The Wright Brothers

by David McCullough

Overview: The Wright Brothers is a biographical history of Orville and Wilbur Wright following their lives and developments that led them to flight and beyond. McCullough begins by investigating their personal history and development from childhood to adulthood, describing the influences of their father and family. He then shows how their entrepreneurial spirit led them to create a bicycle shop and use that experience to purse manned flight. The story emphasizes the unwavering and sometimes maniacal singularity of focus that led them to their discovery and successes. However, it does not end when they take flight, but rather continues on to demonstrate the struggles they encountered once they’d achieved this pinnacle, both in getting others to recognize the work and to achieve financial success from it.