ARCHIVE - FEBRUARY - THE WRIGHT BROTHERS - (February 1st - start date)

[Teri]

Michael wrote: "I think I want to visit Kitty Hawk and Dayton, Ohio now."

They are both on my "must visit" list now.

[Teri]

Hello everyone. We are moving on to week 2 of our discussion of The Wright Brothers. We left off last week with a bit of a cliff hanger. Lots of exciting advances this week. Below is the synopsis of this week's reading and some discussion questions. Please feel free to offer your thoughts on the book. The questions are for kicking off the discussion, but if you just want to make comments or ask your own questions, feel free. This is an open discussion and everyone is welcome.

Summary and Discussion Questions - Part I and II - Chapters 4-6 - pp. 65 - 130

(view spoiler)[After disappointing run in Kitty Hawk, Wilbur and Orville returned to 7 Hawthorn and began work on their next set of experiments and a new machine. They once again returned to Kitty Hawk after making several adjustments and made progress besting their distance to the 600' line. This time, Orville took a turn at piloting their flying machine.

For their next set of experiment, they added a small engine and propellers. At one point, Wilbur had to go back to Dayton to make some changes in the propeller material, but returned for another set of experiments. After several tries, they were able to fly 1/2 mile distance successfully. During this time, others in France and with the Smithsonian, tried to pilot their own flying machines without much luck.

In the next year, the Wright brothers would decide to find a place closer to home to save on shipping and travel costs. They no longer needed the wind speeds that they used Kitty Hawk for, so they were able to use a nearby farm at Huffman Prairie. It took several attempts to find the perfect day with reliable wind, but eventually the day came and the brothers managed to fly a 1/2 mile in their newest machine and make a full half turn. Many underrated the brothers and little publicity was made. The brothers did meet the "bee man" Amos Root who they invited out to Huffman Prairie. Root was instrumental in getting the attention of a British Army officer who wanted to buy their Flyer II machine. They turned down that offer and tried to sell to the American military but were rejected. Meanwhile, the brothers started working on Flyer III, that they were able to fly for more than 25 miles. Eventually the brothers brokered a deal with the French, selling their Flyer III for $200,000.


Orville Wright in flight over Huffman Prairie, approximately 1,760 feet in 40 1/5 seconds, Nov. 16, 1904

Questions:

1. What goes into making genius like the Wright brothers, aside from sheer intelligence? Consider traits such as perseverance, focus, and energy. What else? What about the role of imagination?

2. Why were the Wright brothers dismissed in the United States but taken seriously in France? What was the difference in culture and/or politics that generated interest on the part of the French but not the Americans?

3. Wilbur and Orville displayed few emotions. Do you think this hampered the author in his attempt to characterize the two men, to portray them as rich, fully-developed human beings? How does McCullough bring them to life—does he, or doesn't he? Do the two men come across as heroic? Why or why not? (hide spoiler)]

[Deborah]

I finished the book yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The whole family was interesting, and quite exceptional, not just the brothers!

[Pamela]

Chap. 6 Out At Huffman Praire

(view spoiler)[ This is what surprised me the most from this week's reading, and I will just quote from the book to illustrate:

"Not one reporter bothered to attend during this time. Nor did public interest increase. With few exceptions there seemed no public interest at all, no local excitement or curiosity or sense of wonder over the miraculous thing happening right in Dayton’s own backyard. Nor did anyone seem to appreciate the kind of minds, not to say the extraordinary skill and courage, needed to succeed at so daring a venture."

McCullough, David (2015-05-05). The Wright Brothers (Kindle Locations 1762-1764). Simon & Schuster. Kindle Edition.

I just find this unbelievable. Probably the greatest invention of the 20th century - powered flight - was going on right under their noses and no one seemed interested. Did it maybe have something to do with the personality of the brothers? Were people just so used to them fiddling around, so to speak, that they couldn't grasp the significance of what was being accomplished? (hide spoiler)]

[Mary]

Chapters 4-6

(view spoiler)[ What struck me about Wilbur was his wide-ranging interests (such as art and architecture) and curiosity. Perhaps they were critical to his overall creativity and ability to solve problems.

As for the author, while I feel he did an excellent job of researching the letters and diary entries of the Wright family, I'm not sure I really know what made the brothers tick. They were private and didn't really enjoy being in the spotlight, but wanted media attention. They were frugal and didn't seem motivated by money, but were very careful about protecting their business interests. They were well aware of the dangers of their airplanes in flight, and were cautious, and yet they took great risks. They certainly persevered for years when they faced either no attention or scorn. (hide spoiler)]

[Glynn]

Re: Discussion Questions - Part I and II - Chapters 4-6 - pp. 65 - 130.
(view spoiler)[For question 1 I am inclined to think that all of the things you mention go into genius, as well as imagination. Also, there is another thing - being in the right place at the right time. There is a good book called "Outliers" that examines this question in detail.
by Malcolm Gladwell (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Deborah wrote: "I finished the book yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The whole family was interesting, and quite exceptional, not just the brothers!"

I get the impression that the whole family is quite unique. It seems like their sister is quite a go-getter herself, and we definitely see that in their father.

[Teri]

Pamela wrote: "Chap. 6 Out At Huffman Prairie

Response to Pamela - Chapter 6

(view spoiler)[This was surprising to me as well. I kept thinking that someone would surely be interested enough to investigate and report on what they were doing. We did see that from Root, but you would expect more than that. I tried to get my head into the times and remember that it was much different then. People were much more skeptical and I suppose flying was really far-fetched to most people, especially after the failed attempts across the world.

I didn't see it as being a problem with the brother's personality, but simply people not believing that flying couldn't happen. I'd be curious, though, what others think. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Mary wrote: " Chapters 4-6 "

Response to Mary - Chapter 4-6

(view spoiler)[You bring up a great point. We do see this dichotomy in the brothers. I've noticed that too. I want to think that were back and forth like that in real life, and were ultimately a couple of men that were very unexpected. Meaning, you never know what to expect from them. I wonder if that played a part into why they never married. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Glynn wrote: "Re: Discussion Questions - Part I and II - Chapters 4-6 - pp. 65 - 130.

Response to Glynn - Chapters 4-6

(view spoiler)[That is such a great book, Outliers. I need to go back and re-read it, it's been many years since I picked it up. I agree, I think there is a part of being at the right place at the right time. I kept thinking they'd run into some kind of problem being able to go to Kitty Hawk or Huffman Prairie with some issue or someone causing them problems. But everything seemed to fall into place for them. I do think their genius/success was a culmination of things and being at the right place, the right time, the right circumstances were all on their side. They had some good karma! (hide spoiler)]

[Annegret]

No, no favourite. I admire their enthusiasm. They belief in their ideas.

[Michele]

Chap 5

(view spoiler)[WOW. Never knew you could build a working engine with no carburetor and no spark plugs! It was a bit surprising how little the reaction was to the first powered flight. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Annegret wrote: "No, no favourite. I admire their enthusiasm. They belief in their ideas."

Their enthusiasm and their drive to continue on in the face of adversity. I completely agree with you.

[Teri]

Michele wrote: "Chap 5

[spoilers removed]"

Response to Michele - Chapter 5

(view spoiler)[I have to say that I'm not mechanically inclined, but thought I new a bit about cars/motors, but that surprised me as well. I'm impressed with McCullough's addition of some of the details of the mechanics and the make up of the flying machines. He's able to bring it to a level that most readers will understand. (hide spoiler)]

[Michael]

P.70 doubters and Chanute
(view spoiler)[ On page 70, and a bit earlier, there is reference to doubters who were writing articles proving man would not be able to fly. I happen to acquire a video series 100 years of WW1 and was watching it while reading this. It is amazing that within 11 years of the Wrights success aircraft were fighting in the skies over Europe. It made me wonder what the naysayers were saying and thinking at that point.

Also, thought Chanute was way out of line and in my mind is a person you would need to watch your back around. It seems to me that the Wrights may have had a sense of this themselves. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Michael wrote: "P.70 doubters and Chanute."

Response to Michael / Doubters and Chanute

(view spoiler)[I have often wondered, while reading this section what the naysayers thought once the Wright Brothers became successful in their endeavor and if any of them had the chance to fly in a plane. It is quite amazing how quickly we went from no thoughts of ever being able to fly to being a nation dependent on flight.

I agree, I think they had a keen sense of what Chanute was all about! (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Summary and Discussion Questions - Part II and III - Chapters 7-9 - pp. 131 - 202

(view spoiler)[We begin this section with Wilbur Wright going to France to try and sell the Wright flying machine to the French. Often accompanied by Hart O. Berg, Wilbur spent his time trying to sell their flying machine before being joined by Orville. Before Orville left for France, he shipped the parts for their flying machine and had it stored in Havre, France, in the hope that they would sell it and they could do a demonstration. After spending some time in France, the men returned to the United States without a contract. However, after they arrived home, they sold a contract to the US Government and then to France.

The men return to Kitty Hawk to practice. They found their old camp in a shambles, rebuilt and began testing. They made some design changes, making the pilot sit upright with a co-pilot, rather than laying in a prone position. However, they end their time there after a failed trial.

Wilbur returns to France to piece together the shipped flying machine while Orville goes to Washington, DC. In Le Mans, France, Wilbur begins working to put together the flying machine that shipped to a large warehouse he was able to use and where he would put on the first public demonstration of the flying machine. The shipment was in a shambles and Wilbur, along with some French mechanics, rebuilt the machine. The demonstration went off well. Spectators and reporters were enthusiastic and no longer believed the men to be hucksters.

Meanwhile, back in Washington, Orville began his demonstration flights. All went very well and in the US, spectators and reporters alike were also excited over the flights. Orville continued to push the limits by going higher and longer, breaking records over and over. On one occasion, Orville was accompanied by Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge, the heaviest passenger yet to fly with one of the brothers. While in flight, a portion of a propeller fell apart and Orville eventually lost control. The flying machine landed in a fatal crash. Orville survived, but was badly injured and had to endure a long stay at the hospital. Katharine joined him until he was able to return to Dayton to convalesce. Wilbur, in France, learned the news and was quite distraught, but continued his demonstrations. He eventually requested that the family join him, once Orville was well enough to travel.


Wilbur Wright takes off in the Wright Flyer near Le Mans, France in August 1908. Crowds came to witness his stunning series of flights. (Source: a href="https://www.thehenryford.org/exhibits... Henry Ford

Questions:

1. In 1908, when the Wrights finally showed their plane to the press, one reporter wrote: "this spectacle of men flying was so startling, so bewildering to the senses...that we all stood like so many marble men." Imagine yourself in that situation: how might you have reacted? Can you think of a future technological advancement that might astonish you the same way

2. In his book, David McCullough reveals that when Wilbur Wright was in France, he spent a fair amount of time at the Louvre and that he was deeply moved by the great Gothic works he saw. What is the importance that the author ascribes to that interest—and why? What does it suggest about the importance of the liberal arts even in the fields of science and technology?

3. Why was the story of the Wright brothers' achievement so unlikely? Talk about the hardships, knowledge deficits, and other obstacles they had to overcome in order to get their invention off the ground, so to speak? (hide spoiler)]

[Pamela]

Teri wrote: "Summary and Discussion Questions - Part II and III - Chapters 7-9 - pp. 131 - 202

We begin this section with Wilbur Wright going to France to try and sell the Wright flying machine to the French. ..."

Response to Teri: Discussion Questions

(view spoiler)[ You ask some interesting questions, Teri, especially the first one. I was instantly reminded of my grandmother's reaction to the manned space flights. She was born in 1893 and in 1968 my husband and I happened to be staying with her during a flight. My husband, interested in her opinion, asked her what she thought about going to the moon. She gave him a very pitying look and said "You don't really believe that, do you? You know that's just television." For many people like her, who transitioned the centuries, it was simply all too fantastical to believe.

Another example for me personally was Sputnik. It's orbit was low and occasionally you could see it pass over as a fast moving sort of blinking star. My father and I would stand in the back yard in Memphis and watch this and be just amazed at the idea, visualizing all the wonderful things that would come of it. I was 10 at the time and what I do remember about this achievement is how many people were simply terrified by the idea of it. Some even wanted it shot down. I think both of these reactions was probably very true of people's reaction to manned flight.

I didn't find his artistic interest a leap. Architecture seems a natural interest for someone who was both technical and creative himself and his interest in the paintings of Corot, for example, is certainly easy to imagine. Corot's landscapes and their use of natural sky light and even shadows seemingly from clouds passing by would appeal to one of the few men on the planet who had actually been inside that very light. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Pamela wrote: "Teri wrote: "Summary and Discussion Questions - Part II and III - Chapters 7-9 - pp. 131 - 202
"

Response to Pamela - Chapters 7-9 Discussion Questions

(view spoiler)[It is almost unfathomable to me that we are able to go so far in space. Even non-manned flights. I have been following a non-manned space mission called Dawn for a few years. (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/daw...) Its mission is to go out to a far edge of our Solar System into the asteroid belt to visit an asteroid and a dwarf planet. The pictures that this piece of machinery sends back to Earth are amazing.

It is amazing where we have gone since the Wright Brothers created that first flying machine. Did your Grandmother ever decide that it wasn't "just on TV"? Do you think we'll ever be able send manned flights beyond the moon? Beyond our Solar System?

I love your thoughts on Wilbur's creative side. I had to look up Corot, as I was not familiar with his works and I clearly see what you mean. I can imagine that Wilbur looked at his works and would lose himself in it. As an example below of The Road to Sevres, I am sure he would not have been looking from the perspective of the road, but the limitless possibilities of the sky.


The Road to Sevres by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (hide spoiler)]

[Pamela]

Teri wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Teri wrote: "Summary and Discussion Questions - Part II and III - Chapters 7-9 - pp. 131 - 202
"

Response to Pamela - Chapters 7-9 Discussion Questions

It is almost unfathomable to..."

Response to Teri

(view spoiler)[No, she never really did completely let go of that idea.

I'm also impressed by man's exploration of space and how fast it came about. From 1903 to the 1960's is only a little over 50 years. But I happen to be a great believer of Jules Verne's quote "Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real." So I think we can go anywhere! (hide spoiler)]


Jules Verne

[Samanta]

Chapters 4-6

(view spoiler)[1. I do consider the brothers to be geniuses, because they defied the general opinion of the people (including experts), and managed to produce a miracle. I can't even begin to guess how their minds worked. If anyone of you watched Sherlock Holmes (the BBC one), I imagine it looked like words and equations flying around Benedict Cumberbatch's head :D)

2. A tricky question! USA was always viewed by other people as the land of opportunity, new things happening and being invented, so that does bother me a bit. Maybe they were really reluctant because of the Langley's failed attempt at flying, since the investment was so great. I also think it had to do (at least a little bit) with favoritism. Langley was a person of "rank", the brothers were just another enthusiast from small town Ohio. They weren't judged like that in France. They were two inventors who managed to "boldly go where no one has gone before". Plus, USA was already a political and financial force. Imagine one upping it. You got to love politics!

3. I think the author manages to achieve that by adding the letters and journal entries among his text. That way we see that Wilbur cares deeply about his father's plight with his adversary and that he can be funny when communicating with the members of his family. But you can also feel their joy at the success, how ever small, their concern for the friend who got swept and bruised during one of the first test flights, through author's writing. I do not think the brothers come out as heroic, more determined and really smart. I don't think they would considered themselves heroic either.

I found this part even more interesting. I got a bit lost in all the mechanical details, but chapter six was great. I too was astonished at the response of the audience...or lack thereof (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5, p. 102, e-book edition

(view spoiler)[I was also very amused at John T. Daniels when he was swept by the plane :

"I wasn't hurt much. I got a good many bruises and scratches and was so scared I couldn't walk straight for a few minutes" and then:
"From that day on Daniels could proudly claim to have survived the first ever airplane accident."

Ah, the little joys! :D :D (hide spoiler)]

[Kressel]

I just started the book, and what I really like so far is knowing that not only were the Wright Brothers a pair of autodidacts, their father encouraged it, even favoring reading over school attendance. Imagine!

[Teri]

Samanta wrote: "Chapters 4-6."

Response to Samanta Chapters 4-6

(view spoiler)[I don't watch Sherlock Holmes but want to. I have always loved Holmes stories. I do watch Elementary, which is a modern day retelling, and your analogy is spot on for that show as well. I can see Wilbur being like that. I think, too, that a lot of it is that they were in the right time with the right frame of mind. They had the work of others to study and the information from the Smithsonian certainly laid some ground work for them.

As for question 2, I also think that the US wasn't as technologically forward thinking as some other countries like France. With the brothers being from middle America and doing their testing/trials there, I think that a lot of people were very skeptical.

I love Wilbur's humor and I think I'd have the brothers on my list of "if I could ever meet a famous figure from the past..." I also agree that McCullough went off on a bit of a mechanical jag, but I was able to keep up with it for the most part. It seemed a little odd since most of the book is more about the men, their characters, and the events.

Love those quotes. Below is a picture of John T. Daniels on the right.

(hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Kressel wrote: "I just started the book, and what I really like so far is knowing that not only were the Wright Brothers a pair of autodidacts, their father encouraged it, even favoring reading over school attenda..."

So glad you are joining us Kressel.

They were very forward thinking and I think their upbringing was integral to their success.

[Pamela]

Kressel wrote: "I just started the book, and what I really like so far is knowing that not only were the Wright Brothers a pair of autodidacts, their father encouraged it, even favoring reading over school attenda..."

I was impressed by that one also. I had a vivid picture of telling my parents I was just going to stay home and read all day. Neither they nor the nuns would have gone along with that!

[Kressel]

Pamela wrote: "I had a vivid picture of telling my parents I was just going to stay home and read all day.."

There's a guy named Dale Stephens who's helping kids do just that. It's called Unschooling (as opposed to home schooling)

[Teri]

I wish GR had a "Like" button for group discussions.

[Pamela]

Teri wrote: "I wish GR had a "Like" button for group discussions."

Me too, Teri. I have added a post from UTube to the Glossary showing the Wright Brothers flights from 1908-09. These are original films that were made into a sort of documentary in 1938. I think they add to the pleasure of reading about the flights.

[Teri]

Pamela wrote: "Teri wrote: "I wish GR had a "Like" button for group discussions."

Me too, Teri. I have added a post from UTube to the Glossary showing the Wright Brothers flights from 1908-09. These are original..."

Fantastic!!! Thank you!

[Pamela]

Kressel wrote: "Pamela wrote: "I had a vivid picture of telling my parents I was just going to stay home and read all day.."

There's a guy named Dale Stephens who's helping kids do just that. It's called Unschool..."

You're talking about the man from UnCollege, right? I looked him up after your post and the idea is certainly a good one. Much as I loved college (many years ago), most of it can be learned in a really good public library. So the idea of at least taking a year or two off is a good one if you are disciplined enough to make good use of it. Unfortunately, as long as businesses and government require a "punched ticket" the necessity for earning a paper degree will remain essential to success.

I also found it interesting that he was a recipient of the first Thiel Fellowship developed by the same person who founded PayPal...another very good idea.

[Kressel]

The Wright Brothers are the perfect example of what people can accomplish if they self-educate. I say this feelingly because my oldest son is a yeshiva drop-out. My second son is following the rules of his high school. Among his current classes is Anatomy, and he's doing well at it, but my oldest son just taught himself to butcher a goat. (Sorry, vegans.) So who knows more about anatomy? The one who learned it from the books, or the one who opened up the goat?

[Pamela]

That's a really good question, Kressel. Offhand I'd say the one who opens up the goat but then I start to think about all the things that an untaught person could wind up doing, i.e. contaminating the meat, causing uneccessary pain to the animal, etc. Then you have to think about the slowness of learning; if everyone decides to figure it all out by themselves, we just wind up re-inventing the wheel all the time. A combination of both is probably better. People used to learn by apprenticing themselves to someone who had already worked out the kinks, so to speak. But I do like your son's approach. Doing it for yourself is a great way to cement what you learn. I used to dissect tiny tree frogs for my children when they were young and they learned a lot from that.

[Kressel]

Oh, he spent several months learning about the way to do a kosher slaughter, which means it's over really quick for the animal. And he did have a rabbi and books as preparation.

[Pamela]

I figured he had. I think that's part of the difference, too. The Wright Brothers used all the available information to start with, books, advice from glider experts, etc. However, motorized flight was unknown so if it was to be accomplished, then they would have to figure it out for themselves. (sort of like your son, although butchering is an ancient practice, esp. kosher butchering) What impressed me in reading about the brothers was their incredible discipline. They formulated a plan and stuck with it and really didn't let anything interfere.

[Kressel]

It would have been entirely different had they been married with families to support. The airplane was their wife and kids.

[Pamela]

You know, I actually didn't think of that and I have been wondering while reading why they never married. I've been thinking that it had to do with how close all three were and that maybe nobody else ever got a chance to come in. But I think you're right.

[Kressel]

I think the book said that their older married brothers had a hard time making ends meet, which might have played a role in scaring them off marriage.

[Teri]

Great comments above. I had wondered about the marriage aspect as well, but these are plausible considerations.

[Samanta]

Maybe their father's letters or journal could shed some light on the matter.

[Samanta]

Chapters 7-9

I loved these chapters. So many things occurred in such a short period of time.

(view spoiler)[If I lived back then I think I would have reacted same as those reporters. Imagine living in the time when everything was new. People believed that a man could not possibly fly, so that was a ground-breaking invention. Today, we take all the things that people from back then considered miracles for granted. Of course, there is always something new to invent, but we are not so easily awestruck anymore (I know I am not). It might have something to do with the better connection of the world, better education which is available for almost everybody (unlike then) and the unlimited possibilities and opportunities we enjoy that they didn't. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7, p 141, e-book

(view spoiler)[ "The whole course of their lives, they liked to say, had begun in childhood with a toy, and a French toy at that, and now here they were in middle age in France, enjoying themselves no less than if they were children."

I love this rare glimpse into the characters of the brothers. They loved toys and they were fascinated with the diabolo toy, not only because they thought they could learn something from it, but also because it was fun. And, while playing with the toy, it wasn't important to them that other people considered them strange and mysterious. Truly extraordinary men. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Samanta wrote: "Chapters 7-9

I loved these chapters. So many things occurred in such a short period of time.

[spoilers removed]Chapter 7, p 141, e-book

Response to Samanta - Chapters 7-9

(view spoiler)[You bring up some great points. I do think that when you put your mind in the time and events we're covering you can see how absurd the idea would be to many that a person can fly. Imagine what the would have thought about walking on the moon?

I love that McCullough is showing us the fun/childlike facets of the brothers. It really brings them to life. (hide spoiler)]

[Samanta]

Response to Teri - Chapters 7-9

I think that, whoever would have suggested that, would have ended up in an asylum. :)

[Kressel]

Michael wrote: "I think I want to visit Kitty Hawk and Dayton, Ohio now."

You want to brave those mosquitoes?

[Kressel]

Here's my favorite quote so far (p. 113) . It's from Wilbur and Orville's nephew Milton: "History was being made in their bicycle shop and in their home, but the making was so obscured by the commonplace that I did not recognize it until many years later."

Inspiring thought. Big things might be going on around us all the time, on both a historic and a personal level, but when you're going through the day to day stuff of living, you can't really see it.

[Teri]

Kressel wrote: "Here's my favorite quote so far (p. 113) . It's from Wilbur and Orville's nephew Milton: "History was being made in their bicycle shop and in their home, but the making was so obscured by the commo..."

Love that thought. It's a good reminder to not get so wrapped up in life that you don't forget to watch it unfold.

[Teri]

Summary and Discussion Questions - Part III and Epilogue - Chapters 10 through 11 - pp. 203 - 262

(view spoiler)[McCullough wraps up the story on the Wright brothers in these final chapters. Wilbur Wright continues on in Paris meeting important people and offering demonstrations of the flying machine. Eventually he begins to offer free rides to spectators. Orville and Katherine join him for a while and they travel to a few places in Europe including Rome with their demonstrations. In time, they return home to the United States to many celebrations and awards. They travel back to the scene of Orville's crash, where he returned to flying, conquering his fears.

The Epilogue chronicles the rest of the lives of Wilbur, Orville, Katherine, and the Bishop, until their deaths.


Early Wright Brothers Toy Plane

Questions:

1. Were the brothers compensated fairly for their invention? As someone replied to Wilbur, "I am afraid, my friend, that your usually sound judgment has been warped by the desire for great wealth." What is your assessment of that remark—fair or unfair?

2. What struck you most in the story of the the Wright brothers? What surprised you or impressed you? How much did you know (or understand) before you read McCullough's book...and what did you come away having learned? (hide spoiler)]

[Kressel]

Teri wrote: "Love that thought. It's a good reminder to not get so wrapped up in life that you don't forget to watch it unfold. "

I see it a little differently. You can't really know you're experiencing something momentous until after the big implications of that thing play themselves out.

[Pamela]

What a great picture of the toy plane, Teri! I had been wondering what it looked like.

[Teri]

Pamela wrote: "What a great picture of the toy plane, Teri! I had been wondering what it looked like."

I had to go look that up! ;-)

[Samanta]

Part III and Epilogue

(view spoiler)[ 01. I think that they got more than they themselves expected or asked for, which doesn't necessarily mean it was enough, but I think they were happy with it. I do not think the assessment is fair, because, firstly, it was uttered in the heat of the argument and people often say what unfair things while fighting (although I can't say that is wasn't something Chanute really felt towards the brothers). Secondly, the brothers gave so much for this, that they have every right to claim the right of patent, and even be greedy if the wanted, because they managed to do something no one before them did.
02. I came away learning everything about them, because I only knew what they did as a short fact. Now I know how they got to it and what kind of people they were...and what they even looked like (because that was never shown in my history books). (hide spoiler)]