Listmania
In keeping with my dorky obsession with Presidential biographies, here's a Listmania list that I made for Amazon, listing some of the best presidential bios that I've read:
Best Presidential Biographies
A Listmania! list by Rule 62 Ken
Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America
1. Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter R. Borneman
The list author says:
"Detailed but not tedious, excellent biography of the most under-rated US President and the times he lived in."
2. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The list author says:
"Doris Kearns Goodwin's insightful and conversational story about a complicated, courageous and intelligent man"
3. Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands
The list author says:
"Fascinating bio of a volatile and patrician leader with a vision for his country."
4. Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
The list author says:
"The author captures the energy of the subject, and helps the reader to understand this driven man"
5. FDR by Jean Edward Smith
The list author says:
"Detailed and well-researched bio of FDR, very informative."
6. President James Buchanan a Biography by P. S. Klein
The list author says:
"Philip Klein writes an unbiased accounting of the life of the President villified for causing the Civil War."
7. An American Life: The Autobiography by Ronald Reagan
The list author says:
"The great communicator tells his own story."
8. Ulysses S. Grant: Soldier & President by Geoffrey Perret
The list author says:
"Tells the story of Grant the General and Grant the President, a fascinating human study."
9. John Tyler: The Accidental President by Edward P. Crapol
The list author says:
"Historically overlooked, this is an interesting account of a President swimming against the current of his tumes."
10. An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917 - 1963 by Robert Dallek
The list author says:
"The story of JFK retold with new insights."
11. President Nixon: Alone in the White House by Richard Reeves
The list author says:
"A fly-on-the-wall account of an insulated Presidency and a troubled soul."
12. The Path to Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro
The list author says:
"LBJ in the White House, as a bully, as a civil rights achiever and as the creator of American's entanglement in Vietnam."
13. John Adams by David McCullough
The list author says:
"Acclaimed telling of the story of a great patriot who never gained the appreciation he deserved."
14. His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
The list author says:
"The author uses historical sources to supplement the story of the life of this legendary leader."
In hindsight, some of these blurbs sound pretty lame. I think if I remade the list today I'd have some different choices for it. Perhaps I'll update it when I get a chance.
What are some Presidential bios that you'd recommend?
Best Presidential Biographies
A Listmania! list by Rule 62 Ken
Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America
1. Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter R. Borneman
The list author says:
"Detailed but not tedious, excellent biography of the most under-rated US President and the times he lived in."
2. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The list author says:
"Doris Kearns Goodwin's insightful and conversational story about a complicated, courageous and intelligent man"
3. Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times by H.W. Brands
The list author says:
"Fascinating bio of a volatile and patrician leader with a vision for his country."
4. Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
The list author says:
"The author captures the energy of the subject, and helps the reader to understand this driven man"
5. FDR by Jean Edward Smith
The list author says:
"Detailed and well-researched bio of FDR, very informative."
6. President James Buchanan a Biography by P. S. Klein
The list author says:
"Philip Klein writes an unbiased accounting of the life of the President villified for causing the Civil War."
7. An American Life: The Autobiography by Ronald Reagan
The list author says:
"The great communicator tells his own story."
8. Ulysses S. Grant: Soldier & President by Geoffrey Perret
The list author says:
"Tells the story of Grant the General and Grant the President, a fascinating human study."
9. John Tyler: The Accidental President by Edward P. Crapol
The list author says:
"Historically overlooked, this is an interesting account of a President swimming against the current of his tumes."
10. An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917 - 1963 by Robert Dallek
The list author says:
"The story of JFK retold with new insights."
11. President Nixon: Alone in the White House by Richard Reeves
The list author says:
"A fly-on-the-wall account of an insulated Presidency and a troubled soul."
12. The Path to Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro
The list author says:
"LBJ in the White House, as a bully, as a civil rights achiever and as the creator of American's entanglement in Vietnam."
13. John Adams by David McCullough
The list author says:
"Acclaimed telling of the story of a great patriot who never gained the appreciation he deserved."
14. His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
The list author says:
"The author uses historical sources to supplement the story of the life of this legendary leader."
In hindsight, some of these blurbs sound pretty lame. I think if I remade the list today I'd have some different choices for it. Perhaps I'll update it when I get a chance.
What are some Presidential bios that you'd recommend?