No comments about Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America.

5 comments about American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson.

1. I have become a big fan of Joseph Ellis. I loved Founding Brothers. I thought His Excellency, on George Washington, was extremely good. I just finished his book on Jefferson. I think he explains Jefferson better than anyone has before.
   
   This is not a conventional biography. It makes no effort to tell the whole story of Jefferson's life. It is thus not a good first book to read for those unfamiliar with the basic story.
   
   For those who are familiar with the basics of Jefferson's life, and who can not make any sense of the man -- which is to say, anyone paying attention -- Ellis makes a heroic effort to explain Jefferson as a coherent person. The contradictions in Jefferson's life and career are many. He was the great apostle of liberty, yet he held slaves. He was utterly opposed to executive power, yet a dynamic and forceful President, particularly when he engineered the Louisiana Purchase. He hated confrontation and cultivated philosophic detachment, yet he was one of the most ruthless party leaders of his time, going so far as to put people on the federal payroll (when he was Washington's Secretary of State) who published newspapers filled with slander directed at Washington and Adams.
   
   Ellis explains all of this in basically psychological terms. His Jefferson is a complex man, an idealist with an almost infinite capacity for denying inconvenient truths. The larger importance of Jefferson, however, is that he stated in classic terms some soaring idealistic statements about freedom and democracy which, ever after, have served as inspiration and rallying points for those in America and around the world who seek to increase freedom. Jefferson, the man, was a complicated mess. Jefferson, the symbol, has enduring value and great power.



2. I enjoyed this biography thoroughly. A lot of valuable insights into Jefferson's thought and personality were given, especially in the sections pertaining to his Philadelphia and Paris years.



3. This book by Ellis is a good read on the elusive character of Thomas Jefferson. American Sphinx is not the standard biography, but delves deep into certain aspects of Jefferson.
   
   Ellis assumes that the reader has a good background in Jeffersonian history along with Revolutionary era history. These assumptions may get in the way of some, but did not affect me. The real point of this book was to look at the man Thomas Jefferson, and the way he thought. Joseph Ellis explores Thomas Jeffersons political ideas and his ideas on pressing issues of the time. Interestingly Ellis does not "pick a side" which is so often done in Jefferson books. It is a level headed view of a very complex man.
   
   This would be a good book to read, but should not be the first Jefferson biography you read. It is better suited for a second or possibly third biography of Jefferson. Jeffersonian ideas are clearly presented.
   
   Ellis is an outstanding historian and his other works are highly recommended, including Founding Brothers which takes an indepth look at 6 events that shaped America during the Revolutionary period.



4. This book purports to address the character of Thomas Jefferson, but Ellis seems to season his work with a profusion of subjective negativity, perhaps to bolster his statement in the prologue that Jefferson "is not a statue".
   
   Just a few examples of Ellis's speculative negativity are underlined:
   
   p. 59 "During the debate (on the Declaration) Jefferson sat silently and sullenly..."
   p. 69 "...Jefferson's political vision was more radical than liberal, driven as it was by a youthful romanticism unwilling to negotiate..."
   p. 170 "...Jefferson's irrational decision to redesign and rebuild Monticello..."
   
   Ellis does not exemplify Jefferson's willful optimism, his basis for enlightenment thinking- unlimited freedom of thought, his cultivation of friends, music, food, and his spirit of hospitality. Ellis even describes Jefferson as distraught by many visitors to Monticello, rather than using this to show that Jefferson was most hospitable and engaging.
   
   Ellis's framework for describing Jefferson is alluded to on pg. 69: "[Jefferson's] mind instinctively created dichotomies and derived its moral energy from juxtaposing the privileged side of any case or cause with the contaminated side. While his language was often colorful, the underlying message was nearly always painted in black and white."
   
   Also, p. 151 "...a view of American politics that was also moralistic in tone and populated with clearly delineated villains and heroes."
   
   Yet this characterization of Jefferson is simplistic. Ellis seems to contradict himself when he states:
   
   p. 11 "The genius of his rhetoric is to articulate irreconcilable human urges at a sufficiently abstract level to mask their mutual exclusiveness." And "The Jeffersonian magic works because we permit it to function at a rarefied region where real-life choices do not have to be made."
   
   As President of the US, Jefferson could not have chosen a bolder, more public stage upon which to share his vision. This biography of Jefferson attempts to reduce his character to a framework of principles, but Ellis's framework is not consistent. Ellis describes Jefferson as `moral and binary' (pg. 323), with "primal categories of his political imagination."
   
   American Sphinx has a great analysis of the Adams - Jefferson correspondence, and Ellis's history of Jefferson's first Presidency from 1801-1804 is excellent. With respect to these phases, I gleaned more about Jefferson's character from Ellis than from Merrill Peterson's biography, Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation.
   
   The last sentence of the chapter on Jefferson's Presidency, 1801-1804, Ellis inexplicably dismisses Jefferson's second Presidency as a "...headlong fall from grace." Ellis's next chapter is "Monticello, 1816-1826". Though Ellis does later briefly address some aspects of Jefferson's 2nd term, he does not describe Jefferson's struggles, or the rationale of his goal of keeping the US neutral and out of the war between Britain and France. Ellis does not mention that though many urged Jefferson to run for a third term, he chose to follow George Washington's example and retire after two terms.
   
   Ellis omits examples of Jefferson's character: his "Decalogue -10 point coda of life", his spiritual side - his philosophy of deism. Jefferson's sense of harmony, his passion for gardening, his love of nature, his curiosity of about science, his intellectual side, his correspondence with Priestly, his heroes, Bacon, Locke, and Newton, are not addressed. Thus American Sphinx does not describe the complexity of the character his elusive subject. Ellis does have some fine examples of Jefferson's philosophy of leadership. On pg. 220, for example, Ellis writes "Jefferson's first instinct was to share with his fellow survivors and sharers of that experience - outsiders and the younger generation could not understand - that the true `spirit of `76' was back." But there are not enough of such descriptive insights. Ellis slams Jefferson for his relationship with Sally Hemings, and faults him for not manumitting his slaves upon his death.
   
   American Sphinx is a great but limited study, for it is biased and does not describe many dimensions of Jefferson's character. Ellis does not bolster his framework of Jefferson's nature as simplistic and dichotomous with examples. Ellis casts aspersions about Jefferson's character in a snide, derogatory and judgmental tone. Ellis concludes with the assertion that if Jefferson were alive today, "If we could ever persuade him to run, he would remain a formidable candidate for national office." This statement is not explained. Ellis might have speculated more about how Jefferson would view the US of the early 21st century, and in doing so, he might have illuminated more of Jefferson's character.



5. Rather than churning out a full-scale biography, Ellis explores several crucial periods of Jefferson's life in depth, showing how each of them enables us to understand the complexities of the man and what made him tick. This book is a slow read because there is so much to think about on every page. A man of ideas and vision, Jefferson was an incredibly complex and conflicted individual, capable of carrying out multiple levels of deception and subterfuge even from himself. I never realized what a radical libertarian Jefferson was before I read this book. It was a good thing he had the other Founding Fathers around to curb his revolutionary spirit! In spite of the reverence which most people feel for him today, he died feeling his life had been a tragedy. A great book for anyone who wants to come away feeling they now know Jefferson the man.

5 comments about The Reagan Diaries.

1. This book gives you insight into the thoughts of a great American during a period of recent history that was so vital to our nation and the world.



2. I'm not quite sure what to say about this book. I got the abridged version, which was quite brief, and I think it was a little too scarce. That being said, it did give me a relatively decent insight into what the man was like. Being that I was still in diapers when Reagan took office, I have no personal memories of him and this is really my first introduction to him other than what I have heard in the news or through word of mouth.
   
   It seems to me that the man was not unintelligent, yet there was a certain simplicity to his thinking which is exactly what endeared him to many, yet frustrated others. There were a few examples of this that were actually laugh out loud funny. When writing about the assassination attempt, he earnestly says, "getting shot hurts." Or when describing a certain economic report, he exclaims "just got the latest assessment of the economy, it's bad!" He comes across as a fundamentally decent man, though one with little tolerance for opposing viewpoints. We also learn exactly what he thought about issues like the Iran-Contra scandal, the air traffic controllers strikes, relations with Russia, Israel, etc. We also learn how important his faith, and his wife Nancy were to him. All in all, this is a decent book, but if you really want more substance you should probably go with the unabridged version.



3. This book is a great read, cover to cover. It was really neat to see President Reagens' perspective of things. How he looked at the media and different events. My respect for him as a President and person continued to grow as I listened to this book.



4. The Reagan Diaries provides a wonderful look into the mind of one of our great Presidents, Ronald Reagan. It is such a rare thing to be able to look at a President not only as the leader of the country, but as a human being, with a family, and all the trials that go along with that. I would recommend this book to anyone!



5. To read it, you have to know a lot about Ronald Reagan. I did not know much, I was born in Soviet Union and at a time he was president i was just a little kid...
   So i really missed the facts of his life and explanations of the people (who is who, who is called what) and short terms used for different organizations etc. I did search wikipedia to know more and it was easier to read after that, but I really felt that i should have started with the biography of him, not diaries.
   For example, the book "Kruschev remembers", there are great comments from Strobe Talbott, that really helps understanding the book (I didn`t know too much about Kruschev either, but it was no problem thanks to the comments).
   But of course it is interesting to read the diaries of the US president, even if you know that he knew it will be published and even if i dont like the ideas and views of republicans (generally speaking).

5 comments about Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir.

1. Book arrived very quickly after ordering. Haven't started reading it yet, but soon will while on vacation.



2. This reader has voted for the Democrat in all of the nine previous elections.
   
   In 2008, this is about to change.
   
   Not for the party, but for the man. And for the country.
   
   Today, John McCain has what he and his fellow students at the Naval Academy called "Good Grease".
   
   As McCain talks about in his discussion of his family's military history, the McCains are what Evan Thomas has described in Newsweek as "part of a warrior caste that has been fighting America's battles for more than two centuries".
   
   McCain covers his family's military history in America, and takes the reader through his grandfather, John "Slew" McCain's years in the Naval Academy, and those of his own father, and their subsequent careers.
   
   John McCain freely admits his weaknesses and flaws as well as his strengths. Reading this book, I took from it a tale of a man growing from being a rebel to being an independent leader, while still holding on to a cetain amount of that rebel. In later years, this would serve him well.
   
   "Faith Of My Fathers" covers John's inspiration he took from his fellow prisoners in Hanoi. A tale that has made the rounds of many chain e-mails is the story he tells in full detail of fellow prisoner Mike Christian, who had sewn a crude U. S. Flag on the inside of his jacket, and used it for his fellow prisoners to recite the Pledge of Allegience each day.
   
   I served in the Navy in the early 1970s, and I remember when they also trained us on the Code of Conduct for Prisoners of War. Reading his book, I became aware that there is really no adequate training that can fully prepare any man for imprisonment by an enemy during a war.
   
   But there is a Code of Conduct to point the way.
   
   The man who was formed in the crucible of war and imprisonment also knows what's expected of the brave men and women of our Armed Forces in these times. And he PERSONALLY knows exactly what the next Commander-In-Chief will be required to ask of them.
   
   "Faith Of My Fathers" is the story of how a family heritage, John McCain's own rebelliousness, and his imprisonment in North Vietnam, and the inspiration he took from his fellow prisoners there, all combined to forge the man he is today.
   
   If he becomes our next President, this is a great insight into the mind of the man who could be our next Commander-In-Chief.
   
   I highly recommend this book,
   and this life-long Democrat also endorses
   John McCain for President in 2008.
   
   This man has The Right Stuff.
   
   Doug Peschka
   U. S. Navy Veteran



3. Reading "Faith of My Fathers" gave me a better appreciation for what makes John McCain the man he is today. I knew he was a POW (pretty common knowledge), but I didn't know much more than that.
   
   The fact that his father and grandfather were 4-star admirals in the Navy gave him a lot to live up to. From the book, you can tell he felt his fate was pretty much pre-determined. He, too, would go into the Naval Academy and then into the Navy. And he did.
   
   This book gives great insight into his personality and what shaped him, but it also tells you a lot about why he holds his values so dearly. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be a prisoner-of-war and endure what he did. My heart goes out to him and other POWs.
   
   It now makes more sense to me that he's not afraid to go against his own party at times or to speak up and say what is not politically popular. Yes, he's a Republican, but he doesn't toe the party line. I guess when you've lived through what he lived through as a POW, then being politically popular just isn't that big a deal. I believe he is a man who values honesty and will speak it whether it's popular or not.
   
   I don't always agree with some of John McCain's political positions, but I respect the man and have a better understanding of him now. I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of their political affiliation.



4. I had mixed feelings about McCain going into this book. I finished it, and in some ways I am more confused. Not because the book wasn't clarifying -- it added ALOT to my picture of McCain. The problem is that the more you know him the more complicated you realize he is.
   
   This is NOT your typical ghost written 'campaign' autobio. (though I'm sure his help from Mark Salter was considerable). This is a VERY honest and revelatory account of his pre-political life and that of his family. He is open, shockingly so, about his morally questionable adventures --- womanizing, partying, brawling, rebelliousness, lack of respect for some authority figures. I don't think he hid much. And he's not really very apologetic in the end. His attitude seems to be "this is what I've done. I've grown up, but I'm still that guy in some ways. Take it or leave it."
   
   And some of that persona is truly exceptional, and pretty attractive. He is very bright. Very, very, very fearless, roughed. A real patriot.
   
   His torture experiences may or may not make him more qualified for president, but they certainly show him to be courageous beyond imagination. That he had a clear OUT and didn't take it after several years of staggering abuse..... Just stunning.
   
   Don't think this book made me more or less likely to vote for him. But it was the best political autobio I have read in awhile.



5. I had meant to get this book years ago when it was originally published, but thought to pick it up now that he's the Republican nominee. What this book showed me was a man born of an impeccable lineage of leadership and character. The lessons passed on from his grandfather to his father to him demonstrated themselves clearly during McCain's time as a POW where his character and his mental strength were tested. We are all a product of our parents and the influences McCain received from them will well suit him for the presidency. The leadership and integrity he demonstrated as a POW, both in failure and triumph, have formed a man who, while still very much fallible, is the product of the lessons of the past and the hopes for the future. No one hates war more than one who has experienced it. And no one is better suited to manage a war than one who has experienced it, who has been a leader, and who is the product of occupants of one of the military's highest posts. A great lesson in history and character, and a fascinating and enjoyable read. Both the book and the candidate are highly recommended!

5 comments about Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr..

1. I have not read the work of a biographer who has the proficiency for presenting as comprehensive an account of another's life as Chernow has given with Titan. There are sections of this narrative that are so detailed that had Rockefeller's life not been over a century ago, one might be inclined to consider Chernow had been along side him during his pursuits. Chernow has conducted extensive research that is exemplified in every chapter of this enthralling biography.
   
   John D Rockefeller has been known by many personas, both positive and negative; billionaire, tycoon, industrialist, predator, and philanthropist. No matter what one's view of him, all generally agree that his business acumen was surpassed by no one in history. Chernow provides a masterful account of Rockefeller's years from his meager beginnings with an unscrupulous father to his near unstoppable empire that forced adversaries to join or be crushed in its wake. Chernow has provided readers with an abundance of pertinent quotations directly from Rockefeller leaving one well equipped to gauge the true mindset of the man.
   
   Many biographies will rate high merely on the appealing nature of the subject. Titan is based on one of history's most intriguing business men combined with an account that is so well written and detailed it is difficult to fully convey in a simple review. I strongly suggest this book as essential reading to anyone with an interest in business biography.



2. I was very impressed with the skill of Ron Chernow when I read "Alexander Hamilton". After such an impressive work I decided that I would take on "Titan" which deals with the life of John D. Rockefeller. Chernow did not disappoint, and in some ways this may be the better of the biographies.
   
   "Titan" illuminates Rockefeller duplicity as a pious man that showed no quarter in his business dealings. Chernow does an outstanding job (in my opinion) of painting the faults of Rockefeller's business tenacity with overwhelming kindness of charitable dealing. Chernow also illustrates many examples of Rockefeller's frugalness - such as cutting firewood in 12" increments (instead of 14") in order to save resources.... This was from a man that Forbes Magazine rated as the richest EVER!
   
   I have heard complaints that the opening 60 pages reads too slowly, and overly focuses on the life of Rockefeller's (very) eccentric father. However, I find that while tedious, this is an important aspect of how this affected Rockefeller and guided him away from the world of irrational emotion.... My recommendation... bull your way through!
   
   Chernow is not H.W Brands and the writing is relatively devoid of humor. When deciding to read "Titan" approach it as a scholarly selection and do not expect it to be fast paced. In my opinion you will not be disappointed!



3. No other man in America has ever been as wealthy as John D. Rockefeller, Sr. he could have bought and sold Bill Gates three or four times. He is a very complicated man, you'd have to be the self made wealthiest man in American History. This book gives a fascinating portrait of a man who could be ruthless, but who was incredibly philathropic, the first of the great philanthropists, he didnt give away his entire fortune like his contemporary Carneige, but then again Carneige had no children and Rockefeller was so much wealthier he probably gave away as much money. The book is fair to Rockefeller, neither making him a saint nor a cypher. Rockefeller lived a long life and he instilled in his equally famous son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. a real since of philanthropy. The Rockefeller family is still very wealthy, no family in American history has ever been richer, but they have also been more philanthropic than any family in history, they gave away more than 90 percent of their wealth, since its apex. Rockefeller was a singular American, and his story is the story of the American Dream stretched to unfathonable extremes, good and bad. This is a very good book, well researched and quite impressive considering the illusive subject.



4. Titan delves into the history and psyche of John Rockefeller, one of the most enterprising individuals in the history of business.
   
   Chernow does an excellent job of presenting an objective view of the controversial figure, explaining his reasoning without apologizing for his actions. Rockefeller planned for philanthropy from the beginning; "I believe it is my duty to make money and still more money and to use the money I make for the good of my fellow man according to the dictates of my conscience." He used his noble goals as an impenetrable moral shield from his critics, immediately shutting out anyone who made objections to his questionable (and now, illegal) actions.
   
   Still, this is ultimately a very long book about an oil tycoon. If that doesn't sound interesting, you'll hate the book. It's 650 very large pages with very small type. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive view of Rockefeller possible, Chernow goes far, far beyond "verbose" to the point that it's hard to read.



5. This book by Chernow is quite possibly one of the best books I've ever read. It tells a great American story of Rockefeller and his very humble beginings and how anyone willing to take chances, risk everything and in some instances do anything can succeed beyond belief. The book is quite long but in reality you seem to fly through it gaining the full impact of the robber baron days in America. You will see that while today's business greed may seem enormous they have nothing on the robber barons of the past. This book will also give you a great deal of insight into why we have all of those laws on the books involving monopolies, free trade, kick backs, labor and more. Whether you like biographies or just business this is a definite must read.

5 comments about The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (Modern Library Paperbacks).

1. I knew little of TR's life prior to reading this book, but having read it, I feel like I have a very good understanding of the man. In this thoroughly researched book, you are treated to every struggle TR had, starting with his battle with asthma and continuing through his political battles. The man loved a challenge and if he didn't have one, he created one. Love him or hate him, he was a fascinating man, and this biography does justice to his life. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down.



2. Excellent and highly entertaining book. Arguably the greatest President in US history. Reading this makes you realize some people are truly born to do great things and make a true and profound difference in this world....Theodore Roosevelt without a doubt is one of these people. If there was any way we can make TR reappear today and take over the country I'd do it in a heartbeat. We need someone like him today...unfortunately we don't and it's painfully obvious there's no one like him on the horizon either. I know this book pertains to his life before he takes office, but the seeds of those years are sewn here..A++++



3. While the debate over the who the best president was, you could put Theodore Roosevelt on the top of the list. Genuine, Respected, Hard Working and an inteltual. One of the smartest to hold the office next to Thomas Jefferson.
   
   His talent far out way what he did in office and he only wanted the best for the country. After the book was writen, he earned the Medal of Honor and has been give many tributes such as his likeness at Mount Rushmore along the other great presidents.
   
   This book shows Roosevelts life in it's entirety and with great passion. One of the best biographies I have experienced in many years.



4. I enjoyed going through the condensed version of Edmund Morris' book on the rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Please notice that the book abruptly ends when President McKinley dies after being shot, leading to TR becoming President. At times I wondered what I was missing by experiencing a shortened version, but, nevertheless, I enjoyed the 8 CD set and got a much better idea of who TR was. I'm currently going through the second part in the trilogy, which focuses on TR's presidency. The third in the trilogy will be about TR's life after the presidency and has yet to be written. My guess is that TR ascendancy is the most exciting part of his life to read about.
   
   I most liked learning about TR's rise through New York City and New York State politics, his championing of fair play and the individual, and his valiant attempts to deal with long-standing corruption in New York City (Tammany Hall). Having said that, I do wish the book delved more into TR's relevance today and his more long-lasting affects. I also liked learning about his personal life, his two marriages and his upbringing, and his truly admirable publishing accomplishments, writing several most highly respected books on history and science.
   
   Of interest, David McCollough wrote "Mornings on Horseback" which covers the same period of TR's life as "The Rise of TR". I wonder how the two books compare? I know both books are top rate, and I am seriously considering either reading or doing the CD version of that one, too!



5. My dad said this was the best book on CD he has listened too. He is a Roosevelt fan and really enjoyed the book.

5 comments about Thomas Jefferson.

1. Being from Iceland I have not really had any education on the founding fathers/presidents of the United States. Wanting to enlighten myself I bought a few books on several of the most famous presidents. This book was one of them since it came highly recommended. Not qualified to judge the quality of this book's content compared to other books of Jefferson (since I haven't read any) I can just say that it's a good read. The text is well written and informative, showing both Jefferson's brilliance and flaws (well he was after all human). So if you would like to read about the late president in not too many words (the book is only around 200 pages) I recommend it highly.



2. Chou En-Lai, the 20th century Communist leader, was once asked what he thought of the French Revolution. "Too early to say," was his response.
   
   The same has long been true of Thomas Jefferson. Is he a great leader or a great hypocrite? How do we make sense of a person who wrote the ringing words of the Declaration of Independence, yet lived off of the labor of slaves? For far too long, most historians haven not really tried to make sense of him, but instead have either cheered for him or thrown things at him. The partisan passions that Jefferson lived in the center are still very much with us.
   
   Not so with this book. The tone is calm and unemotional. Jefferson's vritues, and his faults, are clearly and simply set forth. The book is wonderfully concise and wonderfully even-handed. It is, without question, the best short life of Jefferson. It is extremely balanced, describing every phase of Jefferson's life, and giving the proper consideration to questions as varied as his temperment, political leadership, educational activities and personal life. I had not realized that the Sally Hemings controversy had been resolved -- yes, he did it -- but Bernstein deals with this question in his characteristically straightforward, unemotional manner. It is what it is.
   
   I have one minor nit to pick. The book does very little to orient the modern reader to how different the 18th century is from today. Bernstein obviously knows how much things have changed, but I do not think he brings that home much to the casual reader. Probably not something he could have done and still keep the book under 200 pages.



3. This paperback book was purchased as a gift for a friend at Christmas. He told me recently that he really enjoyed the book, and feels that he now knows many amazing facts about our third president. He recommends it highly.



4. This is billed as a concise, one-volume, biography of Mr. Jefferson. It is that, and I've seen worse books. It is quite well written, and does hit all the high points, and basic ideas. It even clarifies some of the ideas rather well. However......
   
   I have a couple of complaints.....
   
   [1] It skips around, placing events out of sequence; this is most marked toward the end.
   
   [2] The author gives full credence to the Tom and Sally story, while rather blithely dismissing the alternatives. It is NOT that simple. OK; this one is a matter of opinion, and we'll never settle it.
   
   Complaints, and Sally, aside, this is not really "bad". The main points get made, the Declaration and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom get written, and UVA gets founded. A nice touch is including Dumas Malone's biography as one of Jefferson's five great "monuments". [Along with the nickel, Mount Rushmore, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Jefferson Papers]. Still, you can do better...try Joseph Ellis' "American Sphinx" or Noble Cunningham's "In Persuit of Reason....The Life of Thomas Jefferson". Naturally, Dumas Malone and Merrill Peterson remain definitive, but their length will deter most readers.



5. This is an extremely basic and simple 192 page summary of the life and accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson. In that context, it is perfectly acceptable. For the life of me, however, I don't see how this could be rated a five (or even four) star effort.
   
   If you give this 5 stars, what do you give Truman, or John Adams or War and Peace? When you go to your average Holiday Inn, do you give it five stars? If so, what is a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton? Do you award the gold medal to a diver who does a perfectly executed swan dive? Degree of difficulty must come into play.
   
   Having said that, if you're looking for a beginner biography for your junior high student, this would be an excellent selection. If you're interested in the American Presidents series and want to skim the surface of many of our Presidents without going in depth on any of them, this would be the way to go. If you're looking for depth, analysis and context, however, I'd certainly look for more than a 192 page summation.
   
   Why then did I purchase this work? I knew what it was when I bought it. I had just finished Ron Chernow's "Hamilton" and had previously read David McCollough's "John Adams". Both of these subjects were rivals and at times bitter enemies of Jefferson. Having been brought up to view Jefferson as a Founding Father of great intellect and importance, it was a little disconcerting to view him through the writing of McCollough and Chernow as a dishonest, venal, calculating opportunist. Chernow, especially, falls into hero worship mode when comparing and contrasting his subject, Hamilton, with Jefferson.
   
   In buying this work, I was looking for a more balanced effort without having to invest the time in an 800 page biography which largely recounted the historical events already covered in previously read biographies on Washington, Adams and Hamilton. For that purpose, it was just what the doctor ordered. Unlike Chernow, Bernstein examines his subject warts and all. He acknowledges and doesn't downplay his weaknesses, while at the same time revealing his unquestionable brilliance in many areas.
   
   I highly recommend "Hamilton" as an outstanding history lesson and biography of a little appreciated and sometimes disregarded founding father. However, this little tome is a good antidote for the character assassination sustained by Jefferson in the aforementioned work.

1 comments about Flying High: Remembering Barry Goldwater.

1. I found this book written about my political hero, by one of my favorite observers of politics fun but to light. First of all large parts of the small book really don't have a lot to do with Mr Buckley's relationship with the Senator. That is probably my main take. I also feel that (many would say hoorah) that Mr.Buckley's famed sarcasm and "snobbery" were mainly missing. I certainly wouldn't want every political observer to write with his style of sarcasm (wit), namedropping elitism (lucky and talented enough to be where the action is). But watching, or reading him shred countless liberals was fun. Onto my feelings about the Senator. There has been quite a bit written about him in the last decade and much of it has brought him down to earth from his exalted place in my life. That is not to say he is not still my hero but the opportunities lost because he couldn't or wouldn't say no to the Phoenix Mafia lead me to wonder the big what if question. No he wouldn't have won in '64 but the defeat could have been much smaller and possibly set 1968 up for a change that would have been wonderful not only for the U.S. but the world instead we had to wait until 1980. Final word, at Amazon's price it's worth it and it will be an enjoyable 2 days. Next Pure Goldwater I'm hoping it's effect will be similar to Reagan's Diaries. Interesting point it's funny how the personal and political stock of both Goldwater and Reagan have risen in the eyes of all thinking liberals (that of course excludes the likes of Huffington etc).

5 comments about Lincoln.

1. Well written book with great detail. The depth of research must have been great to give this reader a special feel for each progression of Lincoln's amazing journey though life. I'm really enjoying this book.



2. After hearing all of the hype about this Lincoln bio I finally got around to reading it. OK, I am spoiled, I read Sandburg's bio and it is hard to find anything close to that-certainly not in this book. To sum up my feelings, I don't know Lincoln any better after reading this than before. Prof. Donald misses the mark and I think he is somewhat awestruck that he can't seem to get any deeper. It is well researched and well written, but a bio needs much more.
   Here was a man with barely any formal education, not particularly succesful as a politician, elected over many who who knew they could do better and then the nation splits apart into Civil War. Not only did he face the undaunted task of trying to hold the nation together, but learn to be a general of sort, let alone his home life. Other bios show how Lincoln rose to the challenge to hold our nation together and finally find the right general, Grant, and become probably our greatest president.
   Somehow, Donald's book does not do it for me.



3. In giving this book five stars, it is easy to confuse the book with its subject. Who doesn't love Lincoln? (Well, I guess there are some, but there are even people who don't like Bob Seger.) Like many people, particularly those (like me) who grew up right in the heart of the Lincoln country of Central Illinois, I thought that I knew Lincoln, but there is a feeling that most of what I knew was mythic legend rather than facts. The biographies of Lincoln are many, and the classic ones are multi-volume and would take years to digest. Donald has given the English-speaking world the gift of condensing all of that into a thorough and modern account that can be easily consumed, and maybe leave the reader healthily interesed in more.
   The book literally begins with what little we know of Lincoln's birth, and ends just moments after his untimely death. The entire singular focus of the book is Lincoln. Precious little is devoted to any detail outside of Lincoln's life, so some prior elementary knowledge of Lincoln's place and times (including the Civil War) would be helpful. I think that the one deviation from Lincoln that I noticed was on the topic of Booth and his tragic plot to kidnap and, as it eventually turned out, to kill the President. Other than that, the reader is shown the world and its events as Lincoln saw and knew them, for the most part. I felt that there was enormous and significant gaps in the narrative in places, but it was also obvious to me that the gaps are the result of what we don't know about Lincoln; after all, for most of his life, Lincoln was not a historical figure, and he went about his life and career without keeping minute records of it, just as we all do. What we know of his early life (birth in Kentucky, the surprisingly many years that he spent in the wilderness of Southern Indiana as a young boy, and the New Salem years) we gather from the interviews and biographical accounts that were collected after he was elected President and the world had an interest in these otherwise forgotten facts. We can know much about his adulthood from the accounts of his law partners, fellow legislators, and others who worked and lived with him, and who no doubt recorded their thoughts and memories after it was clear that they had walked with one of history's true giants. Given the sometimes thin detail, I noticed that nowhere in the book were the smallest things noted with more triviality than in the few days between the end of the War (April 9th) and his murder (April 14th/15th). Clearly, those ironically joyous days became more important to the eyewitnesses, and every detail was recorded for posterity. So, whereas there are many important events of which we know little (say, the deliverance of the Gettysburg Address), in the final days and hours of Lincoln's life, we know almost every quip, word, and gesture that he produced. It is precious information, but also sad to reflect on.
   Like other reviewers here, I was astonished to learn of the evolution of the man. His country beginnings cannot be overstated: he began life with absolutely no advantage whatsoever, except for the very chemistry that drove him to become truly a masterful President. In one of the book's (that is, the historical record's) many gaps, I missed the force that drove him to leap into his successful law career, but looking back we can see that he parlayed a skill for analysis, speech, and human manipulation into a political career that catapulated him into the White House. This was a time in the young country when such things could be accomplished - even by rough-hewn country lawyers from the "West." The reader also sees his evolution from an inexperienced executive who has the very future of the Union on his shoulders, and whose political mistakes and challenges were as many as they were life-crushing, into a shrewd master of not only the Presidency but the known political world as well.
   I was surprised to find that there were places in the book where I find Lincoln to be unlikeable. His contempt of his father is hard to understand, as was his sophomoric early philosophy of "Reason." He certainly seems like he would have been a neat guy to know (major understatement), but he also seems to have been sometimes cold, too driven by his career and politics, and a bit of a jerk to those he could not tolerate (and there were many). Was he "Honest Abe" who would walk a mile to return a few pennies change? Yes, I guess so, but he was not a pushover.
   Anyway, this is a review of the book and not the man. Great book on a greater subject. I like what Donald has done: put together the singular and readable biography, and presented one of history's top subjects without too much editorializing or sentiment. Having now read it, I cannot imagine being an American and not doing so.



4. Dr. Donald's book is an excellent one volume biography of our greatest President, an historical figure of truly Biblical stature who led America and humanity through truly epochal changes. It should be required reading.



5. Read Leadership: Past, Present & Future by Carlos M. Rivera and then read this book. You will love both books.
   5 Stars

5 comments about Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker.

1. I was very eager to read Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker by Stacy A. Cordery. I enjoy reading about the Roosevelts and Alice was certainly one of the more colorful family members. But I found Alice uneven and a bit of a disappointment.
   
   The story of Alice Roosevelt Longworth is fairly well-known. Alice was the daughter of Theodore Roosevelt and his first wife, Alice Lee Roosevelt. When Alice was only two days old, both her mother and grandmother (TR's mother) died within hours of each other. Unable to deal with his grief, TR dumped baby Alice with his sister and escaped out west. Three years later, TR married Edith Kermit Carow and they brought Alice to live with them. Soon, Alice was competing with five half siblings. With her emotionally absent father and her stern step-mother, Alice learned to seek attention by rebelling. When her father succeeded to the White House in 1901, Alice became "the first female celebrity of the twentieth century." The press couldn't get enough of the first daughter and nicknamed her Princess Alice. Her father once said "I can either run the country or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both." Alice eventually married Ohio congressman Nicholas Longworth. With her keen intelligence, sharp wit, natural curiosity and political astuteness, Alice remained a mover and a shaker for her 96 years. Her DC house was a gathering place for powerful people.
   
   I thought that Cordery did a good job of covering the political aspects of Alice's life. Unfortunately, I felt that the details of her personal life were lacking. I reached page 200 and realized that there wasn't much that I hadn't read in other sources. There wasn't that much about her interaction with her siblings. Her daughter, Paulina, is largely glossed over. Alice had an affair with Senator William Borah and he was allegedly the father of Paulina. But after lots of pages, he seems to just drop away from the story. What really happened to their relationship? Also, I'm a stickler for details. Was there a funeral for Alice? If so, where was it held? Where is she buried? Her father's death receives only one paragraph. For a book that is advertised as "the first full biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth," there are major holes.
   
   I enjoyed reading Alice, but I was just expecting more.



2. As Teddy Roosevelt's oldest child, Alice was introduced to the lifestyles of the rich and politically well-connected early on in her life. She never got over living in the White House. To read her correspondence on the subject, it was forever hers. Alice was a diva. She was the original "it's all about me" celebutant. Very few people ever denied her, and when they did, woe be unto them.
   
   She was married to the Speaker of the House, had a child by a distinguished senator from Idaho and held political sway over the inner circles of Washington, D.C. until her death in 1980.
   
   Stacy Cordery's new biography is voluminous, coming in at 608 pages, not including the references and bibliography. Cordery has done a thorough and sincere job, but even her meticulous efforts can't make "Princess Alice," as she was called, a likable creature. She may have been admirable from afar, but up close and personal, she was selfish, self-centered and hated sharing the spotlight with anyone.



3. In this biography author Stacy Cordery succeeeds in making her subject come alive. Alice Roosevelt was the pop star of her day just 100 years ago and was the center of attention in Washington DC from the time her father was in the White House until her death almost 80 years later. Using primary sources, Alice's letters and diaries gave the writer the opportunity to paint a vivid portrait in words. This book is recommended for anyone interested in women's history or in political drama.



4. Excellent, thoroughly researched biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt. If you suspect that things in Washington must have been different and better a century ago, this book is the cure. Great picture of the early 20th century in Washington, and the big social & political players, including Alice, who wielded considerable social and political power but never held office. Different and interesting views of Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as seen by a cousin. The description of Alice's famously cruel "Eleanor imitation" (performed for the humiliated Eleanor at least once)is worth the price of the book.



5. The author of this book has chosen her subject well for it would be almost impossible to write a dull biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Born two days before her mother's death Alice was her father's child in every sense of the word and was far more like her intrepid father than any of his other children. Unfortunately a lot of her outlandish behavior may have been a cry for attention from her father because he was not close to his eldest child until well into his presidency. Teddy just never really managed to deal with the loss of his wife and shortly after Alice's birth he left for an extended stay out west leaving the baby in the care of his sister.
   
   For most of her early life that left Alice feeling like she had to do things to grab her father's attention and she became quite skilled at it. Slowly but surely however her father came to see just how intelligent and observant she was and he began to lean on her as an advisor and as a good will ambassador to the world and when he sent her on a fact-finding tour of Asia she charmed the entire Eastern world.
   
   Alice had a White House wedding when she wed Ohio congressman Nick Longworth and she was sure that she would return to the White House either as first daughter when her father retook the office or as first lady when Nick became president but all of those dreams were just that. Nick did become speaker of the house but alcoholism ended all hope of a Longworth presidency. Long after his death however Alice ruled on as the queen of DC society and as one of the shrewdest political operators in the city. Alice was probably the most intelligent person that the Roosevelt clan ever produced and that is saying something.
   
   This is a nice and overdue biography of Alice Longworth and in places it is a superb biography. Mrs. Cordery does a magnificent job of dealing with Alice's youth and teen years but after that the story sags a little. That's not to say that the story gets dull or slows down once Alice is married but there are some glaring holes that just can't be ignored. For instance there is good evidence that Sen. William Borah was the father of her daughter but the evidence is not concrete or if it is the author fails to make it sound concrete. Still she proceeds with the story as if this theory is fact and while I don't doubt that it is I would like more concrete proof. Also lacking is much detail at all of Alice's relationship with her daughter. The daughter is seldom even mentioned and toward the end of the book the granddaughter gets more space than the daughter ever did. Alice may have been a bad mother or she may have been a wonderful mother but one can't tell by reading this book. One just never does get a really intimate feel for Alice in this book especially after she reaches adulthood.
   
   Overall this is a good biography and if the above-mentioned holes were filled in it would be very good. The writing is generally good although I did have to go back and re-read a sentence here and there to catch what the author was trying to say. There is a lot of new information to be found here and the author has researched her subject pretty well but I never really felt like the author completely caught the essence of her subject.