Potus Geeks Book Review: Mr. President-A Life of Benjamin Harrison by Ray Boomhower
Ray Boomhower's biography of President Benjamin Harrison is directed towards "a younger audience", but this should not deter any reader wanting to learn about the life of the 23rd President of the United States. The author follows his own advice and writes in a clear, concise, but informative and interesting style, taking history out of the realm of the pedantic, and placing it where it is accessible to everyone. He does so without omitting the important details about the life of his fellow Hoosier. Nor does he attempt to omit or sanitize any of the things that Harrison has been criticized for, including the subject's cold personality. This is intellectually honest history presented clearly and accurately and in a very readable style.
The author begins with an overview of Harrison's fascinating life from cradle to grave, before backtracking to devote chapters of the book to a closer look at the more interesting chapters of his subject's life. These include Harrison's career as a courageous Union officer in the Civil War, his rise from a junior lawyer to a political leader in the state he loved (Indiana), his nomination as his party's presidential candidate, two fascinating presidential elections, and Harrison's post-presidential life. He also presents a picture of Harrison's misunderstood personality, and also tells us things about his subject that even the geekiest of students of presidential history never knew. (For example, it seems that Millard Fillmore wasn't the only sitting President to join an effort to put out a non-metaphorical fire.)
A wonderful addition to this book is the inclusion of a terrific collection of pictures of Harrison and those relevant to his life story. Many of these are not generally published in Harrison biographies, and they add much to the story of Harrison's journey through American history.
It is a mistake to presume that this is a book that has been "dumbed down" for a target audience of school-aged kids. It is an engaging and enjoyable biography that readers of any age with an interest in presidential history can enjoy. Good presidential biographies don't always have to be doorstops, as Boomhower proves. This book is successful both in style and substance. Benjamin Harrison would approve.
The author begins with an overview of Harrison's fascinating life from cradle to grave, before backtracking to devote chapters of the book to a closer look at the more interesting chapters of his subject's life. These include Harrison's career as a courageous Union officer in the Civil War, his rise from a junior lawyer to a political leader in the state he loved (Indiana), his nomination as his party's presidential candidate, two fascinating presidential elections, and Harrison's post-presidential life. He also presents a picture of Harrison's misunderstood personality, and also tells us things about his subject that even the geekiest of students of presidential history never knew. (For example, it seems that Millard Fillmore wasn't the only sitting President to join an effort to put out a non-metaphorical fire.)
A wonderful addition to this book is the inclusion of a terrific collection of pictures of Harrison and those relevant to his life story. Many of these are not generally published in Harrison biographies, and they add much to the story of Harrison's journey through American history.
It is a mistake to presume that this is a book that has been "dumbed down" for a target audience of school-aged kids. It is an engaging and enjoyable biography that readers of any age with an interest in presidential history can enjoy. Good presidential biographies don't always have to be doorstops, as Boomhower proves. This book is successful both in style and substance. Benjamin Harrison would approve.