17761776
Score Modern
What it's about
David McCullough tells the story of the year America declared independence, mostly through the eyes of soldiers. George Washington's ragtag army drives the British out of Boston, then is badly beaten in New York and chased across New Jersey, close to collapse. Then, on Christmas night, Washington crosses the Delaware. The book also follows the British side, from King George III to his generals.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 12 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. McCullough was one of America's best-loved historians, and he makes the war feel uncertain, as it was to the men fighting it.
You'll love it if you liked
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
John AdamsGood to know
It covers only the military story of 1776, not the politics in Philadelphia. It's short for a history book. The illustrated edition includes maps and letters.
By the numbers
- Readers65 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller71 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #114 of the 198 history books we rank
- #376 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #746 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is 1776 worth reading?
Yes. It spent 12 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #746 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is 1776 about?
David McCullough tells the story of the year America declared independence, mostly through the eyes of soldiers. George Washington's ragtag army drives the British out of Boston, then is badly beaten in New York and chased across New Jersey, close to collapse. Then, on Christmas night, Washington crosses the Delaware. The book also follows the British side, from King George III to his generals.
How long does it take to read 1776?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after 1776?
If you liked it, try Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. McPherson or John Adams by David McCullough.