The Wright Brothers - David McCullough

The Wright Brothers

By David McCullough

  • Release Date: 2015-05-05
  • Genre: U.S. History
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 938 Ratings)

Description

Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly: Wilbur and Orville Wright.

On a winter day in 1903, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, two unknown brothers from Ohio changed history. But it would take the world some time to believe what had happened: the age of flight had begun, with the first heavier-than-air, powered machine carrying a pilot.

Who were these men and how was it that they achieved what they did?

David McCullough, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, tells the surprising, profoundly American story of Wilbur and Orville Wright.

Far more than a couple of unschooled Dayton bicycle mechanics who happened to hit on success, they were men of exceptional courage and determination, and of far-ranging intellectual interests and ceaseless curiosity, much of which they attributed to their upbringing. The house they lived in had no electricity or indoor plumbing, but there were books aplenty, supplied mainly by their preacher father, and they never stopped reading.

When they worked together, no problem seemed to be insurmountable. Wilbur was unquestionably a genius. Orville had such mechanical ingenuity as few had ever seen. That they had no more than a public high school education, little money and no contacts in high places, never stopped them in their “mission” to take to the air. Nothing did, not even the self-evident reality that every time they took off in one of their contrivances, they risked being killed.

In this thrilling book, master historian David McCullough draws on the immense riches of the Wright Papers, including private diaries, notebooks, scrapbooks, and more than a thousand letters from private family correspondence to tell the human side of the Wright Brothers’ story, including the little-known contributions of their sister, Katharine, without whom things might well have gone differently for them.

Reviews

  • Another gem

    5
    By easyliving20
    How can you not love McCullough? He is the best of company as he brings this and so many other moments from the past back to life.
  • The Wright Brothers

    5
    By Hanktwigs
    A well crafted book with solid research. David McCullough looked into the lives of the two brothers as well as their competitors. I was amazed by the tenacity of the brothers as well as their competitors. Every great acheiement comes at a cost. That cost comes in many forms. Some of the competitors were great inventors in their own right and heroes to all of us, but they had their greedy side when it came to competition. Truth can be a disheartening revelation.
  • The wright brothers

    5
    By TJ 129080
    Another fabulous account of history !
  • Inspiring Story

    4
    By Emmet Aloysius
    Not as good as the Greater Journey but an inspiring and informative story about two brothers I knew very little about. Good book for history buffs and non-fiction devotees. Tossup between 3 & 4 stars. Emmet Aloysius
  • A+

    5
    By Cyber_Grunt
    Great account on the Iives of the Wright Bros and their fearless journey into the pursuit of flight. Good read!
  • Great Read

    5
    By JKTrek
    Enjoyed it and learned a lot of interesting facts and insights. Highly recommend
  • Great story

    5
    By Hipofito
    Very well written. Hard to put down.
  • Great read

    5
    By CD3020
    Wilbur and Orville present as dull historically, but their story is not. Turns out, they are not. This is a fascinating story. One of the best books I've read in years.
  • Captivating and fulfilling. Real food for our lives.

    5
    By southwindshm
    I am so grateful for this book. The work is incredible! I have been fulfilled with information and a story that not only motivated me, but brought excitement and real depth to what I thought I knew about these inventors. What I was taught in school or heard as stories during my life told less than a paragraph of what I learned in these pages. I feel fulfilled and hungry to learn more. My only challenge is finding a way to get my children to appreciate this story and what went into the style, work and life of the Wright Brothers. Thank you.
  • The wright brothers

    1
    By E122
    Very mediocre. Books tells you They worked hard, met lots of people. If you want details on their research, or how they did what they did, this isn't the book for you.

Comments