Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World

by Eric Metaxas

There has never been a nation like the United States of America.

Its impact on the world is unprecedented in all of human history. After two and a half centuries of existence, it is difficult to imagine what the world would be like without it.

But how did it come into existence? Who has really done justice to this astonishing story? Innumerable books have been written about the American Revolution, but the definitive treatment of the full story simply does not exist—certainly not in our generation. And it’s a story, actually a host of stories, that every single American really must know and celebrate.

Who better to tell it than Eric Metaxas, historian and author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including the million-selling biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer? And what better time for such a book to appear than the 250th anniversary of America’s birth?

The Bicentennial in 1976 fell at a rather awkward cultural moment, following the debacles of Vietnam and Watergate and smack-dab in the middle of the especially unexciting presidency of Gerald Ford. The contrast with where America is now could hardly be greater. There is an undeniable explosion of patriotism and a concomitant hunger for the grand and sweeping epic story of our fabled founding. Millions of Americans have adopted the slogan “Make America Great Again.” But in order to do that, we must go back to the beginning and must retell the great story that made us great in the first place.

Metaxas’s The Revolution will do precisely that. At more than 500 pages—including photos, maps, and illustrations—it will be definitive and sweeping, but it will also be fabulously entertaining, containing the dazzling array of extraordinary stories every American should know, ranging from the many events that led to Lexington and Concord, all the way through the twists and turns of the war itself, until Yorktown and beyond.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Politics, American Revolutionary War, American, American Revolution

640 pages, Hardcover

First published June 2, 2026

About the author

In a decidedly eclectic career, Eric Metaxas has written for VeggieTales, Chuck Colson, Rabbit Ears Productions and the New York Times, four things not ordinarily in the same sentence. He is a best-selling author whose biographies, children’s books, and works of popular apologetics have been translated into more than 25 languages.

Reviews

[Paige Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is without a doubt my new favorite single-volume work about the American Revolution. Eric does a masterful job weaving the story of our Founding from the “Opening Scene of the Revolution” in 1760 with the Writs of Assistance, all the way through to the surrender at Yorktown. You’ll come out of this with a clearer picture than you’ve ever had about what actually motivated and guided the Founders, as well as the undeniable miraculous role that “Divine Providence” played in the birth of the greatest nation the world has ever known.

If you read only one book in this, the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Six, I think it should be this one!

Favorite Quote: “So the Founding was not at all theocratic in the way the Puritan founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony had been in 1630, but to leap toward characterizing it as therefore somehow secular is even more mistaken. Though the American that emerged in 1776 and afterward was no Christian theocracy, neither was it even slightly secular. It was deeply Christian, but in a new way that had never before been seen in history, in a way that saw respecting people’s religious liberty as at the very heart of true Christian faith. So we cannot jump from the ditch of Puritan theocracy into the opposite ditch of secular a-theocracy. Christian faith remained at the center of the Founder’s view, and without it there could be no liberty as they understood liberty.

[Breanna Butler]

🇺🇸 so good! A must-read for every American, especially for the 250th celebration of America. Reads like a fun lecture from a cool history professor - full of great information, entertaining anecdotes, and powerful prose. A deeply researched and passionate look at how we got here and what makes America unique in world history.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about the United States Revolution. So well written, easy for anyone to read. I took my time reading this long worthy book to take it all in. If you ever wanted to know how it all started just read this book. Bonus that it’s written by one of my favorite authors.

[Mark McElreath · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stirring one-volume history of the American War for Independence.

Though tomes have been written about the Revolutionary War, this work stands out as a single read to aid in placing all the characters and places in their proper order. It hits the key battles and highlights the important figures - even Benedict Arnold and his treasonous ways spiral through the narrative.

But this work is more. Metaxas takes nearly the first half of the book to recount the foundations of liberty laid before July 4, 1776. He details the misunderstanding of Britain and its leaders as to the misgivings of the colonies over taxes and writs, and he gives us a glimpse of the sparks that would light the bonfires of a Revolution.

Another benefit of this work is that Metaxas is clearly making the case for the religious grounding of the Founders. They were not Deists of the Enlightenment. Letters, proclamations, and personal accounts abound showing how sacred these men believed their cause to be and how they depended upon Providence alone to see their righteous labor through. He highlights their belief in "covenant" living as soldiers and citizens before God, who would win His favor by acting virtuously even in war.

Metaxas is a superb author. I have enjoyed everything I have read of his, and recommend you to take up this volume with a ready mind and a patriotic heart.

[Marnix Matthijsse · Rating 1 out of 5]

MAGA propaganda, this has nothing to do with history. Sad because when told fairly, the USA has a very interesting history.

[Charissa Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Overview: The United States has been around as a nation for nearly 250 years now. How did we become a nation? It's been a while since many of us have studied the Revolutionary War. What drove men like John and Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and more to turn on the mother country of Great Britian? Let's find out.

Dislikes: The British Redcoats were brutal. What they did on the American Continent was savage by any means by which they can be measured.

Those who were willing to betray their fledging country all seem to be cursed with a fragile, yet overblown, ego.

Likes: George Washington is usually called a deist by many today. I'm not so sure that they are right. How many deists would join a collective designed to push against deism?

He also had a presence that could control the masses. Grant he was a tall and rather strong man. Just ask the two foolish men who started a brawl in the city, I believe that it was either near Boston or New York City.

John Adams and his cousin Samuel worked hard to bring about the United States as we know it today.

It's great to see how many of these men didn't care about what branch of Christianity, or Judaism, that their fellow men were a part of, just as long as they had a strong moral compass that can only be brought about by a belief in God.

We get a lot of images, paintings, and portraits in this book. There are also plenty of footnotes, and references to other books that may help.

Conclusion: This is fascinating book. If you are interested in the Founding Era, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.

[Roni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal (both the book and audio)!!!! If you plan to read one book in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, make sure to pick up this one!

[Steve Sylvest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done. This should be required reading for each generation to remember our founding.

[Fred Leland · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding history

Great historical moment Ali through history of our revolution. The tone, the revolutionary characters and our traditional American values all come shining through, in this masterfully written book. I highly recommend it.

[Jim Bullington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read multiple books about the founding of our nation. Especially during this 250th anniversary year. This book ties it all together using the actual words of those that made it necessary and the actual words of those that gave the world this great gift.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just. So. Long. 600+ pages. I felt the same way about Bonhoeffer and Luther. All his books are extremely well researched and written. But I think maybe better as a reference book, not one to sit down and read for enjoyment. Falling asleep while reading multiple multiple times. So. Very well written. But I guess not very engaging? Like the author. Loved veggietales 😆 loved the idea of all his long books. And love knowing that they are out there and available for reference. I just don't think I'll pick up another one (if he does another one) and try to read it cover to cover.

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Metaxas is a gifted writer and this may be his best work to date. Highly, highly recommended.

[Books Data · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric Metaxas’s “Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World” is a sweeping and passionate retelling of the American Revolution. It is not written simply as a military history or a political account of colonies breaking away from Britain. Instead, Metaxas presents the Revolution as a deeply moral and spiritual event, a struggle in which ordinary people came to believe that liberty was not a gift from kings or governments, but a sacred right given by God. His central idea is that America was born from a conviction that human beings possess dignity and rights because they are made by God, and that no earthly ruler has the authority to crush those rights.

The book begins by looking beyond the immediate causes of the Revolution. Metaxas argues that the American founding cannot be understood only through taxes, trade disputes, or parliamentary laws. He traces its roots back through centuries of religious and intellectual history, especially the Protestant Reformation and the Great Awakening. In his view, these movements taught people to question absolute authority and to think seriously about conscience, moral responsibility, and a direct relationship with God. By the time conflict with Britain grew serious, many colonists had already developed a mindset that made tyranny unacceptable. They believed that obedience to God stood above obedience to a king, and that resisting unjust power could be a righteous duty.

Metaxas describes the American Revolution as different from other revolutions in world history. He contrasts it with the French and Bolshevik revolutions, which he sees as more secular, chaotic, and destructive. In his telling, the American Revolution succeeded because it was not based mainly on resentment or a desire to tear everything down. Rather, it was grounded in ordered liberty, moral restraint, and dependence on divine providence. The colonists, he argues, were not simply declaring independence from King George III; they were also declaring dependence on God. This combination, for Metaxas, explains why the United States became a stable and enduring nation rather than collapsing into violence or dictatorship.

The story moves through the growing tensions between Britain and the colonies, showing how frustration slowly turned into open resistance. Metaxas brings to life the anger caused by British policies, the debates among colonial leaders, and the sense that the colonists were being treated not as free Englishmen but as subjects without true representation. The shots at Lexington and Concord become, in his narrative, more than the beginning of a war. They mark the moment when long-held ideas about liberty, rights, and conscience became action. What had been argued in pamphlets, sermons, and assemblies was now being defended with courage and sacrifice.

Throughout the book, Metaxas gives strong attention to major battles and turning points. He presents Bunker Hill as an early sign that the colonists, though poorly supplied and inexperienced, could stand against the most powerful empire in the world. Washington’s crossing of the Delaware is portrayed as a bold and almost miraculous act of leadership at a time when the American cause seemed close to failure. Saratoga becomes a turning point that helps convince France to support the Americans, while Valley Forge becomes a symbol of suffering, endurance, and faith. The final victory at Yorktown is shown as the moment when the old world order was shaken, proving that a free people could defeat imperial power.

A large part of the book’s appeal comes from its focus on personalities. George Washington is presented as a man of discipline, humility, patience, and deep moral seriousness. Metaxas does not treat him as perfect, but he emphasizes Washington’s character as essential to the survival of the Revolution. John Adams appears as stubborn, principled, and committed to law and virtue. Samuel Adams is given special importance as a powerful organizer and voice of resistance, someone who helped stir the colonies toward independence. Henry Knox also receives attention as one of the lesser-known heroes whose courage and practical brilliance helped the cause, especially through his work with artillery. Other figures, including Nathan Hale, Benedict Arnold, Horatio Gates, and Israel Putnam, help Metaxas show the Revolution as a drama of bravery, weakness, loyalty, and betrayal.

One of the strongest themes in the book is providence. Metaxas repeatedly suggests that God’s hand can be seen in the unlikely survival and success of the American cause. Weather, timing, surprising decisions, and narrow escapes are often treated as more than coincidences. He sees them as signs that the Revolution was part of a larger divine purpose. This does not mean that the colonists did not suffer or make mistakes, but Metaxas argues that their cause was blessed because it was tied to liberty and human dignity. He also emphasizes that many Americans believed they had to act morally if they wanted God’s favor, making virtue and self-control central to the meaning of freedom.

The book is also a warning to modern readers. Metaxas believes that Americans today often forget the spiritual foundation of their liberty. He argues that freedom cannot survive if people abandon the moral and religious convictions that gave birth to it. For him, the Revolution is not just a finished event in the eighteenth century. It is an ongoing responsibility. Each generation must decide whether it will preserve the ideals of the founding or let them fade. The “Sacred Cause” of liberty, as he describes it, requires gratitude, courage, humility, and dependence on God.

“Revolution” is a dramatic, energetic, and faith-centered account of America’s founding. It presents the birth of the United States as one of the most important events in human history, not merely because a new country was created, but because a new understanding of government and human rights entered the world. Metaxas writes with admiration for the founders and with deep confidence in America’s unique role. Readers looking for a neutral academic history may find the book strongly shaped by the author’s religious and patriotic viewpoint. But taken on its own terms, it is a vivid and heartfelt story of how courage, faith, sacrifice, and belief in God-given liberty helped create the United States of America.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for every American. May we endeavor to seek the Lord as they did. May we endeavor to honor their sacrifice and keep this republic, if we can.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review title: The Great American Hagiography

Hagiography is the style of biography that documents the lives of saints to establish and embellish their saintliness. And Eric Metaxas has written what can only be called a hagiography of the founding of the United States. Certainly writing a history of a country subtitled The Birth of the greatest nation in the history of the world--even if it is one's own beloved country--suggests a level of extravagant praise that borders on hagiography, does it not?

Metaxas, based on my previous reading of his excellent biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer , is a very good biographer. Bonhoeffer is deeply researched, solidly rooted in the history of the 20th century when that young theologian stood firm against fascism, and spiritually perceptive of the influence of faith and belief on personal action. Here, Metaxas takes a step back, writing a broad narrative of the years and events leading up to and through the establishment of the idea of a united America formed of the 13 British colonies in revolt against their distant colonial leaders in Parliament, the Monarchy, and the British military. That this is a very broad view, relying only on secondary sources (see the Selected Bibliography, p. 581) with no endnotes, may be suggested, for example, by the chapter on the famous Battle of Bunker Hill not coming until p. 246.

So what Metaxas is writing is not biography or academic history or basic research but simple storytelling, weaving a narrative around the key events and participants in the manner and style of a professor speaking extemporaneously from his notes to a class of freshman-level students. And he's good at it most of the time, although too often he resorts to structures like "as we shall see" when taking events out of chronology. But like a good novelist, he tells a good story that keeps the reader turning the pages (and like myself when I was that freshman in history classes enjoying the lecture, taking notes and keeping up on assigned reading).

As suggested by my review title and by Metaxas's own subtitle, Revolution is extremely positive about the events, people, and motives in the narrative. His best-loved secular saints are John Adams and George Washington, with honorable mention to Ben Franklin and Thomas Paine. And Metaxas is very explicit in his praise for these men not just as "secular saints" but as literal Christians. For Metaxas throughout the narrative and throughout the events of the colonial and revolutionary period, the evangelical Christian faith of the colonists (who begin to refer to themselves as "Americans" in the course of these events) was a sharp distinction from the British and loyalist colonists who remained in the Anglican and Catholic faiths. To the extent that he makes the British seem completely ungodly in their private lives and public actions, the broad narrative style with no footnoting left me questioning the basis for this strong distinction and with no way to challenge or confirm his statements.

Metaxas also is firm and consistent that the American founders' faith was in a personal God active in history, not in a distant Deism, and that their political beliefs and the move toward Independence and republican government were driven by their Christian faith, not by the "mere Enlightenment" (p. 338) philosophies of thinkers like John Locke. He writes that Thomas Paine makes the point that the discovery of the Americas preceded the Reformation so that these new protestants would have a place to form a new form of government (p. 307). The difference between the successful American revolution and the major ones like the French and Russian revolution that failed rests, says Metaxas, on the 150 years of practice in small scale republcianism in the colonial period, and the retention of a belief in the God of heaven as king of earth. He may be right, but again there is no way to reference his sources or give credence to his belief.

Keeping in mind that Metaxas is writing with a purpose--to celebrate the founding of America on its 250th anniversary (the hardcover book jacket calls it the

1776 SUPERCENTENNIAL EDITION! 2026

)--and with those caveats subtracting a star, his storytelling is absorbing and the 575 pages read fast. His descriptions of the actions and writings of Adams, Washington, and other founders are inspiring, and I was left with the certainty that he has made a strong case for his "greatest nation" claim. Can we prove it?

[Collin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written history of the American Revolution. For such a long book, it felt effortless to get through. I felt that Metaxas was unbiased throughout even as he put his own views on the table.

I’m still unsure of the permissibility of the revolution from a Christian perspective after reading this. From my perspective, it does seem like such a rebellion on the basis of taxation and representation in government can arguably be called wrong by a Christian. Some of the earlier chapters were unsettling as I considered that, if I were living in Boston at the time, I may have been targeted by mobs for simply not being willing to throw my hat in with rebels. That being said, it’s somewhat reassuring that over the course of the war it becomes clear that one side of this conflict, the American side, was far more virtuous and pious than the other. George Washington’s virtue and humility in particular is really inspiring.

I also get the suspicion the author may have shied away too much from expressing that many of the founding fathers had departed quite far from traditional Christianity. The author does a good job at showing that the founders were far from deists, but almost all of the quotes given to show their religiosity could also fit with their believing in a more generic deity who providentially guides history and who upholds virtues like those found in the teachings of Jesus, without necessarily being incarnate in the person of Jesus. I’m not saying this was done intentionally, but if one read this book without knowing that their may be other categories besides strict deist or strict Christian, they would probably come away with the idea that the founders were all or mostly strictly Christian, which I think may be somewhat misleading, but am unsure of myself at the moment.

The seemingly providential nature of so many of the escapes and victories of the Americans are interesting to consider, though even if we come to the conclusion that God was on the side of the Americans, we don’t necessarily need to conclude that this was because they held perfect or even right religious or political beliefs, as God could just be providentially preparing the world for something even now unknown to us.

I also enjoyed his message at the end about how the nation was built for a faith filled and virtuous people, but that this can’t be forced, and so we each have a duty to keep our country full of faith and virtue as much as we can.

Overall, having known a pathetic amount of the history in this area beforehand, I felt this was a great introduction. It was thorough but highly readable and entertaining. Everyone should know American history, and this is a great place to start, so I give it 5 stars.

Final note: after discussing at length how the number 45 became a symbol of liberty for the Americans, I was quite disappointed when I saw this book only had 44! Surely we could have fit another chapter in. Maybe in the 500th year anniversary edition.

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. This book is scheduled for release on June 2, 2026.

As America commemorates the 250th anniversary of its founding, there could hardly be a more fitting time to pick up a book like this. For readers looking to deepen their understanding of the American Revolution and the remarkable individuals who shaped it, I wholeheartedly recommend this outstanding work.

Eric Metaxas takes readers on a sweeping journey from the turbulent 1760s through the hard-fought victory at Yorktown and beyond. Along the way, he introduces us to the familiar giants of the era—James Otis, Paul Revere, Samuel and John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and many others—not as distant historical figures, but as real people grappling with extraordinary challenges and impossible decisions.

The book moves effortlessly from the streets of Boston to the halls of Philadelphia, from the brutal winter at Valley Forge to the climactic triumph at Yorktown. Metaxas has a gift for bringing history to life. His writing is engaging, accessible, and richly detailed without ever becoming overwhelming. Reading this book felt less like studying a textbook and more like listening to a gifted historian deliver a fascinating lecture, one filled with memorable personalities, dramatic moments, and a deep appreciation for the courage and sacrifice (and faith) that gave birth to a nation.

What impressed me most was the author's ability to weave together the political, military, and personal dimensions of the Revolution into a compelling narrative. Even readers who are already familiar with the broad outlines of the era will likely discover new insights and perspectives. The result is a work that is both educational and thoroughly enjoyable.

In a year when many Americans will be reflecting on the nation's origins and ideals, this book is especially timely. It serves as both a vivid history of the Revolutionary era and a reminder of the determination, vision, and resilience that characterized the generation that secured American independence.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It was one of the most enjoyable and informative historical reads I have encountered in recent years. I fully intend to purchase a copy for my personal library, and I will be enthusiastically recommending it to friends, fellow readers, and anyone with an interest in American history. This is a five-star read in every sense of the word.

[Todd Hudnall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eric Metaxas has written a sweeping 600-page narrative to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. The author employs his extraordinary storytelling gift to recount the improbable birth of the United States, from its initial ideological seeds to the early resistance, struggles, and profound sacrifices for the “Sacred Cause” of liberty. Metaxas shares the stories of the heroism of Washington, Adams, Knox, Hale, and others; the brutal winters; the betrayals; the improbable victories; and the march to Yorktown. He does it with wit and insight.

The book emphasizes divine providence, the founders' character, their sacrifice, and their revolutionary idea that a people didn’t need a monarchy but could govern themselves based on moral and religious foundations.

Revolution brings you into the epic of American liberty. As a reader, you encounter flesh-and-blood figures whose courage and convictions made self-government conceivable. The emphasis on the “Sacred Cause” and the necessity of moral character in sustaining freedom offer a timely counter to cynical or purely pragmatic, secular views of history. He draws a stark contrast between the immoral, unprincipled society of the British elites and the moral and religious moorings that guided the colonial leaders.

“Revolution” stays in the middle lane, avoiding the gutters of secular, deist founding narratives and, on the other side, the erroneous idea that American founders established a theocracy. Instead, Metaxas highlights faith’s role in the founding and the golden-triangle interplay of freedom, virtue, and faith. He touches on how, despite the founders’ high ideals, America could allow the realities of slavery and other national sins.

On its 250th anniversary, Revolution restores the reality of the moral dignity and the hand of God’s providence in the founding of America. Despite 600 pages, you wanted Metaxas to share an even more comprehensive account. The book was hard to put down. I highly recommend this informative, inspiring, and enjoyable book.

[Victoria Gilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World is an ambitious and sweeping examination of the American Revolution that seeks to place the founding of the United States within the broader story of the people, conflicts, ideas, and events that shaped its emergence.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its scope. Rather than treating the Revolution as a collection of familiar dates and famous battles, Eric Metaxas presents it as a complex historical journey beginning with the events and tensions that preceded Lexington and Concord and continuing through the war, Yorktown, and its aftermath.

I particularly appreciated the emphasis on the many individual stories surrounding the Revolution. These personal experiences help make a monumental period of history more immediate and demonstrate that the creation of a nation was shaped by countless decisions, sacrifices, convictions, and acts of courage.

The inclusion of photographs, maps, and illustrations also adds value to such a substantial historical work, helping readers visualize the people, places, and events being discussed. Combined with the narrative approach, these elements make the book accessible not only to dedicated students of American history but also to readers seeking a broader understanding of the nation's founding.

The book will particularly appeal to readers interested in American history, the Revolutionary War, the founding of the United States, political history, historical biography, and the ideas and personalities that shaped America's earliest years.

An expansive and engaging retelling of the American Revolution that brings together the major events and overlooked stories of America's founding while inviting readers to reconsider the people and principles behind the creation of the nation.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolution by Eric Metaxas was an enthralling historical read! Being a native Bostonian I am more than familiar with much of the history of the Revolution, especially the part that happened here in Bost but I found the author was able to draw out or perhaps painting a fuller background picture than I’d had before reading this book. I’ve read several other books by Metaxas and as with those I loved how readable it is; he writes narrative nonfiction in a way that feels smooth, engaging, and easy to sink into. I was impressed by the breadth of material he covers. The book moves across people, ideas, and events in a way that makes the American founding feel expansive and alive. It never felt narrow or dry to me, instead, he kept building a bigger picture, which made the whole subject feel more vivid. At times it almost read like fiction. The pacing, scene-setting, and sense of momentum gave it that page-turning quality I usually associate with the strongest novels. I found that especially impressive in a history book, because it made the story not just informative but genuinely enjoyable to read. This is a wonderful book that will be available as we celebrate 250 years of The United States this summer. I highly recommend this read as enjoyable and eye opening.

#Revolution #NetGalley # #SkyhorsePublishing

[Glenn Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read Eric Metaxas before Revolution, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. His scholarship is impressive, but what really drew me in was his often unique and gripping way of telling the story.

The Christian influence on the American Revolution became much more vivid for me through his treatment of John and Samuel Adams, James Otis, George Washington, and the Continental Congress. Even more insightful was his exploration of the broader Christian culture of the time and how deeply it shaped the thinking of the men who led the Revolution.

I was particularly interested in Metaxas’s discussion of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s own autobiography describes the impact the Great Awakening and George Whitefield had on him, but Metaxas goes further, tracing the influence of Christian thought and culture into Franklin’s and even Thomas Jefferson’s political careers.

Excellent scholarship, insight, and analysis. Revolution has earned Eric Metaxas a place on my list of favorite American history authors, alongside David McCullough, Robert Middlekauff, Dale Van Every, and Rick Atkinson.

Highly recommended, especially for anyone interested in understanding the ideas and culture that helped shape the American Revolution.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one who's been an ardent consumer of American history, I did not think a book could make me fall more in love with my nation then reading this book did. It beautifully encapsulates the heart of the men who gave up their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to establish something no man had ever seen happen in the modern world. I'm so thankful for the providential hand that led them down the path to establish a nation whom claim is my own 250 years later. I'm thankful that finally we as a nation are beginning to understand how the hand of Providence is crucial and vital to maintaining this revolution in a world that would rather deny the hand of God as being something unnecessary to experience true liberty. This should be read by every student in the public schools. If we were able to even just get the high schoolers to read it and understand the significant battles our nation faced as it came into existence, it would truly transform our nation into something many of us have not seen sadly in generations.

[Ethan D Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was searching for a book about the American Revolution, and this one in particular was actually recommended to me as a great title. It did not disappoint. This is the first Metaxas book I've ever read, and the author does a fantastic job of taking the reader through what really feels like an adventure, even though it is ultimately just historical exposition. Many books this dense tend to feel overloaded with information that feels unnecessary, however this book manages to make every detail count.

Now, the book is pretty openly American Exceptionalist, and it makes that pretty clear from the very start. While I don't fully buy that narrative, it didn't negatively affect the book for me, as I found it to be very refreshing to hear an overwhelming positive presentation of American history. In fact, I am convinced that any reader who picks up this book will discover new sense of American identity, rooted in our nation's incredible history. I also appreciate the Christian tilt in the book.

[Lorinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biographer Eric Metaxas takes a sweeping view of the American Revolution, opening the tome with the death of George II in 1760. In the first part of the book, he writes mini-biographies of the cast of characters in this historical drama and traces their conflicts with the motherland, England. First, he covers the social and political conflicts that lead up to the War of Independence, during which he focuses on George Washington. The book ends with the Treaty of Paris and with Washington relinquishing his command and, later, his power as president.

I've read a few of Metaxas's books, and this uses the highest level of vocabulary with a sprinkling of foreign phrases. He translated a German one (I studied that language), but I had to look up the Latin and French. Like his biographies, Metaxas uses fictional pacing, his quirky sense of humor, and literary allusions to make the 600-page volume a fascinating read.

[Steve Beal Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading or listening to several different books that focused on the Revolution or the characters therein over many years I acquired some knowledge of such history.

When I heard an interview with the author that mentioned this book, I was curious, if not excited. One book, tying so many of the stories over several years all together in one place?

Yes. Exactly that. I'm very pleased to have this information in one book.

Then to know and better understand the literal undying commitment to virtue throughout this 'sacred cause' is exactly the foundation to build on. The rock.

Matthew 7:24–25 (NKJV)24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."

[Lianna Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect this book to be so edifying. I knew I was reading about the Revolutionary War and the founders of our country, but I didn’t know I’d also be reading about such remarkable displays of God’s providence and such inspiring examples of Christian faith throughout our nation’s founding.

Metaxas does a really excellent job telling the story, highlighting fascinating details along the way, and bringing it all to a fitting conclusion with his reflections. As someone who didn’t remember much about the Revolutionary War (my last U.S. history class was in high school), I found the book to be a perfect match for my interests. It left me with a much greater appreciation for our nation’s founding.

[Tabitha Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a paradigm-shifting book, even for a llifelong patriot who knew/assumed the founding fathers had deeply good intentions and a bent for listening to God in their nation-building endeavor. What a treasure of sources is woven together here, original letters, journals, newspaper articles from the day, to craft a narrative-style story of our nation’s amazing and miraculous founding. God’s favor was over this time period and these colonies, and there is just no getting around it when you see more facts and original sentiments. Mr Metaxas has a gift for taking huge stories and helping you eat the elephant with comic relief, sly anachronistic references, and familial anecdotes. This should be read in every home where our nation is valued.

[Charlie Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very concise history of the American Revolution. It begins more than a dozen years before the declaration of independence and there’s only about 600 pages long. Still, it covers all of the major points, and does a very good job of introducing all of the major characters and quite a few minor ones too. If you want to read a more in-depth book on the revolution, read 1776 by David McCullough, or Battles of the Revolutionary War by WJ Wood. Walter Isaacson, David McCullough, and Joseph Ellis all have written fantastic biographies on the founders.

Thank you Aldridge Publications for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved history and have more recently become interested in the American Revolution. It is undeniable that America should not have won the war but there seems to be no way to chalk the win up to dumb luck. Many times our founding fathers turned to God in bleak situations only for miracles to happen over and over again.

This book did more to show the sheer greatness of George Washington than any single volume I’ve read on him. It showed his character and perseverance when any lesser man, like King George III, would have given in to baser human reactions.

Eric Metaxas has done it again and proves why all of his books are must reads!

[Hunter Satterfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, well written history of the American Revolution. The is very different than many of the previous entries from other writers given it is written by a well read Christian author. It focuses heavily on the spiritual leanings of the Freedom Fighters and Founders and the differences in their English counterparts.

I have read almost everything by Metaxas - and this one is just as well written and "based" as his other writings. He pulls out some great anecdotes that I had not previously read as well.

The only thing holding it back from five stars is that it drags a little in the middle section. It is still a strong recommend for all history buffs.