The Wright Brothers

The #1 New York Times Bestseller from Pulitzer Prize–winning author David McCullough

The Wright Brothers tells the dramatic true story of Wilbur and Orville Wright—two determined bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio, who changed the course of history and taught the world how to fly.

On a cold December morning in 1903, amid the sands of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, their fragile machine rose into the air—marking humanity’s first powered flight. Yet, the world was slow to believe the age of flight had begun.

David McCullough captures the Wrights’ courage, intellect, and unshakable perseverance. With little formal education and almost no financial support, the brothers overcame countless failures and life-threatening risks in their quest to conquer the skies. Drawing deeply from the Wright family papers, McCullough paints a vivid portrait not just of Wilbur and Orville, but also of their devoted sister Katharine—whose support was crucial to their success.

This inspiring biography is “an enjoyable, fast-paced tale” (The Economist) that “shows as never before how two Ohio boys taught the world to fly” (The Washington Post). The Wall Street Journal praises McCullough for capturing “the marvel of what the Wrights accomplished,” while The New York Times Book Review calls it “a story of timeless importance… The Wright Brothers soars.”

A story of genius, grit, and flight—The Wright Brothers is essential reading for anyone inspired by human ingenuity and the power of perseverance.

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