An interesting companion read to standard histories & biographies of the revolutionary period. The author takes a deep dive into the sociological characteristics of pre revolutionary colonial society which provided the philosophical inspiration for the American Revolution. Unfortunately, several sweeping generalizations and a tendency for the writing to bog down into a slog made this a so-so read IMO. The book won a Pulitzer (go figure !)

Professor Wood is an emminant historian and has written an insightful work demonstrating that not only was the American Revolution a world political pardigm shift but that the subsequesnt invention of an all new republican democratic society was in itself an even greater and more radical change in society. The post-war destruction of the patronage systems and the then existing aristocracy, coupled with the advent of the personal work ethic and unquenchable desire to improve one's economic position lead to a society never seen before in the history of the world. America was an enormously diverse society as a colonial entity and becme united only by the mutual desire to be independent. Once the Revolutionary War was won the thin threads of unity frayed into an uncountable number of separate filaments. Jefferson believed that the government ought not be the center point of society and that each citizen should be free to form and follow their own beliefs. In retospect he succeeded beyond even his expectations resulting in a nation of astoundingly diverse peoples who, bound by their revolutionary mythology remain bound to the concept of one nation. A wonderful book that every high school student should read, as well as the rest of us.

Readable, provocative, and insightful. Wood’s Pulitzer was well-earned.

I can't say enough good things about this book. Not only is the writing itself engaging, and the organization excellent, but Wood is master of the complex. You won't find yourself choosing your side in a neatly laid out dichotomy here - America is not truly a country of classical virtue in the tradition of the great Roman statesmen OR truly a country where truth has been democratized and the common man elevated to destroy all class distinction. It is both and neither. Wood masterfully shows how the ideals of the founders were the real and powerful manifestation of all the great promises of the enlightenment, and how these enlightenment ideals could not but lay the seeds for their own undoing. America is the fulfillment of old promises by being the destruction of the social order that gave us such promises. You'll have to search within yourself to decide how you feel about that, and whether it was a good thing. Regardless, this book is a masterful exercise in what it means to put something in context.