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jenniferstringer's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars and Wilbur Wright gets added to my "Fantasy Dinner Guests" list. I am in awe of the brothers' brilliance; I am even more in awe of their humility. As usual, David McCullough has dusted off historical archetypes and revealed humanity. Just a really good read.
jeffceauxt's review against another edition
4.0
While it isn’t my favorite McCullough I’ve read to date, it was refreshing after I’ve been disappointed in the last few audiobooks I’ve gone through. As soon as he steered taking I was like “Oh this is nice, this is how writing/reading should be.” He tells stories like no other, and is also an excellent narrator. I found the family fascinating. Their dynamic was so interesting and McCullough described it so well.
grundyunderhill's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
cari1268's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really great book. I loved learning about the Wright brothers and it made me grateful for the airplane and the technology we have today. Now I want to bring someone from the past to the present just to see their reactions to the technology that we have today.
I listened to this book on tape and I felt that that wasn't the most ideal format. The author explained the personality differences between the two brothers early on and didn't refer back to that later after. Therefore, the listener needed to really pay attention that part. If I was reading the book, this wouldn't have been a problem because I could just flip back when I was confused. I took off a star for this as well as the fact that I finished the book still wanting to know a little bit more about the brothers. I still had some unanswered questions.
This was still a great read, though. In fact, I may or may not have taken a longer drive just to hear what would happen next. I was surprised by the events that happened after the initial discovery of the airplane, like how long it took to get people interested in it and the lifespan and relationship of the brothers and Catherine. I would definitely recommend for those interested in learning more about this piece of history.
4 Stars.
I listened to this book on tape and I felt that that wasn't the most ideal format. The author explained the personality differences between the two brothers early on and didn't refer back to that later after. Therefore, the listener needed to really pay attention that part. If I was reading the book, this wouldn't have been a problem because I could just flip back when I was confused. I took off a star for this as well as the fact that I finished the book still wanting to know a little bit more about the brothers. I still had some unanswered questions.
This was still a great read, though. In fact, I may or may not have taken a longer drive just to hear what would happen next. I was surprised by the events that happened after the initial discovery of the airplane, like how long it took to get people interested in it and the lifespan and relationship of the brothers and Catherine. I would definitely recommend for those interested in learning more about this piece of history.
4 Stars.
shannonsreading's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
4.0
Another great historical biography from McCullough, this time telling the story of the Wright brothers, whose story (as I've heard it told) is normally stripped entirely of nuance. Usually the Wrights are portrayed as a couple of mechanics who, with a healthy dose of elbow grease, were able to build a reliable flying machine. Although the Wrights certainly did not lack for elbow grease, I have never before heard of how intensely and methodically they studied the flight of birds in preparation for building their machine.
While inventors like Thomas Edison were more focused on the mechanical, pragmatic aspects of their creations (Edison famously admitted he still didn't truly understand how electricity worked), the Wrights were as much scientists as engineers. Their machine worked so well because they observed and learned from the natural world, and because they were expert builders.
While inventors like Thomas Edison were more focused on the mechanical, pragmatic aspects of their creations (Edison famously admitted he still didn't truly understand how electricity worked), the Wrights were as much scientists as engineers. Their machine worked so well because they observed and learned from the natural world, and because they were expert builders.
gemmamilne's review against another edition
5.0
Everyone needs to read this book. Right now. It's bloody brilliant. I cried at points, I felt ridiculously 'proud' at others, I properly felt like I knew the 'characters' - which is a testament to David McCullough's research into their correspondences etc over the years, and I read it while at an airport and then while on a plane - which I would highly recommend, as it really brings the wonder to life. HIGHLY recommend.
stevem0214's review against another edition
5.0
Great book like most all of David McCullough's. He is simply the best storyteller of non-fiction I've ever read. It amazed me at how little I know the story of the Wright Brothers and all that they had to overcome. I've been to the museum at Kill Devil Hills twice, but I never learned as much as I did reading this book.