Walter Isaacson’s new release, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, is a fascinating study that manages to pack a substantial intellectual punch into a tiny package. This very short book is a forensic exploration of a single, iconic sentence, the one Isaacson deems the greatest.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – The sentence in question.
Don’t let the size fool you; Isaacson delivers a thorough yet simple breakdown of the iconic sentence. He doesn’t just revere the words; he expertly delves into the thinking behind it, dissecting the historical currents, philosophical influences, and sheer literary craftsmanship that went into its composition. For readers who appreciate the power of language and history, this book serves as a masterclass in focused analysis.
The downside, however, is that length, coming in at 80 pages (really only half this, given the Appendices take up the other half) – it is a very quick read and will be over before you know it, leaving you wanting a bit more meat on the bones. However, as long as a prospective reader is aware of the book’s scope before purchasing, that it is a short, concise, focused examination, this feeling of disappointment should be easily avoided. Ultimately, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written is a clever, quick read. Readers interested in American history and Isaacson’s previous works should pick this one up.