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rickwren's review against another edition
4.0
Amazingly good, and completely engaging. I didn't have high hopes for a history of the Brooklyn Bridge, but I've liked other books by the author so I picked it up and once started I couldn't stop reading.
This is one of those history books where the reader discoveries unique treasures on page after page - from the early research and treatment of the bends to the amazing story of Washington Roebling who supervised and created the bridge engineering from his bed where he was infirmed for most of the construction.
There was the amazing relationship between the genius father and the driven son, and the relationship between a bridge and two cities which have never been very similar yet have been identified together since the grand opening of the grandest construction project of its day.
It reads like a novel and disseminates more information than a textbook. It's what living history should always be.
This is one of those history books where the reader discoveries unique treasures on page after page - from the early research and treatment of the bends to the amazing story of Washington Roebling who supervised and created the bridge engineering from his bed where he was infirmed for most of the construction.
There was the amazing relationship between the genius father and the driven son, and the relationship between a bridge and two cities which have never been very similar yet have been identified together since the grand opening of the grandest construction project of its day.
It reads like a novel and disseminates more information than a textbook. It's what living history should always be.
x0pherl's review against another edition
5.0
This carefully researched story of the Brooklyn Bridge was surprisingly suspenseful, and covered all aspects (politics, engineering, mechanics) of the building of the bridge with clarity. After reading [b:Hershey|2649154|Hershey Herself|Cecilia Galante|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255570222s/2649154.jpg|2673894] and realizing how little I knew about America during this period, I decided to turn right to this book, on a strong recommendation from Rich DiStefano.
Well worth the read, now I really need to schedule a trip up to NYC to walk across the bridge again.
Well worth the read, now I really need to schedule a trip up to NYC to walk across the bridge again.
booksbringjoy2me's review against another edition
The book is much longer than I anticipated with very small print.
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
Way back in the day, Brooklyn, and New York were different cities, either side of the East River. This book tells us about the Herculean effort to link the two cities, through the building of the "New York and Brooklyn Bridge".
Most people who look at the bridge these days can be a bit "Meh, it's a bridge, so what?" I think. This book will debunk that view by explaining how the bridge was built. It took an enormous effort to build the bridge, killing, and maiming people along the way, and is this explained here in the pages of this book.
It's well wroth a read.
Most people who look at the bridge these days can be a bit "Meh, it's a bridge, so what?" I think. This book will debunk that view by explaining how the bridge was built. It took an enormous effort to build the bridge, killing, and maiming people along the way, and is this explained here in the pages of this book.
It's well wroth a read.
lakecake's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
David McCoullough is a national treasure. The man can make anything interesting, including the engineering involved in building a suspension bridge. The real key here, though, is the people—the human beings who worked so hard to bring this engineering marvel to life. The way that the author weaves the basics of the time period in to give a complete picture of the happenings, while never losing sight of the details of the construction, rounds out the story in a way that makes it even more engaging.
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
McCullough has such a skill at making topics come alive. His text and his command of language and grammar really set his writing apart from his contemporaries. In this book not only do you learn about the actual construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, but you learn about the history of the era, bridge building in general and he ins and outs of the process of putting together a project of this magnitude. You'd think from reading this that McCullough was in the room, part of the team. It is a great read.