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Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children Hardcover – April 13, 2004

by Dorie McCullough Lawson (Author), David McCullough (Foreword)

26 customer reviews

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An elegantly designed, beautifully composed volume of personal letters from famous American men and women that celebrates the American Experience and illuminates the rich history of some of America’s most storied families.

Posterity is at once an epistolary chronicle of America and a fascinating glimpse into the hearts and minds of some of history’s most admired figures. Spanning more than three centuries, these letters contain enduring lessons in life and love, character and compassion that will surprise and enlighten.

Included here are letters from Thomas Jefferson to his daughter, warning her of the evils of debt; General Patton on D-Day to his son, a cadet at West Point, about what it means to be a good soldier; W.E.B. DuBois to his daughter about character beneath the color of skin; Oscar Hammerstein about why, after all his success, he doesn’t stop working; Woody Guthrie from a New Jersey asylum to nine-year-old Arlo about universal human frailty; sixty-five-year-old Laura Ingalls Wilder’s train of thought about her pioneer childhood; Eleanor Roosevelt chastising her grown son for his Christmas plans; and Groucho Marx as a dog to his twenty-five-year-old son.

With letters that span more than three centuries of American history, Posterity is a fascinating glimpse into the thoughts, wisdom, and family lives of those whose public accomplishments have touched us all. Here are renowned Americans in their own words and in their own times, seen as they were seen by their children. Here are our great Americans as mothers and fathers.

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Product Details

Hardcover: 316 pages
Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (May 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 038550330X
ISBN-13: 978-0385503303
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1 x 9.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #435 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Essays & Correspondence > Letters
- #1452 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Rich & Famous
- #5177 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > United States

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Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

5 star		61%
4 star		31%
3 star		8%
2 star		0%
1 star		0%

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Inspiring letters

By Mary M. on January 15, 2015

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

Inspiring letters. Wonderful pieces of history.

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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful

Personal and Revealing

By V. L. Wilson on July 19, 2004

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

This wonderful book spans more than three centuries and gives the reader insights into the thoughts of many great Americans as they wrote to their children.
This treasury of short letters also provides some background for each one. The research needed to discover these personal letters is documented. I love this collection and the way all the letters are presented.
To quote from the author's father, David McCullough, "This is a book to pick up and read at almost any page, a book to keep close at hand, to return to for nourishment and guidance, yes, but also for reassurance and pure pleasure". I couldn't have said it any better! This quotation says exactly how I feel. I want to purchase several copies to give as gifts and as a parent, I even feel compelled to write to my own children!
All the letters provide wonderful insights into the minds of the parents, and I have several favorites; Eleanor Roosevelt wrote one to one of her sons who wanted to skip Christmas and it is so touching! As Dorie M. Lawson reminds us, letter writing is generally a thoughtful art - it cannot compare to e-mail writing.
These personal letters from parent to child are arranged thematically and within each section, they are in chronological order and printed in their entirety just as they were composed. It is thrilling to read them, especially the really old ones and all of them were written by aparent who made worthwhile contributions to America.
Here are a few of the parents whose letters are included: Thomas Jefferson to his daughter Patsy, Harry Truman to his daughter Margaret, General Patton to his son, Oscar Hammerstein to his son, and so many more from all walks of life. All of us who have children and even those who do not, will benefit from reading this rare collection of parents expressing their thoughts.
Thank you Dorie McCullough Lawson and please continue writing!

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What the title says - posterity

By just Jack on December 17, 2013

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

Its fascinating to see how great men related to their children. Oh that I could have been such a father. They were also fathers to a nation.

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For 3 minutes or 3 hours - the inspiration is inside this book

By Melissa Blevins Bein on July 7, 2014

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

Listening in on handwritten letters from "Great Americans" to their children - this book was inspiring, heartbreaking and humbling. This book is still on my bookshelf and I pick it up to be inspired on themes of Love, Strength of Character, Struggle and Work - among others. Reminder that parenting is universally bewildering - no matter the century.

A keeper.

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Excellent book and service

By EM on April 8, 2015

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

Exactly as described, arrived well packaged and timely. Thank you!

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Five Stars

By W.R.Seabrook on November 16, 2014

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terrific resource!

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Liked it very much

By Sparkeplenty on July 6, 2014

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

Very interesting and entertaining. Things that you will not find in history books. Meeting famous people more on a personal level. Liked it very much!

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Five Stars

By Diana Mahoney on March 4, 2015

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

I can't wait till it becomes available in Audio. Should (and probably will), become a "must read" .

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Bought this before my son graduated to get some ideas ...

Bought this before my son graduated to get some ideas for a letter I wanted to write to him. It worked. 5 stars.

Published 1 month ago by T. Pulley

One of best written books in my collection

Everyone should read this book.
One of best written books in my collection.

Published 2 months ago by Dan Diep

"We're all like a bunch of little children entering a huge library ...

Einstein to Time Magazine later in life re creation:

"We're all like a bunch of little children entering a huge library with 1000s of books written in many... Read more

Published 3 months ago by DocJ

Five Stars

Lovely book in perfect condition.

Published 3 months ago by Margaret Bland

Five Stars

Beautiful edition...pristine actually arriving quickly...great since it was a gift.

Published 4 months ago by susannah Bianchi

Great letters from famous individuals of the past

Great letters from famous individuals of the past. It's always cool to see how people open up to their loved ones.

Published 6 months ago by OceanSwell