No comments about President Zachary Taylor: The Hero President (First Men, America's Presidents).

No comments about Hope and Despair: My Struggle to Free My Husband, Maher Arar.

No comments about Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book.

2 comments about Fdr.

1. Frankiln Roosevelt is most often thought of as the President that led the United States most of the way through World War II. In this book, Alsop takes a different approach to capturing FDR's life. While Alsop sees his book as a memoir of his interactions with FDR, it rarely comes off that way. The fact that it feels so much like a biography makes Alsop's commentary annoying at times.

   Many of the pictures in the book are treasures that are only in the possession of the Roosevelt family. That in itself, makes this book worth the price. Many of this photos show how physically fragile the president was near the end of his life. Many of the stories in this book are ommitted from history books, but are certainly worth knowing. One example is the story of Roosevelt trying to add most justices to the Supreme Court in order to get them to vote to his liking.

   My one problem with the book is its concise nature. Based on the small number of pages, much of FDR's life is not documented. Alsop arrogantly negelcts some facts, such as the onset of FDR's polio, because he believes they are common knowledge. However, the format and photographs compensate for this omission.




2. A beautifully produced (and large size) history/reference of FDR. It gives a solid general overview of his life and career, but the best feature has to be the large photos throughout (be sure to consider getting the more sturdy hardbound edition)...

1 comments about The Meaning of Independence: John Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson.

1. Easily read in an hour or two, this concise book is a nice little study of independence; what it meant to John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson; and, through them, what it means to us. These three essays are not strictly biographical; Morgan does not sketch out the nitty-gritty of these Founders' lives. Rather, he takes a thematic, character-based approach to the individuals, using events to exemplify their traits, and uses them to flesh out the different takes on independence.
   
   Of the three, Morgan views Adams most negatively, sometimes portraying him as a man of mediocre talents. Readers of McCullough's biography might disagree, but Morgan does acknowledge that Adams was a "great American" (in that he placed his country above all other considerations), who bucked party and popular opinion and refused to go to war with France. For the aloof Washington, independence was shaped by honor and interest (usually the economic variety); he aimed to give the young country self-sufficience and status on the world stage. Both Adams and Washington, Morgan credibly suggests, might have lived obscure lives had crisis not forced them to rise above the mundane. Not so with Jefferson, clearly Morgan's favorite. Here, Morgan focuses on Jefferson's idea of a continuing revolution: that is, each generation most free itself from its predecessors. Jefferson's independence meant freedom from the past.
   
   The book is an interesting, sometimes insightful look at independence and these three men. It's not groundbreaking work, but it's good work--and surely worth a couple of hours.

2 comments about John F. Kennedy and a New Generation (3rd Edition) (Library of American Biography).

1. It is interesting to me that a short book such as this illuminates as much about the Kennedy administration than many thicker books for popular reading. A main difference is that the more popular readings focus on sensational stories and some try to make unsupported connections between some aspect of the political figure's personal development and that person's decisions while in office.
   
   This short political biography ignores the bed sheet and fashion stories that dominate so many other Kennedy books. This is a book for a person with a serious interest in the Kennedy presidency. Despite its brevity, the author gives a strong presentation on the president's political style and his influence on domestic and foreign affairs. His discussion on Kennedy's significant domestic policies is of particular importance since, except for civil rights, JFK is better remembered for his foreign policies.
   
   The writer without engaging in Peggy Noonan-like glorification of his subject (Noonan writes on Reagan) portrays JFK as a highly intelligent and astute figure developing more into a statesman than a politician.
   
   Unfortunately, Kennedy's legacy was long ago hijacked by those who want to minimize his influence by remembering him as a youthful charmer with little substance. This is done by both conservatives (who are angered both by his civil rights efforts and his growing independence of military), and by liberals (who too are angered by his civil rights positions that moved too slowly for their taste and his general refusal to put the cart of the liberal agenda ahead of the national horse). As a result, most discussions of Kennedy center on matters that had little to do with him as the nation's leader.
   
   Many of us (for me as a child) remember him and know him as a person whose death was very personal and traumatic. It was the first time many of us saw our parents and teachers cry. This book helps us to better explain to younger generations Kennedy's importance to the nation and to ourselves.



2. Burner wrote this biography upon previous works written about Kennedy. He admires Kennedy a lot because he doesn't really give any shortcomings that came about while Kennedy was President. Burners does give a clear picture about the events taking place in the book.

5 comments about The Right Man: An Inside Account of the Bush White House.

1. I found this at Goodwill and it wasn't worth the 69 cents I paid for it: a syncophantic treatment from an insider in one of the worst administrations of any nation in the history of the world. Of course, I'm biased: Mr. Bush's alleged leadership caused me to lose a great job helping young people as a Federal civil servant and I hope that Mr. Frum and his ilk spend some time relying upon Unemployment Insurance to feed their families. I would use this book for kindling and buy up all copies of it if I could to prevent any other reader from experiencing this utter nonsense from an administration that has not only caused me a great position, but in the past month, 40% of my retirement savings thanks to the misguided, ill-conceived and wrongheaded policies and politics of Mr. Bush and his cronies. Do not buy this book from Amazon.com or any source: it is one of the most boring books I have ever read (I've written Federal rules and regulations, and that's saying something). The total lack of objectivity, questioning of Mr. Bush's failures, and Mr. Bush's apparent lack of interest in the middle class are quite striking in this book that belongs at places where I found it: second-hand shops.



2. I found this book interesting due to the level of info not found in newspapers and on television. An actual insiders view of the President and his staff. It's nice to hear that all of the negativity we hear daily about the President and his staff may not all be true.
   
   But this isn't about politics. This is a review about a book! The book is pretty well written and tells a good story of a man whom came to the White House skeptical and had his views turned by a meeting directly with the President himself. Whatever your politics, you have to think that if a book holds information like that we should all be encouraged to read it. No matter what your affiliation.
   
   I gave it only four stars due to the end. It seemed to drag a bit at the end and left me wanting more info about the administration.



3. On page 139, Frum talks about how rescue workers at ground zero did not vote for Bush in 2000 and guess what- they still didn't vote for him in 2004! This should make people wonder if Bush is protecting us so well, why do the people of New York, biggest threat city, didn't go with Bush in 2004? On page 142, Bush says he is going to hold responsible not only the terrorists but the governments that aid, abet, finance and shield terrorism - does this mean Bush's good friend "Bandar Bush" from Saudi Arabia? Bush says "Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorist." I can't really blame Germany, France, Russia for turning away from us - Bush's good ole it's MY way or the HIGHWAY. All you people who follow Georgie blindly need to go back and read page 147 and tell me that he finally got his reason to invade Iraq on 9/11. "We're finished on taxes, except maybe for capital gains - if we win the war, we'll get our recovery." What a great strategy! And my personal favorite was the 2 paragraphs with Tom Ridge in them. Bush made Tom Ridge head of Homeland Security because he was governor of the state that a flight 93 went down in on 9/11. What since does this make? Guess if you like Bush then it makes perfect sense but there are 48% of voters who know better! For a book that was suggested to me to see the good in George Bush, this book only highlighted the very reasons that I am so afraid of him being the President of the United States.



4. Little more than a right wing diatribe extolling the virtues of the worst president in American history. A small man with a small mind, the author or the President, take your pick.
   Not proud to say he's Canadian by birth, but American every way else.



5. In reference to "Stop the hatred!, November 10, 2004
   Reviewer: Metalhead (Indianapolis, IN United States)" I have to wonder if you read this book. I am not trying to be insulting, but even the post "Proving the addage "They Fear What They Do Not Understand.", April 6, 2004 Reviewer: A reader" said
   "What made this book interesting was the author wasn't a Bush fan to begin with." The author of this book expressed several doubts about the President, and a complete lack of faith. He grew to respect the President in the end, but it did not begin this way. Also, he admitted several instances in which the white house staff made errors.
   
   In reference to "Right book about the Right man., September 19, 2004 Reviewer: dimebagger (NJ,USA)" I completely respect Mr. Kerry for his service to our country, an agree that he was a 'war hero.' I do not respect what he did upon his return. Especially since the medals he threw that you refered to in your post were not even his medals. His were safe at home, he threw someone else's medals.
   
   In reference to "Propaganda, September 26, 2004
   Reviewer: Ezekiel (Im a Buddist for usa)" Though you make an interesting arguement, I must ask that you please recheck your facts before publishing them. Misinformation is how a lot of controversy begins. President Bush did not provide 'nukes' to Kim Jong Il. President Carter (who won the Nobel Peace Prize, I might add), in no official capacity what-so-ever, took it upon himself to negotiate with N. Korea. At this point he called President Clinton and informed him that the N. Koreans wanted a Nuclear Reactor to "generate electricity." President Clinton (not Bush) said 'oh, okay' and forked it over. Please look this up on more than just one website.

1 comments about The Presidency of Andrew Johnson (American Presidency Series).

1. This book in the American Presidency Series focuses not only on Andrew Johnson's presidency, but also expatiates the economic hardship that both the Union and the Confederacy faced during the Civil War, along with its political and economic repercussions. The author recognized that Johnson's battle with Congress over Reconstruction evolved into the most pivotal issue during his presidency. In fact, Albert Castel argues that Johnson lost his battle with Republicans over Reconstruction due to intransigence and impracticality with regards to African Americans. Also, this book mentions that Johnson's lack of a political base contributed to the Southerners' refusal to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment. Nonetheless, Johnson retained much of his institutional power of the presidency. Johnson's violation of the Tenure of Office Act did, however, lead to his impeachment and eventual acquittal. Nevertheless, Johnson achieved appropriations for the purchase of Alaska.

   The last chapter reads: Johnson Before The Bar of History. This chapter gives a historiographical overview about Johnson's critics since his presidency until 1979. Unfortunately, Castel contradicts his own thesis when he maintains that Johnson used the presidency in a strong manner with integrity, but ultimately failed as president. Did he fail or did he represent a scapegoat for his political enemies? Nonetheless, this book elaborates on the relevant issues and explains why Johnson has been much maligned. Nevertheless, this book stimulated my interest in Johnson and provided me with a useful bibliographical essay.

No comments about Benjamin Harrison: Hoosier Statesman (Signature Ser.).

No comments about Woodrow Wilson: The Essential Political Writings.