About this title: This biographical study of George Washington, the founding father who was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," reexamines the personal and public sides of the man who set this nation on its course and became its first president. Joseph Ellis draws on voluminous research, and especially on the archives in the ...
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Description: Very Good. 1400040310 dust jacket is missing. Condition: VERY GOOD. (Book may have one or a combination of the following characteristics: former library book, cover wear, name written inside cover, light underlining/highlighting, remainder mark, etc. Overall, the book is in solid shape. This is a blanket description. Please email us if you require a specific, detailed description of the book condition. We will typically respond within one week of your request). read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9781400040315ISBN:1400040310
Description: Good. Good: A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact (including dust cover, if applicable). The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include "From the library of" labels. About Austin eBooks Austin eBooks is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service! We add inventory to our store daily, and guarantee order processing and shipment ... read more
Description: Good. 0739451537 Former library item may have library binding and show stamps, stickers or other marks. Items not meeting quality expectations may be returned. Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. read more
Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Minimal damage to cover and binding. Pages show light use. With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, Best Prices. read more
Description: Acceptable. Readable copy. Noticeable wear to cover, pages, and binding (binding intact). Pages can include considerable notes, highlights, and/or underlining which do not obscure text. Some yellowing and/or separation of pages is common. Dust cover may be missing. " read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9781400032532ISBN:1400032539
Description: Acceptable. Former Library Book and/or book has writing/highlighting * If you can deal with the writing/markings, this is a great deal! * read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
"Joseph J. Ellis' stated goal in writing this biography was to produce a book that people could actually read, and I think he really succeeds. His Excellency George Washington comes in under 300 pages, which is about a third of the length of David McCullough's fine John Adams. It really is hard to get to know the personality and character of someone so mythical as George Washington, but Ellis does a good job at displaying his virtues (which are many) along with his weaknesses. There is a popular notion that George Washington was the only man that could have won the War for Independence and successfully overseen the founding a new democratic nation. After reading the book, I am convinced that it is true. This book is surprisingly accessible, moving along briskly through Washington's eventful life, and I would recommend it to anyone."
"For some time now I've wanted to find some book that helped with separating the fact from the fancy regarding the life and works of George Washington. This was a good choice I believe. I was able to see the very human side of Washington and his very mortal mistakes. He was not a womanizer as has been rumored, though he did seem to have some feelings in his younger days for another mans wife, but nothing intimate. Washington stated again and again that the hand of providence had spared him (particularly during the French Indian War) to take part in the formation of a new country. He knew he had been graced by the hand of providence to fill his roll as commander of the Continental Army and a few years later as the first President of the United States. It was very interesting to learn that Washington was at conflict with himself about the slavery issue. In his final will he freed the slaves that were 'his'. He didn't free them earlier because his wife Martha didn't have the same feelings about freeing slaves and at least half of the slaves were Martha's. His slaves and hers were intermarried and Washington never considered breaking up slave families."
"What a great man. George Washington was honorable, with excellent judgement, and, I believe, foreordained. Recognizing the strengths of our Nation today is easily done, and to learn of Washington's intrigal part in the founding of such priciples is admirable. He had an understanding that seemed to surpass most but because of his uncanny popularity, his vision of a unified, self-governed country was adopted by the people.
I was interested to learn about things such as his interest and love for his Virginia plantation, his view of slavery, the Jay Tready, his interpretation of foreign policy, his correspondence with other great leaders, his quiet nature and 6'3" dominaring figure, his desire for nobility and legacy, and, finally, his sad death.
I am more interested now in learning about other great leaders such as Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton, and others. I am interested to read more about the war and the creating of the Declaration of Independance.
I wonder, too, how our nation would be different today supposing suceeding presidents acted as honorably and with as much integrity and good judgement as did Washington. What Washington accomplished surpasses any other historical figure I have yet read about (and I should add that I have yet to read about Licoln, an equal in historical significance to be sure). I end the same way I began, what a great man."
""For the rest of his life, all arguments based on the principle of mutual trust devoid of mutal interest struck his as sentimental nonsense." Washington was an extremely smart man militarily, politically, and otherwise. Though uneducated, he proved that he could go far just by listening and observing. He took advice well and though sometimes unforgiving, really knew how to handle hard situations. He fought hard and thought ahead, usually making astoundingly correct predictions about where the future was heading- the war, America, Britain, France, the American West, etc.
I find it fascinating how much flack he took during his presidency and how much he really never wanted to be president. He was the ultimate servant who allowed the press to eat him alive in print.
On Ohio Country: "Washington believed it was open to settlement; the British believes it was closed; and the Indians believed it was theirs." On hard subjects like Native American land and slavery, Washington seemed to think on the right side of history. With NA's he did the right thing finally but as far as slavery, just because he finally freed them after his death makes him average at best in civil rights issues. Yeah, he freed them but it took him 30 years to make the decision and it was almost cowardly to have it done after he no longer had to deal with it."
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