The writing is a little too cutesy, but it's still an interesting read and a good quick reference. ( )

Who were the men who decided to stick it King George’s eye in July 1776 and vote for independence? Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence by married writers Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese gives readers a crash course on each signer’s lives up to and after that momentous day.

In June and July 1776, the men in the Second Continental Congress debated if the Colonies should declare independence from Great Britain. Then on the 2nd of July they took the step to do so and, on the 4th, approved the Declaration written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by the Congress. Finally, on August 2nd the 56 Congressmen from all thirteen states signed the Declaration that we see today in the National Archives. After giving this brief timeline of the creation of the Declaration of Independence, Kiernan and D’Agnese give brief biographical sketches of the 56 men—separated by state—whose signatures adorn the document filled with their life details as several anecdotes from who signed the document even though he voted against independence, who died in a duel, and how many of the men represented states they were not born in. All the signers’ biographies have an illustrated portrait to give a face to those not well known by the average American. While each biography is informative, the authors’ choice of off-handed remarks and other stylistic choices are at time annoying and off-putting which as it went on for almost 300 pages resulted in the rating this book received.

Overall, this is a good overview of all the men who essentially signed their own death warrant if events had turned out differently. ( )

Fantastic and engaging summation of the 56 men who officially signed The Declaration of Independence. Interesting and quirky details of their lives are included and in some cases even present day relatives are mentioned. Did you know that Reese Witherspoon is related to Rev. John Witherspoon who signed for New Jersey or that William Ellery is two degrees from Kevin Bacon? ( )

Good with loads of information....too much actually. Easy to read style, subtle humor, and nice accompanying information. Somewhat redundant, but good basic information about the founding of the US.... ( )

A lively and accessible introduction to 56 men who changed American history, only 3 of whom are probably at all known to modern Americans. Okay, 4 --- if you happen to like beer. I'm enjoying it immensely, although I'm not sure whether it would be a good read for a colonial-history newbie: the authors bandy about names, dates, and places that probably mean little to readers who don't have a passing knowledge of pre-Revolutionary and Revolutionary history already. It may have been a better developmental choice to put the Time Line in the front of the book instead of the back, as well as a map of the colonies. But it could be a good introductory text if readers take the initiative to follow up on the men and events mentioned in the book. As I said, the writing is immensely accessible, light-hearted, and not at all boggy, stuffy, or musty. I'd rather a fledgling start here than with, say, 1776.

One problem so far: the authors have wrongly named the church in which John Adams is interred. They call it the First Unitarian Church, when in fact its name is the United First Parish Church; I would know, as my husband and I were married just feet above the subterranean granite vault where the two Presidents Adams and their wives are interred. It's nitpicky of me and 99% of readers probably won't even pick up on it. ( )