Washington by Paul Vickery
Washington is about, surprise, surprise, George Washington - first President of the United States. The emphasis of this book is not necessarily connected to his Presidency, but rather on the events of his life which shaped his morality, faith, and character to become the first President. Starting with his birth and young life, then eventually leading to his early war campaigns, much detail and information is shed on Washington as military commander. This is essentially the main focus of the book as it was a large portion of Washington's life.
Washington, in a nutshell, is a fascinating, well-written book offering subtle, almost intimate, details about the life of George Washington. Not only are his strong attributes as a person set forth, but his character flaws are demonstrated. This is an important aspect to the read. What makes a great read is not to read about the half-trues of a great man, but to hear of their personal struggles conquored by determination and will. The details and minor areas of Washington's life are what cause this book to stand out.
1776 by David McCullough - a great book - is attentive to the year 1776 (Could it be any other with a title like that?). Washington, on the other hand, fills in more of the details before and after this pivotal year. If you have read and enjoyed 1776, you will also enjoy Washington by Vickery.
A final note on the reason for a less-than-perfect score: Editing mistakes. Most individuals will never know the difference, but as a teacher, there are half-a-dozen editing mistakes which distracted from the integrity of this book. A very good book in need of tighter editing.
Final say: I highly recommend Washington!
