In his inspirational book “The American Spirit: Who We Are and What We Stand For,” the late historian David McCullough often stressed that, in intemperate times, there is more that unites us than divides us. Over the course of his storied career, McCullough gave countless speeches at university graduations, historical societies, national anniversaries, and to Congress. He handpicked this collection of 15 of his speeches given between 1989 and 2016.
Not surprisingly, McCullough emphasizes why history is important and how it helps us understand our here and now and our future. “History, I like to think, is a larger way of looking at life. It is a source of strength, of inspiration. It is about who we are and what we stand for and is essential to our understanding of what our own role should be in our time,” he wrote.
