Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary GenerationFounding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
Score Modern
What it's about
Joseph Ellis tells six stories from the first years of the United States: Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton's duel; a private dinner where Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison made a deal over the national capital and debt; the founders' silence on slavery; Washington's farewell; John Adams's presidency; and the late-life correspondence between Adams and Jefferson.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize for history. It's short, lively and shows the founders as rivals and friends rather than statues.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
Each chapter stands alone. It focuses on a small circle of famous men.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller17 out of 100 · counts 14%
- 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
- #166 of the 198 history books we rank
- #835 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1549 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Joseph J. Ellis
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Quick answers
Is Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize for history. It ranks #1,549 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation about?
Joseph Ellis tells six stories from the first years of the United States: Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton's duel; a private dinner where Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison made a deal over the national capital and debt; the founders' silence on slavery; Washington's farewell; John Adams's presidency; and the late-life correspondence between Adams and Jefferson.
How long does it take to read Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation?
About 8 hours (306 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation won?
Pulitzer Prize (History) winner (2001).
What should I read after Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation?
If you liked it, try 1776 by David McCullough, Burr by Gore Vidal or John Adams by David McCullough.