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 … 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).more
The story of 2 brave, incredible brothers told by a master story teller. A masterful work.
Interesting bio of the Wright Brothers but the story of how they designed their first airplane and how they learned to fly was fascinating especially against the background of the world at the time
Learned alot about the Wright Brothers and what drove them to build the first airplanes. Also learned that the Europeans were much more progressive when it came to flight than the US military
I thought this might be the worlds mostboring book. Was I wrong! The life of these brothers and their amazing success at flying is very interesting. The writing is beautiful and keeps one totally engaged. I recommend this book for everyone
The Wright Brothers – unassuming, ingenious, persistent, courageous and resolute – are some of the most unusual people ever to have made a made a massive technological breakthrough that would impact on world history in little over a decade since their first achievement. David McCullough tells their story superbly.
I’m a fan of David McCullough and he doesn’t disappoint. Very interesting read.
Great background on the principal characters and the challenges that eventually culminated in their success.
Very informative history of these two men.
As one might expect, The Wright Brothers, is a biography of Wilbur and Orville Wright, those crazy kids from Dayton, Ohio, who invented a flying machine.
As his his custom, David McCullough (The Path Between the Seas and The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris) writes crisply, telling the story without becoming bogged down in the details. He writes objectively, but not without admiration for what Wilbur and Orville accomplished or for the perseverance necessary to accomplish it. If anything, I was surprised at how quickly I read this book, particularly as compared to James Tobin’s To Conquer the Air, which mines much of the same material but in a less lively fashion.
McCullough is careful to consider the contributions of others, and particularly of the Wrights’ right-hand man, Charlie Taylor. Relegated to the dustbin of history, so to speak, it is Charlie who built much of the Wrights’ machines, making their conceptualizations a reality. Or at least speeding them a long. (As a side note, I could not figure out where I had previously read about Charlie Taylor, Octave Chanute, Samuel Langley, and Louis Blériot. My first reason for starting a blog was a good one: with a few keystrokes, I realized I had read of their exploits – and those of the Wrights – in Tobin’s work, as well as in Jim Rasenberger’s delightful America, 1908.)
The final verdict: if what you remember about the Wilbur and Orville is limited to their invention of human flight, McCullough’s book is an excellent refresher on their early beginnings, entrepreneurial spirit, and mechanical genius. The Wright Brothers is concise, but complete.
(This review was originally published at http://www.thisyearinbooks.com/2015/07/the-wright-brothers.html)
Well researched and written
These 2 men were quiet, unassuming and creative. They started building their own bicycles and opening a shop and went onto build airplanes. They built each part, their own engine blocks, sewed the silk for the wings, created whatever was needed for these machines. They never asked for anything. Did not seek handouts or publicity. They test flew each machine themselves. Amazing what they did. David McCulloch is a wonderful writer. He makes anything he writes easy to read.
Surprisingly wonderful book about the Wright brothers, amazing men!
A thorough, comprehensive, very well-written history of the Wright Brothers.
McCullough has the ability to personalize so many historical figures as he details the important events of history for modern readers and his treatment of The Wright Brothers is no exception. The topic of their mastery of flight, both victories and failures, is carefully interwoven into an examination of the personal lives of the brothers (and sister).
Love McCullough’s writing. This story of the Wright Bros is so beautifully written…it takes you through all their trials in achieving what we know…flight. He goes into their family life, their personalities, their quirks, the world around them, the other people trying to achieve flight. It’s complete, it’s historical, it’s thorough, it’s well researched…I read it twice…actually listened to it on my walks, which made each airplane that flew overhead much more dramatic and meaningful for me.
One of Macollough’s lessor efforts
I had no idea what these brothers went through. The book was very interesting and informative. Highly recommend it.
Beautifully written by David McCullough who is a master storyteller. Very interesting look at Orville and Wilbur Wright as individuals, their conviction that there was a way to get man into the air and safely bring him back down again, and their fierce work ethic and determination. The book does not slow down and keeps the pages turning all the way to the end. Highly recommended.
We read this one in our book club. I recall being so overwhelmed by the persistence and risk of life the Wright Brothers showed throughout their lives. It’s a book everyone should read if they want to get a wider view of those early aviation feats, the brother’s overseas connections, and their lifestyle as boys.