Kevin Phillips makes a compelling case that 1775 was at least as important as 1776 in the American Revolution and that the Patriots made many de facto declarations of independence well in advance of the moment we have all come to celebrate as the Birth of the Nation. I have to say his work came up short in convincing me that 1775 was more imporatant than 1776, the latter of which was the year that Americans throughout the colony took up the public debate that tipped the scales in favor of independence. Nevertheless, the book was rich with details and social factors that shaped the emerging American psyche in the late 18th century. Parts of this book read well, while others were more tedious, and I think he gave undue short shrift to the ideological origins of the revolution that cannot be divorced from the events, the economics, culture, and the prevailing social atmosphere. ( )

I left this review unstarred as the writing style and focus just isn't my cup of tea. I consider myself a student of the American Revolution, our Founders, etc. But I went into this book expecting a narrative of 1775, not an academic analysis. So if that's your thing, I imagine this is very well done. I just found myself re-reading sentences and whole paragraphs multiple times only to find that I just really didn't care about the depth of detail Phillips was providing.

I did something with this book that I rarely do: I gave up.

It’s a long slog, not chronological but an issue-by-issue look at the American Revolution. And it, frankly, goes on too long for what it’s trying to say.

This book posits that 1776 is the only date that is given any consideration when we think of the American Revolution, and that 1775 is much more important. It’s an interesting theory, but I don’t know of anybody who thinks all of this was accomplished in one year. The entire scope of the American Revolution began in earnest in 1774, if not partially before, and the United States wasn’t firmly established until 1789, when the Constitution went into effect and Washington was elected the first president.

The author seems to be pushing to move our celebrations back to 1775, but that’s not really necessary. The thought that 1775 was important is fine, and true, but why act as though the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 was not worthy of marking?

Ultimately, this book reads like a long dissertation. It’s more academic than general, not that reader-friendly. And a tremendous amount of it is just a survey of already-written history books and papers. He may restate it well, but I can’t really find all that much that’s new. He even acknowledges that he relies mostly on what comes before by quoting TWO books at the beginning of each chapter.

It’s full of information, but it’s not must-read material. It didn’t keep me going.

For more of my reviews, go to Ralphsbooks. ( )

So much to absorb. It took me the good part of a year to finish this baby, but I did. And I am more knowledgeable for it. Anyone that can write fact after fact and still keep my attention deserves at least a. Four star. ( )