Photo by Gary Wayne Gilbert
A newly published book of speeches by David McCullough, one of America鈥檚 most distinguished historians, includes his Commencement address to Boston College鈥檚 Class of 2008.聽
The American Spirit: Who We Are and What We Stand For is a collection of talks given during the past 25 years by the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, author of books such as Truman, 1776, John Adams, The Wright Brothers and Mornings on Horseback, and narrator of the PBS 鈥淐ivil War鈥� series. Released 鈥渁t a time of self-reflection in America following a bitter election campaign that has left the country divided,鈥� according to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, The American Spirit 鈥渞eminds us of core American values to which we all subscribe.鈥�
"Read, read, read! Read the classics of American literature that you鈥檝e never opened. Read your country鈥檚 history. How can we profess to love our country and take no interest in its history?" 鈥�David McCullough to the 51茶馆 Class of 2008
McCullough鈥檚 speech at 51茶馆, titled 鈥淭he Love of Learning,鈥� included his memorable line 鈥淩ead, read, read! Read the classics of American literature that you鈥檝e never opened. Read your country鈥檚 history.鈥澛�
McCullough, who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at Commencement, continued: 鈥淗ow can we profess to love our country and take no interest in its history? Read into the history of Greece and Rome. Read about the great turning points in the history of science and medicine and ideas.鈥澛�
McCullough, in asking the graduates to make 鈥渓ove of learning central to your life,鈥� also implored them to cure 鈥渢he verbal virus that seems increasingly rampant among your generation,鈥� citing the 鈥渞elentless, wearisome use of the words 鈥榣ike鈥� and 鈥榶ou know鈥� and 鈥榓wesome鈥� and 鈥榓ctually.鈥欌��
But he also credited the 鈥渆nergetic part鈥� the graduates鈥� generation was playing in the 2008 election: 鈥淜eep that idealism alive. Make a difference.鈥�
At the end, he urged the Class of 2008 to 鈥済et the best jobs you can and go to work with spirit. Don鈥檛 get discouraged. And don鈥檛 work just for money. Choose work you believe in, work you enjoy. Money enough will follow. Believe me, there鈥檚 nothing like turning every day to work you love.鈥�
The American Spirit also includes McCullough鈥檚 speeches at a joint session of Congress, an Independence Day naturalization ceremony at Thomas Jefferson鈥檚 Monticello home, and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, among others.
鈥揢niversity Communications