A bestselling historian examines the life of a Founding Father.
Renowned historian and social commentator Garry Wills takes a fresh look at... read full description
Renowned historian and social commentator Garry Wills takes a fresh look at... read full description
reviews
Aug 16, 2009
Steven
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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) More...
His pedigree includes: key figure in the Constitutional Convention--from getting George Washington to attend (a coup) More...
Jul 13, 2010
Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com
rated it: 
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 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 More...
Feb 07, 2012
Mr.
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Wills really has his knives out for Jefferson. He paints Hamilton in a rather heroic light. He seems to believe the musical 1776 is about the Constitutional Convention rather than the Second Continental Congress (p. 26); he also declares this musical "delightful" (ibid.). These quirks aside, this is a pretty absorbing book. A lot of prior knowledge is assumed in the early chapters, which rush through the highlights of Madison's career before the presidency, including a highly compresse
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Nov 10, 2011
Jennie
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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
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Jul 07, 2009
Kierstin
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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 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 More...
Feb 21, 2010
David
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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 narrativ 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 narrativ More...
Sep 17, 2009
Jim
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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.
Oct 04, 2010
Jerry
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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.
Jan 25, 2009
Alan
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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!
Jul 29, 2008
Steven
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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 segme 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 segme More...
Sep 23, 2010
Brian
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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!
Dec 28, 2009
Jessica
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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
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.
Apr 24, 2010
William J.
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A balanced overview of Madison's career, but not Wills' best writing as he displays a certain ambivalence regarding Madison throughout his text. This may be valid but it leaves the reader somewhat unsatisfied in the end.
May 07, 2010
David
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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.
Feb 13, 2010
Brian
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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.
Oct 25, 2009
Tobi
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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.
Aug 06, 2011
Michael
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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.
Mar 15, 2010
Bruce
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It's pretty bad. I got more info on Madison by reading Hamilton and Jefferson's biographies.
Jan 03, 2011
Melanie
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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.
May 10, 2010
Jennifer
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Garry Wills has produced a short, at times dry, little sketch of James Madison, mainly focusing on the presidency and the political culture of the time. Amid the dustiness, though, there were some very brilliant gem-like observations of and insights into James Madison’s personality and character. He takes a somewhat critical view of Madison’s presidency but pays tribute to brilliance of this man’s writing and thinking skills.
Aug 07, 2010
Bryan
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James Madison was a brilliant founding father, commonly known as the "Father of the Constitution". However, as President, he had his struggles. He was more well liked after his term in office. Good read by Garry Wills, but a little heavy at times.
Jul 03, 2011
Bob
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Gary Wills knows how to write. In this short biography, he asks a simple question: how did a brilliant theorist and legislator become a lackluster president? The answer lies as much in the roles as in the man and is heavily informed by circumstance. Much to Wills' credit, he also demonstrates that the clarity of the poles he posits are not so clear, after all.
Dec 30, 2009
James
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I love The American Presidents series but this one, which is often comprised of long passages taken directly from Madison's own writing, is proving a difficult read. I'm about 50 pages into and just getting to where Madison enters into public service. Hopefully things will lighten up a bit.
