1776 is an excellent historical book written by David McCullough, which focuses on the events of the American Revolution, mainly from the American perspective. While most historical analyses of this period in American history focus on the events and motives leading up to the war, or the politics which sparked this conflict, 1776 focuses primarily on the battles themselves.
Almost like a war book, this text goes into extensive detail not only of how each battle was carried out and its overall effect on the war, but the logistical details that plagued both sides. These topics are often left unnoticed and aren't as appreciated as they should be, and 1776 helped change that. The book thoroughly covered obstacles of the winter for both armies, and how food was scarce and proper clothing to keep warm was limited. Additionally, they covered the subject of desertion, one that doesn't appear often in basic history textbooks or popular entertainment. Many people left George Washington's army each day during the Revolutionary War, which led to mutiny and an internal struggle with Washington. 1776 thoroughly analyzes the reasons why they left: low morale, difficult conditions, boredom, and a need to care of their own families and property. By uncovering this aspect of the war, David McCullough's book does an excellent job acting as a real-life historian.
Additionally, this book received national acclaim and was almost awarded a Pulitzer Prize. As mentioned in the background section, 1776 was lauded by Publisher's Weekly as “fascinating subject matter, expert research and detailed, graceful prose," a high praise from anyone, especially Publisher's Weekly.
