Review of The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. Simon & Schuster. 2025.

The sentence that Isaacson declares as the greatest is the first sentence of the second paragraph of the American Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776. 

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 author succinctly elucidates the sources, concepts, and intentions, behind the words: we; self-evident truths; all men; created equal; endowed by their Creator; certain unalienable rights; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Isaacson’s concise and clear explanations are a heuristic model for any introduction to the Declaration. Anyone can pick this book and learn why the Declaration is a truly unique document. I hope this book is used in civics classes in schools. 

If the information stopped with the succinct explanation of these history altering concepts, the book would be well worth the price. But, the usefulness of the book continues with the essays around the concepts of “common ground” and “the American dream.” I particular appreciated the following:

On page 33, he quotes from James Truslow Adams 1931 book, the Epic of America, which popularized the notion of the American Dream. "The American Dream is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."   

On page 37, Isaacson writes, "Given the resentments and polarization that afflict us today, Franklin's wisdom should lead us to ask a basic question: What is the purpose of an economy? To increase in wealth? Yes, that's good. Growth? Yes, also good. But the purpose of an economy is also something deeper.  Its purpose is also to create a good society. A good, stable society where individuals can be free and flourish and live together in harmony. That requires nurturing the sense that we share common rights, common grounds, common truths, and common aspirations. Democracy depends on this."

The book includes seven appendices that include an explanation of the drafting process, excerpts from Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, 1690; Rousseau’s The Social Contract, 1762; The Virginia Declaration of Rights, June 1776, and the complete documents of Jefferson’s original rough draught, the Declaration of Independence, June 1776 and the published Declaration of July 4, 1776. 

All these documents are available on the Internet, but for the reader’s convenience these excerpts and documents are included in the book. Amazingly, all this information is conveyed in 68 pages. 

This is a superb resource to commence one’s reflections on the gift of America as we celebrate 250 years of Independence and life in these United States.