Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different

by Gordon S. Wood

book data

186 ratings, 3.67 average rating, 57 reviews (more data...)

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5		13%
4		44%
3		35%
2		6%
1		0%

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published

May 29th 2007 (first published 2006) by Penguin (Non-Classics)

binding

Paperback, 336 pages

isbn

0143112082 (isbn13: 9780143112082)

description

In this brilliantly illuminating group portrait of the men who came to be known as the Founding Fathers, the incomparable Gordon Wood has written a bo...more

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09/11/08

Jim rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

bookshelves: historical, non-fiction

Read in December, 2008

An excellent book that looks at the characters of the American Revolution & what made them different. The book assumes a working knowledge of the time period since it focuses on eight men & what their motivations were. Extensively documented, other readings are suggested as needed. His basic premise is that these men were revolutionaries that fought themselves out of a job. If he has a political axe to grind, he kept it out of his writing as far as I could tell, which I appreciated, especia...more

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2 comments

12/15/08

Jon rated it:

(review of isbn 0143058649)

bookshelves: audiobooks, history, non-fiction, read-in-my-40s

Read in February, 2009

recommended to Jon by: Jim MacLachlan

I enjoyed listening to these essays during my daily commute. I learned many things about my American history and heritage. It also inspired me to read some of Thomas Paine's works. I think I have also found a way to get more non-fiction into my reading diet. It's definitely more enjoyable to listen to and focus on via an audiobook then overcoming the stigma of reading what amounts to a textbook.

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

3 comments

01/05/08

Ryan rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

Read in October, 2007

Revolutionary Characters was a fun, easy to read book, that brought to life the characters of the American Revolution.

A common lament since the days of the founding fathers has been ¨Where have such leaders gone?¨ This book argues that these men were the product of a unique period of history, and a unique set of ambitions. For the most part, they truly tried to serve ¨the greater good¨ rather than their own self interest - not because they were of better moral fiber, but because...more

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06/21/07

Jonelle rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

Read in June, 2007

Some of the poli-sci jargon was over my head, but I am glad I read this book.
After reading it, though, I am amazed that America has become what we are today--and that it took only 'four score and seven years' before we erupted into Civil War! --the Founders were as different and at times cantakerous as our modern day politicians and talking heads!

With that said, though, these were some pretty amazing men--one thing that was really interesting, for the Enlightenmnet period--on...more

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06/22/09

Steven Peterson rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

Read in January, 2009

Gordon Wood is a well reputed historian. Here, he examines some of the more important (and interesting) of the Founders and those interacting with them. Wood's main point is that character was a matter of great importance for the leaders of the new government. When those with great potential--such as Aaron Burr--raised questions about their own character, it led people to doubt them.

The opening chapter of the book places this volume in context. Wood discusses the context in which th...more Gordon Wood is a well reputed historian. Here, he examines some of the more important (and interesting) of the Founders and those interacting with them. Wood's main point is that character was a matter of great importance for the leaders of the new government. When those with great potential--such as Aaron Burr--raised questions about their own character, it led people to doubt them.

The opening chapter of the book places this volume in context. Wood discusses the context in which the Founders developed and exercised influence over public matters. They were concerned with character, with what people thought of them, with a sense of displaying "disinteredness." Outside of Burr (ironic indeed), the main Founders came from lesser circumstances than what they became. They saw themselves as not just common people, but as those who had excelled and demonstrated themselves, for want of a better term, of being a natural, meritocratic aristocracy.

The book examines several of the Founders--George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Adams. As counterpoint, Wood considers Thomas Paine and, as already noted, Aaron Burr.

Washington is shown to be someone who attempted to exercise absolute control over his presentation of self to the larger world, conscious of his dignity, and, later, his place in history. He took great pains to demonstrate his disinterest in pursuing success (even though, obviously, he was ambitious). Franklin is portrayed, too, as an elusive figure, trying to project a particular image and not revealing too much of himself. Wood notes that Franklin's Autobiography illustrates this very well. And so on.

To provide counterpoint to the Founders, Wood notes Paine and Burr. Aaron Burr had a better pedigree than any of the other figures in this book. He lived as a gentleman (albeit profligately). He would do whatever he had to do to succeed--whether financially or politically. And he did not distinguish the two realms very much. Her was not above using his political offices to try to generate profit (he was always on the verge of financial disaster). And this is what alienated Burr from other leaders--his self-interest was manifest, whereas others professed "disinteredness."

At any rate, this is an interesting volume, one that focuses on character of the individuals covered in this work. Sometimes, I think that the narrative is a bit oversimplistic. Nonetheless, Wood has captured, I think, something of the ethos of leadership in the latter part of the 18th and early part of the 19th centuries. Well written. People interested in the subject covered here will find this a good read.
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04/13/09

Tony rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

bookshelves: american-presidents, american-revolution, own

Read in April, 2009

Gordon S. Wood is Professor of History at Brown University. He received the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for History for The Radicalism of the American Revolution and the 1970 Bancroft Prize for The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787.

Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different is a series of essays covering each of eight different founding fathers: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Adams, Thomas Paine, and...more Gordon S. Wood is Professor of History at Brown University. He received the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for History for The Radicalism of the American Revolution and the 1970 Bancroft Prize for The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787.

Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different is a series of essays covering each of eight different founding fathers: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Adams, Thomas Paine, and Aaron Burr. Rather than discuss what the founders accomplished, the essays (about 20 to 30 pages apiece) examine the character, philosophy, and virtues of each of these men. The essays are sandwiched between an introduction and an epilogue which bind the essays together.

Some of the main themes conveyed in the essays include: Washington, the only truly classical hero we have ever had, had a lifelong preoccupation with his reputation for "disinterestedness". Franklin was the most American of the founders and yet he was also the most European. Jefferson, firmly believing in the inherent beneficence of men, celebrated society's superiority over government. Hamilton, the big-business man and big-government man, fought to tie the two together, and in doing so became the man who made modern America. There is no "James Madison Problem" after all - it was the over-reach of Federalism that was changing during the early 1790's, and not the views of Madison. Adams, who had led the charge in the fight for independence, was convinced that he would never receive due recognition and continually sought to bolster his legacy. Paine was the first "public intellectual" whose prose aroused not only the politically-connected and enlightened (as most writing of the era targeted only them), but the common folk as well. Lastly, and in stark contrast, Burr's use of his office to promote his own self interest was not so much an act of treason against his country, but against his class.

Professor Wood reminds us that these men were not born into wealth, aristocracy, and gentility; they were all self-made men - the first in their families to attend college and certainly the first to become "gentlemen". He posits that their success essentially secured their own extinction in that they created (unwittingly) an egalitarian system of rule in which subsequent leaders did not necessarily need to possess an enlightened, disinterested (i.e., having no personal or financial stake), virtuous, or even gentlemenly character.(less)

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03/13/08

Mike rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

bookshelves: american-revolutionary-period

Read in January, 2007

This is another popular look at the Founding Fathers. This book is a collection of essays written by the famous author, Gordon Wood, each a short biographical sketch. There are many interesting insights and I think this book is a great start for anyone to read about the great characters of the period. There is also enough information here that any student of history would enjoy the read.

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12/25/08

Nicole Marble rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

Add this book to the growing list of biographies and overviews of America's founding fathers. The focus of this book is the culture of the late 18th century; its similarities and differences from today.
For instance, Washington was treated as if he were a king because the new republic had no other example as a model. And Washington knew his every public move set precedence; but this made him hard to get to know, then and now.
Jefferson was brilliant but we still don't understand how he...more

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04/24/09

Paul rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

bookshelves: history, history-american, history-revolution, nonfiction, read-but-dont-own

Read in April, 2009

As mass interest in the Founding Fathers has recently picked up, tons of books on these men have been popping up all over the place. This is one of the better ones. Divided into chapters on each Founding Father that is profiled, this book takes a look at what made these men unique and special, both in their time and in ours. While the author assumes a basic knowledge of the Revolution and who men like Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Paine, Franklin, Hamilton, and Burr were, he writes i...more

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02/05/09

Bookmarks Magazine added it (review of isbn 1594200939)

Distinguished Brown University historian Gordon S. Wood has examined Revolutionary politics in The Creation of the American Republic (Bancroft Prize, 1970) and The Radicalism of the American Revolution (Pulitzer Prize, 1993). Collected from writing he did for the New York Review of Books and the New Republic, this latest compilation covers the same turf, but, as his title suggests, Wood emphasizes the moral and philosophical underpinnings of the founding fathers' beliefs. Reviewers concur with

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05/05/08

Dru rated it:

Read in June, 2008

This is a collection of essays, each examining the character and quirk of a different founding father in the order of Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, Adams, Thomas Paine, and Aaron Burr.
I would have given five stars to the first four chapters of this book. Unfortunately, once I hit James Madison, the book became slow and repetitive. It has been pointed out that the essays were perhaps meant to be read individually and casually--maybe this is the case.
But in the...more

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02/18/08

Kristy rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in March, 2008

Some of the founders this book included are Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, John Adams, and Paine. The tendancy of some today is to try and paint these men as villains, as evil men. This book was refreshing because it didnt try to tear them down, nor did it try to white-wash their flaws. One thought I liked: "Beneath all the images, beneath all the allegorical Jeffersons, there once was a human being with every human frailty and foible. Certainly Jefferson's words an...more

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10/05/08

Will rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

bookshelves: non-fiction

Read in September, 2007

Gordon offers a chapter each to a slew of household names from the time of the Revolution. It is like getting to read a very well-informed mini-biography on each. One thing I found was that the turmoil of the post revolutionary period left me in a bit of a daze. There was not only considerable diversity among the founders in terms of their macro views (if not their gender or ethnicity) and when this is combined with the rapid and significant changes the foundling nation was undergoing, it makes...more

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03/26/09

fbuser1417680328 rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

Read in January, 2008

This was my first read on my current History kick...my dad gave it to me. The writing was very dry but i made it through. I walked away thinking that the political battles guys like Jefferson and Hamilton fought are not so much different then the ones that are being waged today. I also took away greater appreciation for who i believe to be our greatest prez...George Washington.

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02/25/09

Paul rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

Read in February, 2009

A good overview of our founding fathers and a few we don't consider (Paine and Burr to name a few) and their different political veiws, individually and as a group. It gives a good historical perspective of time and place for these framers...I wonder what they would all think of today's America?

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06/27/09

Devan is currently reading it (review of isbn 1594200939)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Read in May, 2009

really great, short biographical chapters on several of the key founders of the United States. Really helps in understanding the philosophical underpinnings of the time and the aspirations of these men.

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06/01/09

A Reese rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

This collection of essays is much better read when you let some time pass between the installments. Reading it all at once can become tiring as the author repeats quotes and theories. The introductory essay is insightful and interesting. It should be read by any person intrigued by America's importance/place in the world.

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03/21/09

Stubble rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Read in March, 2009

Interesting look at the founding fathers. They were human and were very different from each other. Amazingly, we came out with a great constitution in spite of their differences.

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03/22/09

fbuser1574958535 rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

This book explains why the founding fathers did what they did. It tells their perspective based on trends during their time, rather than ours. Interesting.

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12/26/08

Nick rated it:

(review of isbn 1594200939)

bookshelves: history

Read in September, 2006

This really does make you reconsider everything you think you know about Washington, Adams, Jefferson and the rest of the uber-famous founders.

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