Fascinating book about the Big Three of the American Revolution: Washington, Jefferson, and Adams. The book chronicles what each man is doing at each point in the revolution. Very illuminating, and easy to read. ( )

This work alone provided more breadth and depth than everything I learned during school. The comparative approach is useful, and Ferling seems to bring out the personalities without editorializing. The triumvirate of Jefferson (the pen), Adams (the tongue), and Washington (the sword) were as involved in the revolution as anyone. And yet Ferling shows that they were initially driven as much by themselves as by the idea of freedom. ( )