New Books for Potus Geeks Coming in 2017
2016 was a pretty good year for presidential biographies and other books of interest for 
potus_geeks, but 2017 looks even better. I'm especially stoked that at least one of my favorite authors has a new book scheduled to hit the bookshelves next year. Here a look at some of the new books due for release in 2017 that potus_geeks will want to watch for.
1. Lincoln's Pathfinder: John C. Fremont and the Violent Election of 1856: John Bicknell's previous book America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion, and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation (reviewed here) was excellent, among other reasons, for the fact that it was so comprehensive and yet so compact. It looked not only at the event that was the subject of its title, but also at what was happening in the nation at the time, making the reader feel as if he/she was living in that time. John Bicknell understands that history doesn't happen in a vacuum and that it is usually a chain reaction of a number of contemporary societal events. His new book promises to be about the most violent peacetime election in American history, one in which the new Republican Party, headed by famed explorer John C. Frémont, presented itself as the first major party dedicated to limiting the spread of slavery. It was also a time when women and African Americans became actively engaged in a presidential contest, with the candidate’s wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, playing a central role in both planning and executing strategy while being a public face of the campaign. I am especially looking forward to seeing how Bicknell portrays Frémont, because the famed explorer is portrayed by other historians in polar opposite fashions: either as a trailblazing adventurer possessed of noble abolitionist sentiments, or as a pain-in-the neck (or in other anatomical locations) for those who had to serve as his commander-in-chief. I can't wait for this one, both because of the excellent selection of a topic and the quality of the author's writing ability. This one is slated for release on June 1, 2017.
2. President McKinley by Robert W. Merry: I loved Robert Merry's book about James K. Polk entitled A Country of Vast Designs, and I also find William McKinley to be an underrated and interesting president, whose brilliance has only recently been appreciated. This combination of an interesting subject and a talented writer add to the promise of this book. It is billed as Merry's reconsideration of the presidential reputation of McKinley, which was overshadowed by his flamboyant successor Theodore Roosevelt. McKinley is described in the book's previews as "a chief executive of consequence whose low place in the presidential rankings does not reflect his enduring accomplishments and the stamp he put on the country’s future role in the world." I'm very much looking forward to this one, scheduled for release on September 5, 2017.
3. Obama: The Call of History by Peter Baker: While there will be many post-mortems written about the Presidency of Barack Obama, I am most looking forward to this one because of its author. In his previous book about the Bush administration entitled Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House(reviewed here in this community), New York Times writer Peter Baker displayed an exceptional ability to provide a dispassionate and objective analysis of a recent presidency, a rare ability in today's polarized political climate, and one I very much appreciate. The book is billed as a look at Obama’s achievements and disappointments in office and Baker promises to bring into focus the real legacy of the first African-American President, or as Obama describes himself, “doesn’t look like all the presidents on the dollar bills.” It also promises "vivid color photographs by New York Times photographers" and behind-the scenes information. This one goes on sale on April 18, 2017.
4. Richard Nixon: A Life by John A. Farrell: Due for release on March 28, 2017, this book begins with young Navy lieutenant Nixon returning from the Pacific and setting his sights on a seat in Congress. The book promises to focus on Nixon's transformation from to an unapologetic ruthless politician. A premise of the book is that Nixon had another legacy, that of his creation of an America divided and polarized. The author cites Nixon's role in the McCarthy era, his dividing Southern interests against Northern ones, and his creation of "the Silent Majority" to despise and distrust the country's elites. If this book delivers on even half of its promise, it will be a fascinating read indeed.
5. Bill Clinton (The American Presidents Series) by Michael Tomasky: Recent volumes of the American Presidents Series have been disappointing, as the editors either fail to appreciate the distinction between history and politics, or deliberately set out to add a political slant to their volumes. (The recent 2016 volume on Ronald Reagan is a good example of this; see our review of it here). It will be interesting to see what the editors do with Bill Clinton, a president of many contradictions and controversies. Clinton was one of the most talented politicians of his age, but he inspired enmity of such intensity from his opponents, aided by his personal character flaws. Tomasky promises to examine Clinton’s eight years in office, not only for their accomplishments, but for their times generally, a time of peace and prosperity, but also of social and political upheaval, and a time when culture wars grew ever more intense amid the rise of the Internet. This book is due for release next month on January 24, 2017.
6. A Third Term for FDR: The Election of 1940 by John Jeffries: This book is part of the wonderful American Presidential Elections series, published by the University of Kansas Press. These books offer a concise, but comprehensive analysis of some of the most fascinating electoral contests, and the 1940 election certainly is included in that group. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was seeking an unprecedented third term, and he was opposed by Wendell Willkie, a Wall Street populist businessman who had never held elected office of military rank. Roosevelt’s plan to pack the Supreme Court had failed, but he was still riding on the success of his New Deal which had hardened support and opposition among both parties. As the German advanced across Europe, along with Japanese aggression in Asia, fierce debate over America’s role in the world took place. Adding to all of this was FDR’s procrastination over whether to run again. This promises to be a good read and is due for release on March 3, 2017.
7. Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980 by Craig Shirley: Due out on March 24, 2017, Craig Shirley writes about Ronald Reagan’s astonishing rise from the ashes of his lost 1976 presidential bid to overwhelming victory in 1980. It describes how the former governor's political philosophy changed from angry anticommunism into a more reflective, thoughtful, hopeful, and more spiritual form of leadership, championing individual achievement and potential, and advocating for the defeat of Soviet communism. He describes how Reagan's appeal crossed party lines, offering insight into the development of Reagan’s optimistic philosophy.
8. The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency by Chris Whipple: Here's a new angle on books about the presidency, a look at their chiefs of staff. Due out on April 4, 2017, this book promises to be "the first in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the White House Chiefs of Staff, whose actions—and inactions—have defined the course of our country". It will look at men like Dick Cheney, Rahm Emanuel, Donald Rumsfeld, Leon Panetta, and other chiefs of staff, often referred to as "the gatekeepers," and the tremendous power they wield in Washington and beyond, deciding who is allowed to see the president. It will look at how they negotiate with Congress to push their president's agenda, and how they enjoy unparalleled access to the leader of the free world.
There are some other new books coming that I haven't yet seen any specific information on. The brilliant author Ron Chernow is working on a new biography of Ulysses Grant that is scheduled for possible release in the fall of 2017, and I'm also eagerly awaiting the best post mortems of the 2016 election, hopefully another by John Heileman and Mark Halperin. If anyone knows of any that they would recommend, please let me know.
2017 looks like it will be yet another good year of reading forpotus_geeks. Happy reading everyone!
potus_geeks, but 2017 looks even better. I'm especially stoked that at least one of my favorite authors has a new book scheduled to hit the bookshelves next year. Here a look at some of the new books due for release in 2017 that potus_geeks will want to watch for.1. Lincoln's Pathfinder: John C. Fremont and the Violent Election of 1856: John Bicknell's previous book America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion, and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation (reviewed here) was excellent, among other reasons, for the fact that it was so comprehensive and yet so compact. It looked not only at the event that was the subject of its title, but also at what was happening in the nation at the time, making the reader feel as if he/she was living in that time. John Bicknell understands that history doesn't happen in a vacuum and that it is usually a chain reaction of a number of contemporary societal events. His new book promises to be about the most violent peacetime election in American history, one in which the new Republican Party, headed by famed explorer John C. Frémont, presented itself as the first major party dedicated to limiting the spread of slavery. It was also a time when women and African Americans became actively engaged in a presidential contest, with the candidate’s wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, playing a central role in both planning and executing strategy while being a public face of the campaign. I am especially looking forward to seeing how Bicknell portrays Frémont, because the famed explorer is portrayed by other historians in polar opposite fashions: either as a trailblazing adventurer possessed of noble abolitionist sentiments, or as a pain-in-the neck (or in other anatomical locations) for those who had to serve as his commander-in-chief. I can't wait for this one, both because of the excellent selection of a topic and the quality of the author's writing ability. This one is slated for release on June 1, 2017.
2. President McKinley by Robert W. Merry: I loved Robert Merry's book about James K. Polk entitled A Country of Vast Designs, and I also find William McKinley to be an underrated and interesting president, whose brilliance has only recently been appreciated. This combination of an interesting subject and a talented writer add to the promise of this book. It is billed as Merry's reconsideration of the presidential reputation of McKinley, which was overshadowed by his flamboyant successor Theodore Roosevelt. McKinley is described in the book's previews as "a chief executive of consequence whose low place in the presidential rankings does not reflect his enduring accomplishments and the stamp he put on the country’s future role in the world." I'm very much looking forward to this one, scheduled for release on September 5, 2017.
3. Obama: The Call of History by Peter Baker: While there will be many post-mortems written about the Presidency of Barack Obama, I am most looking forward to this one because of its author. In his previous book about the Bush administration entitled Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House(reviewed here in this community), New York Times writer Peter Baker displayed an exceptional ability to provide a dispassionate and objective analysis of a recent presidency, a rare ability in today's polarized political climate, and one I very much appreciate. The book is billed as a look at Obama’s achievements and disappointments in office and Baker promises to bring into focus the real legacy of the first African-American President, or as Obama describes himself, “doesn’t look like all the presidents on the dollar bills.” It also promises "vivid color photographs by New York Times photographers" and behind-the scenes information. This one goes on sale on April 18, 2017.
4. Richard Nixon: A Life by John A. Farrell: Due for release on March 28, 2017, this book begins with young Navy lieutenant Nixon returning from the Pacific and setting his sights on a seat in Congress. The book promises to focus on Nixon's transformation from to an unapologetic ruthless politician. A premise of the book is that Nixon had another legacy, that of his creation of an America divided and polarized. The author cites Nixon's role in the McCarthy era, his dividing Southern interests against Northern ones, and his creation of "the Silent Majority" to despise and distrust the country's elites. If this book delivers on even half of its promise, it will be a fascinating read indeed.
5. Bill Clinton (The American Presidents Series) by Michael Tomasky: Recent volumes of the American Presidents Series have been disappointing, as the editors either fail to appreciate the distinction between history and politics, or deliberately set out to add a political slant to their volumes. (The recent 2016 volume on Ronald Reagan is a good example of this; see our review of it here). It will be interesting to see what the editors do with Bill Clinton, a president of many contradictions and controversies. Clinton was one of the most talented politicians of his age, but he inspired enmity of such intensity from his opponents, aided by his personal character flaws. Tomasky promises to examine Clinton’s eight years in office, not only for their accomplishments, but for their times generally, a time of peace and prosperity, but also of social and political upheaval, and a time when culture wars grew ever more intense amid the rise of the Internet. This book is due for release next month on January 24, 2017.
6. A Third Term for FDR: The Election of 1940 by John Jeffries: This book is part of the wonderful American Presidential Elections series, published by the University of Kansas Press. These books offer a concise, but comprehensive analysis of some of the most fascinating electoral contests, and the 1940 election certainly is included in that group. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was seeking an unprecedented third term, and he was opposed by Wendell Willkie, a Wall Street populist businessman who had never held elected office of military rank. Roosevelt’s plan to pack the Supreme Court had failed, but he was still riding on the success of his New Deal which had hardened support and opposition among both parties. As the German advanced across Europe, along with Japanese aggression in Asia, fierce debate over America’s role in the world took place. Adding to all of this was FDR’s procrastination over whether to run again. This promises to be a good read and is due for release on March 3, 2017.
7. Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980 by Craig Shirley: Due out on March 24, 2017, Craig Shirley writes about Ronald Reagan’s astonishing rise from the ashes of his lost 1976 presidential bid to overwhelming victory in 1980. It describes how the former governor's political philosophy changed from angry anticommunism into a more reflective, thoughtful, hopeful, and more spiritual form of leadership, championing individual achievement and potential, and advocating for the defeat of Soviet communism. He describes how Reagan's appeal crossed party lines, offering insight into the development of Reagan’s optimistic philosophy.
8. The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency by Chris Whipple: Here's a new angle on books about the presidency, a look at their chiefs of staff. Due out on April 4, 2017, this book promises to be "the first in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the White House Chiefs of Staff, whose actions—and inactions—have defined the course of our country". It will look at men like Dick Cheney, Rahm Emanuel, Donald Rumsfeld, Leon Panetta, and other chiefs of staff, often referred to as "the gatekeepers," and the tremendous power they wield in Washington and beyond, deciding who is allowed to see the president. It will look at how they negotiate with Congress to push their president's agenda, and how they enjoy unparalleled access to the leader of the free world.
There are some other new books coming that I haven't yet seen any specific information on. The brilliant author Ron Chernow is working on a new biography of Ulysses Grant that is scheduled for possible release in the fall of 2017, and I'm also eagerly awaiting the best post mortems of the 2016 election, hopefully another by John Heileman and Mark Halperin. If anyone knows of any that they would recommend, please let me know.
2017 looks like it will be yet another good year of reading for
potus_geeks. Happy reading everyone!