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teachinsci's review against another edition
5.0
A well researched and well written account of the invention of heavier than air flight and the family who made it a reality.
The Wrights were intelligent, tenacious, and fortunately prolific in their writing allowing Mr. McCullough to give a full and accurate amount of their lives and thoughts as they conquered the skies. Listened to the audiobook read by the author and so the pacing and tone were perfect the whole way through.
The Wrights were intelligent, tenacious, and fortunately prolific in their writing allowing Mr. McCullough to give a full and accurate amount of their lives and thoughts as they conquered the skies. Listened to the audiobook read by the author and so the pacing and tone were perfect the whole way through.
clarke11235's review against another edition
5.0
A must read for any aviation enthusiast. The incredible story of the Wright brothers is inspiring, emotional, and patriotic at the same time.
krism's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book excellent in some parts, but not so much in others so I did a lot of skimming. Still it was an interesting look at the birth of aviation industry and the Wright Brothers. The Wrights are icons of the American spirit- hard working, innovative, honest, resilient, and self-educated. Neither went to college and Orville didn't finish high school. As children, they took apart and reassembled their toys. A toy helicopter from France was instrumental in their interest in flying. They ran a bicycle repair and sales shop while they were inventing their "flying machine" and worked exceedingly long hours. While they often disagreed about their inventions, they always presented a unified front. For years, people scoffed at their efforts but they persisted. Wilbur was a better speaker/sales person so he took the lead in speaking at events and in negotiations. The book provided a good look at their business partnership (hard to maintain with a family member you live with!), innovation processes, and the work behind selling their idea and handling public relations.
I enjoyed learning about aviation and the mechanics and physics behind flight, but these were the parts of the book I found tedious. Too much detail for me but I think McCullough was right in including it all in the book.
I enjoyed learning about aviation and the mechanics and physics behind flight, but these were the parts of the book I found tedious. Too much detail for me but I think McCullough was right in including it all in the book.
sarabchard's review against another edition
5.0
Probably the best biography I have ever read. The topic is utterly fascinating and the author includes exactly what is needed and nothing more; while writing in a style that makes this book one you just can’t put down.
jfkaess's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars - I love history and i really love biography, and this book is both. Written by David McCullough, i expected it would be good and i was not disappointed. I listened to this as an audiobook and it is narrated by the author. This is usually, with very few exceptions, not a good thing. The best of the author/narrators us easily Neil Gaiman, but David McCullogh does an acceptable job. The book deals with many of the things you never learned in school. Things like how the US military rejected the Wright's flying plane as impractible and with no military use. The fact that until the Wrights went to France to demonstrate their flying machine, they were largely ignored in the US by both the media (newspapers) and the public. The epilogue deals with those who have attempted to usurp the Wright's claim to have been the first to achieve man controlled powered flight, including the Smithsonian, which is why the original Wright Flyer was displayed for many many years in France and not in the US. I highly recommend this book. It will hold your interest while teaching you new things.
bechols's review against another edition
4.0
Concisely written. Absolutely incredible how much the Wrights figured out themselves.
pr727's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting. I enjoyed this book more than I anticipated I might. All I knew about the Wright brothers is that they invented the airplane and were from Dayton, Ohio. The image their names brought to mind was that of the photograph used on the cover of the book. Enough detail is provided to give this reader an appreciation of the work that went into that first successful flight at Kitty Hawk and the years of refining, demonstrating and selling later flying machine versions. That their sister and father are important players in the narrative adds to a rounded picture of Wilbur and Orville. I listened to the audio book, read clearly and at a comfortable pace by the author.
jenndanblake's review against another edition
4.0
Incredible story of the Wright brothers and their pursuit of flight. Great writing as expected with one of McCullough's book.
girl_in_glasses's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first McCullough and I'm so thoroughly impressed with his writing. He brought the Wrights to life in a way that I couldn't have imagined; the story around their first flight is far more interesting than the first flight entirely. I could barely put this book down, it is compelling and incredibly well done.
Amazing read! Now I want to head to the Smithsonian and see the 1903 Flyer in person!
Amazing read! Now I want to head to the Smithsonian and see the 1903 Flyer in person!
adamrshields's review against another edition
4.0
Short Review: I love David McCullough. But it has been a while since I have picked up any of his books. A trip to the Smithsonian Air and Space museum (the one at Dulles airport) prompted me to pick up this biography. I knew the basic story, but it was the details that McCullough really made interesting. It is also a good reminder about how quickly the airplane went from impossibility to significant role in the world.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/wright/
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/wright/