Adam Ware's Reviews > 1776

After having my view of American History rocked by Howard Zinn in 2007, I've learned to appreciate historians who aren't afraid to challenge the sanctity of our nation's folklore. What I mean is that while I have deep respect for our founding fathers, I do not believe they were perfectly benevolent, omniscient, and omnipresent - as they are so often portrayed (sorry Glenn). So I appreciated 1776's portrayal of George Washington, whom McCullough presents as halting and indecisive. Throughout the book, McCullough displays a rare gift: the ability to be both critical and respectful at the same time.