The bestselling author of Truman and John Adams, David McCullough has written profiles of exceptional men and women past and present who have not only shaped the course of history or changed how we see the world but whose stories express much that is timeless about the human condition.

Here are Alexander von Humboldt, whose epic explorations of South America surpassed the Lewis and Clark expedition; Harriet Beecher Stowe, "the little woman who made the big war"; Frederic Remington; the extraordinary Louis Agassiz of Harvard; Charles and Anne Lindbergh, and their fellow long-distance pilots Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Beryl Markham; Harry Caudill, the Kentucky lawyer who awakened the nation to the tragedy of Appalachia; and David Plowden, a present-day photographer of vanishing America.

Different as they are from each other, McCullough's subjects have in common a rare vitality and sense of purpose. These are brave companions: to each other, to David McCullough, and to the reader, for with rare storytelling ability McCullough brings us into the times they knew and their very uncommon lives.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Yummy
Comment: When I'm hitting away at several books at a time that have pages in the 500-1000 range, I like to have something to take a break with that is light and easy to read. This little book has 17 brief stories on personages that are familiar to some readers and not to most. I found it to be a delightful h'ordeuve to snack on while taking a rest from pounding away at the many titans(massive tomes) that I usually like to take on at the same time.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Good value, good service
Comment: Thanks so much for your prompt service, and the book is just what I wanted.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Delightful Collection
Comment: All writers, especially biographers and journalists, have a collection of vignettes in their notebooks or files that are like film outtakes -- they're left on the cutting room floor. Here, McCullough gathers up his outtakes relating to fascinating people, places and things and puts them together in a nice book that doesn't require concentration. But the people and places he writes about are interesting and reading the book is similar to wandering around in an irrestible old museum. A lot of the material here comes from books he has written and researched. McCullough said he wanted to be a portrait painter in life, and this book is like a McCullough retrospective in words. Nice job.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Brave Companions
Comment: Received product promptly and was brand new as described. McCullough is an excellent writer and enjoyable to read.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Make your teens read it!
Comment: David McCulloug is my favorite historian ever since I read THE PATH BETWEEN THE SEAS. Since then I have read his books every time I find one.

The chapters on Alexander Von Humbolt was terrific and the one about the building of the Brooklyn bridge made my hair stand on end.

This book should be required reading for all 10, 11 and 12 graders. Its short format and chapter by chapter coverage of persons, places and events is ideal for the short attention span of today's young readers. I will introduce them to persons and events that they have never heard of but might inspire them to do great things if they can just get away from the video games and "reality shows". It may show them that people can do great things when they love what they do and work at.

---