GREAT BRIDGE : The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

Rating:
Summary: Tough read
Review: Not just the building of the bridge but also the "behind-the-scene" machinations of the people overseeing the project. Both topics covered in plenty of detail. Would have liked to see some diagrams of the engineering. I had to pore over the writing describing air locks, pneumatic caissons, how the wire was strung etc. Think about how difficult it would be to describe (using words) the process of tieing one's shoes. But I slowed down, even to the extent of reading out loud, and I think I understood most of the engineering. Well worth the effort involved.

Rating:
Summary: Tough read
Review: Not just the building of the bridge but also the "behind-the-scene" machinations of the people overseeing the project. Both topics covered in plenty of detail. Would have liked to see some diagrams of the engineering. I had to pore over the writing describing air locks, pneumatic caissons, how the wire was strung etc. Think about how difficult it would be to describe (using words) the process of tieing one's shoes. But I slowed down, even to the extent of reading out loud, and I think I understood most of the engineering. Well worth the effort involved.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: This book is a somewhat long and slow in parts, but if you stick with it, it is very rewarding. Just about everything you would want to know about the bridge is here, written in sharp detail. My only complaint was that the focus of the story shifted a little too much to the political wranglings and corruption of the New York officials and then to the investigations of their wrongdoings. That got pretty dull. But, the rest of the book, with the thrilling account of the many complex problems of the actual construction, more than made up for it. This is the type of historical book that teaches you things that you never thought about and then you wonder why you never thought of them.

Rating:
Summary: All You Wanted to Know and Then Some
Review: This book is fantastic. Now I know everything about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. The author goes into tremendous detail about the building of the great towers of the bridge and how the wires were strung across the East River. The building of the Brooklyn Bridge was truly an astounding accomplishment for its day and to think that the bridge still stands is a testament to the tremendous efforts of the men who made it happen. The Great Bridge makes the story come alive.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Books I have ever read
Review: This book is such a compelling read that it became an obsession. No historical writer I know can explain complicated technical subjects like McCullough. It's a history of Brooklyn, technology and America in a special time and place and unforgettable

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic epic
Review: This book was the first I read authored by David McCullough. I had become a fan of McCullough's work on PBS' American Experience series and this book only increased my admiration for him. The book is a fascinating mixture of engineering, politics and drama. One of the strengths of the book is McCullough's meticulous detail. Not only does he explore the new engineering methods developed during construction of the bridge, but he also delivers great insight into the political game the builders of the bridge were forced to play in order to get the project off the ground. Imagine having to develop and test new ideas in bridge building and also navigate the often-times treacherous and confusing maze of 19th century New York politics! If you are a fan of American history and also like to read about the development of science and engineering then this is the book for you!

Rating:
Summary: The Great Bridge
Review: When I first started this book, the first few chapters moved very slowly and I thought I might not read it. I hung in there and found the pace picked up. It was as much a book about the political history of the era as about the mechanics of building a bridge. It was a look at the evolution of science and workers rights. I read it before the September 11 attack on New York and I felt closer to the city by having read it. It too is a symbol of New York. I recommend the book highly.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining history
Review: While reading this I went to visit the Brooklyn Bridge again and I saw things I'd never noticed before. Isn't that why we read? A great book with lot's of fascinating details about the technical challenges and the determination of the Roeblings to see it through. I'll never cross another suspension bridge without thinking of this story. Highly recommended.