Book · 1972 · Bridges
The Great Bridge
- mentions
- 5
- person
- 1
- podcasts
- 4
- episodes
- 4
- recommendations
- 0
I had read David McCulla's um The Great Bridge, the epic story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
Why people recommend it
The Great Bridge by David McCullough is a sweeping historical narrative detailing the epic engineering challenges, political corruption, and human sacrifices involved in the monumental construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. The book holds a legendary status among documentary filmmakers, primarily due to its profound impact on Ken Burns. Burns discussed the book on numerous podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, People I (Mostly) Admire, Freakonomics Radio, and SmartLess, consistently explaining that reading the book served as the singular spark for his entire career as a filmmaker. He recalled devouring McCullough's epic in a single sitting before excitedly mailing it to his partners and declaring his intention to make a film about the landmark, an idea that initially elicited disbelief. Burns noted that despite facing hundreds of rejections when trying to launch his debut documentary, his deep fascination with McCullough's historical account provided the stubborn perseverance needed to complete the project. Across all these appearances, the book is celebrated not only as a masterwork of historical literature but also as a transformative creative catalyst that birthed a legendary documentary career.
Every mention
Ken Burns I had read David McCulla's um The Great Bridge, the epic story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. 5
“I had read David McCulla's um The Great Bridge, the epic story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.”
“including David McCullough who written a book that I'd read about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge called the Great Bridge and I've just devoured it and sent to my partners let's make a film on this and they looked at me like I was crazy”
“but I was bullheaded and persevering, and after being turned down hundreds, literally hundreds of times, was able to make this film with the help of, as always, lots of really important and talented people, including David McCullough, who written a book that I'd read about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge called The Great Bridge, and I've just devoured”
“including David McCullough, who'd written a book that I'd read about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge called The Great Bridge.”
“i i was given his book called the great bridge the epic story of the building of the brooklyn bridge and i i literally finished it in one gulp”
