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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
An easy but detailed enough read covering one of the most pivotal and difficult years in American history.
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Love McCullough, but let's call a spade a spade. This book is a snooze. For history buffs only.
I'm sorry to say I fell asleep during the audiobook, and I didn't find the book much more interesting. I was disappointed.
I don't often read non-fiction books, but out of all the major wars that the United States has fought in, I felt like I knew the least about the Revolutionary War so figured this would be a good book to pick up. For a history book, 1776 was quite entertaining. David McCullough who both wrote and narrates the audio book does an incredible job of painting a picture not only of the war but society during that time. The first half of the book which talked a lot about the British side of the war which is something I feel like I either missed in school or wasn't taught.
From the crossing of the Delaware to snippets of letters and journals from the lowest ranking soldiers, 1776 does a great job of building that timeframe in an easy to understand format, and for that I really enjoyed reading it. More then anything the triumph of America after all odds were stacked against it in 1776 is truly remarkable.
From the crossing of the Delaware to snippets of letters and journals from the lowest ranking soldiers, 1776 does a great job of building that timeframe in an easy to understand format, and for that I really enjoyed reading it. More then anything the triumph of America after all odds were stacked against it in 1776 is truly remarkable.
McCullough’s ability to weave a narrative out of primary documents as though they were all part of a larger picture that only he can discern is impressive. I’m a little biased here because of my love for the time period that is mythologized with great men and women defining and defending all that is and should be great about humanity. The book struggles in establishing the larger context and importance of events by limiting itself to one year of a near decade long war, however. Overall, however, this book will forever be a happy place of what government and citizenry can be.
Not an unpleasant book to listen to while driving but I don't know why I keep seeking out books about the Revolutionary War.
If only all history books were written this way, I would be able to accumulate a vast amount of knowledge. I appreciate the amount of research that must have gone into this book to be able to tell the story with such familiarity.
1776 follows General Washington and his army from late 1775 through the end of 1776. But this is not just another propaganda piece pushing American exceptionalism; McCullough is not shy about including Washington's and his officers' faults and deficiencies. The story told feels fair and impressed upon me just how lucky the Continental Army (and with it American independence) was to survive its fledgling period at all.
If you like to read history, this book is worth the time.
1776 follows General Washington and his army from late 1775 through the end of 1776. But this is not just another propaganda piece pushing American exceptionalism; McCullough is not shy about including Washington's and his officers' faults and deficiencies. The story told feels fair and impressed upon me just how lucky the Continental Army (and with it American independence) was to survive its fledgling period at all.
If you like to read history, this book is worth the time.
1776 contains only the events that occurred in America in 1776 so it doesn't show a full picture of the Revolutionary War, but it is still a great book that shows how turbulent the early days of the struggle were for the outmatched Americans. It also depicts how the war predates the signing of the Declaration of Independance on July 4, 1776 when many people suppose the war began. McCullough's strongest stroke in writing 1776 is his depiction of George Washington who is almost certainly the most important figure in American history. McCullough is able to effectively note Washington's shortcomings (particularly his indecision) while showing why he was simultaneously the greatest and most revered men of his age. As the book ends on a high note it is hard to not feel a swell of American pride.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced