I would recommend that you make Wood’s Friend’s Divided an early post-first round read. I respect your views on books and would love to see what you think! and am going off this list for recommendations: But I’m seriously considering putting it on my “primary” list and moving something already on that list to the Follow-Up category. The Supreme Court, Nothing to Fear: FDR’s Inner Circle and the 100 Days that Created Modern America, The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope, Man of Destiny: FDR and the Making of the American Century, Roosevelt and Hopkins: An Intimate History, Franklin D. Roosevelt: Rendezvous with Destiny, Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox 1882-1940, Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom 1940-1945, Before the Trumpet: Young Franklin Roosevelt 1882-1905, The Best Biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt: Road to the New Deal, 1882-1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt: The War Years, 1939-1945, The Mantle of Command: FDR at War (1941-42), Commander in Chief: FDR’s Battle with Churchill, 1943, Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman, The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months that Changed the World, Ike and Dick: Portrait of a Strange Political Marriage, Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Battle to Save the World, The Hidden-Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader, Eisenhower: Soldier, General of the Army, President-Elect 1890-1952, The Best Biographies of Dwight Eisenhower, Three Days in January: Dwight Eisenhower’s Final Mission, A Question of Character: A Life of John F. Kennedy, JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President, Lone Star Rising: Lyndon Johnson and His Times 1908-1960, Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times 1961-1973, The Path to Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol I), Means of Ascent (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol II), Master of the Senate (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol III), The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol IV), President Nixon: Alone in the White House, Richard Milhous Nixon: The Rise of An American Politician, One of Us: Richard Nixon and the American Dream, Nixon Agonistes: The Crisis of the Self-Made Man, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America, Nixon: The Education of a Politician 1913-1962, Nixon: The Triumph of a Politician 1962-1972, Ambition, Pragmatism, and Party: A Political Biography of Gerald R. Ford, Time and Chance: Gerald Ford’s Appointment with History, Gerald Ford and the Challenges of the 1970s, When the Center Held: Gerald Ford and the Rescue of the American Presidency, The Unfinished Presidency: Jimmy Carter’s Quest for Global Peace, Jimmy Carter: A Comprehensive Biography from Plains to Post-Presidency, The Outlier: The Life and Presidency of Jimmy Carter, When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan, The Age of Reagan: The Fall of the Old Liberal Order: 1964-1980, The Age of Reagan: The Conservative Counterrevolution: 1980-1989, Reagan’s Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All, Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980, Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America, Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan, President Reagan: The Triumph of Imagination, The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush, George H. W. Bush: The American Presidents Series, First in His Class: A Biography of Bill Clinton, The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House, Bill Clinton: The American Presidents Series, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House, First Son: George W. Bush and the Bush Family Dynasty, The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/books/review/20Brinkley.html, https://kansaspress.ku.edu/978-0-7006-1471-4.html, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2800414477, http://sciframework.nfshost.com/presidents.html. Ready to dive into history and learn more about the forty-four men who led these United (and sometimes not-so-united) States? As an aside, I’ve had folks suggest I do the same thing with Prime Ministers that I’ve done with US Presidents…but it seems a fair number of PMs don’t have bios or else don’t have ones I’ve yet found. But Noonan, Kengor, Shirley, and Hayward will, I fear, be unrelentingly positive. I am not sure he would learn much from living in modern Viet Nam–would learn more from homeless vets who served. I did not come away thinking that Lincoln was the greatest president in American history. I’m looking forward to your continuing reviews and suggestions as you wrap up your first pass at our nation’s leaders. Kennedy, for example is largely remembered by photos and books say within a decade of his death when he was considered almost a saint. Brad, thanks for your note and I’m glad you finally made it here! I would imagine that after multiple years of presidential biographies that you might want to read some escapist fiction or catch up on TV and movies that you might have missed? Thomas Jefferson. In almost the same way I think Zachary Taylor might fall into that category – he just never came to life for me. What an incredible resource your website is! Nevertheless, it’s definitely on my follow-up list and I’m looking forward to it. Bullock authored a bio of Hitler I have on my broader list, so I’ll have to see what his dual biography looks like – it could be fascinating for my purposes! I know that it’s on your follow-up list, but I would highly recommend William Cooper’s the Lost Founding Father. Richard Nixon: A Life by John A. Farrell—This uncompromising biography of America’s darkest president explores the many twists and turns that found Nixon at the point of impeachment. This is such a cool accomplishment and incredibly helpful! John Fitzgerald Kennedy. I'm attempting to read at least one biography for each president (+ individual books for the interesting moments, Kennedy's last 100 days etc.) Tony Bobulinski, who is. . I just finished my goal of reading a book on each President that I didn’t personally recall – basically through Nixon (in fact, one of my earliest recollections of a political event was watching him resign). I know you probably don’t want to talk about your political views so as to keep this site on biographies reaching a wide audience, but rather than their politics comment on their character. (See also this. I’m well behind you in terms of visiting presidential libraries and homes but intend to make it a priority when I’ve got enough flexibility in my schedule. Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow—Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize, this nearly one thousand–page tome is the definitive biography of America’s first president. I used your reviews to pick the biographies and I thank you for your diligence and keen insight. Have a blessed New Year. You noted Grant in particular, and I believe there are three biographies that have come out which I need to go back and read, and there were a couple I simply missed. ( Log Out /  What a slog.” I’m not referring to a specific book, but all the books about a specific president? but several, such as Washington, Lincoln and TR, would be on that list as well. I truly appreciate the time you have taken to help us all figure this out!! Nixon, Ford, Carter, Clinton, and Bush 43 have all written memoirs. Purchashing it online is not a possibility with my family dynamic. Overall, a really fine book! I read “Flawed Giant” to get through the second term. I personally believe Randall Woods’s LBJ: Architect of American Ambition would be the best addition to your follow-up list. I’ll have to check out your list and see how I should supplement what I’ve already read-. Any suggestions of how i could come by it? ), Steve, I’ve just discovered your site tonight waiting in the airport in Phoenix. If I remember correctly, it was supposed to be the “authorized” biography at the time. And if you start to branch out to non-presidents like Seward…well, get ready. A suggestion: I’d love to read a post of your impressions of each president as a person after having read so thoroughly. Sorry if my question is not clearly laid out. As for Caro’s lengthy biography, perhaps with more than we really want to know, is likely the definitive biography of Johnson. A couple of questions/comments: – I’m surprised that there isn’t a good single-volume, cradle-to-grave biography for TR. hide . His speaking style alone is difficult, so I can’t even imagine what reading his text was like. For example, Polk (who I would say is virtually unknown over here) sounds like someone it might be worth exploring a bit more, but I’d love your opinion! Thank you! Thanks so much for your note / comment! John Quincy Adams. I still am working my way through your recommended biography of the Presidents serving in my lifetime and then will go back and read the highly rated bios of some of the more obscure Presidents. The River of Doubt by Candice Millard is a gripping account of TR’s post-presidential adventure in the Amazon. I would include Jefferson and Truman in my top ten. Looking forward to your reviews of more recent releases that weren’t out when you moved through a President (like Chernow’s Grant). I have always been a history buff but I didn’t catch the biography bug until I read Chernow’s Hamilton a few years ago. And I LOVE reading other people’s “favorite” lists – especially when they include a rationale as did your list. I did take several years of high school German, so maybe Schwarz’s bio won’t be totally inaccessible?!? So if you have a chance, always feel free to shoot me an update on where you are and which biographies you’ve really enjoyed! One set of bios on Polk you may want to consider for your follow-up list is the 2-volume set by Charles Sellers: James K. Polk, Jacksonian (1795-1843) 1957, and James K. Polk, Continentalist (1843-1846) 1966. – Ronald Reagan: the first president I really, really remember vividly (and during whose presidency I actually paid any attention to politics). John Adams, by David McCullough. I’ve read a few of them along the way (and I’m about to start another – this one covering Gerald Ford). I’m also going to try to keep a good balance of “oldies-but-goodies” and recent releases. My Dad had me read his books and we would discuss them at dinner. James Madison . I wouldn’t have cut much and, yes, I bet I read at least some of it again. Whether you admired his Presidency or not, your will come away with something you didn’t know. Now…fingers crossed that Eizenstat’s bio is objective and interesting. I really appreciate the comprehensive list you’ve put together and look forward to working my way through it. Thanks for taking the time to answer this and several other inquiries I’ve had in the past! I tweeted the following today: but then I’ve got a line-up waiting which begins with Ron Chernow’s “Alexander Hamilton” and includes a bio of Patton, one of Mozart, Ben Franklin,…. Get our conservative analysis delivered right to you. You just saved a few hours of my life that I would have spent scouring Amazon. Since you have enjoyed wartime presidents, the FDR biography might be the next perfect choice? I was re-visiting Montpelier last week (an easy trip since it’s only about 30 minutes away) and had occasion to chat with someone “knowledgeable” who I won’t publicly identify who told me the Cheney bio (which I haven’t read yet) is “fine” and “interesting” but perhaps a bit pedestrian. It made me appreciate Caro’s style even more. Anyway, just wanted you to know that you’ve been an inspiration! Blue titles indicate Pulitzer Prize WINNERS. – Your review of Donald’s Lincoln was spot-on. [p.s. I plan on reading Goodwin’s book for follow up after getting through a few more presidents. Whenever I search online I seem to get the best for each President, but I essentially am looking for where to turn to next. Which president would you recommend me tackling next? I’m sad to say I do not have my broad list of biographies in chronological order, although a significant subset of that list IS in rough chronological order (see here). I have taken your recommendations at face value and have read the books you have recommended via the star system.

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