David McCullough: Narrator of The Great American Journey

As many are aware, the country lost one of its great historian storytellers this week. David McCullough left this land last Sunday, but he did so, leaving behind a canon of stories not only for the country he called home—but about it. Here are a few of my favorite books by the legendary writer.

1776:

1776 focuses on the Generals that supported Washington and led troops into various battles along the East Coast. The book also spotlights King George III. McCullough gives a complete perspective of both sides of the fight. Looking at the Revolution through this lens allows the reader to understand a year that would forever shape the future of both America and Britain.

Mornings on Horseback:

McCullough does a wonderful job digging into the formative years of Theodore Roosevelt. His time growing up, exploring the wilderness, going to Harvard, and heading to war are all explained in great detail. McCullough breaks down Roosevelt’s family history and their impact on New York society. He defined Teddy’s character almost as well as the man himself when he spoke the following words. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”