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1776

4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 · rating details · 51,223 ratings · 3,974 reviews

In this stirring audiobook, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence, when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more t...more

ebook, 388 pages

Published May 24th 2005 by Simon & Schuster (first published January 1st 2005)

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Feb 07, 2008 Nate Cooley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-read-in-2007

David McCullough has again exceeded all expectations in his latest book, "1776." Like most historical narratives, the reader often knows the ending well in advance. In "1776", every reader had to have expected that McCullough would close his book describing Washington's daring yet gallant crossing of the Delaware and the Continental Army's subsequent triumph at Trenton. Nevertheless, as I approached the end of the book I found myself anxiously awaiting that moment ... I literally read-on with ba...more David McCullough has again exceeded all expectations in his latest book, "1776." Like most historical narratives, the reader often knows the ending well in advance. In "1776", every reader had to have expected that McCullough would close his book describing Washington's daring yet gallant crossing of the Delaware and the Continental Army's subsequent triumph at Trenton. Nevertheless, as I approached the end of the book I found myself anxiously awaiting that moment ... I literally read-on with bated breath.

David McCullough does a masterful job of describing with ease the events as they unfolded chronologically. Though as he does so, he more importantly provides acute analysis into the psyches of the main players. As much as this book was a narrative about the Continental Army from Bunker Hill, to Dorchester Heights, to Long Island and the Battle of Brooklyn, down through New Jersey and ulitmately victory at Trenton, the book could have as easily been a biography of sorts about His Excellency, George Washington.

McCullough's portrait of Washington is not unlike others that have been popularly written. Expectedly, the book portrays our first president as a man of faith and stellar, quasi-consecrated leadership. At the same time though, McCullough is careful not to deify the General and provides keen insights into Washington's probable feelings of self-doubt and diffidence, especially after the nearly catastrophic and ego-piercing defeats at Brooklyn and Fort Washington. Furthermore, McCullough exposes the fact that those close to Washington, General Charles Lee and Joseph Reed, lost much confidence in the General after the Continental Army's retreat across the Hudson and down through New Jersey.

With all of this provided as a backdrop though, a true picture of George Washington - his character, his dominion, his authority - is brought into sharp focus through McCullough's description of the Army's treacherous but euphoric victory over the Hessians at Trenton. I could literally picture Washington's animation and feel his exuberance when in the face of a potential call to retreat, he exclaimed to those under his command, "It's a fine fox chase, my boys!" One can only imagine the scene of chaos that filled the streets on that early winter morning; yet it is easy to picture General Washington sitting atop his horse, jubilantly inciting his troops to action. At the same time, because of McCullough's adroit description of the sometimes lackadaisical and even distracted British Commander, William Howe, one can only imagine Howe's consternation when learning of the defeat of the hired Hessian helpers.

Having mentioned Commander Howe, I also appreciated McCullough's determination in devoting a large portion of the book to characterizing British personalities and actions. Too few authors of the Revolutionary Period spend enough time measuring what was going through the minds of the British, the "enemy" at the time. Considering the fact that many living in the colonies during this period considered themselves loyal subjects of the King, it seems logical that a book describing the events of 1776 would adequately delve into British sentiment regarding the "rebels'" declaration of independence and the skirmishes and all-out war that followed. After all, the foot soldiers in the Continental Army were closely related, literally, to loyalists throughout the colonies.

In illustrating the overall British ethos, especially that of the King's Army, McCullough repeatedly denotes periods during the war where the Continental Army was and should have been on the cusp of ruin but for the seemingly high-minded haughtiness of the British leaders; most notably the aforementioned Commander Howe. Howe is painted as a somewhat apathetic and listless commander, severely lacking the killer instinct possessed by so many other leaders of the time on both sides. McCullough interestingly notes the stark difference between Commander William Howe and both his brother, Admiral Lord Richard Howe, and General Henry Clinton. Had General Clinton's thinking been adopted, the Continental Army probably never would have reached Dorchester Heights in the dead of night and thus would probably never have made it out of Boston.

In "1776", David McCullough has closely matched the superiority "John Adams" and his numerous other historical works. David McCullough truly is a "master of the art of narrative history." Like both of the late Stephen Ambrose and the late David Halberstam, David McCullough has become, in my mind, a national treasure. (less)

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Feb 08, 2008 Alice S. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The book in a one-liner: A detailed military portrait of entitled crucial year of the American Revolutionary War.

Caveat for the following review: I may be a tad unfair while rating this book. I had expected a largely political history, but got the military instead. Like the first time I watched "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", it began on familiar territory but veered off in unexpected directions, leaving me initially baffled and displeased. As with MPATHG, I eventually came to enjoy the book...more The book in a one-liner: A detailed military portrait of entitled crucial year of the American Revolutionary War.

Caveat for the following review: I may be a tad unfair while rating this book. I had expected a largely political history, but got the military instead. Like the first time I watched "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", it began on familiar territory but veered off in unexpected directions, leaving me initially baffled and displeased. As with MPATHG, I eventually came to enjoy the book for what it was, an excellent specimen of its genre.

The book opens in 1775, with George Washington, new commander of the American forces, laying siege to the city of Boston. The British eventually flee, to much American jubilation, whereupon Washington embarks on a rather less successful campaign in New York. Actually, New York is a disaster. The army spends the autumn and winter retreating into New Jersey, suffering terribly all the while, ending the year with a spectacular conquest of Trenton on Christmas Eve.

David McCoullough draws heavily from contemporary sources, including passages from letters, diaries and military dispatches from all ranks and both sides, evoking the uncomfortable and dirty realities of the war. Descriptions of wanted deserters best evoke the troubles of the American army; you can see who they are and why they left.

Troops, mostly drawn from local militias, fluctuated constantly. Loyalists numbered between 30-50% of the local population. Internal regional dissent, exemplified by the Yankee/South split, makes unity and cooperation difficult. Most troubling was the shortage of military experience and discipline. The French and Indian war which many cite as the source of pre-Revolutionary military infrastructure was an irregular campaign; the tactics learned there were hardly enough to combat the world's best army. It was quite the mess.

The advantages of the American army eventually emerge from the morass, laying the basis of the eventual American victory. The British were far from home and frankly arrogant about their superior forces. The scarcity of American military talent allowed young geniuses, like Henry Knox, to rise swiftly and effectively to the top (a more established army would have kept him busy paying his dues for decades, instead of letting him do something useful). Most importantly, being such a pronounced underdog made every draw a win and every win a miracle, whereas anything except resounding victory was depressing to the British. Much of Washington's 1776 success consisted of orderly, secretive retreats; the army is saved from being crushed outright by exiting New York in a single night, leaving behind three looters and a baffled British army.

Much of my enjoyment of "1776" is due to the fact that all of the action takes place in all of the places where I've lived. It was incredibly fun to visualize the British encamped in Boston or the Revolutionary army marching through Princeton and Trenton. The book is meticulously researched and admirably presented; a real military enthusiast would probably enjoy it greatly. David McCollough cannot be blamed for my lack of interest in most things military. :) (less)

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Sep 07, 2008 Kellie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2005-reads, non-fiction

I decided to read this book because it is on the best seller list and there are about 350 people who have reserved the book on line at the library. I am STILL baffled as to how many people have read and want to read this book. The book is about the Revolutionary war in the year 1776. It is well written. I feel like I missed a lot of school. I don’t remember anything about the Revolutionary war. I didn’t realize how much was fought in New York City and Long Island. I didn’t realize how long it la...more

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May 30, 2008 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed immensely McCullough's John Adams, even though it took me a month or so to read, so look forward to 1776. I was not disappointed.
The book is a short one, and covers a topic I thought I knew well. Surely this material has been plowed through so thoroughly, there is nothing new to unearth? I was wrong. The book read with a raw novelty, as though I was reading about events for the first time, the shadows of which are often Disney-fied for social studies and history classes.
I learned how r...more I enjoyed immensely McCullough's John Adams, even though it took me a month or so to read, so look forward to 1776. I was not disappointed.
The book is a short one, and covers a topic I thought I knew well. Surely this material has been plowed through so thoroughly, there is nothing new to unearth? I was wrong. The book read with a raw novelty, as though I was reading about events for the first time, the shadows of which are often Disney-fied for social studies and history classes.
I learned how rag tag Washington's insurgents were (I use this term deliberately since the parallels between his militia and those operating against an occupying superpower of our time have eerie parallels). It was clear the struggle could have gone either way, and in New York and New Jersey, those fighting for secession from England were not at all popularly supported. The miseries of war and the relatively abstract differences that separated the crown from her subjects as well as the cruelties shown toward the Tories makes one question whether the apotheosis of this insurgency we are all force-fed in school and once a year each July 4th is really justified.
I learned much about Benjamin Rush, one of the very few signers of the Declaration of Independence yet to see the reality of war firsthand. ' It was now for the first-time war appeared to me in its awful plentitude of horrors. I want words to describe the anguish of my soul, excited by the cries and groans and convulsions of the men who lay by my side.'" -287
The war killed 25,000 Americans (1% of the population).
"The war was a longer, far more arduous, and more painful struggle that later generations would understand or sufficiently appreciate. But the time it ended, it had taken the lives of an estimated 25,000 Americans, or roughly 1 percent of the population. In percentage of lives lost, it was most costly war in American history, except for the Civil War." (page 294)
Considering the Canadians, where many Tories fled or were exiled, now have universal health insurance and a higher standard of living than we, what was all this violence all about? McCullough did not mean this to be a pacifist tract, but for those of us who question the wisdom and morality of the use of violence to impose our will on others, the book adds graphic evidence that undercuts the cartoon-like nonsense we were taught in school.
(less)

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Feb 11, 2008 Tim Cook rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

This book was fascinating and compelling, told in an informative style that makes the reader feel present at the events themselves (as is characteristic of McCullough). As a longtime Civil War enthusiast, I found I knew very little regarding the American Revolution, so this book proved to be a treasure trove of interesting facts. The realism with which Washington is described, in both strengths and weaknesses, is a welcome contrast to the near-reverence seen in other texts. "1776" allows us to s...more

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Dec 23, 2008 Dave Russell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

McCullough is not a very good prose writer. Faulkner would have trouble parsing some of his sentences. Also, he's apparently never heard of parallel construction. However, he knows how to cull facts and construct a compelling story. He starts off with King George III giving a speech full of arrogance and bluster that only a British monarch could muster--or possibly a professional wrestler. He ends the book with King George III giving a speech with a more chastened tone. In between Washington tak...more

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Aug 21, 2007 Diane added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: Helen Keller

There wasn't a shelf for "Books I tried to read, and then failed at." So this one wound up on the "Read" shelf, even though that's a lie - I only suffered through about a 1/3 of it. 1776 bored the living shit out of me. I'm sure this makes me a bad person, moves me out of the running for the next Genius Award, reveals me as an uncultured, unsophisticated reader of comic books and advice columnists, etc etc. Don't care. This book reminded me of a trip I took to Gettysburg when I was in 3rd grade...more

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Jan 21, 2009 Patrick Gibson rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: history aficionados

Shelves: history, snorgasm, truth_sort-of

The musical was better!

No, I’m kidding (although I am one of 23 people on this planet to actually likes the B’way show. No excuse for the other planets). I want David McCullough to be my grandfather, sit near a fireplace, smoke a pipe and tell me stories. I don’t care about what—just talk.

I like his not-so-stuffy writing style. I always have. In “1776” he continues making historical figures and events accessible and even entertaining. His research is (as far as I know) impeccable. And thar’ be...more

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Nov 27, 2007 Jim is currently reading it · review of another edition

Shelves: real-ass-shit

This book is a detailed account of the American Revloutionary War as told by cronicles of the real people who lived through it. The only thing it didn't really mention a whole lot was the pivotal role Vin Diesel played when taking the guns from Ft. Greyskull. Or the part where George Washington jumps the Delaware River on his wacky big front wheel bike.

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Jul 23, 2009 Tahleen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history

I liked this book. Not the most riveting I've ever read, but McCullough did a great job with the narrative of the war in the title year. It was actually all stuff I never knew about, or had vaguely heard about (like the crossing of the Delaware). I didn't learn about the actual warfare in school, only the stuff going on in Philadelphia. The book also gives a great character profile of George Washington, Nathaniel Greene, and Henry Knox, among other major players of the revolution, as well as the...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, historical

McCullough's abundant citations from contemporaneous accounts of soldiers and leaders during the fateful year 1776 humanizes this chronicle of the disastrous campaign that nearly lost the revolutionary war. For readers that today look back and assume the war's conclusion was foregone, it is jarring to note how close defeat was, and how ineffectual the leadership of General George Washington was during most of the first year. And yet, it is hard not to see the Hand of Providence at work during ti...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Thomas rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"1776" details the events of George Washington and his officers from the summer of 1775 through January of 1777. The book is written in what I find to be a nauseating and anti-intellectual best-seller style, heavy on quotes and light on insight.

The entire book relies on "unnecessary" quotations from "source material," and 95% of the book is comprised of "adjectives" describing "sensorium." If you want descriptions of how the Potomac smelled one morning, or how Washington's buttons on a coat "shi...more

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Aug 28, 2008 Robert rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Patriots and Loyalists alike

I was very excited to read this book, thinking it would be an inspiring and exciting read on the history of our great nation. Instead, I was bound up initially with a slow and tedious beginning to the book. I finally delved into the pages and became intrigued with the story, all the while gaining increased anticipation as well as a reverenced respect for the men who sacrificed for our country. The book soon became very interesting to me, such that I could not put it down. But soon, page after pa...more

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Apr 22, 2008 Suzi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: doreen nidey

Backwards, men, to victory! This is a thoroughly readable history of how George Washington and his rag tag band of semi-soldiers finally wore down the British. Oh, the British were as we are now--huge navy, army, and hired help (Blackwater for us--Hessians for them). And except for a couple of brilliant moves (like capturing a bunch of huge canon from Ft. Ticonderoga and moving them cross country, through the mud and slime, to Boston), and one morning the British woke up and found an entire line...more

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Apr 05, 2008 Wendy Rabe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This account covers only the year 1776, when the Revolutionary War went from looking like a totally lost cause to a cause embraced by Providence. As I read how many times in that year that Washington retreated or made major mistakes and how vastly outnumbered and outtrained the Americans were, I truly marveled at what God has done in giving us this country. It showed me the importance of persevering and trusting God, no matter how circumstances appear from a worldly perspective. I'm no fan of Th...more

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Sep 22, 2007 Dave rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history

am quite fond of David McCullough. I have derived quite a bit of pleasure from a couple of his other books, particularly his biography of John Adams. That combined with my recent interest in early American history had me looking forward to reading 1776. Unfortunately, I was left somewhat disappointed.

1776 suffers on multiple levels, all of which generally revolve around a lack of focus. First, it only covers the first year of a war which spanned eight years. This is a bad foundation to work fr...more am quite fond of David McCullough. I have derived quite a bit of pleasure from a couple of his other books, particularly his biography of John Adams. That combined with my recent interest in early American history had me looking forward to reading 1776. Unfortunately, I was left somewhat disappointed.

1776 suffers on multiple levels, all of which generally revolve around a lack of focus. First, it only covers the first year of a war which spanned eight years. This is a bad foundation to work from, as it doesn't cover the entire war, yet doesn't focus on any key events. McCullough simply starts writing about the war, and then seemingly just stops. It is almost like reading the first 5 chapters of a novel and then stopping.

Also, coverage of historical events during this time is not consistent. Some key battles are resolved in a few sentences, while paragraphs are devoted to details like King George's caravan to parliament in 1775 or the fact that Howell had a mistress that he particularly enjoyed. These are nice details, and something I expect to be mentioned in a thorough account of the war - but it comes at the expense of other details which are equally or more important. One would expect that by focusing on a small portion of the war, the author would be able to provide greater detail. Instead, it almost reads like a high school history book (though written much better), as it covers the highlights, but doesn't provide much in the way of detail.

No historical figure is brought to the page very well. There are so many names popping up here and there that you never truly get a good feel for any of them. This might not be a fair criticism though, as McCullough is not trying to write a biography. With so many events to cover in 300 pages, with so many parties involved, there isn't much spotlight for individuals.

Despite all my complaints, I still enjoyed the book. McCullough is a great story teller, and it makes for great reading. It wasn't as good as it could have been, but everybody has a bad day from time to time. With any luck his subsequent book will return to his previous level of quality.(less)

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Ed You miss the point of the book. It wasn't intended to be a history of the Revolutionary War but rather a narrative of the first year which laid the fo...more
May 21, 2008 09:01am

Dave I think I adjusted my expectations to account for the fact that he was providing a narrative of the first year of a long war. Even with those expectat...more
May 21, 2008 09:38am

Ed I agree it was light. I also agree it pales in comparison to McCullough's biographies. It did help me, though, get the military events of 1776 straigh...more
May 22, 2008 06:47am

Apr 23, 2010 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history-usa, easton-press, signed-first-or-limited-edition, audiobook, the-way-we-war, non-fiction

4.5 stars. David McCullough does it again. This is an excellent, entertaining and engaging description of one of the "pivotal" years in American History. Beginning with the early American victory at the "Siege of Boston," McCullough details the disastrous results for the Americans at a series of battles to follow (most notably the Battle of Long Island and the taking of Fort Washington and Fort Lee).

McCullough makes it clear that the American cause was on the point of collapse when, in December...more

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Mar 04, 2009 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved this book! I love US history and this book makes me realize either I slept through all history classes I ever took or my teachers gave super abbreviated versions of actual events. It took me longer than usual to read this book because I kept going back and rereading things and looking at maps trying to figure out exactly where these things were happening. I have a new found respect for all the men who seved in Washington's army. And especially for George Washington himself. This book reall...more

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Nov 15, 2008 James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: those who have an interest in learning more about George Washigton and the Revolutionary War

This was a great book. The author basically tells the story of the Revolutionary War from journals, diaries, letters, newspaper articles, and memos. He covers the battles and military tactics of General George Washington and General William Howe during the year 1776. Although it does not cover the entire war, you can tell that the author spent numerous hours collecting and compiling the information to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of the atmosphere that was present during the war...more

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Dec 30, 2008 Caitlin Canty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the best books of any genre I've ever read. Well written, based on first hand accounts of the American Revolution and the events leading up to it. This is not a story of every battle, who won, #s dead, etc., but an insightful telling of the major players and events. I enjoyed every page, and am even reading it again!

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Jun 28, 2008 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: american-history, school-books-kid-books

I really liked this book. I felt like the author did a good job showing both sides of the story without making judgements. He used a ton of source documents which really helped me 'see' what was happening.

It was easy to read and flowed fairly well. There were a few clunky sections, but overall I was eager to keep reading and would consider this a 'well written book'. I learned many, many new things. I spent hours recounting stories to my husband. I guess now he doesn't need to read the book!

The...more

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Jun 04, 2008 Jayson F rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you're at all interested in the history of colonial America and the Revolution then this is a must read. McCullough has a brilliant ability to comb through reams of historical information and to synthesize for the reader just enough to inform but keep it interesting, even entertaining. This is nothing like reading a history book, it's more like reading a great adventure novel filled with heroic men on dangerous expeditions. The fact that the rag-tag American soldiers, backed by an irresolute...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Lyle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-non-fiction

A most brilliant look at the events that unfolded for the core birth of the nation; albeit the Revolutionary War did not officially end until the Treaty of Paris in 1783. David McCullogh put an intense amount of research and structure into this book so that it is informative from both sides of the campaign. It highlighted the joys of the British in taking New York and the pains Washington faced through the long and painful late autumn retreats and victories that would come and go.

I recommend it...more

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Mar 16, 2009 Ryan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recently I have grown more and more interested in the Revolutionary War and how our country was shaped. With all the hype surrounding 1776, it seemed a good place to start. Overall, this was a good history of the year 1776. McCullough is a very good writer and delivered an interesting book that can stand the test of peer review. My biggest issue was with pacing. McCullough spent an inordinate amount of time discussing the siege of Boston and the Battle of Brooklyn, but then glossed over the Amer...more

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Jan 17, 2009 Lance rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: have-read

I actually read this in hardcover. This is one of the best history books I have ever read. Most history books are very biased in that they portray only one side of the story (this is especially true of the Latin American histories I have read). 1776 does a fair job in portraying the perspective of both the Americans and the British during this time of great and sweeping change. I really liked the personable style in which McCullough writes; I felt as though I was listening to him as we sit aroun...more

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Jan 09, 2009 Louis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

McCullough is a master at bringing history to life, and this book is no exception. He captures the combined anxiety and excitement of declaring independence from the world's most dominant empire at the time, and the subsequent frustration and sometimes despair as General Washington loses battle after battle to an army that is better trained, better fed, better clothed and better armed. He reveals the struggle to keep men from deserting the army, and how most American soldiers that died in the wa...more

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Jan 03, 2009 Dan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this book. I must admit that some of it took my by surprise -- more so than it should have. For some reason, it hadn't dawned on me that the revolutionary war was as long as it was (eight years!). As I was realizing about mid-way through the book that the war wouldn't be over by its end, it made me wonder quite a bit about how the actual individuals must have been feeling -- never knowing how long the war would be.

I must admit also, that one of the deepest feelings that...more I really enjoyed reading this book. I must admit that some of it took my by surprise -- more so than it should have. For some reason, it hadn't dawned on me that the revolutionary war was as long as it was (eight years!). As I was realizing about mid-way through the book that the war wouldn't be over by its end, it made me wonder quite a bit about how the actual individuals must have been feeling -- never knowing how long the war would be.

I must admit also, that one of the deepest feelings that came to me as I read the book is how truly horrible war of any kind is. Perhaps it's party related to having read "All Quiet on the Western Front" recently, but it stood out very clearly in my mind that for every statistic you read in the book, there were real people with lives not unlike our own -- families, responsibilities, hopes and dreams. It helps to put into perspective comments like those on page 99, where after the siege at Boston, Mr. McCullough comments that it was such a total victory that: "Four men were killed by a single ball. But that was the only damage done." Indeed, an impressive victory, but even a single life is still a high cost.

Another theme that struck out to me as I read through the book is how incredibly complicated it must be to fight battles in the heart of existing communities. The problems with loyalists and 'rebels' always made it difficult for those on both sides. How could you ever possibly know who was really on your side?

As I was reading, I was reminded of wars that we (the USA) have participated in on other soil, such as Vietnam, Korea, and Iraq. In many of those cases, as in the book, "our shells raked the houses and the cries of the poor women and children frequently reached our ears." (Lt. Samuel Webb, page 92)

At what point should the line be drawn? Do you attack homes? Certainly not! What if they are occupied by those who are a threat? How can you guarantee that they are? How do you ever trust anyone?

I don't mean to imply that the revolutionary war shouldn't have happened, or that it was fought without cause, but what justifies war? The revolutionary war was, in truth, a civil war. The only reason we don't call it that is because we won. What, besides the fact that history is written by the victors, made it so right, while other similar wars have been deemed wrong? Why would a country founded by separating itself from its 'mother-land,' for example, fight so bitterly against secession a hundred years later?

Again, this book made me think a lot. I appreciate the opportunity to have read it and I learned a great deal about our past. I honor the dedication of those who held so strongly to their cause, and I'm grateful for the freedoms I enjoy.

Of all the things to take away from the book, the one I enjoyed the most was this: "we must ... make the best of mankind as they are, since we cannot have them as we wish." (George Washington, page 66, repeated towards the end)

How wonderful it would be if we all took that the heart, not just with mankind, but with all our circumstances.(less)

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Dec 09, 2008 Tim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my new favorite secular non-fiction book. I'm accustomed to stopping half-way with non-fiction, but this was as riveting as a great novel. I'm sure this was partly due to my ignorance of the details surrounding the Revolutionary War, so I really didn't know how the story would progress. I am anxious to read more by David McCullough.

Washington's resilience in the face of such challenging circumstances inspired me. I never knew that he had made so many blunders in waging the war. His abili...more This is my new favorite secular non-fiction book. I'm accustomed to stopping half-way with non-fiction, but this was as riveting as a great novel. I'm sure this was partly due to my ignorance of the details surrounding the Revolutionary War, so I really didn't know how the story would progress. I am anxious to read more by David McCullough.

Washington's resilience in the face of such challenging circumstances inspired me. I never knew that he had made so many blunders in waging the war. His ability to carry on despite his feelings of inadequacy, frequent misjudgements, and betrayal by those who were close to him, was remarkable. At points when I would have given up and gone home, he refused to despair and pushed on, trusting in God.

The stories of courage by others are equally inspiring. One of the passages that struck me the most was about John Greenwood, a 16-year old fifer, who walked 150 miles alone to Boston to do his part. When he arrived, he enlisted for $8 a month. "Later, passing through Cambridge, he learned of the battle raging at Bunker Hill. Wounded men were being laid out on the Common. 'Everywhere the greatest terror and confusion seemed to prevail.' The boy started running along the road that led to the battle , past wagons carrying more casualties and wounded men struggling back to Cambridge on foot. Terrified, he wished he had never enlisted. 'I could positively feel my hair stand on end.' But then he saw a soldier coming down the road.

"'...a Negro man, wounded in the back of his neck, passed me and, his collar being open and he not having anything on except his shirt and trousers, I saw the wound quite plainly and the blood running down his back. I asked him if it hurt much, as he did not seem to mind it. He said no, that he was only to get a plaster put on it and meant to return. You cannot conceive what encouragement this immediately gave me. I began to feel brave and like a soldier from that moment, and fear never troubled me afterward during the whole war.'"

I do wish there were better maps included in the book. The couple included British war maps were entirely inadequate to follow the progression of the troops.(less)

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Dec 03, 2008 Brien rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: history buffs

Last week I spent my time on 10 different airplanes and in 8 different airports. This is the book I took with me to pass the time.

I'm a huge history buff and find most history books interesting. This was no exception. However, I'm not a huge fan of David McCullough's writing. But I don't hate it enough to never read his work again. I just found it a bit flat and emotionless. Stephen Ambrose is still my favorite historian.

This book covers the year 1776 of the American Revolution. Many Americans t...more

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May 07, 2013 John Martindale rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, history, biography

I didn't know how many failures of judgment beset the inexperienced Washington and how many defeats the discouraged rebels encountered during the first years of the revolution. McCullough write quite the epic story, everything looked absolutely lost and hopeless. Things got so bad, I was anxious to get to the end, to see a glimpse of the glorious turn around. Hats off to McCullough, he did an excellent job writing this history.

It could be merely how I perceived things, but I did kind of feel McC...more

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About David McCullough

David Gaub McCullough is an American author, narrator, historian, and lecturer. He is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, McCullough earned a degree in English literature from Yale University. His first book was The Johnstown Flood (1968); a...more

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“The year 1776, celebrated as the birth year of the nation and for the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was for those who carried the fight for independence forward a year of all-too-few victories, of sustained suffering, disease, hunger, desertion, cowardice, disillusionment, defeat, terrible discouragement, and fear, as they would never forget, but also of phenomenal courage and bedrock devotion to country, and that, too they would never forget.” — 11 people liked it

“Indeed, bribery, favoritism, and corruption in a great variety of forms were rampant not only in politics, but in all levels of society.” — 3 people liked it

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