Few brother duos spark interest like the Wright Brothers. While the Wright Brothers are a household name, many don’t know the best parts of their story. David McCullough brought Orville and Wilbur Wright to life in his book, The Wright Brothers because he wanted people to know more than their names – he wanted to inspire us through their story.
Beyond the Men
McCullough tells the story of the Wright Brothers in vivid detail, but in doing so he shows us why this is a profoundly American story. Beyond the men themselves, the famed author shows us who we are as a nation.
There are four reasons the Wright brothers are a quintessential American Story:
1) They start with little, but they achieve a bunch.
Orville and Wilbur were not wealthy and they did not have college degrees. Yet they rose to world fame. How did they do it? They had a dream and they happen to live in a land of opportunity, where class and social rank don’t define what you can do with your life.
2) Free market capitalism works.
Free market capitalism is a blessing because it provides opportunities for anyone willing to work hard and dream heroic dreams. Governments like the United States and France tried to become the first powered flight, but it was two bicycle makers who figured it out and then perfected it
3) Tenacity and hard work are American values.
The Wright Brothers worked tirelessly. They didn’t know if it would work or not and pushed anyway. They sacrificed, exposed themselves to danger, and invested their time and money. After Kitty Hawk, they did not stop. They accelerated their drive to perfect their Wright Flyer.
4) They had courage
The brothers knew the risks, they crashed, a man died, they failed over and again. But they kept at it, they thought the first in flight was more important then their own lives. They exemplify the “home of the brave.”
Five Stars
This book is as entertaining as it is inspirational. The Wright Brothers are an American success story, and it only could have happened here.
Watch our review of this book or purchase the book here. Check out 1776 as well.
