The Small and the MightyThe Small and the Mighty
What it's about
Sharon McMahon, a former government teacher who became known online for explaining American politics plainly, tells the stories of twelve ordinary Americans who changed the country without becoming famous for it. They include activists, inventors, soldiers and organizers, and each chapter shows how one person's courage moved history.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's warm, quick and hopeful, a history book that feels like a good teacher.
You'll love it if you liked
1776
Profiles in Courage
John AdamsGood to know
It's popular history, chatty in tone. The chapters stand alone.
By the numbers
- Readers90 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller51 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
- #94 of the 198 history books we rank
- #99 of the 481 new books we rank
- #551 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is The Small and the Mighty worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #551 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Small and the Mighty about?
Sharon McMahon, a former government teacher who became known online for explaining American politics plainly, tells the stories of twelve ordinary Americans who changed the country without becoming famous for it. They include activists, inventors, soldiers and organizers, and each chapter shows how one person's courage moved history.
How long does it take to read The Small and the Mighty?
About 8 hours (321 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Small and the Mighty?
If you liked it, try 1776 by David McCullough, Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy or John Adams by David McCullough.