David McCullough

Chronicles the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the Wright brothers, sharing insights into the disadvantages that challenged their lives and their mechanical ingenuity. By the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning author of Truman.

The Wright Brothers

How long can a brother be in France for?? 

Finn James

Pratik M

Interestingly, I went from reading this book to Mary Roach's Packing for Mars. David McCullough's style, of course, is more descriptive from a historian's point of view. He dwells mostly on the period when the Wright Brothers worked tirelessly to invent their contraption that led to human flight. 

He does offer painstaking details in documenting their efforts at developing their invention but Wright brothers didn't accord him much drama to get excited about. Perhaps that's a good thing but the Kitty Hawk experiments were vividly described and perhaps were the best part of the book; after which it starts to lag. I preferred McCullough's John Adams but perhaps that was the nature of the time period he was writing about. Getting excited by brothers who undoubtedly worked hard and by the dint of their labor and ingenuity gave us the greatest invention of all perhaps wasn't meant to be. 

Overall, I would still recommend this book just so you can learn more about the process of invention which mostly isn't about one 'Eureka' moment but hours of continually slaving over and perfecting your invention to solve one tiny problem. Rest may or may not fall in place. All said and done, they were still the Wright stuff!

Tony McCollum

Another outstanding book by the masterful David McCullough. It's hard to imagine this book not winning a Pulitzer Prize.

Incredible first half. Second half felt slow. Still really worth reading if you care about making things and scientific progress.

The #1 New York Times bestseller from David McCullough, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize—the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly—Wilbur and Orville Wright. On a winter day in 1903, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, two brothers—bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio—changed history. But it would take the world some time to believe that the age of flight had begun, with the first powered machine carrying a pilot. Orville and Wilbur Wright were men of exceptional courage and determination, and of far-ranging intellectual interests and ceaseless curiosity. When they worked together, no problem seemed to be insurmountable. Wilbur was unquestionably a genius. Orville had such mechanical ingenuity as few had ever seen. That they had no more than a public high school education and little money never stopped them in their mission to take to the air. Nothing did, not even the self-evident reality that every time they took off, they risked being killed. In this “enjoyable, fast-paced tale” (The Economist), master historian David McCullough “shows as never before how two Ohio boys from a remarkable family taught the world to fly” (The Washington Post) and “captures the marvel of what the Wrights accomplished” (The Wall Street Journal). He draws on the extensive Wright family papers to profile not only the brothers but their sister, Katharine, without whom things might well have gone differently for them. Essential reading, this is “a story of timeless importance, told with uncommon empathy and fluency…about what might be the most astonishing feat mankind has ever accomplished…The Wright Brothers soars” (The New York Times Book Review).

Jowanza Joseph

A very in-depth view of the Wright Brothers. It's a bit long but a mostly enjoyable read.

Rick Dobrowolski

Great book about determination and faithfulness to a task. It's a typically good David McCullough book, which means it is very well researched and brings much detail into the writing. I listened to the audiobook version that is read by the author. His voice sounded very tired throughout the book which made it not as enjoyable as other audiobooks.

Jeni Enjaian

David McCullough has never let me down. (Okay, there was one time that I purchased a book written by David McCullough but it turned out to be a different man. That book was disappointing. I won't make that mistake again.)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am very glad that McCullough is still writing. It will be a sad day when he puts down the pen.
This book, though short compared to many of his others, is quite comprehensive and expertly crafted. Not only that but it is also eminently readable which is one of the reasons that his books are so popular amongst non-academics. I am a big proponent of everyone learning history which is why we need more authors like McCullough who write with accuracy and readability.
I will admit that I read the book just a touch too fast and missed some details but that was likely my fault and not the authors.
I highly recommend this book.