This may not be the definitive book about the Revolutionary War, but it is a great place to start learning more about American History. It's meant to be a companion book to the biography "John Adams" and it serves its purpose well.

I like history, and I love the way that David McCullough conveys history not as a set of dates, places, and events, but as stories. He brings each historical figure to life and has a unique way of teaching history that I think most readers will enjoy.

Do yourself a favor and pick up "John Adams" too and read them both.

This is a heckuva well researched book. In terms of content, it can't be beat. The writing tends to be a bit uneven at times, with sentences that seem to lack flow and rhythm, but McCullough is first and foremost a historian and not a stylist.

Overall, 1776 deserves high praise.

Wonderfully researched by McCullough's staff and various librarians all over America and the UK. This book is worth purchasing used if only for the bibliography, which covers more than 20 pages. Alas, Pulitzer Prize & National Book Award winning author, David McCullough delivers by far the weakest presentation of material I've yet to read by him. Truman and John Adams are towering works and Mornings on Horseback is an excellent read. I've not read any of his other books.

1776 is a short, quick, unchallenging read about a particular aspect of an extraordinarily important period in American history. McCullough does not concern himself beyond the most perfunctatorial mentioning of anything besides the struggle between the American army under General George Washington and the British army it opposed in Boston, in and around New York City and in New Jersey. From rousing victory without bloodshed to crushing and repeated defeats to tide-turning and decisive victory.

McCullough's presentation is dutiful and repetitive. Only General Washington is delineated with any particular effort. Other important personages are presented with an offhanded chattiness just barely this side of cuteness. The miserableness of the American army is incessantly referred to, as is the commonness of it's soldiers. McCullough seems to have an almost perverse insistance that American freedom was bought with the blood of the most vulgar wretches imaginable; the lowest of the low. Duly noted. Wars are rarely fought by the rich and there was nothing profoundly patriotic or "American" about the peasantry of nation taking up arms to defend it's land. What's your point, Mr. McCullough?

This is McCullough's only effort and describing battle tactics and events that I'm aware of and he does not equip himself well. He fails to convey with any clarity the lay of the land, intended tactics or actual troop movements. He describes land only very generally, general orders vaguely and troop movements hurridly. To read the seige of Boston & battles of New York and New Jersey, I would recommend using the internet for area maps, specific orders and other helpful clarifying information. It may well be McCullough's strength lay much more in biography (Adams, Truman, T. Roosevelt, Brave Companions subjects) and topical history (Brooklyn Bridge, Johnstown Flood and Panama Canal) than in the minutae of military history.

McCullough's tone is relaxed and chatty to a fault. I like my history as easily digestable as the next guy but there is a fine line between popular history and a downright commercial presentation deliberately designed to capitalize on the author's popularity. For all of the research, there is very little hard history here. Furthermore, it has been my experience that Revolutionary War history, both militarily and politically, is best understood by reading biographies of the principal participants, particularly Washington, Andrew Hamilton, Adams, Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson because a well written biography inevitably places the subject in the larger context of their time. This is not a necessary read as the same information can be had with a reading any one of the several excellent biographies of Washington availiable in conjuction with a familiarity with the numerous websited that delineate in excruciating detail the actual events of the battles outlined in this book.

1776 is an excellent piece of literature. From page 1 you are transported back to this most important time in our history. I found this to be a fascinating work, one that should be read by all Americans. Especially during this, an election year. Bravo ! I look forward to reading all of David McCullough's masterpieces.

I was surprised to know what really happened in 1776. It was a great year with many challenges. I enjoyed reading this book.

I think McCullough's living on his reputation with this one. A good bit of information, but not a lot of sense of history or the events or the people. Whoever wrote this for him didn't do a great job. I read this after Ellis' American Creation and the contrast was shattering.

A very well written book full of life and history. Very few writers can put together a historical moment without making it look like a text book. I felt as though I was living in the moment looking around me, even feeling the temperature. The book draws you in. Great read.

One can only wonder why it has taken so long for a popular historian to describe even modestly the predominant political position of the British with regards to the American revolution.

One can only wonder why McCullough most conspicuously avoids the psychology of the average American recruit and why he does not delve deeper into the psychology of Tory sympathizers.

I find it preposterous to believe that I am the only reader that observed the extreme shortcoming in the book in that it did not address the psychological differences of Americans in 1776 and those in 2008. How can that revolution have happened? Who financed it? Who organized it? They had the highest stardard of living of any of the British colonies, life was good, land was cheap, an entire vast wilderness awaited their adventure and explortion and yet they chose war over what today seems a trifle of a tax? I'm not buying it.

Most Americans today have silently and seditiously condoned the most heinous terrorist attacks against them. Preponderence of evidence continues to gather that Israel and Zionist forces within the United States orchestrated the cold-blooded murderous attacks of 911 leading to the manipulation of our armed forces into unwinnable Middle Eastern religious wars for Israel. The United States government, its mainstream media and financial institutions have all been taken over by a deceptive, murderous and wicked apartheid abomiNation Israel and yet Americans mostly do nothing. I find it hard to believe that American male character and integrity could have so drastically changed in so little time but McCullough leads us to believe this is so.

Two-hundred and thirty-two years is too short a time for Americans to have degraded from brave Patriots fighting trifling tyranny in the form of a trifling tax to being slave whores cowering in their mortgaged hovels warmed by the steady propaganda streaming from their sludge pump televisions.

Don't judge McCullough's book by the shallow descriptions in it but condemn it for his failure to include the imperative pyschological analysis of Americans it lacks. This is a book for retards desperate for any reinfocement of their childish yearnings for fairlytales.

Regular readers of this space will recognize that I spend a fair amount of time discussing the lessons of, or looking at specific aspects of, the three great European revolutions- the English, French and the Russian. I have also given a fair amount of space to the grandeur of the American Civil War. I have, in contrast, tended to give short shrift to the virtues of the American Revolution. This is flat out wrong. Thus, over the past couple of years I have tried to rectify that slight by increasing the amount of space given over to various aspects of the American Revolution, mainly biographic sketches. Today I continue that shift with a review of the well-known historian and documentary narrator David McCullough's 1776.

Part of the reason for selecting Mr. McCullough's work is the personal need to go over again the specifics of the revolutionary period. You know, the battle of this or that, or some military operation led whomever. However, the more pressing reason is that Mr. McCullough has written an important book centered on detailing the creation of the American revolutionary national liberation army, its trials, tribulations and faults. Moreover, McCullough has written his narrative of events in an easy to follow way, including some very insightful commentary about various turning points in the revolutionary experience, like the effect of the Declaration of Independence on the morale of the troops in the field.

The key to understanding the eventual success of the American colonial struggle against bloody England was the coalescing of a ragtag, localized basically oversized weekend militia into first a New England- wide then a continent-wide army worthy of the name. Along the way cadres were formed that saw the struggle through to the end. No revolutionary movement can be successful without that accrual. The case of Henry Knox, local Boston bookseller turned military magician, bringing captured cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston in order to help `push' the British out of Boston is just the most dramatic case of such cadre development

Equally as important, the names Washington, Gates and Knox and lesser cadre keep coming up repeatedly during this narrative, and rightly so. That points to the decisive question that the narration of events here turn on- leadership at crunch time. A whole school of historians, at one time at least, tended to diminish the role that Washington played in keeping these ragtag forces together. McCullough, rightly I think, challenges that assumption and places the Washington leadership as a key component to success.

McCullough, moreover, intentional or not, through his narrative not only traces the development of Washington as a leader in the abstract but how he fares during the various campaigns. Thus we are treated to the high of his maneuvers in the key fight that led to the evacuation of Boston by the British, and then the low of the shifting of the struggle to the south with the devastating initial colonial defeats in the greater New York area when British imperialism go into high gear and applied its muscle.

Thereafter McCullough details the various retreats down through New Jersey and ends the year with the famous Battle of Trenton that was key to the survival of the revolutionary army in its first year. The narrative breaks off there. Although the opponents slugged it out for several more years the maintenance of a functioning revolutionary army in the field at that point points positively toward the conclusion that victory was possible. Read this book and learn about some of our common revolutionary history.

David McCullough is a national treasure... and so is this book. You learn just how close we came to losing our battle against the British during this perilous time in our history.

As luck would have it, I had a monthly flying schedule that included trips to New York's La Guardia airport when I was reading this book. The standard arrival from the south (I was flying from Miami) has you descend past the statue of Liberty, north along the Hudson, east around Yonkers and south to land on runway 22. As I made this trip, I often used the imagery provided by McCullough's vivid account to imagine what it would have been like to see all those British ships waiting to invade the city. I also remember his description of the retreat of Washington's Army through what is today Harlem and try to imagine how the two Armies could have been so close to each other and yet not seen each other. I have tried to create the same powerful imagery in my own novel, "Delta 7." Hopefully, I have succeeded.

McCullough also does a masterful job of recreating the turmoil facing Washington and the important leaders of the time as they struggled against meager financing, short-term volunteer fighters, weather, and a well-trained and equipped English Army.

A great read!

I'd read some Revolutionary War books before, but after hearing all the hype of 1776 I thought I'd give it a read. It was such a refreshing and new take on a war fought so long ago in a time so very different from our own. The author explains the roots of the war so the reader has a full knowledge of what spurned the movement for independence. I had never realized how reluctant yet dedicated a leader Washington was. I earned a new respect for this character that most now only associate with a $1 bill. The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars was that it ended too abruptly and left me wanting more! Thankfully, I found some other great books to see me through until the end.

Rarely does a book live up to all the hype but this one clearly does.

A very readable history, of THE famous year, that makes George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,, Benjamin Franklin, and so many others very human and fascinating. As soon as I scarfed it down, I sent it to my Seabee son serving in Iraq, a proud patrio. He accidentally showed it to his roomie who can't put it down. So my son is waiting patiently to see it. He's riding convoy security outside the wire, so you may understand why I'm happy to send him anything distracting for the few down hours he has. This does the trick beautifully!! This is a page turner that details amazing feats of battle, ingenuity, desperation, and triumph in the face of overwhelming odds, disease, and pitiful conditions. I'm left feeling that we modern, watered-down Americans need to all discover our past. I feel so rich having done so.

Trouble is, now I want to know what happened the other five years of the war--how exactly DID Washington and the foreparents turn that impossible feat around?? I can't believe my son in one war has turned me on to the war that makes us all willing to risk precious lives to defend the freedoms won in it. I'm ashamed it took so long~

There is little I can add that other reviewers haven't already said, so I'll keep my comments brief. "1776" is a focused history, primarily of the events of that year, but more specifically of George Washington's leadership of the ragtag Continental Army through the most critical phase of the battle for independence. Other personages like Nathanael Greene and Henry Knox figure very prominently, as do British commanders like the brothers Howe (general William and admiral Richard).

The narrative picks up in the summer of 1775, just after Bunker Hill, with the appointment of Washington to lead the American army, such as it was in those days. It then traces through the siege of Boston and the capture of Dorchester Heights, through the catastrophic New York campaign and retreat through New Jersey, and culminates with the American victories at Trenton and Princeton. The story ends there rather abruptly. From beginning to end the tale is told from both the American and British perspective, from the highest commanders to the lowest foot soldiers.

Through it all, Washington is without a doubt the central personality on display. The strength of his character and resolve shine through in the face of myriad adversities, the failures of his ragamuffin troops, and his own occasional military ineptitude. McCullough strikes a trustworthy historical balance between the adulation afforded Washington in his times of success, to the doubts of those same admirers in his times of failure. Drawing heavily on primary sources in the form of preserved letters and diaries, both from Washington and those who surrounded him, McCullough paints an accurate and realistic portrait of the one man who, more than any other, can rightly be credited with saving the cause of American independence, by the grace of God.

My only criticism, and it is a minor one, is that I would have preferred that McCullough expand the end of the narrative to provide a synopsis of the remaining war years. Of course, this was evidently beyond the scope of what the author intended, so I'll have to look elsewhere for that portion of the history. What McCullough gave us, however, was brilliantly done, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know what REALLY happened during that crucial year.

As an undergraduate History student you would not think I would want to read historical books in my free time. I had a professor suggest this book to me and it took two years after for me to finally pick it up but I am so glad I did. It has instantly become one of my favorite books and I have already bought more of David McCullough books and look forward to reading all of them.

Being a student of medicine and not American history, 1776 reawakened the collegiate interest that I had in American Revolutionary History in years past. While I am not knowledgable enough to be critical of previously reviewed shortcomings in detail and anacronism, I did develop a richness of appreciation for the story told, and further, developed a distinct understanding of the reasons why our current Administration decided to redeploy the First Union Jack, a standard from this period, on all of its Navy vessels since September 11, 2001. The probability of our fledgling Nation's rag-tag militias' ability to overcome a professional British Army is analogous to our current day probability of overcoming the barbarity and threat of Islamo-fascism and its global extent...a very tough uphill battle indeed, and in some minds, undo-able without divine providential assistance. 1776 should be read with the risk to our current-day liberties in mind. Few tell the story as well as McCullough, both in text and in the audiobook. I consider myself privileged, as a doctor of medicine, to have been a student of Dr. Benjamin Rush Jr., the great great great grandson of Dr. Rush, the Declaration signer. As if that were not enough, I recently discovered, while reading 1776, that my closest college friend, a Richard Henry Lee of NJ, just happens to be the great great great grand nephew of Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, another Declaration signer. I find the level of detail utilized by McCullough to be more than adequate for the purposes of alerting 21st century Americans to the fierce fight had in 1776, and how similar will be that fight to the fight we have before us to save our great Nation from Islamic barbarism.

I loved this book! I was so caught up in every element of the story. If I hadn't known that we had won our independence from Great Britain, I would never have imagined as I read this book that we could and did. It looked very bad for us until the last part of this book. A sheer delight! I didn't really care for American history growing up, although I was fascinated with European history. This book by David McCullough has changed my mind completely. Extremely well-written. The characters just come alive. I will be purchasing "John Adams" by McCullough next.

I was moved by the John Adams miniseries, and by my lack of knowledge about exactly what happened in the Revolutionary War after Concord and Lexington, to give this book a try. I found it to be an excellent book of its type. In particular, I admired what seemed to me a balanced presentation of the people and events. The author plainly holds George Washington in the highest esteem, but he shows his flaws and misjudgments as well as his triumphs with equal equanimity. One never feels that facts are being squeezed, highlighted or cajoled to fit a preconceived theme.

In addition, I found the depth of coverage just right for me. Not superficial, but not mindnumbing superflous detail either. The year 1776 is delivered as promised, and I learned a lot---relatively painlessly---by reading this book.

Ultimately, though, it is a straightforward history and, as such, was somewhat dry for my tastes, which run more towards historical fiction. I have no criticism of the author's presentation---to the contrary, it was impressive and reasonably engaging. While I was never at risk of not finishing, I would never describe the book as "hard to put down," and had no regrets when the year came to an end.

I read 1776 just prior to going to Washington DC last summer for an internship. I wanted to immerse myself in some of America's heritage prior to visiting some of the historic sites that I undoubtedly would see. McCullough's account of our country's beginnings didn't disappoint in the least.

This historical narrative brings the larger-than-life characters of the Revolution and humanizes them. While McCullough doesn't over-glorify the founding fathers, he doesn't fall into the increasingly prevalent trap of disparaging them either. In this account we meet our country's first military heroes: George Washington, Nathanial Greene, Henry Knox, and yes, even a little of Benedict Arnold.

1776 gives a snapshot of some of the more important occurrences surrounding the Revolution. The following are a sampling of subjects that are expounded on:

* King George III and the general attitudes in Britain
* Early skirmishes and battles of the Revolution
* Inter-lobbying and contention within the continental army
* The hanging of Nathan Hale
* The personal struggles and triumphs of General Washington

I was saddened when the book came to a close. The account thoroughly captures a time when there were many incredible minds at work for our nation. I would love to see McCullough write a complete account of the entire ordeal, but I can only imagine what a mammoth volume that would have to be. Highly recommended!

1776 was a great book to see what was happening on both sides of the Revolutionary War. Especially useful were the journal entries of the common man/soldier. Reading the book was a pleasure, since it moved fast but gave great details, especially if you like trivia. I kept a map of the East Coast for reference and comparison. I great gift for a history buff.

If you have a few minutes and want to read a book that develops the characters well, provides beautiful scenery for the telling of the tale and blends the reality of the Revolutionary War with the hindsight of the patriotism and majesty of the time....this one is for you. David McCullough is an old hand at historical works and it shows.

The details in his research are apparent; for example, in the description of the buttons worn by each regiment on their uniforms, or the style of fighting for each group as it contributed to the American victory. I am always surprised at the sheer luck of our men during the Revolutionary war, and Mr McCullough deftly points out that time and time again.

Particularly, the fog and how it assisted Washington as he rolls across into New York, or the heavy artillery that is an off the cuff remembrance that eventually leads to a winning bluff at Dorchester Heights, outside of Boston. It is these small remarks that add up to an essential read, especially if you do not have time to read the entire Harvard study of the American Revolution.

David McCullough is as good as anyone at turning history into a gripping narrative. I felt that after the first 100 pages or so, this book was a riveting and informative read. It was a bit slow to start as McCullough set the scene for the eventful year of 1776. But once he got into it, it never stopped, from the British evacuating Boston, to the battles for control of New York, to "Common Sense" and "Crisis," down to the dramatic conclusion of the middle-of-the-night attacks in New Jersey. Of course those were not conclusions to anything, and the end of the book left me wanting more. But he accomplished his objective by producing a terrific book.

This was my first McCullough Novel and it won't be my last. There are other better and more detailed reviews around so I won't bore one with mine other than to say that the book started off a little slow, but the last few chapters, in my opinion at least, were riveting! I absolutely loved McCullough's story-telling style and I enjoyed this book. There are parts in the book where one could see everything: the horses, the canons, the Redcoats, the stress, the cold, his Majesty (Washington, of course).

I couldn't agree more with one of the reviewers who wrote that "'1776' shows off a brilliant historical prospective combined with blazing narrative that gives both insight and character to the important revolutionary events it chronicles.' My opinion of this book might me slightly "tainted" on the positive side as I like Mr. McCullough as a person, and I like reading his books. Mr. McCullough took a back seat and let the documents he has meticulously researched speak for themselves. It is both a very interesting read and also a great source of historical information. Another great book is Team of Rivals

I was so excited to get this book and begin reading it. I soon found myself drudging along much like the tale of the patriot armies. I realize that history is not at all glamorous and perhaps, I just don't know enough of this time period to appreciate what McCullough discussed; however, this book just killed all my interest. It also seemed that McCullough had a very biased view of Washington and connotes the events of the time as the patriots just persevered out of dumb luck. Is this perception really the truth? It seems that it is most likely one man's opinion. As with all history, we may never know the whole truth. I am going to have to go read another book on this era, as I am still trying to finish this one. I guess I actually expected this to be well-written and it was not. Not recommended for your average reader.

One good thing of this book is that there are some interesting details that I did learn (hardships, locations, who the players were) and that I appreciate the illustrations included in the book as they help relate the topic sometimes.

"1776" is a book written by historian David McCullough, a fairly quick look at the year that was instrumental in The American Revolution. This was the year that taught Britain that their colony in the New World was serious about succeeding from the mother country, and they had the military nerve and daring to fight the war. What the Americans didn't have was food, supplies, and moral. The book takes great pains to show just how bad off the Americans were, with desertion high, disease decimating the ranks, and inexperienced (though mostly far from incompetent) leadership. The English didn't take the rebel threat seriously, an so was as shocked at the amazing string of wins and stalemates that the enemy produced. There is great attention paid to the major players of the war, George Washington is actually shown as highly intelligent, though sometimes indecisive at the wrong moment. Henry Knox and Nathanael Greene also get a fair amount of attention as they should have. There is also a lot of time spent with blue blooded English gentlemen generals Howe and Clinton, showing them as real live human beings instead of slaving monsters that they are sometimes portrayed as. The military highlights are of course the fight for Dorchester Heights and Boston, Battle of Long Island, the skirmishes of Fort Washington and Fort Lee, and finally The Battle of Trenton. If there is any problem with this book, it is that for me, it never really covered any new ground. But it is still a useful resource for anyone who want to know a bit more about this pivotal year. I really thnk it deserves three and a half stars, but it is interesting to someone who is pretty new o the subject.

McCullough is one of my favorite historians. Excellent historical research and a very readable style. He narrates this set, and he reads as well as he writes! The detail and the use of quotations from letters and documents of the people involved add to the quality of the story and the personal feel of the narrative.

One of the most interesting history books I have read. It's a great perspective on our country's first leader and the unlikelyhood of the American Army actually winning the war. Yet, through Washington's efforts, instinct, knowledge, and lots of luck...we now live in the United States.

The first thing that struck me upon reading 1776 was McCullogh's engaging style. Always ready with a deft turn of phrase, and seamlessly integrating period quotations into the narrative, McCullough's skills as a writer shine through in this volume.

His research was obviously painstaking, and he provides rare (for an American reader) insights into the lives and thoughts of British soldiers. McCullough's respect for the men and women who faced such hardships is evident throughout; it's a refreshing change of pace from some recent deconstructionist fare.

That's not to say McCullough holds the Americans up on a pedestal and refuses to criticise where warranted. He indicates clearly where the inexperience or inability of the American commanders contributed to a series of defeats throughout the summer of the year, and is matter-of-fact regarding issues like discipline and sanitation, the lack of which plagued the American army constantly.

While focusing on the war effort, this is not an entirely "military" book, and those without an interest in military history should enjoy it as well. At times I felt the descriptions of the battle preparations were a bit too labored (particularly in the chapters preceeding the battle of New York), but by and large McCullough keeps the narrative moving along smartly and doesn't rely too heavily on technical terms that someone unfamiliar with the period would find difficult.

In this very insightful narrative on the struggle for American independence during its infancy, McCullough once again makes history accessible and entertaining.

I graduated with a history degree from a reputable university and I now teach history. I'm saddened at how much about our Revolution I never knew. This book is masterful and essential. It is the second of his works that I have read (The Johnstown Flood) and they were both brilliant. If he's not the best non-fiction author in the world, I'd like for you to please email me someone who is better. This book is fantastic, and you'll be just like I was when I read it: astonished at reality versus fiction, regarding our war for independence.

My husband got this book for Christmas from my family, but he's not yet had the chance to read it. I recently read some academic books & thought this may be a good read too.

1776 is a wonderfully descriptive tome that brings home the history of our country.

This book is absolutely a must read for everyone in this country, born & bred or recently emmigrated & looking to understand our great history of perseverance & patience.

The story has been well covered in most of the reviews already posted on this book so no need to reiterate further. This is a brilliant work by David McCullough on several levels. The research is informative and interesting without being mundane while the writing style is smooth, easy, comfortable and quick, yet, it grabs the reader and builds tension, fear and anticipation in such a subtle manner. One must wonder how it was possible for the Americans to have won such a war, against all odds, without divine intervention. Of course, most rational people will dismiss such a notion yet, many will entertain the thought thanks to the storytelling skill in this book. Great book, one for the home library for sure.
Steven Bustin, Author: Humble Heroes, How The USS Nashville CL43 Fought WWII.
Humble Heroes: How the USS Nashville CL43 Fought WWII

Having never read anything more about the revolution or George Washington outside of the basic history texts in school, I was very ignorant of this pivotal period in our nation's history.

From the very beginning I was captivated, devouring every word. In the end I was left amazed and incredibly grateful for George Washington's devotion to the cause of liberty. I cannot imagine another man leading the nation during the Revolution.

David McCullough is a master storyteller. When General Washington led his troops across the Delaware for a surprise attack that would turn the tide of the war, Mr. McCullough made you FEEL the cold, the numbness and pain of the shoeless soldiers, the sting of the driving snow in their eyes, and the hopes, fears, cowardice, and stunning bravery of all involved.

This is an excellent book that left me wishing only that it was expanded in scope to include the entire revolution. A 5-star masterpiece.

I try to read a wide variety, toggling between fiction and non-fiction, self help, biographies and history, technical, etc. To give you an idea of how impressed I was; After reading 1776, I was hungry for more from David MCullough. Since, I have read The Great Bridge (Brooklyn Bridge) and the Path Between The Seas (Panama Canal). Soon I will be reading his John Adams. 1776 is a marvelous telling of the events of 1776. I had no idea! The book is easy to read and understand and it provides so much insight into the Revolution, I feel I have been ignorant for too many years. It presents the story without partiality. If you believe that conflicts start for legitimate reasons on both sides, if you want to know more than just the superficial information, this book is exactly for you. Best of all, it reads like fiction. I had an incredibly hard time putting it down. I was disappointed when the book had to end. What an enjoyable experience.

This is a well paced book. It is never dull, and provides a lot of insight and detail including personal insight from Washinton, et al. It is easy going as well as informative and entertaining.

A gripping account of the military activities which occured during the year 1776. The focus is on General Washington in his darkest hours, with his subordinates doubting him and his untrained troops forced to retreat again and again.

The story is told in an interesting, fast-paced way. In a somewhat "Ken Burns" style, passages from letters and diaries of the participants are used throughout.

If, like me, you are not well versed in Revolutionary War history, it's worth noting that this book does not cover the entire war; only the events of 1776. But, that being said, I found this book to be well written, well researched, and exciting to read. The descriptions of the locations will also be extremely interesting to you if you have spent much time in Boston, New York, or New Jersey.

David McCullough is a very talented writer. In this book he takes a critical year in the American Revolution. McCullough takes the reader on a journey through the crucial year of losses for the great General Washington.

This book was very informative and reminds or informs readers for the first time that George Washington was not an experienced commander and Washington and his top generals learned from their failures, especially in 1776. 1776 is known by most because of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, although it was not a great year militarily for the young country. The book starts out with the successful seige of Boston, and reminds many of the defeats at NY and NJ (both humiliating as the young Americans were outnumbered, outflanked, and outsmarted).

The victory at Trenton and Princeton near the end of the year were inspiring to the Americans and gave them hope through the long winter.

McCullough leaves no stone unturned in this book. McCullough shows the reader the difficulty of the conditions and makes a point that is not emphasized enough about Washington. Washington did not have to lead the army for all those difficult years. McCullough reminds everyone that Washington could have left his post and led a happier life in his beloved Mount Vernon, anyone who has read about Washington knows that this was not really an option for the great leader because of his great belief in the American way of life.

This is a must read for those interested in the details of the American Revolution that succeeded against all odds (which McCullough also puts a great emphasis on).

If you want to know the deal about the American Revolution Wat grab a copy of this and get up to speed on how it as. great book

I was never a fan of American history until I read this book. If you are at all interested in learning about this year in American history, please buy this book. It was very well worth my time and money.

25 years ago I didn't pay attention at all in high school history class but I sure am rivited by this stuff now. I laughed. I cried. What drama! The book isn't about the entire Revolutionary War, just the events of 1776. I feel a much closer connection to the people of that time. An American all my life and yet I had no clue. I am very glad I purchased and read 1776. Gain a new perspective.

This is a very well written book. It goes over what we know (or should know) but in a fresh and very exciting way. A must read and a great way to get kids interested in history.

This book gives a remarkable and vivid description of the daily events of this momentous year. Fortunately we know the outcome or would otherwise be sure that the brave endeavour could not succeed. The characters and their interactions are well drawn, the adversities faced are terrifying giving the aspect of a thriller rather than a historical account.

I was dying to get a copy of this book. When I finally got it I could not wait to dive in. I dove in and it was ok. I figured it just started slow and dry. I month or two later I tried it again from the beginning. I made it a few chapters farther. However I could not stay interested no matter how hard I tried. I have read history books and been captivated. I was never captivated. I feel really bad because I nagged my father in law for this book. I recently tried to pick up where I left off and was literally put to sleep. :-(

This book is full of historical facts. It is thick and not a simple read, but full of good information.

David McCullough is the preeminent historian of our day. Whether he is recounting the events of a catastrophy, such as the Johnstown Flood, the triumph of ingenuity in building of the Panima Canal, or telling the detailed lives of such men as Harry S. Truman or John Adams, McCulough is always thorough, insightful and captivating. "1776," his treatment of the early days of our fledgling nation is no less satisfying. Infact, it is made more so because the Simon and Schuster audio presentation is read by the author himself.
The year 1776 was critical to the future of the newly proclaimed independent republic. Though centering primarily on the uncertainties of George Washington precariously leading his rag-tag army of farmers and fishermem to resist the 18th Century's most powerful army, the British, McCullough, through the use of journals, personal correspondences,and historical documents, gives the "reader" a wonderful perspective of not only the major players of the events, their vunerablities and weaknesses, but also the less famous, less familiar, ordinary men and women who were participants in the times and upon whom the events most effected. His telling of the story is both painfully truthful and warmly inspiring. He speaks frankly about the numerous times Washington was out-generaled and the subsequent self-doubt with which the future first President struggled. He also relates, with growing suspense, the out-maneuvering Washington did against the Bristish when he was able to fortify the heights overlooking Boston harbor with cannons captured from Fort Ticonderoga in New York. The connon implacements which looked down at the British navy, anchored and vulnerable in the harbor below, was a brilliant stroke of cunning, military stealth and great good fortune. The advantage the Colonists gained from their midnight maneuvers forced the overconfident British, come dawn, to abandon their seige of the City of Boston.
"1776" is simply put, another masterpiece from the hand, mind, and heart of the master. It is apparent that David McCulough loves history and he especialy loves American History. History in the hands of such a writer and researcher becomes a contagion in the minds of his readers. I cannot recommend the work "1776" with any stronger enthusiasm. For anyone who is interested in American History, the miracle of how our nation came into existence, overcoming outrageous odds or the political climate and intricacies of how world events played upon each other, in the unfolding events of that pivital year, David McCullough's "1776" is a must for one's audio and paper-bound library. It truly is extraordinary!

Today, we celebrate 1776, and more specifically the 4th of July as the birthday of American freedom, the day that the American colonists courageously stood up to the most powerful monarch on the planet and declared the independence of the thirteen British colonies on the Eastern seaboard of North America.

The truth of the matter is that, even on that hot Philadephia day in July, the future of freedom in America was far from secure. The American Revolution had barely started and, only ten months before King George III had vowed before Parliament that the colonies would remain in the British Empire, and had dispatched the world's most powerful Navy and Army, backed up by some well-paid Hessians, to make sure that his will would be followed.

In 1776, David McCullough tells the story of that year and of a military campaign that, but for fortunate leadership and even more fortunate luck, could very easily have ended in disaster and snuffed the infant nation in it's sleep.

The year started out well enough. The Continental Army, newly under the command of George Washington, had stood down the British in Boston and forced them to retreat from the city. That victory, though, came without a decisive battle and was merely a prelude to the confrontation that would come in New York.

For a time, New York was secure but that proved to be quickly short-lived when the British Army and Navy appear off the coast and quickly land on Long Island. What follows is a tale of what can only be called ineptness at times. The Americans were always outmanned and outgunned by the British but, on more than one occasion, the defeat they would suffer would be the result of bad decisions, even bad decisions by Washington himself.

In the end, Washington was forced to retreat. First out of New York, and then clear across New Jersey and the Delaware River. It was only thanks to an attack on Trenton that combined equal degrees of bravery and audacity that the Americans were able to end the year on a high note, even if the war itself didn't end for another six years.

As with everything else McCullough has written, 1776 is both informative and enjoyable. Someone once said that history is a story, and McCullough does a great job of telling this one in a way that makes you want to keep reading on, even though we all know how the story ultimately ends. If nothing else, the book will make you appreciate just how brave the men who fought for American freedom were, and just how lucky we are they that they were successful.

I really enjoyed this entire audio book. The author read it well and the pace was ideal. I appreciated the lack of sound effects and found the CDs and audio to be of good quality. There are those who say the story is narrow and limited, but not even a history book can cover all aspects of an event or mention every player. McCullough focused on a specific group of participants in only one year of the war. It was informative, surprising, warm and educational. The audio book is great... so enthralling you won't even know you're learning something. Recommended.

This is a terrific book that brings some of the most dramatic moments in the war of independence to life. If you're interested in how this country started, this is a good book to read.

It's people like David McCullough that manage to bring American History alive once more.

I remember sitting in American History class, bored to tears by the dryness of the whole thing, knowing it was vastly important, yet no stimulus was forthcoming from the instructors, further compounded by being too young to care. Perhaps, most of us just need to get older to appreciate what we have, what was given us by our predecessors, but whatever the reason, David McCullough opened the door of my jaded imagination to a vibrantly alive century long past, full of real people, feet of clay, possessing all the human frailties, yet coming together across racial, social, and intellectual lines, doing an impossible job against all odds, under the worst possible conditions, and triumphing in the end simply because they refused to recognize defeat, even as it surrounded them from every direction.

Two facts that starkly stand out in the whole mix: The patriots Knox and Greene, neither of them gentlemen by birth in the accepted way, possessing no great wealth, nor education, became two of the major components behind Washington that granted him the victory. Perhaps in other times, they, endowed of such natural talent would have been entirely overlooked. American ingenuity, one of our greatest strengths, was born out of them to us - on the spur of the moment, out of pressing necessity - with nothing more asked - or to be gained, other than death - than the passion (no other word will do) to support a new idea - Freedom.

We all know what the outcome was, so I won't bore any of you with more of that in my own heartfelt review of the book. What I really wished to convey to any reader, especially a younger one, who may not have opened the pages as yet - is that it will bring a new generation to experience anew the sense of pride that most of us as American's feel, and do it in a way that is truly "readable".

What a book - written by someone who leaves "dry" at home and digs down deep into the "human experience" to tell us the vibrant story about the courage that slumbers until needed - among a people who possess the desire to live free.

We weren't "Born Free" - it was won "for us" by others long gone - let's never forget.

There has probably been enough written about this book to fill more pages than the book itself. Of all the military books I have read, this book more than any other brought the information alive. The way writing was beyond excellent and the information presented in an engaging manner. Obviously this book represents General Washington and the American cause in a positive manner. That's not to say that it glosses over any of Washington's mistakes. On the contrary the author is quick to point out the general's mistakes and weaknesses. But as history would prove, Washington did enough right to survive 1776 and all the events of that dramatic year to keep an army in the field. Keeping the Continental Army in the field was most likely the single most important achievement of George Washington's tenure as Commander and Chief, during the war years. The book gives you insight into the lives of both officers and enlisted while maintaining it's focus on the overall impact of the decisions made during each chapter. It's difficult to write a review for a book that has already won the Pulitzer Prize. All this reviewer can really say is that all the accolades this book has received were very much deserved