Short presidential biographies

  • Famous presidential biographers

    • Best Presidential Biographies

    Years ago my colleague, Michael Waldron, and I decided to read at least one biography of every U.S. president. We started before we met and made mostly independent choices on which books to read. We finally got through all the Presidents and compared notes to create a best presidential biographies reading list. If we read different books, I start with Michael&#;s notes, then mine, and give you our verdict.

    George Washington

    MW: Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. I enjoyed the biography. I&#;m confident Chernow does his research and produces a comprehensive work.

    SA: Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner. A single volume distillation of Flexner&#;s definitive four-volume biography provides a dated but then definitive overview of Washington. I liked it. When Chernow&#;s book came out, I ended up reading it too.

    Verdict: Chernow&#;s book. More recent and detailed.

    John Adams

    John Adamsby David McCullough. A great storyteller bringing to life an important founding father and American family.

    Thomas Jefferson

    Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meachem. A very good biography that we both enjoyed more than others we read about Jefferson.

    MW also read Thomas Jefferson & the New Nation by Merrill Peterson. In his view, it&#;s a long and pedantic biography on a character who lived an extremely interesting life. I disliked Jefferson as a President and believe he&#;s significantly overrated. At the same point, I respect his real accomplishments and genius.

    SA also read American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson and enjoyed it although not as much as Meachem&#;s book. Jefferson had one excellent term and one mediocre one, and while severely flawed had a major impact as a founding father.

    James Madison

    MW: The Fourth President: A Life of James Madison by Irving Brant. Brant wrote 6 volumes on Madison covering in detail his time during the American Revolution, the

    My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies

    George Washington:Washington: A Life () by Ron ChernowREVIEW (5 stars)Washington: The Indispensable Man () by James FlexnerREVIEW (4 stars)His Excellency: George Washington () by Joseph EllisREVIEW (4 stars)Washington by Douglas Southall Freeman (Richard Harwell&#;s abridgment)REVIEW (3 stars)The Ascent of George Washington () by John FerlingREVIEW (3 stars)Patriarch: George Washington and the New American Nation () by Richard Norton SmithREVIEW (3 stars)James Flexner&#;s four-volume series:George Washington: The Forge of Experience  ()REVIEW (3¾ stars)George Washington in the American Revolution  ()REVIEW (4½ stars)George Washington and the New Nation  ()REVIEW (4½ stars)George Washington: Anguish and Farewell  ()REVIEW (4½ stars)***SUMMARY REVIEW: The Best Biographies of George Washington***Follow-Up:George Washington: A Biography by Washington Irving (Charles Neider’s abridgment of 5-volume series)John Adams:John Adams: A Life () by John FerlingREVIEW (4¾ stars)John Adams () by David McCulloughREVIEW (4½ stars)John Adams () (2 volumes) () by Page SmithREVIEW (4½ stars)First Family: Abigail and John Adams () by Joseph EllisREVIEW (4¼ stars)Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of  () by John FerlingREVIEW (4 stars)Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams () by Joseph EllisREVIEW (3¾ stars)John Adams: Party of One () by James GrantREVIEW (3¾ stars)***SUMMARY REVIEW: The Best Biographies of John Adams***Follow-Up:Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson () by Gordon WoodThomas Jefferson:Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power () by Jon MeachamREVIEW (4½ stars)Jefferson: Architect of American Liberty () by John BolesREVIEW (4¼ stars)American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson () by Joseph EllisREVI
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