Really great book! David McCullough is such a good writer. His writing always makes me want to learn more about history, people, places, events. This book was different than others I'd read. Most of his books are in-depth studies of a certain person, place or time period. This was a collection of essays and articles he wrote at different times on various subjects. He talks about ordinary people before they were famous and others that I still didn't recognize. It teaches the value and importance of learning about and from others. He writes about Roosevelt and the Badlands, Harriet Beecher Stowe, botanists that Thomas Jefferson admired, events surrounding the first continental railroad in Central America, a photographer who finds important prints of the Brooklyn Bridge, a congressman who goes home to read the congressional record and learn about those who led in the past. My favorite chapter is about Washington DC and the magic and history it holds--its monuments, buildings, museums, people, events. I think I've felt that magic. :) It's there {here} at the Library of Congress where McCullough decided what he wanted to do with his life. Neat! I was sure inspired the last time I was there. I have so much more to learn and people to meet and places to go.....in person or through good books. :)

The shortest – and by far weakest – McCullough book I’ve read. While McCullough is one of my favorite historic authors, this short book seemed as interesting and connected as pulling out papers on the bottom of his briefcase and reading a mismatch of stories that never merited a book. Instead of using the concluding chapter to tie together the various stories, McCullough closed off the book with the weakest narratives.

The journey of Harriet Stowe was, by far, the most interesting – and engaging. Always especially interesting since she wrote the story while living in Cincinnati, McCullough makes it clear that Stowe did not find the Queen City a welcoming home. Having lost a child there and suffering tough years, she left Ohio without the fame and absent finishing her best-selling book. Instead of writing based on documentary evidence, as McCullough always did, Stowe wrote on emotion. And there was a lot of emotion around the Congressional debate of the Fugitive Slave Bill that tore the country apart. Hattie started writing Uncle Tom’s death scene first, jotting down her engaging story on brown wrapping paper when she ran out of paper. Demonstrating that she didn’t realize that a book that brought slavery out Congress and signifying the human cost would be a best seller, the new author took a 10% deal instead of simply taking half the profit. In just a year, 300,000 copies were sold.

McCullough highlights the highs and lows of Stowe’s interesting life, her personal transformation, and her loyalty to family. It was a good read and nearly worth the entire book.

But when an author can even make tails about Teddy Roosevelt snooze worthy, not much can be said for the rest of the book. The discussion about the Badlands was a bit interesting but left me wanting to read more about the development of Montana, the Dakotas, and other western states than feeling I learned much from this renown author.

McCullough totally missed the mark in the Chapter: Builders. As someone who walked both signature bridges of John A. Roebling – the earlier, stunning Cincinnati bridge and the better-known Brooklyn Bridge – this talented author missed the mark sharing with the reader what people feel when they approach these spectacular structures. Thirty years were consumed between these two bridges, but we know so little of this builder’s growth or changes during those years. The author mentions the Brooklyn bridge cost twice as much - $16 million – but lacked how the press or public viewed that increased cost, instead simply mentioned the dignitaries who were part of the opening of the bridge. The reader deserves more from a gifted historian.

This earlier book from one of my favorite authors did not disappoint. "What history is chiefly about is life and while there are indeed great, often unfathomable forces in history before which even the most exceptional of individuals seem insignificant, the wonder is how often events turn on a single personality or the quality called character. "

This book will introduce you to some incredible people.

A David McCullough book I didn't know existed? I don't know how I missed 'Brave Companions' but it is a delightful read. 'Brave Companions' introduces the reader to interesting individuals, many of whom McCullough came across in his research for books on Truman, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Panama Canal, and various articles. My personal favorite is the civil engineer from the New York City Department of Transportation who was tasked with finding the original drawings for a small fixture that needed replacing on the Brooklyn Bridge. When he found the blueprints he realized in short order that he was looking at drawings that hadn't been reviewed since the bridge opened almost 90 years before. And despite a century's dust he realized he was looking at works of art, many in water color and amazingly detailed. Moreover, many of the drawings were by the bridge's architect, Washington Roebling, himself. And after years of trying to get the blueprints the attention they deserved they were finally the subject of a famous art exhibition for the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial. McCullough's point in this and all his portraits is that there is majesty in discovering new things and in highlighting the many small details that comprise our history. But what comes out most clearly is the joy of following David McCullough on his journeys. He teaches us that we should always be alert not only to discover new things but to revere the past. At one point he takes us on a tour of Washington D.C. and while he points out the Mall, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, he is more excited about places off the beaten path like the house that Woodrow Wilson retired to and eventually passed away in, and some of the grand old hotels like the Willard and the Mayflower. His books tell us that the bravest companion of them all is David McCullough. I hope you take the opportunity to read 'Brave Companions' and all of David McCullough's many companionable books.

More like a middle of the road 2.5 stars.
Audiobook, read by the author. He read in a bit of a monotone had an annoying way of mumbling at the end of a sentence that made it hard for me to hear him at times. A better reading would have made this book much more enjoyable to me.
Overall some of the "portraits" were very interesting and some were ho-hum to me. In a book that is a compilation of previous essays I usually expect some will appeal more to me than others.

In particular I enjoyed the essays on

Harriet Beecher Stowe who I knew little about except as the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin

Frederic Remington whose paintings helped define our mythology of the Wild West.

Charles and Anne Lindbergh, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Beryl Markham the first long flight pilots.
Harry Caudill, Kentucky lawyer who brought up strip mining issues and how the mining companies manipulated land owners. I had never heard of him.

I think my favorites were on the building of the Panama Canal and Brooklyn Bridge which included the impact on many nameless workers who built and died doing it.

This was not a favorite book of David McCullough's, although I really enjoy hearing his voice narrate his books. Some of the stories were quite interesting, but some of the people I didn't know or care to know about. David McCullough really has a sense of history and a love of books which he shares and I feel that coming through. I feel I have gained knowledge and good things when I read his writings even though they may not be my favorite.

As is frequently the case with historians, books are made out of the articles that authors have published elsewhere. These feasts on scraps are especially notable with posthumous works, as authors like C.S. Lewis and others have had a substantial portion of their writings made up of books made up of smaller texts that are fit together. As far as I know, at least, midbrow historian David McCullough is still alive, but he is certainly getting older at this point and this sort of books makes sense from the perspective of wanting fresh material that will be new to most people. In reading this book I was particularly struck with the approach that the author had with his subject matter, most of which is made up of accounts of people whom history has largely forgotten for one reason or another. Despite the fact that some very harsh things could be said about many of these historical subjects, but the author chooses to focus on their achievements and on why they are worth remembering. This is perhaps not very popular within the contemporary guild of historians, but there is something refreshing about focusing on the positive even as the author acknowledges that another side exists.

This book is between 200 and 250 pages long and is divided into five parts. The book begins with an introduction. After that the author provides articles relating to phenomena (I), including a journey to the top of the world by Humboldt and his companion (1), the American adventure of the forgotten Louis Agassiz (2), and the unexpected life and career of Mrs. Stowe (3). The author then looks at “the real west” (II) with a discussion of the glory dates of Medora in the Dakota territory (4) and the paintings and life of Remington (5). The third part of the look explores pioneers (III), such as the steam road to El Dorado (6), a look at builders (7), the treasure from the carpentry shop (8), and a look at long-distance vision (9). The next part of the book contains various figures from history in their context (IV), such as the crossing of the blue mountain (10), the lonely war of what the author considers to be a good angry man (11), Miriam Rothschild and her expertise in insects (12), and an account of David Plowden (13). The firth part of the book then ends the volume with a discussion of Washington DC (14), extraordinary times (15), a recommended itinerary (16), and Simon Willard’s clock in Congress (17), as well as index.

It is unclear why exactly the title of brave companions makes a fitting title for the book as a whole. There are very few chapters in this book that deal specifically with brave companions. Perhaps the title “Portraits In History” would have been too ponderous and heavy, but it would have better explained the contents of the work. Be that as it may, the book is an interesting one in examining the shorter material of the author that has not been published previously in book form. As someone who does not read the articles of the author, I have to say that this book revealed to me a lot of information about the author and his worldview and political perspective. As one might figure to be the case, I found the author’s political perspective rather unappealing. Yet at the same time I could understand why it is that many contemporary historians who are far more radical than the author will find the author’s perspective troublesome and irritating as well. And that is something to find interesting even if the author does not wish to dwell on this subject to any great degree, even if that would be of interest to the reader.

Grandmother's come up with killer book recommendations. Spoiler alert... This will be one of my favorite reads for 2022.

David McCullough deserves consideration as one of the greatest all-time American historians. I've read Truman, Adams, 1776 & the American Spirit--each is tremendous. Brave Companions is equally magnificent & shows how McCullough can deliver powerful insights on a variety of subjects in short form. From conservation & reclamation efforts to curb strip mining in Eastern Kentucky, the history of Washington DC & monumental moments where the U.S. Congress changed the world (for the better), to his days following a photographer capturing small-towns in the American mid-west, McCullough somehow brings you right there in only 20-30 page increments.

More than that, what I love about McCullough is how he invites the reader in to shape our future for the better. Drawing on his unparalleled knowledge of American (and world) history, his approach shows how each of us can contribute to better communities, to a better union, to a better world.

He gives me hope & that's worth reading for.

An awesome collection of McCullough's little known essays. If you love behind the scenes history, this book is a must read. The last chapter is something I will share with my students.

David McCullough has always been great at bring the past alive in an interesting way. This is a compellation of various articles that he has written over time on a variety of topics. Really liked the essay on Harriet Beecher-Stowe and the last chapter about the value to all Americans about learning the history of our government. Was sad to read of his death last year.

Fascinating stories and “short vignettes that I found to be quite interesting. It’s worth the read even if you’re not interested in all of the subjects. I like his writing and research!

A really enjoyable set of essays about memorable people which showcases David McCullough's writing as much as it does the subjects. I read every one except the one about strip mining, which I just couldn't take because of the painful topic.