Lively, engaging narrative of a crucial year (perhaps the crucial year) in America's struggle for independence. While McCullough isn't the most scholarly of historian, his briskly accessible writing style compensates, crafting a vivid pen portrait of America's political birth and defining military struggles. This is no Revolutionary hagiography; his George Washington appears as an incompetent, unseasoned general forced to learn the hard way that he can't beat the British in large-scale, head-to-head combat; McCullough's graphic depiction of the Battle of Long Island forms the book's centerpiece. And while McCullough's sympathies undoubtedly lie with the patriots, determined and idealistic though hard-scrabble as they are, he devotes ample space to British political and military machinations as well; particularly compelling is his treatment of William Howe, a brilliant strategist but a lazy tactician whose contempt for the Americans and faulty execution prevent him from winning a truly decisive, war-ending victory...and allows Washington a chance for a minor but dramatic victory at Trenton to redeem a miserable year. Popular military history at its best.

I never thought I would ever finish this one. I'm not sure what caused me to delay picking it up each day or what kept me from being more interested. It is one of the parts of American history that I sadly admit to not being very well versed. I really would like to change that as the Revolutionary war ought to be at the forefront of what we, Americans, know about our heritage. It's definitely going to take more than a class in elementary school to spur on the younger generations to learn about their country and how it came to be free. This is what patriotism is all about and it is ever lacking today. This was my first time reading McCullough's work and maybe this one isn't his best. It will be some time before I decide to pick up another, but I will give him another shot. It was very extensively researched with so many documents and letters to draw from. Maybe I wanted more than just the one year highlighted, 1776. It reads like a story of the underdogs fighting against all odds to find their way against a very powerful and vast enemy. How the newly declared independent Americans ever found their footing and won this war, is truly remarkable based on descriptions here of how little training, supplies, and weapons they actually had.

Great history of the American Revolution with tons of quotes and stories that really illuminate the human side of the war. I wish there had been more about Indians and black slaves and how they served in the Continental Army. I also wish the author had tied the geography more into the present day landscape so we could picture where things are in relation to present day NYC.

"1776" is an interesting narrative covering the Revolutionary War from the Siege of Boston in late 1775, through the British victories in New York, to the successful American battles in windy, snowy weather in New Jersey. The war did not end until 1783, so this book only covers the historic year when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

It's a joy to read David McCullough's writing because he makes the historical figures seem so real with their strengths and flaws. The book is well-researched with many quotations from primary sources. "1776" concentrates on the military situation since McCullough wrote more about the politics of the time in another book.

The American army looked like a ragtag group of volunteers who had insufficient training, clothing, food, and weapons, but possessed ingenuity and spirit. The professional British troops (with the paid Hessians) had better training, good uniforms, and more weapons. The British also had the finest navy in the world which was especially advantageous in New York City which is surrounded on three sides by water.

The book included many illustrations of the main players of 1776, both American and British. Three period maps were also included, but some of the small print was difficult to read. Since I'm from the northeast, I was familiar with Boston, New York, and New Jersey. A reader from another country might want to find maps online to use with McCullough's excellent military descriptions. Overall, this was an engaging, well-written book.

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 takes Boston, gets his wooden teeth kicked in in New York, and comes back Rocky-style in New Jersey. A fascinating history, but I found myself, especially during the battle and marching scenes, wishing McCullough (or his publisher) had included more maps. This book only contains three facsimiles of maps which were drawn in 1776. They were mostly useless.

McCullough is known for his ability to make history come alive, and I was eager to see how he'd tackle the American Revolution.

The Good Stuff:

McCullough’s storytelling is top-notch. The man knows how to weave a tale. He zooms in on the pivotal moments of that year and makes you feel like you’re right there in the thick of things. The book focuses heavily on George Washington and his journey from a somewhat unsure leader to a figure of resilience and determination. It’s refreshing to see Washington portrayed not as an infallible hero but as a real person grappling with real challenges. McCullough paints a vivid picture of a man under immense pressure, which makes Washington much more relatable and human.

One of the things I loved about the book is the way McCullough uses letters and diary entries from the time. These personal snippets really bring the story to life and give you a sense of what people were feeling as events unfolded. It’s like getting a behind-the-scenes look at history, which I found both fascinating and engaging.

The descriptions of the battles and the conditions faced by the Continental Army are also well done. McCullough doesn't shy away from the gritty details, and he does an excellent job showing just how tough it was for these soldiers. Reading about the mud, the hunger, and the sheer exhaustion the troops faced gives you a newfound respect for what they endured. It's a gritty, no-holds-barred look at the reality of war during that time, and it makes you appreciate the stakes they were up against.

The Not-So-Good Stuff

This book focuses quite heavily on military strategy and battles. If you're a military history buff, you’ll probably love it. But I found myself wishing for a bit more context about what was happening beyond the battlefield. What were ordinary folks up to during all this? How were these events affecting everyday life? I felt like there was room for more exploration of the broader social and political climate of the time.

McCullough also tends to focus on the "big names" of history. Washington, of course, gets a lot of attention, but I would have loved to hear more about the unsung heroes of the Revolution. What about the women, Native Americans, and enslaved people who also had roles in these events? A little more variety in perspectives could have added more depth to the narrative.

All in all, McCullough’s writing is engaging, and his knack for storytelling shines through. He does a solid job portraying the drama and uncertainty of the Revolutionary War's early days, making you feel the weight of each decision and battle.

If you're interested in American history or enjoy books that make the past feel real and immediate, *1776* is definitely worth a read. Just be prepared for some heavy focus on military details and maybe keep a search engine handy for those moments when you need a little extra context.

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 see a man of much indecision, of undesired fame, and of questionable military ability. But we the readers are also struck by the image of this same man, riding his horse into battle alongside his half-naked, untrained, starving "soldiers", and singlehandedly inspiring them to fight and die for our freedom. And the events of that fateful year take on even more significance when one realizes that, as McCullough points out, Washington and his contemporaries were essentially committing high treason.

McCullough does it again !! His fascinating narrative about the trial and tribulations as Washington's troops suffer from the weather and defeats by the most powerful army in the world and still win is truly inspiring.

This is the first book of the nine I have read by David McCullough that I have not given either a four or five star rating. Three stars is a book I like but I do not think it compares well to his other books.

It isn't comprehensive enough. Why does he cover only the first year of the Revolutionary War? There is no explanation given. It actually starts with the Siege of Boston in the fall of 1775, yet it does not cover Bunker Hill or the Battle of Lexington which occurred earlier in the same year. We are delivered a snapshot, albeit a moving, well-told and accurate portrayal of the war's first year, but only the first year. It is a year of struggle and hardship and a battle against impossible odds. Ill-equipped, without adequate funds from Congress and a scarcity of trained officers, how could one successfully fight the British navy, army and hired mercenaries? George Washington, leader of the Continental Army, is perceptively portrayed, as well as the patriots Nathaniel Greene and Henry Knox. Washington's perseverance is what shines through. It is these three men that get the largest attention of the figures mentioned. The book reads as a mini-portrait of these three men during one year and a suite of battles. First the Siege of Boston. In New York the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, Kip's Bay, Harlem Heights followed by White Plains, all of which were lost during the three month period August through October of 1776. Fort Washington was surrendered in November, followed by the fall of Fort Lee without a fight. Enlistments expired. Men were without training, gunpowder, arms or even shoes. Filth and disease were the norm. Only finally at Trenton in New Jersey on December 26, 1976 was there a significant win. While McCullough does a good job of describing the conditions and the logistics of the battles, I’ll have to admit that battles are simply not my cup of tea.

The author reads his own audiobook. His voice is rather turbid, the effect being that occasionally I had difficulty hearing precisely what was said. The speed is slow, and I appreciated this. I liked how he read the quotes. Through his inflection the listener can hear exactly why he chose the quotes he did; through his intonation one understand their relevance and they do not sound dated. Few authors can read their own books as well as McCullough does. I would not avoid the audiobook because he has chosen to read it himself.

However, I must point out that it is very helpful to have maps. There are no PDF files accompanying this audiobook. I looked at maps in another book which I have - The American Revolution by Bruce Lancaster. This book follows the entire war from start to finish, from Lexington to Yorktown. For a book on George Washington I can recommend Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow.

I wanted more.

There are several reasons why I think this book is important, and it has a lot to do with the state of our schools. You've probably heard that public education in America is becoming more of a shambles each decade. I work at a college and often feel like I'm on the front lines of this battle. While we have a number of good students, we also have a fair number 18- and 19-year-olds who simply aren't prepared for higher education and who, if the economy weren't so degree-oriented, probably wouldn't choose to go to college at all. A number of factors have been blamed for the decline of American schools, but one of the biggest culprits in my opinion is the overemphasis on standardized testing, especially as codified by the dreadful No Child Left Behind Act.

Both students and teachers have complained that high schools place so much emphasis on memorizing facts for the annual tests that it leaves little room for critical thinking, or interesting stories of history and literature, or anything else that makes learning fun and inspiring. I think this is a travesty, and it's not just the students who are being cheated — it is all of society, because without an educated citizenry we are lost.

We. Are. Lost.

Every time I see the title of McCullough's book, 1776, it reminds me of this issue because of an incident in a colleague's classroom. An English professor was making a point about how people today rely so much on their smartphones and the Internet that no one bothers to remember anything anymore because they assume they can just Google it. The professor pointed out that this lack of internal knowledge can hinder understanding and complex thinking. As an example he asked his students when America was founded.

Dead silence.

There were about 30 students in the class, and none of them knew. The professor said, "Seriously? You don't know when our country was founded?" After a few more moments of silence a student meekly raised his hand and said, "If we didn't have to memorize it for the test, we probably don't know it."

Big sigh.

OK, boys and girls, America was founded on July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. This event happened in the midst of the American Revolutionary War, which is the focus of McCullough's book.

I wanted to read 1776 for several reasons. First, I had loved McCullough's biography on President Harry Truman and was eager to read more of his books. Second, it has been almost 20 years since I was in an American history class, and I wanted to revisit the details of how my country was founded. The stories, myths and legends about each nation are passed through the generations and become part of someone's culture and identity. I don't think these stories should be forgotten.

The book focuses on battles with the British between 1775 and 1777. It opens with a quote from a letter written by General George Washington in January 1776: "The reflection upon my situation and that of this army produces many an uneasy hour when all around me are wrapped in sleep. Few people know the predicament we are in."

Reading this book reminded me of how fragile America's independence was. Few of the "rebels" had military experience. Weapons and gun powder were in short supply. Because the colonial men had volunteered to fight, some resisted following military orders and didn't understand army discipline. Plus, the Brits controlled the sea. But for a few lucky turns of fate, the British might have won the war. McCullough concluded the book with this summation: "Especially for those who had been with Washington and who knew what a close call it was at the beginning — how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference — the outcome seemed little short of a miracle."

My favorite stories in the book were of the fortification of Dorchester Heights during the Siege of Boston, the Battle of Long Island and how the colonialists managed to retreat the entire Army in one night, and Washington's crossing of the Delaware. McCullough weaves a pleasant narrative and makes long-ago events seem very real. I liked his inclusion of quotes from letters, and the details of each military strategy, including how the weather was that day. And his description of Washington made me want to read a good biography about him.

I listened to this on audio CD, and McCullough is an excellent narrator. I highly recommend it to fans of history. Hooray for lifelong learning!

I've read this book once before years ago....
I had it on my shelf for quite some time. And I happened to pick it up just at the right time. While in the midst of reading the book. One day at work where I was selling mens clothes. Guess whom came wondering in with his godson, to buy him a sportcoat for his college graduation??? David McCullough! I had just moved to Massachusetts and I've been eying his books for years. When he gave his name for picking up the items needed tailoring... I was shocked and said something to the effect of "The historical nonfiction writer, David McCullough?" Then started my asking him all sorts of questions regarding the Revolutionary War, Boston, Massachusetts questions.... I had actually just watched the HBO series of 'John Adams' and had the book on my shelf too. So John, Sam, Abigail, and John Quincy Adams were in the mix too. "Who were the Minutemen?" "Do you think the Plymouth Plantation would've been more successful if they had settled in the Boston area first?" "Is history really fair with Squanto, or Tisquantum?" so many questions!!!!
By the way... He stayed an extra hour answering my questions, explained the locals, never was he impatient. He enjoyed talking about his expertise, his passion was showing throughout. His godson was paying attention and enjoying the conversation too.
Asking for an autograph didn't even come to my mind... Until I got home and saw his books! But instead of the signature... To this day, I will never forget him, I shall cherish and treasure that hour of conversation!
RIP David and peace for your family!

Absolutely loved this book. McCullough’s narrative skills are very good and keeps you engaged. I also didn’t think a book of only a few hundred pages would have enough material for me to learn stuff that I don’t already know but I was quite wrong. He shows tons of diary scripts from both American and British soldiers to show you exactly how they felt and what happened. I always enjoy history straight from a historical figure’s hand. He was also very descriptive on battle scenes to give more enlightenment on how terrible war really is.