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jayft0312's review
5.0
The book started a bit slow for me, perhaps because I am not used to short stories, but by the time I was on the 3rd story, I was hooked on it. Although written 20 years ago, the book still has a vivid impact on current times. The final section, On We Go, provided excellent examples of his love of history and the impact history has on us. All in all, an excellent read.
davidr's review
3.0
While most of this book is a set of biographical essays, there are a few chapters that are simply historical essays. So, it sort of feels like a set of essays that David McCullough put together from his writings over the years. There is no single theme holding the book together.
Most of the essays are interesting; the book contains essays about Alexander von Humboldt, Charles Lindbergh, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and lesser-known people. Then the book wanders off into an essay about Washington, DC and an essay about the US Senate of bygone years. Like other books that I've read by David McCullough, the book is enjoyable, but some of the essays simply didn't retain my interest.
Perhaps my neutral attitude toward this book is guided by the fact that I listened to this book as an audiobook. The problem is that the author reads his own book, and his narration has no spark. And as he reads, his voice drifts off toward the end of each sentence, and becomes difficult to hear. I suggest reading the book instead of listening to it.
Most of the essays are interesting; the book contains essays about Alexander von Humboldt, Charles Lindbergh, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and lesser-known people. Then the book wanders off into an essay about Washington, DC and an essay about the US Senate of bygone years. Like other books that I've read by David McCullough, the book is enjoyable, but some of the essays simply didn't retain my interest.
Perhaps my neutral attitude toward this book is guided by the fact that I listened to this book as an audiobook. The problem is that the author reads his own book, and his narration has no spark. And as he reads, his voice drifts off toward the end of each sentence, and becomes difficult to hear. I suggest reading the book instead of listening to it.
csd17's review against another edition
4.0
The gem of this collection is "Washington on the Potomac." It's a love letter. Simple, affectionate, knowing, and lovely.
The stars are for the ones I did read completely. There were some I just skimmed because he had made them into larger books(which I hope to read someday), they were ones I had already "read" from speeches on YouTube, or others that just didn't interest me.
The stars are for the ones I did read completely. There were some I just skimmed because he had made them into larger books(which I hope to read someday), they were ones I had already "read" from speeches on YouTube, or others that just didn't interest me.
evamadera1's review
5.0
A review from my old blog...
Every time I pick up a David McCullough book I am amazed at his writing style. Brave Companions holds several smaller pieces of writing compiled according to similar subject. Some of the pieces describe in brief the life of a famous person. Others tell the history of an area. Each of these pieces taste like delicious chocolate. I suppose that's the History B.A. in me.
Every time I pick up a David McCullough book I am amazed at his writing style. Brave Companions holds several smaller pieces of writing compiled according to similar subject. Some of the pieces describe in brief the life of a famous person. Others tell the history of an area. Each of these pieces taste like delicious chocolate. I suppose that's the History B.A. in me.
cjbookjunkie's review
4.0
I listened to this on audio. It is narrated by McCullough who is great writer but not the best narrator. I would recommend reading it. This is a collection of essays about several people who had a major impact on the world or the US. It is an impressive list of people.
Alexander von Humboldt, geographer, naturalist, and surveyor. When visiting Jefferson in the White House to describe his explorations of South America, Humboldt confused the other guests, but not Jefferson, by switching (without realizing it) between English, German, French, and Spanish.
Harriet Beecher Stowe, who I think is one of the most fascinating people in our nation's history. She wrote much more than Uncle Tom’s Cabin. She certainly experienced more than her share of tragedy.
Frederic Remington, an artist who gave the rest of the nation their first imagery of the West.
Teddy Roosevelt during his years in North Dakota.
Louis Agassiz, the Harvard professor who made significant scientific contributions to zoology, and geology. This was particularly interesting to me as I had never heard of him.
Pioneering pilots Charles and Anne Lindbergh, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Beryl Markham.
Harry Caudill, the Kentucky lawyer who brought the dangers of strip mining to the headlines and courtrooms.
Dame Miriam Rothschild (yep, those Rothschilds) who earned international recognition for her study of fleas and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. She collected paintings by schizophrenics. Another person who I knew nothing about.
The men who made the Brooklyn Bridge, its designer John A. Roebling, and his son Washington Roebling who erected it. They had to invent new technologies and tools to do it. They designed and erected what at the time was the longest bridge in the world.
Conrad Richter, the author who brought the American frontier to the mind's eye of readers around the world.
David Plowden, a gifted photographer of industrial and agricultural America. I had never heard of him either.
McCullough talks in the introduction about he similar all these people were in some respects and why that is significant. All in all, it is an interesting look at how people of such varied education, profession, and experience all had a major impact on the world we live in today.
Alexander von Humboldt, geographer, naturalist, and surveyor. When visiting Jefferson in the White House to describe his explorations of South America, Humboldt confused the other guests, but not Jefferson, by switching (without realizing it) between English, German, French, and Spanish.
Harriet Beecher Stowe, who I think is one of the most fascinating people in our nation's history. She wrote much more than Uncle Tom’s Cabin. She certainly experienced more than her share of tragedy.
Frederic Remington, an artist who gave the rest of the nation their first imagery of the West.
Teddy Roosevelt during his years in North Dakota.
Louis Agassiz, the Harvard professor who made significant scientific contributions to zoology, and geology. This was particularly interesting to me as I had never heard of him.
Pioneering pilots Charles and Anne Lindbergh, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Beryl Markham.
Harry Caudill, the Kentucky lawyer who brought the dangers of strip mining to the headlines and courtrooms.
Dame Miriam Rothschild (yep, those Rothschilds) who earned international recognition for her study of fleas and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. She collected paintings by schizophrenics. Another person who I knew nothing about.
The men who made the Brooklyn Bridge, its designer John A. Roebling, and his son Washington Roebling who erected it. They had to invent new technologies and tools to do it. They designed and erected what at the time was the longest bridge in the world.
Conrad Richter, the author who brought the American frontier to the mind's eye of readers around the world.
David Plowden, a gifted photographer of industrial and agricultural America. I had never heard of him either.
McCullough talks in the introduction about he similar all these people were in some respects and why that is significant. All in all, it is an interesting look at how people of such varied education, profession, and experience all had a major impact on the world we live in today.
melodyh's review
4.0
What a fantastic introduction to almost dozen and a half historic people and places. Each self-contained essay focused on the life of an explorer, adventurer, builder, envisioner, etc and their contribution to society. It made me want to look up a full size book on each one if I could be assured that the books would be written as engagingly as McCullough writes.
bahareads's review
3.0
Note: I read for school
Side Note: Not really sure why I didn't mark this as 'read' when I read this.
I didn't read all the stories in this book.. But from what I do remember these stories were interesting and fun. They weren't a snooze fest.
Side Note: Not really sure why I didn't mark this as 'read' when I read this.
I didn't read all the stories in this book.. But from what I do remember these stories were interesting and fun. They weren't a snooze fest.
lhdolan's review
5.0
I picked this book up and finished it in two days, putting it down only because I was forced to by tasks assigned by companion, meals and sleep. McCullough writes history like no one else for me and especially shines in bringing forth the character of any individual he writes about. This collection was assembled in 1992, the essays within written over a period of 20 years prior. Many notes taken and lists of additional reading required were made as I read it. And, as I read the final essays in Section V, "On We Go", I realized I had tears in my eyes. Donald Trump has just been made the Republican presidential nominee. That there is even a scintilla of a chance that he could win makes the blood run cold. I suspect history is of little consequence to him and these essays make that a frightening prospect.
lieslindi's review
What a pleasure he is to read. I love his writing style. Unsurprisingly, some pieces appeared originally in Smithsonian.
I learned that Conrad Richter, who wrote the wrenching Light in the Forest, also wrote Sea of Grass. I watched the cinematization because of Hepburn and Tracy. I didn't know it was based on a novel. Now I'm drawing parallels between the themes of the two works, and thinking that, though rain didn't really follow the plough, and though the plough would ruin the land, nor did cattle-grazing suit it as well as oceans of bison. The two species eat in different patterns; their hooves affect the earth in different ways; and of course the needs of the rancher are not those of the bison.
I learned about the Humboldt for whom Pacific currents, a California county, and several species are named. He should be as familiar to the U.S. psyche as Lewis & Clark.
I learned that Harriet Beecher Stowe befriended Byron's widow on her Continental tour and that it was Stowe who, after the widow also died, told the world about Byron's alleged incest and the resultant child. I wonder how much evidence there is beyond the word of the reasonably bitter abandoned wife passed to a confidante decades after the birth. Wikipedia says the married mother's husband never questioned the child's paternity.
I learned that Conrad Richter, who wrote the wrenching Light in the Forest, also wrote Sea of Grass. I watched the cinematization because of Hepburn and Tracy. I didn't know it was based on a novel. Now I'm drawing parallels between the themes of the two works, and thinking that, though rain didn't really follow the plough, and though the plough would ruin the land, nor did cattle-grazing suit it as well as oceans of bison. The two species eat in different patterns; their hooves affect the earth in different ways; and of course the needs of the rancher are not those of the bison.
I learned about the Humboldt for whom Pacific currents, a California county, and several species are named. He should be as familiar to the U.S. psyche as Lewis & Clark.
I learned that Harriet Beecher Stowe befriended Byron's widow on her Continental tour and that it was Stowe who, after the widow also died, told the world about Byron's alleged incest and the resultant child. I wonder how much evidence there is beyond the word of the reasonably bitter abandoned wife passed to a confidante decades after the birth. Wikipedia says the married mother's husband never questioned the child's paternity.
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