No comments about The Complete Illustrated Guide to the Presidents of America: An authoritative history of the American presidency, shown in 500 colour photographs and illustrations (The Complete Illustrated Guide to).

No comments about Dwight D. Eisenhower - Five Star General and President (Biography).

No comments about William Howard Taft: An Intimate History.

1 comments about The Vice Presidents: Biographies of the 45 Men Who Have Held the Second Highest Office in the United States.

1. It's hard to find good, thorough and easy-to-use reference works on VPs, and this book fills a needed gap--however...Any reference work is valuable only to the extent that it is accurate, and some big blunders make me nervous here. Andrew Johnson is inexplicably given the middle name Jackson. Has anyone ever heard of Andrew Jackson Johnson? I've done some published work on the Presidency myself, and I can find absolutely no corroboration for this moniker. The author certainly doesn't bother to source it, or much else unfortunately. There was a story, evidently contemporary with Johnson's career, that he was named Andrew after Jackson, but scholarly consensus is that this tale is wholly apocryphal, easily invented for a 19th century Tennessee politician. Since Johnson was born in 1808, in North Carolina, and before Jackson had risen to any particualr prominence, the likelihood that a he was named after the General is slight. Unless she had new info that would be quite w! ! orth sourcing, Waldrup just seems overly willing to repeat a good story as if it were fact. Of course this is unacceptable for a reference work. Then there is the matter of the near-full page portrait of William Henry Harrison (who was only briefly a president, and never a vice)which the book tells the reader is in fact John Tyler. Again, very bad for any work, let alone a reference. Who's on a $20 dollar bill, Martin Van Buren? Don't they have editors in these houses?

5 comments about Jefferson's Demons: Portrait of a Restless Mind.

1. I bought this book after reading the review in "The Wall Street Journal," which praised it as a "profound and exquisitely written meditation on the mind of America's most enigmatic Founder." I was skeptical at first; I did not want to read another study in what is sometimes called "pathography." But the book overcame my skepticism. The writing style is, I think, very fine, and owes something to the mandarin tradition exemplified by Lytton Strachey and Sir Thomas Browne. But what impressed me most about "Jefferson's Demons" was the complexity of the personality the author reveals in his protagonist. When I was in graduate school I read F.O. Matthiessen's classic study, "American Renaissance," in which Matthiessen argued that "notwithstanding the humaneness and toleration that made Franklin and Jefferson among the strongest bulwarks in our social heritage, it is forced inescapably upon us that their rationalism was too shallow to encompass the full complexity of man's nature." "Jefferson's Demons" makes a strong case that historians have misread Jefferson's "rationalism," and in especial have failed to do justice to the daemonic qualities in his neo-classical architecture. Jefferson was not as "shallow" as Matthiessen and others have supposed. He is interesting precisely because, as this book demonstrates, he is not a caricature of an Enlightened sage, a plaster-work Voltaire. Whether the Conradian nightmare described on page 250 of the book -- the accusation that Jefferson was once seen "FLOGGING IN THE MOST BRUTAL MANNER A NEGRO WOMAN" -- is true or not I can't pretend to say; but certainly Jefferson was more familiar with human nature's dark side than we've been led to believe. In any event "Jefferson's Demons" is a profound and brilliant book, and I am grateful for it; it is, I think, a classic of its kind.



2. This book is a Bildungsroman: the Education of Thomas Jefferson. It's the story of how Jefferson struggled to form himself into a man capable of action--the story of his "paideia," as the author would have it, in a bow to his subject's lifelong love of the Greeks. JEFFERSON'S DEMONS describes the mysterious ways the Sage of Monticello educated himself and learned to tap his most profound creative instincts.

   Like so many great men, Jefferson was engaged in an ongoing conversation with the great men of the past, with Montaigne, Homer, Solon, Tacitus, Milton, Isaiah, Socrates, Jesus. Beran lets the reader overhear these conversations, and he shows us how Jefferson drew on them both in his private life and his public work.

   The author's richly allusive style is itself an instrument in the communication of his vision of Jefferson: there are passages in the book in which the prose has less affinity with the rhytmically and spiritually flat prose of the present than with that of the Caroline and late Elizabethan prose-stylists. This startling use of language and metaphor prepares the reader for the book's major reassessments of whole tracts of Jefferson's thought. The book provides a nuanced reading of Jefferson's "Whig" and "Tory" qualities, shows how deeply immersed Jefferson was in a Virginia culture of decadent feudalism, and contains an ingenious reading of the connection between Jefferson's "sentimentalism" and the mediaeval romance of the rose. Jefferson's architecture emerges as something more deeply felt than the pasteboard classicism it is often taken to be; and Beran ties his analysis of Monticello and the University of Virginia to his discussion of how Jefferson tried to reconcile his civic republican ideals (the communitarianism of the classical city-state, the Greek polis) with his commitment to Whig liberalism, with its emphasis on liberty of trade, liberty of the press, and liberty of conscience.

   I loved this book. It's a splendid account of Jefferson's self-culture and his attempts to apply the lessons he learned in the young American Republic, and it enlarges the number of intellectual debates in which Jefferson participated and through which he must examined.

   But the book's most important message is an intensely personal one. Jefferson spoke hopefully of the "progress to be made under our democratic stimulants until every American is potentially an athlete in body and an Aristotle in mind." Beran shows the reader how Jefferson, in trying to realize this potentiality in himself and in others, aspired to the Greek ideal of the statesman who is also an educator, one who can help people to know themslves and do their work.




3. Demon - n. Greek Mythology 2. An attendant spirit; a genius.
   
   This book investigates the classical influences on Jefferson and follows them through to his motivations in Government and his personal life. The "demons" are the classical inspirations for Jefferson. This is a great book which delves deeper into a person's psyche than any other biography I've read. The language is exquisite (nearly over-the-top), but in the end it is a highly rewarding investigation into one of our founding fathers.



4. It is perhaps hard to be sure this book is a putdown. For some, finding that Jefferson wasn't always rational and calm may make him more human and therefore more appealing, but for me it is a downer. He seems to have had a miseable inner life. Thank God that he was able nonetheless to do a lot of good. The book helps to explain many of Jefferson's wrongheaded views: about Hamilton, about the radicals in the French Revolution, etc.
   
   The author is talented but he quotes so extensively from Jefferson's own feelings, which in themselves are so unreadable, that the book necessarily becomes unreadable.
   
   This may indeed be a useful contribution to our knowledge but I could have done without it.



5. I would highly recommend this book. Beran makes the read a fun one.

4 comments about Justinian: The Last Roman Emporer.

1. That great narrative G.P. Baker, who also published splendid lives of Sulla, Constantine and Hannibal, takes us to what he calls the "last" of the Roman emperors. This is generally how we in the West regard Justinian, who (though his brilliant general Belisarius) made the last reconquest of the Western Empire. Justinian the Law-Giver is also famous to lawyers throughout history as the great codifier of the Roman laws. Even more intriguing to modern readers is the story of Theodora, the former actress who became wife and de facto co-empress at Justinian's court. Baker gives a wonderful description of life in 5th century Constantinople, including life around the Hippodrome and the revolt of one of its clubs. Baker ends his narrative with a meditation on the barbarian invasions and the "loss" of empire in the West. I would read this in conjunction with (1) Norwich's series on Byzantium, for whom Justinian was an early, not a late, emperor; and (2) Dr. Bray's book on "Armies of Pestilence," which argues convincingly that Justinian's attempted reconquest of the West failed because of a spectacularly virulent plague (but for which Roman history would be very different).



2. I liked it a lot, really, I did. I'm not just saying that because the author is dead either. He's really comprehensive in the way he covers Justinian's reign and doesn't, as some authors try, to cover up the pressure of the implications and effects of the Coucil of Chalcedon on Justinians reign. He doesn't talk too much about the building, or rather, the re-building of Hagia Sophia which is somewhat of a disappointment for me. He gives great insite into court intrigue and peronal decisions and friendships which reveal huge amounts about his personality such as his friendship and appointment of John as what we would today consider the head of the IRS and treasury combined. Plus, there's excellent information on Bellisarus and his character. The author makes it clear that, as sexist as it sounds, Justinian and Belisarus were just trying to get the job done and their skanky wives wouldn't stay out of it which only caused trouble. It's a real "behind the scene's look" at the person of Justianian and the people under him who made the empire work. A great read, very enjoyable, and intelligently written.



3. Whether or not you accept the idea that Justinian was indeed the "Last Roman Emperor," if you enjoy classical history, you'll get a lot out of this book. It is an excellent synopsis of the reign of that great emperor and his epic attempts to reconstitute the boundaries of the Roman Empire. Drawing mainly from Procopius and secondary sources like Bury, the author paints vivid portraits of the scenes and personalities involved: from Justinian himself, to Belisarius, Theodora, John the Cappadocian, Narses, and many others.
   
   Originally published in 1931, this book is a handsome paperback reprint. The text appears to be abridged as it contains numerous elipses (...) throughout. The author's writing style will seem a bit archaic to the modern reader and this tendency is highlighted by the antique-looking typesetting used by the publisher. The author freely injects his own opinions into the text, but it is usually very clear when he is doing so. He also uses some turns of phrase that seem remarkably un-politically correct today--such as repeatedly referring to Belisarius's force in Italy the "Little Dago Army." In the author's defense, (and I say this as someone of Italian heritage myself) he was doing this in an attempt to mimic the Goth's deprecation of the Roman imperial army as "greeklings."
   
   The only real drawback to this book is the dearth of footnotes, which makes it unsuitable for scholarly use. Having read much of Procopius already, I was curious where the author got some of the quotes and anecdotes he included which were not from that source.
   
   All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good, balanced overview of Justinian's reign that doesn't rely too heavily on the infamous 'Secret History.'



4. George Phillip Baker, a British "arm chair" historian and biographer, was actively writing during the first half of the 20th Century. An author of "popular" treatments of his subjects, his work is a cut above much of that genre from the era. He is generally dependable and trustworthy and is able to move his narratives along briskly without resort to distortion of his underlying sources or gross fictionalization. Unfortunately, the question with which I head this review remains unanswered by this book. That being said, this book provides a fast paced retelling of the history of the Roman/Byzantine Empire during the era of Justinian. Drawing primarily on J. B. Bury's classic history of the later Roman Empire and Procopius's "histories" for information, Baker presents a balanced picture of the expansion of the Empire under Justinian. In large measure, this is a military history with secondary attention to political matters.
   
   Belisarius, the great contemporary general of the Empire, is by far the most developed and discussed character within the book. This of course reflects Baker's reliance on the Procopian eight volume war histories. However, many other major events and trends were a foot during the reign of Justinian the Great. Adequate treatment is given to the codification and revision of Roman civil law which was a momumental accomplishment of the reign. The extremely important events in the history of the Christian religion that took place at this time are less well fleshed out. From the religious activities of Justinian and his empress, Theodora, far reaching consequences reverberate down to this very day. The interplay of interests represented by Justinian, Theodora, John of Lydia, John of Cappadocia along with Belisarius and his wife, Antonia, and Narses are never fully developed but all covered to some extent and never inaccurately. The important architectural, artistic and cultural trends of the reign are all but disregarded.
   
   Despite all of these quibbles this is an important book that deserves the attention of anyone interested in the reign of Justinian. Larger questions such as whether Justinian was the last Roman Emperor or a transitional segue way from Late Antiquity to the Medieval world are left to other scholars. As another reviewer pointed out, the lack of footnotes makes the book of questionable use to a scholarly student of the period. However, having read most of the original source material from the period in translation, I believe that this book is a fair and relatively accurate portrait of its subject within the limitations I have described above. Baker's extremely judicious use of Procopius's volume twelve, "Anecdotes - The Secret History," is to be commended. All in all, I recommend this book highly, and it is an enjoyable and easy read.

5 comments about In His Father's Shadow, Updated Edition: The Transformations of George W. Bush.

1. GWB is a remarkably polarizing president, and the storm of emotion that surrounds him makes getting a handle on the man and his presidency extremely difficult. And yet, the context of war makes understanding what makes him tick particularly urgent. Renshon's book arrives at just the right time. And his careful, thoughtful analysis should be fascinating reading even to political junkies who thing they know this president well.
   
   Renshon explores the story of what it was like to grow up as a Bush, of his struggle to make something of himself, and of his conquest over an addiction to alcohol. Most interesting, however, is Renshon's description of the president as an agent of transformational change dealing with the question of national survival in a deeply divided society. To an unexpected and startling degree, Bush has been willing to risk his political future by going against the grain of much of the public, liberal and conservative alike. There will be lots of books on Bush written by talking heads who mistake political warfare for careful analysis. Renshon's book, however, should stand the test of time as a work of scholarship and integrity.



2. Reading this book, I didn't start out liking Bush very much, but
   afterwards I had learned a lot that was new and sort of interesting about him. After reading this book, you may not end up voting for Bush, but you probably will see that there is a lot more to the man than his critics say.  The author has clearly reached some conclusions about the man, but lays out the evidence on both sides of the issues carefully. I thought both sides got a fair hearing and that the author let the reader make his or her own judgments, and that overall the book was surprisingly balanced.



3. I have taken a course with Renshon, and read portions of his writings on this subject before the book was published. It's not so much that I'm opposed to his partisan perspective -- he's entitled to that if he wants it.
   
   The real problem is his complete disregard for any standard of social science research methodology. He has given up on trying to explain what happens in reality, and instead focuses on the alleged psychological issues of Bush as they relate to his father (presumably all emanating from some sort of ultimate Oedipal complex).
   
   His research relies almost entirely on media reports and Bob Woodward's 2 journalistic accounts of Bush. Renshon attempts to put Bush on the couch from afar, and utterly fails.



4. MR. RENSHON IS A PART OF ADMINISTRATION'S PEROPAGANDA MACHIN . HE EVEN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE PLAN FOR OCCUPYING IRAQ WAS DISCUSSED AND PLANED EVEN BEFOR MR. BUSH CAME TO OFFICE.



5. This is a pro-administration book. The author's presentation in the book is very sympathetic to the President and his administration. The polls show the public trusts Bush according to the author. The book lays out a very upbeat analysis of the President. The author is a psychologist and the author attempts to psycho-analyze the President from afar. He spoke at an author event in January where the attendees seemed to be underwhelmed. The author added that people have underestimated George Bush for over ten years, in his opinion.

5 comments about Woodrow Wilson (Profiles in Power Series).

1. John A. Thompson, author of the Reformers and War: American Progressives Publicists and the First World War (1987)and a leading authority on the Progessive Era and First World War, has written a superb and compact biography of Woodrow Wilson, the best one-volume biography of Wilson that we have. Thompson's insightful account focuses on Wilson's leadership style and assesses both its strengths and weaknesses. As president of Princeton, governor of New Jersey, and president of the United States, Wilson exhibited both firmness and flexibility, and idealism and a practicality. Examining the abilities and the limits of political leadership in American democracy, Thompson carefully weighs the degree to which Wilson's successes and failures were a result of his own actions and a consequence of other factors beyond his control. This is a masterful achievement.



2. Few figures in American history have as polarizing effect on people as Thomas Woodrow Wilson. While he accomplished a great deal during his term, his legacy is haunted by a glaring failure. John A. Thompson takes a concise, yet surprisingly thorough look at the political career of the 28th President of the United States in the Profiles in Power Series.
   
   Woodrow Wilson seemed to be an unlikely candidate to one day become president. As the son of a presbyterian minister, he often placed his faith ahead to political feasibility. After serving as the president of Princeton, his progressive ideals led to his election as governor of New Jersey. His popularity led to his nomination as the democratic candidate for president in a year when the republican electorate was split between Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft.
   
   Among his accomplishments as president were the Child Labor Act, the Federal Reserve Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act. Wilson is also commended for his role as a leader during World War I. While various factions including former President Teddy Roosevelt called for American involvement in the war, Wilson exhausted every possible means for peaceful resolution. Supporting by George Washington's farewell address statement to avoid European entanglements, Wilson pressed forward in negotiations. Only when Germany refused to discontinue attacks on merchant ships was Wilson's hand forced into war.
   
   After the allied victory, Wilson became a key figure in establishing the peace in Europe. Wilson was the first president to travel to Europe during his term in office. It was during his work in Europe that he attempted to implement the League of Nations. Wilson was humbled in the eyes of the Europeans that exhaulted him when the U.S. senate refused to ratify American membership. In a show of partisanism that was uncharacteristic in its time, republican senators refused to accept the League of Nations as it was.
   
   Wilson is one of the key figures in American history, whose only major failure was a project so ambitious that many considered it utopian. His interests were not political but universal and international ideals. World War II was among the problems foresaw and could have prevented. I was certainly enlighted as to the facts of the Wilson administration through this book. While there are certain omission such as much of Wilson's youth, the book is recommended to those seeking to expand their knowledge of Woodrow Wilson.



3. This is not a full biog of WW. Its a look at his way of using power, mainly at Princeton and as Pres of the US. That leaves out quite a bit! There is very little in the book on how WW dealt with Congress, even during WWI (though more on this subject is here regarding the League of Nations.) There is VERY little about domestic concerns during WW's presidency, esp. with regard to race. Thompson is not only a bit too sympathetic toward his subject, but far too deferential to William Link's previous assessments of WW as well.



4. An excellent short but complete biography of Woodrow Wilson, a thoughtful peace loving man born into a pious and academic household. He was born in 1856 and lived in Staunton, Virginia, a Southern Border state. He grew up in a time that he saw the ravages caused by the Civil War. His quest for peace and reform was always intense - no more wars. He tried studying law, but did not like the and quiet thoughtful man made him a natural for Princeton although he brought many interesting new ideas for educational reform. He became President of Princeton University from 1902 -1910. Leaving Princeton, he was also thought of as a reformer when he became governor of the state of New Jersey from 1911-1913, His race for President was both smart and surprising (Taft and Roosevelt split the ticket). Wilson ran a good race, but was behind - he had a lots of luck and political maneuvering to get the nomination. That was interesting, as well as when he became president - how the federal reserve system was developed - his greatest achievement. The book's description of his presidency (1913-1921) and his poor cardiovascular health gives a clear picture of how he presided over the country - by sheer will. He knew he was very ill, but "paced" his meetings, avoided many by prioritizing, and would not talk business at home. World War 1 was beyond his control and his wish for isolationist policy failed because of the global political winds. The League of Nations and 14 Points take on an interesting angle when compared with the United Nations today.
   
   Another interesting part of his life is when his first wife dies while he is in office - he goes on through his deep depression. He courts and marries his second wife while still in office. She and his doctor cover up how ill he is. When he has his most debilitating stroke, his second wife actually becomes the "first woman president" - although the country did not know she was running the country. Can one imagine a President getting away with that in today's media and talk show programs? He was not functioning as President - she took over, making the decision to do so as well as decisions written on papers passed through his office. Basically she was President of the U.S. for the last 17 months he was in office.



5. This biography is focused exclusively on Wilson's political life. Within those constraints, while being short and concise, it is very analytical and insightful. The author analyses why Wilson did what he did. While sharing with us some notable opinions on these subjects, he always offers his own objective and analytical views as well. Excellent book - I learned something from almost every page.

5 comments about The (American) Presidents: A Reference History.

1. This book is not for people who want to learn interesting facts about the presidents. At times the book focuses more on the president's cabinet than on himself. However, this does accuratly describe how certain presidents controlled the country. There are chapters for each president. Each essay is very knowlegdable as each essay is written by an expert on that particular president. The terms are very detailed. This book does, however, seem to exclude much of the effects of the presidents decisions. The essays at times are overly complex. But in general the author describes himself well. Each author seems to be unbiased and is quick to reveal short-comings of his particular president. The readability seems to increase with the number of president. Starting with Wilson the essays are great. Notable essays include Wilson's, Harding's, and L. Johnson's. Overall this book is great. But, this book is NOT for everybody. It requires great interest a! nd an active mind. But, it is worth it.



2. This book is an excellent source for presidential research. As an AP American History student, this book is an INVALUABLE resource. It discusses all of the major events of the presidency with some detail. This saves a lot of secondary research which can delay completion of a project for days.



3. This is one of the best one-volume references on the American presidents I have come across. While some general biographical material is provided, such as how each man spent his formative years, each section is mostly devoted to an over-the-shoulder look at the key figures of his administration, with benefit of historical hindsight, as they grapple with the issues and problems of the time. Particular attention is paid to distinctive qualities that set each president apart from his peers and to key decisions and actions that made a lasting difference to the country. This is more than a mere presentation of facts: we get a definite feel for each man's style of leadership and even his vision for the nation.

   With each section written by a different contributor, there is bound to be some unevenness of style and tone, and there is. Generally, each presentation is scholarly and disinterested--although by no means dry--and free from excessive praise or condemnation, but for two exceptions that somewhat detract from the work. The most egregious of these is the section on Franklin Pierce, which is filled with personal gibes and, to a much lesser degree, the section on Calvin Coolidge. This is particularly surprising in light of the fact that such controversial figures as Andrew Johnson, Warren G. Harding and even Richard Nixon have been handled so professionally. But otherwise there is little to fault.

   With only 15 to 20 pages devoted to each administration, obviously many difficult decisions had to be made on what material to include and exclude. Yet, it is the insight that went into these decisions that is one of the high points of this book; indeed, there is more than enough material to satisy most history buffs. However, those looking for obscure facts or trivia about each man, except when such details are directly relevant to the central issues of the time, are best advised to consult full-length biographies. Extensive references, including a list of such biographies, have been provided at the end of each section.




4. This book has a short (15-20 pages) biography of each president
   through Bill Clinton (remember, it was published in 1996); obviously,
   it cannot give as full a history as a full, comprehensive biography
   could. But for many of the presidents, it is almost impossible to find
   a full, comprehensive biography, and for those interested in those
   presidents, this work is invaluable. Also, each chapter has an
   exhaustive bibliography, so those interested in learning more are given
   the names of books, many of them out of print, to look for.

   A must for any presidential history buff.
   




5. 'The Presidents', edited by Henry F. Graff, is a spectacular reference. There are essays on each of the presidents from George Washington to Bill Clinton (with a few exceptions), as well as handy reference pages at the back with quick snapshots of crucial data.
   
   The essays are roughly 20 pages per figure, more for some and less for others (it is ironic that Teddy Roosevelt has more pages than Franklin Roosevelt, or that both Richard Nixon and George Bush the elder have more pages than Abraham Lincoln, but then, quality is not a simple calculation of page numbers). Some presidents are paired for purposes of the essays - William Henry Harrison and John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore, James Garfield and Chester Arthur are each paired, as the length of time in office for each of the former figures in the pairs is rather brief, and none of the successors from the vice presidency went on to second terms.
   
   The essays include very brief overviews of the time before office, as well as time after the presidency (as appropriate). However, the primary focus of the information is on the policies and events during the time of the presidency; this extends to military, diplomatic, administrative, legislative and judicial matters. This is one of the best one-volume references that includes cabinet members and other leaders of the executive branch in addition to the presidents; one has but to read headlines today to realise how important these figures can be in shaping the overall image and direction of a presidency.
   
   There is also a concluding essay on role of the first lady, from Martha Washington to Hillary Clinton. From Dolley Madison's saving the portrait of Washington as the British burned the city to the extraordinary influence of figures such as Edith Galt Wilson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton, these women are deserving of attention for their work and influence.
   
   Perhaps the most handy feature is Appendix B, the summary tables of data on the presidents. These feature in bullet form key biographical data, election returns, major appointments, political composition of Congress, Cabinet and Supreme Court appointments, and key events arranged chronologically. The index is also very well done; at 64 pages in length, I was hard pressed to find something in the text not referenced in the index.
   
   The essays vary in quality, but even the least of them is pretty good. The essays on the earlier presidents, because they concentrate more on details of in-office activity, filled in many gaps in my knowledge of some of the administrations. This is a book destined to be more of a library volume than a personal possession, which is unfortunate, as this is a valuable text.

No comments about The Presidents, First Ladies, and Vice Presidents: White House Biographies, 1789-2001.