Founding Brothers

• Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation - Joseph J. Ellis

I love Joseph Ellis. He doesn't idolize or founders and avoid the negatives like some authors. The book talks about the Hamilton-Burr duel, the decision to place the nations capital on the Potomac, the congressional silence on slavery. Republicans verses Federalists, and the relationship between Adams and Jefferson. Ellis does a wonderful job of providing quotes and refering to source documents to provide background information and to discuss the events and their aftermath. He provides brief, but descriptive looks into different periods during the first fifty years of our nation. Each chapter is like a mini essay, which is a relief from the typical survey.