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The Wright Brothers
Written by David McCullough
Narrated by David McCullough
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Start ListeningDescription
Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly: Wilbur and Orville Wright.
On December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright's Wright Flyer became the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard. The Age of Flight had begun. How did they do it? And why? David McCullough tells the extraordinary and truly American story of the two brothers who changed the world.
Sons of an itinerant preacher and a mother who died young, Wilbur and Orville Wright grew up in a small side street in Dayton, Ohio, in a house that lacked indoor plumbing and electricity but was filled with books and a love of learning. The brothers ran a bicycle shop that allowed them to earn enough money to pursue their mission in life: flight. In the 1890s flying was beginning to advance beyond the glider stage, but there were major technical challenges that the Wrights were determined to solve. They traveled to North Carolina's remote Outer Banks to test their plane because there they found three indispensable conditions: constant winds, soft surfaces for landings, and privacy.
Flying was exceedingly dangerous; the Wrights risked their lives every time they flew in the years that followed. Orville nearly died in a crash in 1908, before he was nursed back to health by his sister, Katharine, an unsung and important part of the brothers' success and of McCullough's book. Despite their achievement, the Wrights could not convince the US government to take an interest in their plane until after they demonstrated its success in France, where the government instantly understood the importance of their achievement. Now, in this revelatory book, master historian David McCullough draws on nearly 1,000 letters of family correspondence-plus diaries, notebooks, and family scrapbooks in the Library of Congress-to tell the full story of the Wright brothers and their heroic achievement.
On December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright's Wright Flyer became the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard. The Age of Flight had begun. How did they do it? And why? David McCullough tells the extraordinary and truly American story of the two brothers who changed the world.
Sons of an itinerant preacher and a mother who died young, Wilbur and Orville Wright grew up in a small side street in Dayton, Ohio, in a house that lacked indoor plumbing and electricity but was filled with books and a love of learning. The brothers ran a bicycle shop that allowed them to earn enough money to pursue their mission in life: flight. In the 1890s flying was beginning to advance beyond the glider stage, but there were major technical challenges that the Wrights were determined to solve. They traveled to North Carolina's remote Outer Banks to test their plane because there they found three indispensable conditions: constant winds, soft surfaces for landings, and privacy.
Flying was exceedingly dangerous; the Wrights risked their lives every time they flew in the years that followed. Orville nearly died in a crash in 1908, before he was nursed back to health by his sister, Katharine, an unsung and important part of the brothers' success and of McCullough's book. Despite their achievement, the Wrights could not convince the US government to take an interest in their plane until after they demonstrated its success in France, where the government instantly understood the importance of their achievement. Now, in this revelatory book, master historian David McCullough draws on nearly 1,000 letters of family correspondence-plus diaries, notebooks, and family scrapbooks in the Library of Congress-to tell the full story of the Wright brothers and their heroic achievement.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
The Wright Brothers
Written by David McCullough
Narrated by David McCullough
Description
Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly: Wilbur and Orville Wright.
On December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright's Wright Flyer became the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard. The Age of Flight had begun. How did they do it? And why? David McCullough tells the extraordinary and truly American story of the two brothers who changed the world.
Sons of an itinerant preacher and a mother who died young, Wilbur and Orville Wright grew up in a small side street in Dayton, Ohio, in a house that lacked indoor plumbing and electricity but was filled with books and a love of learning. The brothers ran a bicycle shop that allowed them to earn enough money to pursue their mission in life: flight. In the 1890s flying was beginning to advance beyond the glider stage, but there were major technical challenges that the Wrights were determined to solve. They traveled to North Carolina's remote Outer Banks to test their plane because there they found three indispensable conditions: constant winds, soft surfaces for landings, and privacy.
Flying was exceedingly dangerous; the Wrights risked their lives every time they flew in the years that followed. Orville nearly died in a crash in 1908, before he was nursed back to health by his sister, Katharine, an unsung and important part of the brothers' success and of McCullough's book. Despite their achievement, the Wrights could not convince the US government to take an interest in their plane until after they demonstrated its success in France, where the government instantly understood the importance of their achievement. Now, in this revelatory book, master historian David McCullough draws on nearly 1,000 letters of family correspondence-plus diaries, notebooks, and family scrapbooks in the Library of Congress-to tell the full story of the Wright brothers and their heroic achievement.
On December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright's Wright Flyer became the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a pilot aboard. The Age of Flight had begun. How did they do it? And why? David McCullough tells the extraordinary and truly American story of the two brothers who changed the world.
Sons of an itinerant preacher and a mother who died young, Wilbur and Orville Wright grew up in a small side street in Dayton, Ohio, in a house that lacked indoor plumbing and electricity but was filled with books and a love of learning. The brothers ran a bicycle shop that allowed them to earn enough money to pursue their mission in life: flight. In the 1890s flying was beginning to advance beyond the glider stage, but there were major technical challenges that the Wrights were determined to solve. They traveled to North Carolina's remote Outer Banks to test their plane because there they found three indispensable conditions: constant winds, soft surfaces for landings, and privacy.
Flying was exceedingly dangerous; the Wrights risked their lives every time they flew in the years that followed. Orville nearly died in a crash in 1908, before he was nursed back to health by his sister, Katharine, an unsung and important part of the brothers' success and of McCullough's book. Despite their achievement, the Wrights could not convince the US government to take an interest in their plane until after they demonstrated its success in France, where the government instantly understood the importance of their achievement. Now, in this revelatory book, master historian David McCullough draws on nearly 1,000 letters of family correspondence-plus diaries, notebooks, and family scrapbooks in the Library of Congress-to tell the full story of the Wright brothers and their heroic achievement.
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Reviews
Enjoyed listening to the amazing story of the Wright brothers.
Rating: 5A captivating read. The events leading up to the invention of the Wright Flyer was amazing. Most surprising was their lives after their first flight, in which they became world renowned. Well worth the time.
Rating: 5I loved the detail of this book. I first was interested in reading it to know the depth of their scientific process in developing the first airplanes, but I also loved learning about the details of the personalities of the whole Wright family, personal events they experienced, and what life was like for them after the creation of the airplane. The whole book was done very well, from beginning to the end.
Rating: 5
A brilliant and emotive rendition of the most fascinating adventure of all time. A great incite into the minds of the brothers and that period only just over 100 years ago. Hard to believe how far we have come in that last century. This book transports you to the beginning of flight with all the doubters and intrigue that surrounded the subject back then .
Rating: 5Excellent book, would have liked more technical information about aspects of development, especially how they modelled flight numerically using their wind tunnel pre computing age. The book makes one realise the extraordinary contribution of these two men.
The author is elderly, another narrator would have been preferred. Play on 1.25 speed to overcome this. Otherwise a very enjoyable read. Makes one realise what a gilded age pre-ww1 was for those with money. The difference being the rights earned their wealth, contrasting with the idle rich.
Rating: 4The author is elderly, another narrator would have been preferred. Play on 1.25 speed to overcome this. Otherwise a very enjoyable read. Makes one realise what a gilded age pre-ww1 was for those with money. The difference being the rights earned their wealth, contrasting with the idle rich.
inspirational, credible, well written and performed. one takeaway: "generally accepted data" does not mean it's correct
Rating: 5Once you get over his drone the content is fascinating.
Rating: 4
To be honest, I wasn't sure, after chapter 1, if I was going to finish this one. I very much enjoyed McCullough's biography of John Adams a couple of years ago, so this attracted me to this book. In the end, it's a very good book covering mainly the first decade of the 1900s, which saw the Wright brothers overcome many barriers to become champions of motorized flight.
Rating: 4
Simply an awesome book. I learned so much that I never knew.
Rating: 5One of the greatest. I think everyone should read it and tell this inspirational story to their kids.
Rating: 5Great detail about the people and events. Enjoyed it. Excellent
Rating: 5
Incredible story. Well researched and presented by author. 10 out of 10
Rating: 5
This was a touching story of resilience and family cooperation and above all world-changing achievement beyond all odds.
Rating: 5
As always, McCullough delivers a fantastic and engaging historical account from one of the most important moments in history.
Rating: 5Very well done. A tremendously good story and one that every American should certainly hear.
Rating: 4Great narrator and loved the book! Felt in my opinion like watching a discovery channel documentary.
Rating: 5David Mccullough reading his own work is a priceless joy.
Rating: 5