By David McCullough
Simon & Schuster, 2015. 320 pages. Nonfiction
David McCullough is such a household name among history enthusiasts, he doesn’t need me to review this book. However, as much as I enjoy history, this is the first of his titles I’ve read. I actually didn’t even know about the book until I listened to a great interview with McCullough on this podcast, which is worth a listen.
McCullough’s popularity is definitely deserved. Painstakingly and thoroughly researched, this book could be chock full of facts but have no heart. Instead, drawing from the countless letters the Wright brothers wrote, McCullough makes the entire Wright family come to life. The brothers are praised for a solid work ethic and for their determination not to give up, even when the odds were stacked against them. If the brothers are praised a little overmuch, you can’t fault McCullough for being a little star-struck. The brothers solved the problem of flight even when other, better-funded teams were getting nowhere.
The audio book is read by the author and he reads in a nice, clear voice.
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