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130th out of 188 books
—
38 voters
James Madison (The American Presidents #4)
A bestselling historian examines the life of a Founding Father.
Renowned historian and social commentator Garry Wills takes a fresh look at the life of James Madison, from his rise to prominence in the colonies through his role in the creation of the Articles of Confederation and the first Constitutional Congress.
Madison oversaw the first foreign war under the constitution...more
Renowned historian and social commentator Garry Wills takes a fresh look at the life of James Madison, from his rise to prominence in the colonies through his role in the creation of the Articles of Confederation and the first Constitutional Congress.
Madison oversaw the first foreign war under the constitution...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
April 2nd 2002
by Times Books
(first published January 1st 2002)
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James Madison goes forgotten in most circles. Countless friends inquire how my Presidential Biography Project is going, and when I mention the name of our fourth president, many had no idea who he was, much less know anything else about him. I don't say that to shame anyone, for my knowledge of the man was limited to the 10 minute documentaries History Channel plays during President's Day. In my readings of his three predecessors, I have obtained a fairly general vantage into his life, particula...more
Another Wills Gem
Garry Wills is fast becoming a favorite Historian and Author to me.
As is his habit, he brings his pithy and rich style to an examination of Madison's Presidency which in many ways was decidedly less successful than his stellar legislative and constitutional achievements. Rather than stating surprise at this, as many historians do, Wills outlines why this outcome was somewhat predictable when the skills of Madison early on are examined dispassionately. Madison was a superb legisl...more
Garry Wills is fast becoming a favorite Historian and Author to me.
As is his habit, he brings his pithy and rich style to an examination of Madison's Presidency which in many ways was decidedly less successful than his stellar legislative and constitutional achievements. Rather than stating surprise at this, as many historians do, Wills outlines why this outcome was somewhat predictable when the skills of Madison early on are examined dispassionately. Madison was a superb legisl...more
Garry Wills, eminent author on the American mind, writes a literate and compelling political biography of James Madison, "Jemmy" as he was called earlier in his life. Here was someone whose resume seems made to become president. Yet this man, "the Father of the Constitution," was not near the success that one might have guessed from his background.
His pedigree includes: key figure in the Constitutional Convention--from getting George Washington to attend (a coup) to helping structure the agenda...more
His pedigree includes: key figure in the Constitutional Convention--from getting George Washington to attend (a coup) to helping structure the agenda...more
This short biography of James Madison focuses on his time as president of the United States – imagine a biography of Miguel de Cervantes focusing on his time as a soldier in a Spanish Navy infantry regiment.
James Madison was a great theorist, extraordinary writer, cunning politician and an effective legislator – but as president he was simply “good”. Madison was never counted as one of the great presidents and author Garry Wills acknowledges as such in the opening of the book. As a matter of a c...more
James Madison was a great theorist, extraordinary writer, cunning politician and an effective legislator – but as president he was simply “good”. Madison was never counted as one of the great presidents and author Garry Wills acknowledges as such in the opening of the book. As a matter of a c...more
This biography, James Madison, wasn't quite what I was expecting. It focuses primarily on Madison's time as president, while I was hoping for more coverage on the other accomplishments he achieved during his life.
It was very interesting to learn that Madison, despite not accomplishing any of the goals he set forth at the beginning of the War of 1812, was able to bring the country together by basically abandoning his Republican principles during the war. It sounds like Madison was wildly popular...more
It was very interesting to learn that Madison, despite not accomplishing any of the goals he set forth at the beginning of the War of 1812, was able to bring the country together by basically abandoning his Republican principles during the war. It sounds like Madison was wildly popular...more
I'm a great fan of Garry Wills, but I was a little disappointed with this book. It's part of a series of short biographies of the presidents, and as such didn't really have room for all of Madison's accomplishments (you know, writing the Constitution and all that), but Wills states at the beginning that he's interested in one particular question: how a man of such talent could have had such an undistinguished presidency.
And then he discusses those aspects of Madison's life that have a direct bea...more
And then he discusses those aspects of Madison's life that have a direct bea...more
James Madison is the picture perfect Presidential flip-flopper, but in many ways this was because he grew as a person through his years in politics. He wasn't the best President and many of his own actions were the cause of his lackluster Presidency. He had a few obsessions that he would not let go no matter how many times they failed or floundered. For example, a trade embargo that wasn't influential in forcing the desired outcome yet he would not give it up. His cabinet was full of sparing pol...more
This biography is a good primer to the fourth President - the first president who really came to the nation-building cause after the whole treason thing had passed.
James Madison is a bit of a conundrum - a great committeeman but not that strong or independent a leader. He can be considered personally responsible for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc., but he went on to build a nepotistic (and fraudulent) cabinet, managed to let the British burn down Washington, and was the ultimate flip...more
James Madison is a bit of a conundrum - a great committeeman but not that strong or independent a leader. He can be considered personally responsible for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc., but he went on to build a nepotistic (and fraudulent) cabinet, managed to let the British burn down Washington, and was the ultimate flip...more
After finishing the very good book in this series on Chester Arthur, I decided to try the book on James Madison next, who is one of my two favorite Founding Fathers along with Jefferson. Unfortunately I was disappointed in this entry; I learned a few things, but there wasn't anything very memorable about it, and Madison's writer didn't bring him and his peers to life the same way Arthur's did. I'll have to look around some more for a good Madison bio.
An interesting book, Wills sheds light on a more obscured president. Madison's time as a legislator is well documented and interesting. It also brings interesting tones to the presidencies of Washington and Jefferson.
The part on the War of 1812 is interesting, specially as the description of the war is neither biased toward the American or British point of view.
Easy read, good entry into the history of James Madison.
The part on the War of 1812 is interesting, specially as the description of the war is neither biased toward the American or British point of view.
Easy read, good entry into the history of James Madison.
Very good, solid biography of Madison. I like the premise that Wills begins the biography with and crafts it around from beginning to end -- that Madison had his flaws but that they could be understood as strengths in some of his more admirable moments (crafting the Constitution, aiding in writing the Federalist Papers, pushing the Bill of Rights through Congress, etc.). Very well done and highly recommended book.
As part of my ongoing project to read a biography of every president I progressed from Jefferson to Madison. Madison quite frankly wasn't our most interesting or effective president. The War of 1812 seemed to be a debacle from the start and the book itself was a little too text-book like. Oh well. On to Monroe!
This is a rather brief book that is useful for getting some context about the Madison presidency, but is a lot less biographical than it ought to be. One does not get much of a sense of the man or even of his presidency (aside from the fact that it was somewhat dysfunctional).
Most of the discussion is understandably focused on the War of 1812, but in so doing the focus is less on the President at war as it is simply on the war itself. Indeed, there are some relatively lengthy segments that descr...more
Most of the discussion is understandably focused on the War of 1812, but in so doing the focus is less on the President at war as it is simply on the war itself. Indeed, there are some relatively lengthy segments that descr...more
I enjoyed this exposition, but I was disappointed there was not more detail about Madison the man and president.
While I understand that you cannot divorce the presidency of Madison from the War of 1812, the book was more about the war and its prosecution under (for the most part) inept and incompetent commanders. This was great military history; but I wanted to read a biography of James Madison.
That said, I did enjoy this book. Wills is a fantastic writer and has a great narrative style. His bo...more
While I understand that you cannot divorce the presidency of Madison from the War of 1812, the book was more about the war and its prosecution under (for the most part) inept and incompetent commanders. This was great military history; but I wanted to read a biography of James Madison.
That said, I did enjoy this book. Wills is a fantastic writer and has a great narrative style. His bo...more
I learned a lot about our 4th President by reading this book. I'm not too impressed about his accomplishments as President, but he certainly wasn't our worst President either, but a long shot!
This is a cliff notes version of a fascinating man. This book is perfect for a fourth grade book report, but for me it felt like cheating. I'm trying to read a book about every dead president and this did not make the grade. I do have to hand it to Madison for the notion of the separation of church and state or chasing Patrick Henry away, but this book just does not cut it.
Nov 30, 2010
Heather
added it
Eh--- a little light on human interest details of his life and a little too contrived and interpreted. Doesn't let the reader think for themselves and tie together events.
focusing primarily on madison's presidency the author's contention is that he was a brilliant legislator/behind the scenes operator who kinda Peter Principled himself into the executive spot.
If you want to feel more hopeful about politics in America right now, just read about how ridiculous things were 200 years ago. We've come a long way.
This was a good overview of Madison. I didn't know much about him before and now I have a good basic knowledge of contributions besides him being the Father of the Constitution.
Short read, read in less then a 24 hour period. I nice introduciton to the 4th president, mainly concentrating on his efforts during the constitution convention and his actions leading up and druing the war or 1812. Very little on his early or late life.
It's pretty bad. I got more info on Madison by reading Hamilton and Jefferson's biographies.
Aug 11, 2011
Bob Dietz
added it
What did I learn from this book? That Garry Wills hates James Madison.
I didn't enjoy this book. Felt like a chore to get through.
A not very favorable review of Madison as president
Jul 28, 2011
Homer H Blass
is currently reading it
Interesting for views of both Madison and of Wills
surprisingly ineffective as president
short and very informative.
Mar 13, 2009
April
marked it as to-read
Not going to happen.. at least not at this point in time.
This wasn't so much a biography of the man as it was an outline of his policies, which was really disappointing. After reading this book, I still feel like I know next to nothing about James Madison.
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Garry Wills is an author and historian, and a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books. In 1993, he won a Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction for his book Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America, which describes the background and effect of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.
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Jan 26, 2009 09:49am