David McCullough is surely one of our country’s greatest writers of history, and he presents us with a jewel in his depiction of the Wright brothers’ great conquest of the air. As McCullough shares, the Wright brothers remained true to their project and true to themselves to the end. In so doing, they earned the praise of their hometown Dayton, Ohio, their nation, their sister-nation France, and the world.
McCullough’s account is heavy on detail and well researched. Fortunately, there seems to be ample resources as the Wright brothers were brought up in a home full of books. (Their father was a pastor, and their sister, who contributed greatly to their feat, was a college-educated language teacher.) The edition I read is full of pictures of this family’s lives.
They managed their engineering project with great acumen. Impressively, the brothers researched the state of the science of flying on their own through the library. While others were blowing tens of thousands of dollars to attempt powered flight, the brothers spent only about $1,000 in their efforts. As such, they earned the glory of their country through their economy. They did not let fame go to their heads. Many of the French were impressed with how they did not bow to popularity but continued on with their project. They took Sundays off as a matter of routine.
This book is a great read for anyone who likes to tackle hard projects. The family exhibits a determination and a cohesion that is required for any task of any difficulty. Their grace and elegance is to be admired and learned from. I appreciate their example as I endeavor to change the world through my engineering work.
The Wright Brothers
by David McCullough
Copyright (c) 2015
ISBN13 9781476728742
Page Count: 320
Genre: Biography, Non-Fiction, Aeronautical History
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