Furstenberg takes his audience on a journey that explores the truth and darker history behind the stories of America's founding fathers, and in particular, George Washington. While he does include the famous story of the cherry tree, Furstenberg includes much of the popular literature of the time that made Washington the figure that he still is today, as well as examines documents that discuss controversial issues such slavery and social development. As Europe has gone through several revolutions in government, social policy, and civic culture, America seems to have become stagnant. Does America's lack of development in social history stem from the early nineteenth century with our founding fathers? 352 pages, paperback.