Really good book!!

[Tom M King]

I just finished reading First Principles, by Thomas Ricks. The author studied, in depth, what shaped the ideas, and ideals of the "Founding Fathers" of the United States. He goes into what education each had, including his reading what they read, and what education some didn't have.

Back then, there were few Universities, and the studies at those was mostly studying Roman history, and some Greek history, and philosophers while learning Latin. His chapters on individuals are not long, but lay out pretty clearly their histories, of exploits, as well as what their education was comprised of. Those without education are not diminished, like George Washington, but their shaping history very well explained. Ben Franklin was just plain smart. He picked up Latin, and French on his own.

There are some things that I had not read in other places, like even the men during the hardship of the Winter at Valley Forge put on some of the Roman plays, with one repeatedly, and you see where some very famous quotes came from-as an example: "I regret that I have only one life to give for my country", and others, and how it shaped their views.

In short, if any of this interests you, I highly recommend this book. It's very well written, as well as very interesting. The Author is a Pulitzer Prize winner, so not new at this craft.

[Frederick Skelly]

Sounds like a good book. I'll add it to my list. Thanks for the tip, Tom.
Fred

[Bill Carey]

Thanks Tom. Just finished A Team of Rivals and was looking for something new. Only 4 bucks for the kindle version.

[Doug Dawson]

I just finished reading First Principles, by Thomas Ricks. The author studied, in depth, what shaped the ideas, and ideals of the "Founding Fathers" of the United States. He goes into what education each had, including his reading what they read, and what education some didn't have.

Back then, there were few Universities, and the studies at those was mostly studying Roman history, and some Greek history, and philosophers while learning Latin. His chapters on individuals are not long, but lay out pretty clearly their histories, of exploits, as well as what their education was comprised of. Those without education are not diminished, like George Washington, but their shaping history very well explained. Ben Franklin was just plain smart. He picked up Latin, and French on his own.

There are some things that I had not read in other places, like even the men during the hardship of the Winter at Valley Forge put on some of the Roman plays, with one repeatedly, and you see where some very famous quotes came from-as an example: "I regret that I have only one life to give for my country", and others, and how it shaped their views.

In short, if any of this interests you, I highly recommend this book. It's very well written, as well as very interesting. The Author is a Pulitzer Prize winner, so not new at this craft.

That’s a really good book. It was profiled with interviews of the author on Morning Joe over the course of a week back in November, and supposedly those segments are still available on msnbc.com if you can get it to work. I gave it to my wife for Christmas, and I’ve read through it and it’s quite a thoughtful treatise.

[Mel Fulks]

Tom, Overall a well done review. Thanks for posting. Washington gets an occasional bad review from writers looking for
a new angle. But most historians still rank him at the top. I would describe him as self educated. I think his ambition was
the product of good self evaluation. His mom knew his innate worth and acted accordingly. He kept his distance, chose
his friends carefully. During the war he studied books on military tactics at night in his tent. That's confidence ! He was
known as the greatest horseman of his time, an athlete, read mostly for practical stuff. An early advocate for scientific gardening. There are
many reports of his great strength. He could crack nuts between two fingers. Stern and formal....would have been a lousy
stand-up comic. At Yorktown Cornwallis did not have enuf manly grace to appear at his surrender...sent somebody else.
Washington knew his military etiquette and let an officer of matching rank bring back that shiny sword !!

[Tom M King]

I've never read this anywhere, but have developed my own theory of one of George Washington's biggest strengths. From a lot of other books that I've read, it seems to me that his strongest asset was that he didn't need much sleep. He read, while others were sleeping. Even in later years, at Mount Vernon, he would escort the last guests to their rooms at night, and was in the kitchen lighting the morning fire hours before anyone else got up, and would be found reading in the kitchen. He made some big mistakes early on, but learned from them, as well as learning from mistakes of other military men, and could stick to a task until it was finished. He learned from others' military mistakes that sometimes it was more important to keep your army alive, than to win a small fight.

He ranked "virtue" above everything else. Virtue back then was putting the common good above personal gain. Virtue was highly respected by all the Founding Fathers. There were, of course, some individual variations on what they considered virtue, such as Jefferson's hypocritical living in luxury on the backs of enslaved people, but they all understood it, highly regarded it, talked about it, and thought it necessary to be a leader of a country.

I have one small, old book that's nothing but speeches given by George Washington. You can see what sort of man he was, and we were Very fortunate to have him at the right time.

This "virtue" is highly lacking in people we elect these days.

[Jim Matthews]

This "virtue" is highly lacking in people we elect these days.

There's a cause and remedy for that.

https://www.businesscasual.fm/can-campaign-finance-reform-solve-dcs-corruption-problem/

[Mel Fulks]

Ben Franklin: Like all of us he was interested in women ....but he knew he was not handsome and would need money.
Worked hard to get it then quit soon as he could. Had he lived in mid 20th century he could have been a "stand-in" for an actor.
Karl Malden or Ernest Borgnine. Never known as a fancy dresser.

[Stan Calow]

Thanks - just ordered it.

[Mel Fulks]

Tom,that sleep thing is interesting. As you know he never sired any children. Years ago a theory was put forth that he
might have had "Klinefelter's Syndrome". I've forgotten exactly what that is, and will re-read.

[Bernie Kopfer]

Thank you for the link. If it’s the right thing, makes sense and should be done: It won’t happen. Just follow the money.

[Mel Fulks]

If I remember right the Nathan Hale quote is disputed. It is not disputed that he died bravely. They say he was probably
familiar with the Roman Latin equivalent .

[Tom M King]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cato,_a_Tragedy