1776 by David McCullough

An indecisive leader in an unpopular war. Scores of Americans dying everyday for a cause that not everyone supports or understands. A conflict with a promised speedy resolution that quickly dissolves into a quagmire. And all of this 200 years before America invaded Iraq.

The birth of our nation was a harrowing, decisive moment in the history of the world. McCullough has sifted through hundreds of historical accounts and letters to paint a picture of America as it moved from protected colony to independent country. George Washington is alternately lionized and vilified with each success (few) or failure (many) of the rebel army. This is a picture of American perseverance, and how one man, when driven by a justified ideology, can alter history for the betterment of the world. Washington, an inexperienced military leader in 1775, takes the reigns of a movement that escalated from political upheaval to movement for independence. His first campaign in Boston is a victory, as his ragtag army surrounds the British and forces them to stand down and evacuate. Any cause for joy is quickly erased as a harsh winter sets in and Washington's army meets defeat after defeat. Setbacks are numerous, from botched maneuvers to traitors to poor communication, and ultimately the inability to act on Washington's part. But when his back is against the wall, when there is no light at the end of the tunnel, Washington comes through. The final account of Washington crossing the Delaware is a thrilling sequence to rival any Hollywood wartime epic.

McCullough is a master of beautifully presenting facts and figures. His details paint a thorough and accurate portrait of life as it was, and makes the reader realize, 200 years later, how much was at stake during this pivotal year.