Rating: 
Summary: popular history with substance
Review: While devoid of neither analysis nor footnotes, Ellis's work is predominantly in the vein of "popular" history, clearly written for a wider readership--one, indeed, which has recently been excited about precisely this era. With this general audience in mind, Ellis has crafted a riveting narrative account of the early Republic, during which the future and endurance of the young nation was anything but certain, focusing on the personal relationships--collaborations, friendships, hostilities--among the Founders. We begin with the Hamilton-Burr duel, which serves, Ellis writes without much elaboration, to frame the other "vignettes," and conclude with the Adams-Jefferson correspondence, in between witnessing the resolution of the tensions surrounding the location of the national capital (which was, at this point, still located in New York) and Hamilton's state debt assumption plan at a dinner, organized by Jefferson, with Hamilton and Madison; the "silence" on the slavery issue; Washington's all-important Farewell Address; and the years of somewhat turbulent party politics as Jefferson and Madison "double-teamed" President Adams. Ellis tends too much to let these narratives speak for themselves, which they partially do, but a more detailed conclusion, tying them all together and fleshing them out in a more thorough, nuanced analysis, would have been appreciated. Aside from the absence of such a conclusion, I can only complain about Ellis's reading of John Adams's thought and proclaiming him to be some sort of early de-constructionist, a proposition that is difficult for me to swallow. Nevertheless, Ellis's portrayal of these critical years of American history is generally fair and balanced, and his argument that two competing versions of the founding and the Revolution--Adams versus Jefferson--existed then and now is a sound one.
Rating: 
Summary: Good title, good book
Review: Having slogged through the opening chapter of Joseph Ellis's fine book, "Founding Brothers", I found myself a little hesitant about continuing. I'm very glad I did..... the author has done an excellent job. Ellis writes in a personal style that allows his readers to get behind the façade of these important men (and one woman!)as we gain access to their thoughts, feelings and interactions.While this book is not overly comprehensive, it does offer some terrific insights. I don't believe I've ever read such a dramatic account of the Aaron Burr-Alexander Hamilton duel and while we all know the outcome, Ellis richly details the events that led up to the face-off and delves into the personalities of both men. Burr is rather lost to the ages after that but Hamilton's reputation grows. I'm glad he included this chapter as Hamilton seemed to be among the least favorite of his fellow "Founding Brothers". Benjamin Franklin is largely passed over in Ellis's book, but I'm happy to see that he devoted a chapter to the importance of George Washington's Farewell Address. If you've read the expansive David McCullough biography about John Adams, you can quickly get through Ellis's writings about Adams, his wife Abigail, and Adams's relationship and correspondence with Thomas Jefferson. Like McCullough, Ellis thinks more favorably of Adams and gives Jefferson almost a "thumbs-down". I think Joseph Ellis's first chapter, "The Generation", would have been better saved for the end, not the beginning. It is a summation much more than a preface. "Founding Brothers" is, however, an important addition to the literature concerning the great minds that helped shape our country and I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Strong Insight
Review: A solid introduction to the life and times of the founding brothers. The insight into Adam's and Jefferson's lifelong friendship, makes you want to learn more about them both. A great book expecially for those not overly excited about "text book" style history lessons.
Rating:
Summary: Fashionable anti-Jefferson revisionism
Review: I can't claim that this thing isn't entertaining. It is. I can claim that it isn't good history. Books like these serve a popular purpose and have popular appeal. They're not intended to be serious scholarly works. That said, we know that the authors will relax the rules of historical scholarship for blatant subjectivity. The reader should expect that here. We're not talking about Bernard Bailyn or Henry Adams. What does amaze me, however, is the utter faddishness of Jefferson bashing. This is one more work from a long list of Northeastern (neo-Federalist) Jefferson bashers. Gore Vidal gave the modern Jefferson haters a foundation with BURR. Merchant and Ivory gave us the ridiculous JEFFERSON IN PARIS. Then Ellis himself picked up where Vidal left off with the revisionist AMERICAN SPHINX. Then we got McCollough's over-the-top worshiping in JOHN ADAMS. And now this. What is it about Jefferson that still gets to all these New England and New York snobs (and plagiarists) after 200 years? Must have been a great man, indeed. Anyway, expect a continuation of the Jefferson-as-slave-owning-and-misguided-egomaniac theme here. Generally entertaining, like a Hollywood picture, rather than historically rigorous.
Rating:
Summary: Bringing History Alive
Review: This book offers outstanding insight into the events and personalities that shaped our government and led it through its infancy. If you don't like history you could still enjoy this book. If you think politics today is nasty, it probably doesn't hold a candle to what it was during the early years of our nation. Today candidates, as a rule, will say what they think will get them elected. This book shows that in the late 1700s politicians believed, intensly, what they spoke. They admit to despising each other and hating everything another stood for. They battled each other in news papers and pamphlets, in town halls and held convictions strong enough to duel to the death to defend their positions. This book covers the most famous duel in American history between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. What led up to it, what were the repercussions for both parties and their legacy. It gets into the mostly unkown debates on slavery in Congress as early as 1790, who thought what, said what, and acted how. It talks of our first national elections. The book talks about the Washington and Adams administrations. The friendships and the hatreds of the many smart, strong willed people. Fairly in depth chapters on Alexander Hamilton, Arron Burr, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and John Adams. Tid-bits and thoughts about Ben Franklin, John Jay and James Monroe. These men where the founding fathers of our country politically. The book address's exactly how much influence Abigail Adams had on her husband. This is an exceptional book that I recommend to those who like history or those that want to know more about this time in history. It goes beyond the simple events and delves into the personalities of those invovled. What drove them. It is inriguing and leaves you wanted to read more on the subject. It was very easy to read and follow. You can't go wrong with it.
Rating:
Summary: Great for those who choose to be educated in Colonial Times
Review: For the longest time, I was reluctant to read Joseph Ellis's "Founding Brothers," about the Revolutionary generation of Americans who established the United States and fought for her independence. As many people know, Ellis lied to the public by claiming to have had an exemplary military record during the Vietnam War--when in fact he never left the United States. Some of his work was infused by partisan politics as well. Ellis claims for example that there is indisputable evidence that Thomas Jefferson impregnated Sally Hemmings, when in fact, the evidence only indicates that one member of the Jefferson family impregnated Hemmings, and does not specifically identify Jefferson as that man. It was additionally troublesome that Ellis appeared to release this finding after initially arguing that there was scant evidence of Jefferson's impregnation of Hemmings, and that his newfound conviction that Jefferson was indeed the father of Hemmings's children appeared to be conveniently released to help Bill Clinton refute his detractors during the Lewinsky scandal by essentially saying that "every President was a cad." Given all of this, I approached "Founding Brothers" with more than a little trepidation--fearing that the book might suffer from the liberties with the truth its author has taken in the past. Well, let me report my pleasant surprise and delight that the book turned out to be quite good. Indeed, it was a very enjoyable read, one that ended too quickly (the book is only 248 pages long). I say this despite the fact that Ellis repeated his certain conviction that Jefferson fathered Hemmings's children (which received a slight mention in the book). I liked the format of "Founding Brothers"--which is organized as a collection of separate stories about important events in American revolutionary history. Ellis starts out by discussing the famous duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, and the various sociopolitical issues behind the duel. Ellis also places Washington's famous Farewell Address in historical perspective, and gives a fascinating insight into it shaping and creation. We are treated to a tale of political horsetrading and skulduggery when Ellis discusses how Hamilton's financial plan was able to win acceptance--in exchange for a movement of the nation's capital from Philadelphia to what is now Washington, DC. The debate over slavery is discussed at length, as are the political battles between the John Adams-led Federalist, and the Jefferson-led Republicans. Along with David McCullough (who treats the topic with more depth in his book), Ellis ends by discussing the rapprochement that ultimately occurs between Adams and Jefferson, who started out as friends, turned into bitter foes, and then ultimately reconciled--even dying within hours of each other on July 4, 1826--the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the American republic. The primary debate coloring the book--especially at the end--is whether the creation and growth of the American republic was predestined and providential (Jefferson's view), or whether--in the words of the Duke of Wellington after the Battle of Waterloo--it was "a close run thing" (Adams's view). Adams argued until the end of his life that a strong central government was needed to steer the American ship of state, and ensure that it would safely reach its various political shores and harbors. Jefferson, on the other hand, took a more mythic view of America's creation and its ultimate expansion; a view which I am convinced help influence the Louisiana Purchase--Jefferson's grandest policy achievement. Ellis makes clear the (correct) belief that Jefferson's view of American history won out--which Adams himself appeared to recognize, noting that Jefferson's ability to construct a tale and a story behind the creation and expansion of the American republic would ensure that his view was the dominant one, and likely ensure as well that Jefferson would be more acclaimed by history than Adams. Another debate was between the side expressing Burkean horror at the excesses of the French Revolution, and Jefferson's near blind embrace of the Revolution (an embrace that he later appeared to regret). Much of these historical and political debates were hashed out in the famous exchange of letters between Adams and Jefferson as they sought to reconcile and "explain themselves to one another" before they died. Indeed, the letter exchange is so fascinating, with the unique and often hilarious use of language by both correspondents, that it could have made up a separate book. In the end, I found Ellis's "Founding Brothers" to be superb--if too short. If the pleasure I gained from this book is any guide whatsoever, I will likely enjoy Ellis's biography of Jefferson as well.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent - especially for those who don't read history
Review: This book isn't so much a historical overview, as much as it is an inside look at the men who shaped this country's early years. We knew they were smart... We knew they were bold... But who knew they were so much fun? This book IS fun. Especially, if you're like me, and don't read history books for entertainment. Nothing brings history to life better than knowing who hated who, who was known for being a womanizer, who was a whiner, and who was a two-faced friend. And yet, with all these faults, Ellis never judges his subjects. I'd recommend this book for younger folks. I think this would be great for kids going into college who need an interesting refresher. Or for parents who want to make history more fun to discuss with their kids. It's not simplistic, but you don't have to know the members of Virginia's House of Burgesses to apprecaiate the info here. Decent buy!
Rating:
Summary: Required reading for every American
Review: This book should be required reading for every American. It is tightly written. Contrary to one review, the author's use of "big words" is not gratuitous, although he did seem to like the word "congeal". The book's primary contribution is its insights that make one truly reflect on these exemplary human beings and the circumstances at the time in forming and nurturing a "congealing" government and nation. It's one of those books who'll read more than once. I purchased the audio version as well and have listened to them over and over. The audio version includes an interview with Dr. Ellis. There is a lot of information in this little book. There is no wasted space, not a wasted word. I admire the author's skill and hard work as a historian and writer. Neither skill is easy to master. I know he didn't just sit down and type out the words in one draft. The research and insights were developed over years. The final draft is the result of painful edits. Dr. Ellis deserved the accolades for this book. It has recharged my interest in the study of this period of history. It made me rethink and reverse my image of Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. Perhaps we need to replace Hamilton with Adams on the $10 bill? History teachers in every high school and every university in this nation ought to assign this book to their students and spend considerable time discussing it.
Rating:
Summary: Revolutionary characters
Review: Having just finished David McCullough's authoritative biography of John Adams and having my appetite for details on American Revolutionary figures whetted, Ellis' book seemed like a logical next book. Actually, the last two chapters of the book cover much of the same territory as McCullough's, namely, the uneasy relationship (and later solid friendship) between Adams and Thomas Jefferson. While Ellis's style is more scholarly and less immediately engaging than McCullough's, "Founding Brothers" still packs some interesting retellings of specific episodes in the lives of the key Revolutionary figures. Rather than give a quick, chronological narrative of the Revolution (which he assumes the reader is already familiar with), Ellis selects pivotal events amongst the key players such as Burr's fatal shooting of Hamilton, Washington's "farewell address" and the first stirrings of the slavery debate that would unravel the country 60 years later. Each event offers insights into the personalities of the figures involved.
Rating: 
Summary: too many words
Review: The writer was obviously paid by the word. What the book needed was an editor also paid by the word, to remove them. What he had to say was worth saying, but only once.
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