My Master List of Presidential Biographies

Here are the biographies of each President for my Presidential Reading Project

A note before getting started on today’s newsletter: this newsletter is longer than my typical post as I wanted to include all the biographies of Presidents that I have read in one easy to find place.

After posting about my Presidential reading plan I received an overwhelming response asking which books I read for each President. I totally get the inquiry and worked to make a list that others could use to help in their own reading journey. Here is my list of biographies for each President. This is my Christmas gift to you in this season and is truly a labor of love. Feel free to bookmark, restack, or just come back to it again and again to get ideas for your own reading journey. I will most likely come back and add in other biographies and update as I read them but that will be a life long process.

I hope you find this helpful. Feel free to share and reference as needed. I did the hard work so you don’t have to. Feel free to comment below, let me know if you have any questions or have read some of these titles or others.

1. George Washington

Washington – Ron Chernow

When it comes to choosing a biography of our first president, there are so many options to choose from. I chose Chernow’s Washington after hearing so many good things about it. It is over 1,000 pages but well worth the effort to get to know the first President of the United States. This book is really what I used to judge all other biographies by. I also plan to read His Excellency by Joseph Ellis in the future and have heard good things about it. This one is around 275 pages and may be more approachable to those just getting started.

2. John Adams

John Adams – David McCullough

I watched the miniseries on Adams based on McCullough’s book years ago and loved it. This was my first McCullough book and it did not disappoint. Many consider McCullough to be one of the greatest historical writers and this book keeps you well engaged. Adams is a very interesting character and his life was fascinating.

3. Thomas Jefferson

The Art of Power – Jon Meacham

Jefferson is another President who has been well written about. He has recently become more controversial due to his relationship with Sally Hemmings but Meacham does an excellent job of portraying Jefferson and his relationship to power. This is a must read for any presidential historian.

4. James Madison

The Three Lives of James Madison – Noah Feldman

James Madison is one of the lesser-known members of the founding fathers. I quickly became fascinated with Madison, who was a genius when it came to establishing a government. He wrote most of the Constitution and was forced to leave the White House as it was burned by the British in the War of 1812. His life is less exciting than some of the other founding fathers but this book was engaging.

5. James Monroe

James Monroe – Tim McGrath

Monroe is also a lesser-known founding father but McGrath does a good job of recounting his life and keeping the story engaging.

6. John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life – Paul Nagel

John Quincy Adams was another lesser-known figure in our history but lived a fascinating life as the first son of a former President to be elected to the highest office. His presidency was fairly dull but the rest of his life is fascinating.

7. Andrew Jackson

The Life of Andrew Jackson – Robert Remini

The book that I chose was an abridged version to the Remini series on Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson was definitely one of the more interesting presidents that have led our country. He was very popular but very controversial. Either loved or hated. His life would make for a very interesting movie. This biography reads like an abridged version to a longer series. It is fast paced and keeps moving along. I have not read American Lion by Jon Meacham but have it and plan to read it in the future. I have heard good things.

8. Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren – Ted Widmer – American Presidents Series

This was the first biography I read as a part of the small series called The American Presidents Series. These were written by different historians to give condensed accounts (less than 200 pages) for each president. It was difficult to find biographies that were affordable and non-biased on some of the lesser-known presidents, so I went with the American Presidents series. Van Buren was actually a fascinating person and I would love to see an updated biography of him.

9. William Henry Harrison

Mr Jefferson’s Hammer – Robert Owens

William Henry Harrison served one month as President prior to his death after catching pneumonia from walking in the rain and not changing clothes. Old Tippecanoe was famous for his military career which included a battle against Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe. I found this book to be rather dry and was difficult to get through. I chose it due to price as others were out of print and expensive.

10. John Tyler

President Without a Party – Christopher Leahy

Christopher Leahy’s biography came out just recently and has given new life to John Tyler. He was vice president under William Henry Harrison and was thrust into the presidency. The death of William Henry Harrison created a bit of a crisis as there was no protocol for succession following the death of a President. Tyler helped with the transition and really helped lay the ground work for our more modern system in the event of a death of a president. Tyler eventually sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War, forever tarnishing his legacy.

11. James K. Polk

A Country of Vast Designs – Robert Merry

James Polk is one of the lesser-known presidents but played a key role in adding a significant portion of the country during his single term. He led the US into the Mexican American war and then added Texas and Oregon territory. Merry does a good job of making this period of history come to life through the lens of James Polk.

12. Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor – John S. D. Eisenhower – American Presidents Series

Famous for his role in the Mexican-American War he rose to the Presidency riding the coat tails of his military fame. He died 16 months into his term as president and was replaced by Millard Fillmore. I went with the American Presidents Series on this one which was manageable at just under 200 pages.

13. Millard Fillmore

Millard Fillmore – Robert Rayback

Fillmore became president following the death of Zachary Taylor and finished out his term. Fillmore was the last president from the Whig party. He signed the Compromise of 1850 into law which included the Fugitive Slave Act requiring citizens from free states to return escaped slaves to their owners. Rayback does a good job with this little-known president.

14. Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce – Michael Holt – American Presidents Series

This was one of the shortest biographies that I read at 176 pages and I went with the American Presidents Series on this one as well. Pierce also fought in the Mexican-American war serving as a brigadier general. Pierce signed into law the Kansas-Nebraska Act that allowed territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery.

15. James Buchanan

James Buchanan – Jean Baker – American Presidents Series

Buchanan is criticized for preventing (or mostly ignoring) rising tensions between the North and the South that eventually led to the Civil War. He believed slavery was a constitutional issue that should be left to the states. He did nothing after southern states began seceding from the Union following Lincoln’s election. I went with American Presidents Series on this one as well.

16. Abraham Lincoln

A. Lincoln – Ronald C. White and Lincoln – David Herbert Donald

Other than Jesus, nobody is better written about than Lincoln, so choosing a biography is not difficult. I first listened to Lincoln by David Herbert Donald and have to admit, this not only was difficult but also lit the fuse that started my presidential reading project. I was so lost in the time period and characters, that I decided to go back to the beginning and start with Washington. A. Lincoln by Ronald White is what I read when the time came to pick up Lincoln as I went through this project. White did a masterful job of covering Lincoln from his humble beginnings to his eventual assassination. I plan to read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals in the future as I have heard great things and love her writing. But for this project, I chose a more cradle to grave biography.

17. Andrew Johnson

Impeached – David Stewart

This book was one of my least favorite of the project as it was full of details and characters from Congress as Andrew Johnson’s impeachment process was going on. This book heavily focuses on this aspect of his life and Andrew Johnson was not a very likeable figure. This was a bit of a slog to get through, especially following Lincoln.

18. Ulysses Grant

Grant – Ron Chernow

Grant has long been seen through the eyes of history as an alcoholic and known for all of the scandals that happened during his two terms. Most widely known for his leadership during the Civil War, Grant lived a fascinating life. Chernow is masterful in his approach to Grant and spends a good amount of time on his humble beginnings, multiple business failures, and eventually rise to General during the Civil War. Grant is a complex character and Chernow is very objective in his approach to his legacy. This one is a must read despite the length. Reads like a novel.

19. Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes – Hans Trefousse – American Presidents Series

I went with American Presidents Series for Hayes again due to lack of good definitive biographies. This is a rough stretch of history minus Lincoln and Grant so the smaller biographies helped me to stay the course. Hayes really ended the Reconstruction period following the Civil War and the return of the Confederate States to the union. Following the controversy during his election, Hayes went on to serve one term. His reconstruction efforts led to the eventual rise of Jim Crow laws in the south.

20. James Garfield

Destiny of the Republic – Candace Millard

This was one of the few biographies that I read that was not a true biography but mostly an account of his life and his assassination and poor medical care that led to his death. Had Garfield lived, he may have become one of the better Presidents of his era but his untimely death leaves his legacy short. Garfield was an advocate for civil rights. He was assassinated by a would-be office seeker after being shot on a train. The tragedy is that he could have easily survived given proper medical treatment but the doctors who treated him, caused his eventual death. Millard is a great story teller and this one keeps you wanting to see how the story goes.

21. Chester A Arthur

Chester Alan Arthur – Zachary Karabell – American Presidents Series

The story of Chester Arthur is a fascinating one. He became president following Garfield’s assassination and death. He was notorious as a political puppet; he cut ties with his party and went on to become an advocate for civil service reform. I went with the American Presidents Series again here and did not feel that I missed a lot by going with a shorter bio.

22. Grover Cleveland

A Man of Iron – Troy Senik

The only President (until Trump recently) to serve two non-consecutive terms. Released just in time for my reading project in 2023 Senik does a great job of telling the story of this fascinating former President. This is a fairly short biography at 392 pages. Mayor of Buffalo, governor of New York in 1882, Grover became the first Democratic President following the Civil War. Famous for the number of vetoes of bills he was nicknamed the “Veto President.” He was an advocate for limited federal government. He lost his wife and was remarried to the much younger Frances Folsom, 21. The only president to marry in the White House.

23. Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison – Charles Calhoun – American Presidents Series

I went with American Presidents Series on this one as well. His grandfather, William Henry Harrison was a former president and his great-grandfather signed the Declaration of Independence. He defeated Cleveland in the 1888 election despite losing the popular vote. He oversaw the admission of 6 new states. He was known for his high tariffs which partly lead to his defeat to Cleveland in 1892.

25. William McKinley

President McKinley – Robert Merry

McKinley is another president that would be perhaps more well known if it weren’t for his assassination in 1901 and lead to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt. McKinley was a great speaker and lead the US through the Spanish-American War in 1898. He was assassinated on September 6, 1901 leading to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.

26. Theodore Roosevelt

T. R. – HW Brands and Edmund Morris Trilogy

I had read Edmund Morris’ trilogy The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Rex, and Colonel Roosevelt several years ago, and they have stuck with me since. It may be 2,500 pages long, but it reads like a novel. Teddy lived such an incredible life, there is a reason he is so famous. To get the full effect of his life, you have to go with Edmund Morris’ books. I read T. R. by HW Brands as part of this reading project and it was good as well. I have also heard good things about David McCullough’s Mornings on Horseback. There are no shortages of good books about this incredible man.

27. William Howard Taft

The Bully Pulpit – Doris Kearns Goodwin

For Taft, I went with Doris Kearns Goodwin The Bully Pulpit. This is not a true Taft biography as it covers Teddy Roosevelt, Taft, and their relationship with the media, but it does include enough on Taft to be serviceable. I really just wanted to read Goodwin’s book so I chose this one. It is so good and you will not be disappointed.

28. Woodrow Wilson

Wilson – A. Scott Berg

Woodrow Wilson was the president of Princeton University and a professor prior to his rise to the presidency. His rise can be attributed in part to the rift between Teddy Roosevelt and Taft. Wilson was President during WWI and was considered by many to be a stuffy man. He almost single handedly organized the League of Nations and issued his Fourteen Points for post war peace. He had a stroke in October 1919 and had intended to serve a third term but was mostly left an invalid. His wife and others successfully covered up how impaired he was until after he left office. Berg does a great job and keeps the reader engaged throughout the book.

29. Warren G. Harding

Warren G. Harding – John W. Dean – American Presidents Series

Harding is another President who died in office after suffering a heart attack while campaigning. Harding was a popular president and it was not until after his death that many scandals of his administration hit the press. Dean does a quick job of laying out Harding’s life in this short read.

30. Calvin Coolidge

Coolidge – Amity Shlaes

I read this book during our trip back from Washington D.C. and could not put it down. Shlaes does a great job with this lesser-known president who was known for his conservatism and advocating for little to no federal involvement in the economy and other areas. This book made this quiet, conservative man come to life and kept me engaged. Highly recommend.

31. Herbert Hoover

Hoover – Kenneth White

White’s book just barely missed my top 10 Presidential Biographies. Hoover has a bad reputation in history due to his poor handling at the start of the Great Depression. Hoover towns popped up around the country of homeless people living in tents due to the economic challenges. Hoover also played a huge role after WWI and WWII of helping Europe to recover from the devastation from the two wars. He was in the right place at the right time with the right connections to help millions in need. This is a must read.

32. Franklin Delano Roosevelt

No Ordinary Time – Doris Kearns Goodwin

FDR is typically ranked among the greatest Presidents of all time thanks to his work during WWII and the Great Depression. Elected to 4 terms, he is the reason we have term limits. The world changed drastically during these years and FDR helped to usher the US into becoming the super power in the world. He was masterful in his role as president but was a very complicated man. His marriage included many affairs and his wife became one of the most famous women in the world. This is not a true cradle to grave biography but Goodwin is excellent in her writing and lays out FDR as a complicated but very likeable man.

33. Harry S Truman

Truman – David McCullough

Thanks to McCullough’s book, Truman went from a President I knew very little about, to one of my favorites. Known as the President who dropped the Atomic Bomb to end WWII, Truman was a strong-willed man who stuck to his guns. McCullough makes these 1,100 pages fly by and I was left wanting more at the end. Truman became a truly likeable man for me and ranks near the top of my favorites. This one is also a must read.

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower In War and Peace – Jean Edward Smith

Jean Edward Smith has written a number of Presidential biographies and this one is my favorite of his. Eisenhower is best known as President and Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in WWII. Eisenhower was a military man through and through and provided a stable force of leadership throughout the war and his two terms as President. Truman even offered to step down and serve as Eisenhower’s VP after Truman served out his first term as President. Nobody knew Eisenhower’s politics or if he were a Democrat or Republican. He ran and served as a moderate Republican. This book is a must read.

35. John F. Kennedy

An Unfinished Life – Robert Dallek

Our country has had a fascination with JFK since his rise to power and his untimely death. His allure, good looks, and charisma captivated Americans. His untimely death (while I did not live through it) continues to shock us to this day. As I read through his life, I was devastated reading through his death at the end. Dallek gives a great account of this mysterious president and provides plenty of detail while avoiding going into the weeds.

36. Lyndon B. Johnson

Robert Caro series and Lyndon B. Johnson – Robert Dallek

I spent months eyeing Robert Caro’s Year’s of Lyndon Johnson series and went back and forth on whether I would invest the time to read all 4 volumes. I finally decided if Caro can spend a lifetime writing and researching about the guy, I can take the time to read his work. I was surely not disappointed. I read the 4 volumes (over 2,500 pages) over 2 months and felt enthralled most of the time in the life of such a complicated man. The Caro series (he is working on the 5^th volume) covers his life up to the early months of his presidency. I decided to read Dallek’s single volume (abridged) series to complete LBJ’s life through his death. This gave me a good balance and allowed me to catch up in history with Nixon’s inauguration. The Dallek book gives a good but condensed account of his life if that is what you are looking for.

37. Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon – John A. Farrell

Perhaps the most controversial president of all time after the Watergate scandal and his eventual resignation. Nixon was a born politician and rose to prominence through mastery, personality, and perhaps a little paranoia. As US Representative, US Senator, Vice President under Eisenhower, and eventual President, Nixon was a prominent voice for the Republican party. His eventual pardon by Gerald Ford helped to save some of his legacy but he is a complex character. Farrell does a wonderful, balanced job of laying out the complicated life of Nixon.

38. Gerald Ford

An Ordinary Man – Richard Norton Smith

Gerald Ford stood out to me as a very good man. Which was perfect timing as the country had lost faith in the government following the Watergate scandal and Richard Nixon’s resignation. This biography came out just in time for my reading plan and fit nicely into the hole that was Gerald Ford biographies. This book was perhaps a tad too long but was engaging and gives a good picture of Ford and his place in history.

39. Jimmy Carter

His Very Best – Jonathan Alter

Most of Jimmy Carter’s legacy has come since he left office. As the oldest living former president, he has a legacy of his faith, as an author and as a humanitarian. His rise to the presidency was rapid, unexpected, and probably a product of the times following Nixon and LBJ. Alter does a great job capturing this mysterious man, who is hard to pin down.

40. Ronald Reagan

Reagan – Bob Spitz

Ronald Reagan was a well-known actor prior to his political rise. He is in many ways the father of modern conservatism of the Republican party. He was and continues to be a popular president but his presidency was not without scandal. Spitz does a good job of capturing this modern presidential star and this is the only biography of Reagan that I have read but there are no shortage of options. I have heard great things about the most recent biography of Reagan, Reagan: His Life and Legend by Max Boot.

41. George HW Bush

Destiny and Power – Jon Meacham

George HW Bush only served one term as President after losing to Clinton in the 1991 election. He was truly the last President that I read of the older WWII era of heroes. Meacham does a great job of laying out Bush as an honorable man who did not accomplish much during his 4 years in office. He was overconfident going into the 1991 election and did not understand the changing of the tide in America. This book does a great job of helping understanding a good man and leaves you with a balanced but warm account of #41.

42. Bill Clinton

First In His Class – David Maraniss and The Survivor – John F. Harris

It is too early for history to judge Clinton at this time and there is no definitive full-length biography of Clinton as of this writing. I chose to mix and match on this one and I am glad I did. Maraniss and Harris’s books complement each other well and left me with a better view of this controversial and still very much alive and politically involved former President.

43. George W. Bush

Bush – Jean Edward Smith

George W. Bush is a familiar president to many Americans given his recent status as President. Mostly known for his response to 9/11 and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, he is a somewhat controversial figure. That is why Jean Edward Smith’s biography of him is so shocking. Smith gives a very biased account with many criticisms and is truly one of the most biased biographies that I read. It is really too early to judge Bush’s legacy but Smith certainly attempts in this biography. I have mostly fond memories of Bush and this shifted some of my views of his legacy but also made me want to quit several times due to Smith’s biases being blatant.

After spending the past few years reading through a biography of every US President in chronological order, I do plan to switch gears a bit and include many more genres of books. I hope you will stick with me for what is to come! I am excited for a new chapter that will still include plenty of US history along with classic literature and Christian books. Thanks for reading!

Thank you for taking the time to read through what I am reading and thinking about. If you have gotten any value out of the community of readers and deep thinkers and would like to support my work, consider signing up for paid option to support the work.

This post is a continuation of my presidential reading series. If you haven’t read the other articles in this series. Check out these posts:

My Journey Through the Presidents

My Top 10 Presidential Biographies

How To Succeed in Reading Through a Biography of Every US President

My Tips on Choosing a Good Biography