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Best book on each president? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter toshiba
- Start date
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
Here's one that's off the beaten path for you guys, but it's an excellent read:
Darkhorse: The Suprise Election and Political Murder of James A. Garfield.
And yes, in fact it does get into the beginnings of Chet Arthur's administration (btw, his middle name was actually pronounced eh-lahn, not the common pronunciation of Alan).
-QG
Darkhorse: The Suprise Election and Political Murder of James A. Garfield.
And yes, in fact it does get into the beginnings of Chet Arthur's administration (btw, his middle name was actually pronounced eh-lahn, not the common pronunciation of Alan).
-QG
Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
Ketchem's book is the best on Madison in terms of information but like I said it really doesn't read that well. If you want to get more on Madison but perhaps not an actual bio I would recommend a book about the election of 1800 (America Afire or something or other). Gives a good account of Madison's life helping Jefferson. There is another book by Joe Ellis (who is by far my favorite writer in this genre) about the founding and for the life of me I can't think of the name even though I just finished it. It's about the founding, both good things and bad. There is a lot of Madison in there. Of course, Founding Brothers has some good insight into him as well.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
I liked Ketcham's book on Madison. It is definitely not traditional summer fare, and is very detailed (I had to put it down a couple times, read another book, and start back up again), but definitely far and away the best I've read on him.
For John Quincy Adams, I'd recommend Samuel Flagg Bemis's two-volume set: John Quincy Adams and the Foundations of American Foreign Policy, and John Quincy Adams and the Union. It is out of print, but if you can find it, it is amazing.
For John Quincy Adams, I'd recommend Samuel Flagg Bemis's two-volume set: John Quincy Adams and the Foundations of American Foreign Policy, and John Quincy Adams and the Union. It is out of print, but if you can find it, it is amazing.
Ralph Furley
Footballguy
I have read all the above mentioned, and would once again recommend Hamilton by Chernow. He had a unique relationship with each of the first three President's and helps bridge many gaps since he was such a central figure at that time.
Ralph Furley
Footballguy
Yankee23fan,Do you feel reading just one author opens you up to the authors personal bias since so many of the founders had such contentious relationships?
I felt Ellis discounted many of Jefferson's accomplishments and have a hard time reconciling that with public opinion on Jefferson being as high as it is.
I decided to purchase Thomas Jefferson: A Life (Paperback) by Willard Sterne Randall because I wanted to two source Jefferson since I felt Ellis was a little harsh on him.
I am interested in your interpretation since you read those books and since you obviously have an interest in the founders, how you decide which books to read since they are such a personal investment in your time.
FYI, I read Isaacson's Franklin and would highly recommend this to you if you have not read it already.
Currently I am reading The Federalist Papers and will get to Willard Sterne Randall's Jefferson when I am finished.
I have personally decided to focus my reading on the founding fathers because I find this to be the most interesting period in American history, so I would appreciate if you have an other recommendations.
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Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
Maybe, but Ellis didn't create my dislike for Jefferson; instead his writing simply confirmed what I already thought of the man.
SofaKings
Footballguy
Read Chernow's Alexander Hamilton as well. It may fill in some gaps of the Founding Father's for you.
HellToupee
Footballguy
Paper Lions
Footballguy
Despyzer
Lousy Attention Whore
I haven't, but I'll keep that in mind.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
After looking over my collection, a few more books I haven't seen mentioned that I thought I would add...
For Grant, I'd recommend Grant by Jean Edward Smith -- easy to read, but still comprehensive; good author - I have not read her FDR yet, but recently purchased that and it is in my queue.
For Andrew Jackson, Remini is pretty authoritative and comprehensive -- I read the separate volumes, not sure about the abridged (tho he may like Jackson a bit too much; I've heard Brands is more objective, but I haven't read that one yet).
For Truman, McCullough is the standard, but Dean Acheson's memoir, Present at the Creation, is another good one on the Truman administration.
For Pierce/Buchanan, not a bio, but David Potter's The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 is the best book I've read on the years leading up to the Civil War.
For Grant, I'd recommend Grant by Jean Edward Smith -- easy to read, but still comprehensive; good author - I have not read her FDR yet, but recently purchased that and it is in my queue.
For Andrew Jackson, Remini is pretty authoritative and comprehensive -- I read the separate volumes, not sure about the abridged (tho he may like Jackson a bit too much; I've heard Brands is more objective, but I haven't read that one yet).
For Truman, McCullough is the standard, but Dean Acheson's memoir, Present at the Creation, is another good one on the Truman administration.
For Pierce/Buchanan, not a bio, but David Potter's The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 is the best book I've read on the years leading up to the Civil War.
Joe_Mama
Footballguy
The Remarkable Millard Fillmore: The Unbelievable Life of a Forgotten President by George Pendle
Gentleman Boss: The Life of Chester Alan Arthur by Thomas C. Reeves
Franklin Pierce: Martyr for the Union by Peter A. Wallner (Just published last year.)
John Tyler, the Accidental President by Edward P. Crapol
Gentleman Boss: The Life of Chester Alan Arthur by Thomas C. Reeves
Franklin Pierce: Martyr for the Union by Peter A. Wallner (Just published last year.)
John Tyler, the Accidental President by Edward P. Crapol
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
I found that book even more interesting than Theodore Rex. It gives very good insight into the influences that shaped TR into the man he was when he became President.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
Remembered this thread from a few years ago, and thought I'd give this a bump for new suggestions.
Since this thread was started, I thought I'd add a few I've read that have been published since then... John Milton Cooper's Woodrow Wilson is fantastic. As was Jean Edward Smith's on FDR. New Caro volume on LBJ was great, as Caro always is. Not a true biography, but Candice Millard's Destiny of the Republic on the assassination of James Garfield was good too. The final part of Edmund Morris's trilogy on TR (Colonel Roosevelt) is also a great read. Ron Chernow had a great one on Washington too.
Since this thread was started, I thought I'd add a few I've read that have been published since then... John Milton Cooper's Woodrow Wilson is fantastic. As was Jean Edward Smith's on FDR. New Caro volume on LBJ was great, as Caro always is. Not a true biography, but Candice Millard's Destiny of the Republic on the assassination of James Garfield was good too. The final part of Edmund Morris's trilogy on TR (Colonel Roosevelt) is also a great read. Ron Chernow had a great one on Washington too.
Bull Dozier
Footballguy
Good idea. Something that I'd like to take on as well.
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
SofaKings
Footballguy
sbonomo
Footballguy
I really enjoyed a team of rivals on Licoln I have it sitting around if anyone would like to read it. Cool subject by the way 
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arrow1
Footballguy
-QG
Don Quixote
Footballguy
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
From the comments:"Greg Tatro
12/6/2012 7:08 AM EST
The Millard Fillmore book you listed is not a biography. It makes comedic claims (as in he saved Jackson from assassination and fought at the Alamo) that are geared toward parody, and not mired in historical fact.
Try Millard Fillmore: Biography of a President by Robert Rayback. Not just the best bio of Fillmore, but a good read in general."
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Completely baffled why Ackerman's book on Garfield does not get its due. It's not even 10 years old. Not doubting the merits of the Millard book at all, but Ackerman's was an excellent read.
Was a little reluctant to pick up Millard's book (as I figured it told much the same tale) but this review makes it seem like it hits the Alexander Bell angle a bit harder: Linky
-QG
Don Quixote
Footballguy
I've read Millard on Garfield, but not Ackerman's. I don't consider Millard a true biography on Garfield. There are elements of that, but it's more about the times. Medicine is a big part of the book, including Bell's attempts to locate the bullet. Her view can be described as believing that Garfield probably would have lived if doctors had just left him alone, because it was the infections from unsanitized probing that did him in.I've been meaning to check out Ackerman though.
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Leeroy Jenkins
Footballguy
Don Quixote
Footballguy
Going through the list of books on my Kindle to note some I've read since the last bump...
Jean Edward Smith - Eisenhower in War and Peace (up to usual Smith standards -- I think I've previously mentioned his Grant and FDR bios)
Jon Meacham - Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
Amity Shlaes - Coolidge (tries a bit too hard to fit Coolidge into the Reagan mold, and too reluctant to knock him for some of his actions/inactions)
Harlow Giles Unger - The Last Founding Father: James Monroe
Fred Kaplan - John Quincy Adams: American Visionary
H.W. Brands - Reagan: The Life (favorable, but not too hagiographical; fairly balanced)
Non-bio, but also Matthew Algeo's The President is a Sick Man, about Grover Cleveland's secret surgery to remove an oral tumor.
Jean Edward Smith - Eisenhower in War and Peace (up to usual Smith standards -- I think I've previously mentioned his Grant and FDR bios)
Jon Meacham - Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
Amity Shlaes - Coolidge (tries a bit too hard to fit Coolidge into the Reagan mold, and too reluctant to knock him for some of his actions/inactions)
Harlow Giles Unger - The Last Founding Father: James Monroe
Fred Kaplan - John Quincy Adams: American Visionary
H.W. Brands - Reagan: The Life (favorable, but not too hagiographical; fairly balanced)
Non-bio, but also Matthew Algeo's The President is a Sick Man, about Grover Cleveland's secret surgery to remove an oral tumor.
Long Ball Larry
Footballguy
Need to dot this for gifts for my dad.
Got him this book on Harding, which he seemed to like: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Harding-Presidents-President-1921-1923/dp/0805069569/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438709091&sr=1-1&keywords=warren+harding+biography
Got him that Destiny of the Republic for Father's Day.
Got him this book on Harding, which he seemed to like: http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Harding-Presidents-President-1921-1923/dp/0805069569/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438709091&sr=1-1&keywords=warren+harding+biography
Got him that Destiny of the Republic for Father's Day.
Fun to imagine them trying something like that today.
Baloney Sandwich
Footballguy
Clinton's
United
Never
Trust
This book explores the unique relationship between Bill & Hillary as it chronicles Hillary's quest to become our first female President.
United
Never
Trust
This book explores the unique relationship between Bill & Hillary as it chronicles Hillary's quest to become our first female President.
