Using the correspondence of the Founding Fathers as support, Shachtman describes how the Founding Fathers were men of science as well as men of letters and gentlemen. It speaks of the founding of some colleges and how the required courses were changed in some others. While the book was interesting, some aspects were not, and I found myself losing interest somewhere in the middle. I did find the energy to read all the way through it though so...

I probably wouldn't read it again, since it is more history based than science based. ( )

I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.

This is a highly readable account of the contributions to science and technology by the founders of the United States of America and the role that science played in the success of the Revolution and the success of the new nation.

For example, George Washington's realization that the health of his troops was crucial to success on the battlefield resulted in his insistence that the soldiers be inoculated against small pox. While it is hard to prove that the war would have been lost without this precaution, Tom Shachtman makes a good argument for the importance of this policy.

While Strachtman covers the contributions in what we now think of as "pure" or "theoretical" science, the discussion of the practical applications of scientific thought is the real strength of this book. These were not men in ivory towers, these were field scientists--biologists, geologists, physicians, inventors, explorers--developing practices that would create a commercially viable country.

An excellent, well researched, look a this important side of the emerging USA. It includes an extensive bibliography. ( )