I know he was never president but the Chernow biography of Alexander Hamilton is excellent and will expand your knowledge of that time period. Did you read Chernow’s Biography of Grant?
I did read Hamilton and Grant by Chernow along with Washington. All we're incredible! He has a biography of Mark Twain coming out next year that I am excited to get my hands on. He is so good!
A good book about that time period Is The True Flag. The subtitle is Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the birth of American Empire. The author is Stephen Kinzer, another excellent author. The book is all about the momentous decision regarding whether or not America should become an overseas empire
Super project. I have read quite a few myself. What one did you read for Coolidge? I found Amity Schlaes the best. I liked Evan Thomas’s Ike’s Bluff and Jon Meacham’s Quiet Man about Bush Sr. Have you considered reading about the men who came so close? Hubert Humphrey, Tom Dewey, or Al Gore? If they exist!
Thanks David! I did read Shlaes Coolidge. I will be posting my master reading list for which biographies I chose this week after many requests, so stay tuned. There were several characters that stood out that I want to read in the future, such as Churchill, Robert E Lee, Hitler, and many others. I will probably just space them out over the rest of my life! 😂
Excellent. I love biographies as well. One of the best memoirs however was Brian Mulroney’s, former Prime Minister of Canada. It is a tour de force in storytelling and an incomparable reflection on a life in politics. Just superb. Two thumbs up!
I love this project you’ve taken on! I have read dozens of presidential biographies and find them a great way to learn history. I would love to see your list. And I’m inspired to create my own list. I’ve been doing this for years but I never thought of doing it chronologically. I’ve tended to focus on a time period. Last year I read the Hoover biography by Kenneth Whyte, and I recently finished The Jazz Age President, about Warren Harding. It’s not a biography, it just looks at some of the myths surrounding Hardings presidency. It’s excellent and I highly recommend it. What biography of Harding did you read?
Thank you for your feedback! It really is a great way to read thriugh history. I really liked White's biography of Hoover. It barely missed my top 10. I read the American President's Series small biography of Harding. I thought about doing the Jazz Age President but didn't choose that one for this project since it wasn't a full life bio.
I am working on a list of the biographies that I chose and a couple of other Presidential posts. Stay tuned!
Was there a more obscure president who you came to admire more through your project? Like you, I love the Caro books on LBJ, although they’re not admiring of him
I would probably say Truman was my biggest surprise. I did not know much about him until this project and I grew to respect him through David McCullough's masterful bio of him. I also really enjoyed Hoover by Kenneth White. He gets a bad rap as well but White's book was a balanced account of how much good he did combined with how much he missed the great depression and it's impact.
Ryan back in the mid 80s I began a similar project. I haven’t dove into many of those that I’ve lived through ( several on Johnson but not after that ) so I’m at 32 of the other 37. Which also triggered many other reads of people like George Marshall, Seward , Franklin , Sherman , King, and as you mentioned often multiple books on several presidents . There is such a wealth of historical res
I read Washington by Ron Chernow. It is huge but was well worth the time. I have also heard good things about His Excellency by Joseph Ellis but haven't read it yet. It is shorter than Chernow
This is something I just started. I’ve been reading about Washington and am looking for a good biography about Adams. I’m very excited about what I’ll learn in the process (even if it takes a while!)
There is really no rush! I read one a month and sometimes it felt like a chore but at the end it was worth it. John Adams bio by David McCullough is really exceptional! It reads like a novel and Adams was quite the character so it is interesting
I know he was never president but the Chernow biography of Alexander Hamilton is excellent and will expand your knowledge of that time period. Did you read Chernow’s Biography of Grant?
I did read Hamilton and Grant by Chernow along with Washington. All we're incredible! He has a biography of Mark Twain coming out next year that I am excited to get my hands on. He is so good!
A good book about that time period Is The True Flag. The subtitle is Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the birth of American Empire. The author is Stephen Kinzer, another excellent author. The book is all about the momentous decision regarding whether or not America should become an overseas empire
Yes indeed! Wow! Mark Twain! I look forward to reading that!
Thanks for the tip!
Super project. I have read quite a few myself. What one did you read for Coolidge? I found Amity Schlaes the best. I liked Evan Thomas’s Ike’s Bluff and Jon Meacham’s Quiet Man about Bush Sr. Have you considered reading about the men who came so close? Hubert Humphrey, Tom Dewey, or Al Gore? If they exist!
Thanks David! I did read Shlaes Coolidge. I will be posting my master reading list for which biographies I chose this week after many requests, so stay tuned. There were several characters that stood out that I want to read in the future, such as Churchill, Robert E Lee, Hitler, and many others. I will probably just space them out over the rest of my life! 😂
Excellent. I love biographies as well. One of the best memoirs however was Brian Mulroney’s, former Prime Minister of Canada. It is a tour de force in storytelling and an incomparable reflection on a life in politics. Just superb. Two thumbs up!
I’m working on it. I think it provides a perspective that is truly needed.
And yes, the Caro four volumes on LBJ are fantastic! You really get a good sense of the man. I can’t wait until the fifth volume is published!
I hesitated to tackle the Caro project but am so glad I did! I can't wait for the next one as well!
I love this project you’ve taken on! I have read dozens of presidential biographies and find them a great way to learn history. I would love to see your list. And I’m inspired to create my own list. I’ve been doing this for years but I never thought of doing it chronologically. I’ve tended to focus on a time period. Last year I read the Hoover biography by Kenneth Whyte, and I recently finished The Jazz Age President, about Warren Harding. It’s not a biography, it just looks at some of the myths surrounding Hardings presidency. It’s excellent and I highly recommend it. What biography of Harding did you read?
Thank you for your feedback! It really is a great way to read thriugh history. I really liked White's biography of Hoover. It barely missed my top 10. I read the American President's Series small biography of Harding. I thought about doing the Jazz Age President but didn't choose that one for this project since it wasn't a full life bio.
I am working on a list of the biographies that I chose and a couple of other Presidential posts. Stay tuned!
It would be nice to see your list.
I think you have inspired me. I do have a collection of most bios. 2025 is the start.
Awesome! Keep me posted on how it goes!
I am working on it. Stay posted!
This is an impressive and very interesting feat!
Thank you!
Which ones had the fewest biographies?
There were several who had little coverage. I will be coming out with a few more posts about my reading through the Presidents! Stay posted!
Was there a more obscure president who you came to admire more through your project? Like you, I love the Caro books on LBJ, although they’re not admiring of him
I would probably say Truman was my biggest surprise. I did not know much about him until this project and I grew to respect him through David McCullough's masterful bio of him. I also really enjoyed Hoover by Kenneth White. He gets a bad rap as well but White's book was a balanced account of how much good he did combined with how much he missed the great depression and it's impact.
Okay so why are we in this mess?
😂 I am afraid it would take more than reading books to sort that one out!
Wondering who you read for Nixon?
I read Richard Nixon by John A. Farrell. Here is a link to my top 10 presidential bios. Nixon made the list.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ryandhall/p/my-top-10-presidential-biographies?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=jdmug
Being Nixon by Evan Thomas is really good!
Thank you! Reading that now 😊
Truman by McCullough is good ... I have a bunch of books about Ike and Jimmy Carter on the bookshelf.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sharonlawrence/p/elections-advice-for-candidates-recommended?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=a5esd. The Perkins book about fdr is awesome. 13 days is a slice of life but an important one
Ryan back in the mid 80s I began a similar project. I haven’t dove into many of those that I’ve lived through ( several on Johnson but not after that ) so I’m at 32 of the other 37. Which also triggered many other reads of people like George Marshall, Seward , Franklin , Sherman , King, and as you mentioned often multiple books on several presidents . There is such a wealth of historical res
Which biography of Washington did you choose?
I read Washington by Ron Chernow. It is huge but was well worth the time. I have also heard good things about His Excellency by Joseph Ellis but haven't read it yet. It is shorter than Chernow
This is something I just started. I’ve been reading about Washington and am looking for a good biography about Adams. I’m very excited about what I’ll learn in the process (even if it takes a while!)
There is really no rush! I read one a month and sometimes it felt like a chore but at the end it was worth it. John Adams bio by David McCullough is really exceptional! It reads like a novel and Adams was quite the character so it is interesting