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dreaming_ace's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting exploration of the revolutionary era and provides some context for why Burr and Jefferson and Adams behaved the way they did. It filled in some of the context blanks I had from predominantly reading about the revolution from a Hamilton/Washington/Layfette point of view.
bearprof's review against another edition
5.0
Highly readable history; I actually chuckled aloud more than once at what can only be termed the antics and machinations of the Founders.
theseventhl's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 is the truest score (but, y'know, no decimal ratings on GR). I enjoyed it and I liked how it focused on more obscurely taught moments in early American history (the duel between Hamilton and Burr being the highest profile moment of the bunch) but Ellis tends to trail off with his thought process, and I felt that happened several times during the second half of the book as he tried to fit in every interesting detail possibly related to his thesis. Read it if for nothing else than the description of the letters exchanged between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail Adams, John Adams' better half in terms of political thinking and letter writing, IMHO.
feralimpala's review against another edition
3.0
The simultaneously personal yet analytical look into some of the personalities of the Revolutionary Era is fascinating but a difficult and repetitive read for its slim 248 pages. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it, which is a testament to the history being discussed here. I don't usually read historical nonfiction, but this book has convinced me to give the genre a shot.
jackhalfawake's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Really great analysis of a few of the founding fathers and their era through a series of self-contained chapters on specific topics. Gives a sense of the personality of these men, their relationships with each other, and their influence on their era. Great introduction to a very interesting time.
profnachos's review against another edition
5.0
This should be the gold standard for historical writing.