Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
by: Joseph J. Ellis
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Amazon.com Review:
In retrospect, it seems as if the American Revolution wasinevitable. But was it? In Founding Brothers, Joseph J.Ellis reveals that many of those truths we hold to be self-evidentwere actually fiercely contested in the early days of the republic.
Ellis focuses on six crucial moments in the life of the new nation,including a secret dinner at which the seat of the nation's capitalwas determined--in exchange for support of Hamilton's financial plan;Washington's precedent-setting Farewell Address; and the Hamilton andBurr duel. Most interesting, perhaps, is the debate (still dividingscholars today) over the meaning of the Revolution. In afascinating chapter on the renewed friendship between John Adams andThomas Jefferson at the end of their lives, Ellis points out thefundamental differences between the Republicans, who saw theRevolution as a liberating act and hold the Declaration ofIndependence most sacred, and the Federalists, who saw the revolutionas a step in the building of American nationhood and hold theConstitution most dear. Throughout the text, Ellis explains thepersonal, face-to-face nature of early American politics--and notesthat the members of the revolutionary generation were conscious of thefact that they were establishing precedents on which futuregenerations would rely.
In Founding Brothers, Ellis (whose American Sphinx wonthe National Book Award for nonfiction in 1997) has written an elegantand engaging narrative, sure to become a classic. Highly recommended.--Sunny Delaney
Product Description:
In this landmark work of history, the National Book Award—winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of greatly gifted but deeply flawed individuals–Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison–confronted the overwhelming challenges before them to set the course for our nation.
The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers–re-examined here as Founding Brothers–combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of our government. Through an analysis of six fascinating episodes–Hamilton and Burr’s deadly duel, Washington’s precedent-setting Farewell Address, Adams’ administration and political partnership with his wife, the debate about where to place the capital, Franklin’s attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison’s attempts to block him, and Jefferson and Adams’ famous correspondence–Founding Brothers brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in our nation’s history.
In retrospect, it seems as if the American Revolution wasinevitable. But was it? In Founding Brothers, Joseph J.Ellis reveals that many of those truths we hold to be self-evidentwere actually fiercely contested in the early days of the republic.
Ellis focuses on six crucial moments in the life of the new nation,including a secret dinner at which the seat of the nation's capitalwas determined--in exchange for support of Hamilton's financial plan;Washington's precedent-setting Farewell Address; and the Hamilton andBurr duel. Most interesting, perhaps, is the debate (still dividingscholars today) over the meaning of the Revolution. In afascinating chapter on the renewed friendship between John Adams andThomas Jefferson at the end of their lives, Ellis points out thefundamental differences between the Republicans, who saw theRevolution as a liberating act and hold the Declaration ofIndependence most sacred, and the Federalists, who saw the revolutionas a step in the building of American nationhood and hold theConstitution most dear. Throughout the text, Ellis explains thepersonal, face-to-face nature of early American politics--and notesthat the members of the revolutionary generation were conscious of thefact that they were establishing precedents on which futuregenerations would rely.
In Founding Brothers, Ellis (whose American Sphinx wonthe National Book Award for nonfiction in 1997) has written an elegantand engaging narrative, sure to become a classic. Highly recommended.--Sunny Delaney
Product Description:
In this landmark work of history, the National Book Award—winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of greatly gifted but deeply flawed individuals–Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison–confronted the overwhelming challenges before them to set the course for our nation.
The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers–re-examined here as Founding Brothers–combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of our government. Through an analysis of six fascinating episodes–Hamilton and Burr’s deadly duel, Washington’s precedent-setting Farewell Address, Adams’ administration and political partnership with his wife, the debate about where to place the capital, Franklin’s attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison’s attempts to block him, and Jefferson and Adams’ famous correspondence–Founding Brothers brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in our nation’s history.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Ellis measures the quality of his work by the number of words
The relevance of the book to today's political environment is overwhelming. There are pages of text I've underlined with the plan to post those quotes on certain political blogs dealing with diverse topics.
I took from this book two things that were new to me:
1) A level of comfort (odd, I know) that the slavery question was very alive and active from the beginning of our nation even if "silence" was the form taken to leave the issue to a future generation. Truly - before ... Read More
Rating: - Short, well written, but a bit biased
This book is a quick read for someone interested in the Founding Fathers who doesn't want to invest in 800 pages. But i have to agree with some of the other reviews concerning bias. There is a notable bias towards Adams, that start to grate on your nerves, and I think it stems from the current political trend toward collectivism and against individualism. That being said, it was still interesting I would recommend the as long as going into it people understand the bias.
Rating: 
- Founding Brothers
An excellently written volume of many of the founding fathers, their thoughts and disagreements on how the country should look after winning the fight for freedom. Anything by Joe Ellis is a must have for your historical library.
Rating: - Great
Extremely well written. The book focuses on 6 major events during the formative years and tries to give the reader the "behind the scenes" view of each situation. Really gives a unseen insight into these people. You'll be susprised at who did what and why. The writting is great and I always recommend books by this author since his writting style is smoot and easily digested. Just a great book.
Rating: - Great topics, questionable writing style
This was, in fact, the first history book I've read since college 20+ years ago. A co-worker got me interested in trying reading some history, and this was the first book I picked up.
I loved the topics covered, the approach, and the points that Ellis made. I would have given this 5 stars if it weren't for his writing style. I found a combination of '$50 words' where simpler words would have sufficed, and long, winding, complex sentences at times that slowed down my reading. His writing ... Read More
- Ellis measures the quality of his work by the number of wordsThe relevance of the book to today's political environment is overwhelming. There are pages of text I've underlined with the plan to post those quotes on certain political blogs dealing with diverse topics.
I took from this book two things that were new to me:
1) A level of comfort (odd, I know) that the slavery question was very alive and active from the beginning of our nation even if "silence" was the form taken to leave the issue to a future generation. Truly - before ... Read More
- Short, well written, but a bit biasedThis book is a quick read for someone interested in the Founding Fathers who doesn't want to invest in 800 pages. But i have to agree with some of the other reviews concerning bias. There is a notable bias towards Adams, that start to grate on your nerves, and I think it stems from the current political trend toward collectivism and against individualism. That being said, it was still interesting I would recommend the as long as going into it people understand the bias.
- Founding BrothersAn excellently written volume of many of the founding fathers, their thoughts and disagreements on how the country should look after winning the fight for freedom. Anything by Joe Ellis is a must have for your historical library.
- GreatExtremely well written. The book focuses on 6 major events during the formative years and tries to give the reader the "behind the scenes" view of each situation. Really gives a unseen insight into these people. You'll be susprised at who did what and why. The writting is great and I always recommend books by this author since his writting style is smoot and easily digested. Just a great book.
- Great topics, questionable writing styleThis was, in fact, the first history book I've read since college 20+ years ago. A co-worker got me interested in trying reading some history, and this was the first book I picked up.
I loved the topics covered, the approach, and the points that Ellis made. I would have given this 5 stars if it weren't for his writing style. I found a combination of '$50 words' where simpler words would have sufficed, and long, winding, complex sentences at times that slowed down my reading. His writing ... Read More
