the minds of the Revolutionary leaders, the world they lived in, and the world they created. A must read for any who finds Revolutionary America or its players interesting.
destinhatesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
A great historical analysis but lacking in criticism of the figures it seemingly worships.
dlberglund's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this one in the car, though it was sometimes a bit dense (or I was a bit dense) during my 6:00am commute. I consider myself a history nerd, so this fit. I think I can look at the presidential (and vice-presidential) roles with more insight after hearing Wood's interpretation of the original roles of them. There's also a lot more complexity to the US founders than the brief overview we get in 5th grade.
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
3.0
Last chapter a little weaker than the rest which held together better around a single person.
Actually listened to this book, but am switching my audio books to non-audio for my pages read records.
Actually listened to this book, but am switching my audio books to non-audio for my pages read records.
yakihammer's review against another edition
4.0
This book makes me regret my lack of knowledge of American history. Wood presents us with a collection of sketches of the most prominent men from the early days of America, in part to clear up some misconceptions that have been passed on, but more to show how these men represented the last days of an idea of culture and civilization that stood somewhere in-between the social structure of England and the egalitarian impulse that led to the America we know today. There is much here to be learned about how we ought to think about polity, both in the culture at large as well as within the church. Wood is an interesting and knowledgeable writer; if you think books about history are boring, Wood might be the cure.
sigmamorrigan's review against another edition
5.0
I am a lover of history; however, I found that when studying it, I was never particularly interested in going past the Renaissance period. Because of this bias towards older histories, my knowledge of the American Revolutionary period has not been updated since AP American History class in 11th grade.
This book was an excellent choice to ignite an interest in this period in history. Professor Wood (a Brown professor, thank you very much!) is meticulous in his research; his vivid imagery is clearly backed up by the volumes of primary source material left behind by the Founding Fathers. It was also incredibly interesting to see the parallels between their experiences in the early days of the republic, and our current political climate. I'm now inspired to do a lot more reading into the lives and opinions of these men.
This book was an excellent choice to ignite an interest in this period in history. Professor Wood (a Brown professor, thank you very much!) is meticulous in his research; his vivid imagery is clearly backed up by the volumes of primary source material left behind by the Founding Fathers. It was also incredibly interesting to see the parallels between their experiences in the early days of the republic, and our current political climate. I'm now inspired to do a lot more reading into the lives and opinions of these men.