1776

by David McCullough

I've heard that David McCullough wrote this book after 9-11, when some were claiming that 2001 was the most difficult year that the United States had ever passed through. I don't know if that story is true or not but this book certainly makes a strong case for 1776 being a much more difficult year for our emerging country. So little went right that year. Our army suffered one defeat after another. It seems that most of their successes were retreats. It wasn't until Washington's desperate night crossing of the Delaware the evening after Christmas and the subsequent battle of Trenton that they finally tasted a real success. And as they say: the rest is history.

This is a fascinating book about perhaps the most pivotal year in our nation's history. I thoroughly recommend it.