In his time, there was no more popular national figure than Theodore Roosevelt. It was not just the energy he brought to every political office he ...
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Jan 12, 2012
Jacob
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[Photo of Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars. Caption on photo says "IT'S A TRAP"]
I think I may be a glutton for punishment--bookwise, that is, and at least where nonfiction is concerned. I seem to be developing a habit of picking up interesting-looking books that later turn out to be bad, unreadable, or merely uninteresting. It happened with Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War": How Britain Lost its Empire and the West Lost the World by Patrick Buchana More...
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Sep 24, 2011
Murdock
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Feb 07, 2009
Jenifer
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"In his time there was no national figure more popular than Theodore Roosevelt. (Book Jacket)
There were nuggets of interest for me as I skimmed these 800 pages but it was just too meticulous for me.
On an extended safari Roosevelt killed "eight other lions, eight elephants, thirteen rhinoceroses, seven hippopotamuses, twenty zebra, seven giraffes, six buffalo and scores of lesser mammals, as well as dozens of birds, from ostriches (two) and great buzzards (four) More...
There were nuggets of interest for me as I skimmed these 800 pages but it was just too meticulous for me.
On an extended safari Roosevelt killed "eight other lions, eight elephants, thirteen rhinoceroses, seven hippopotamuses, twenty zebra, seven giraffes, six buffalo and scores of lesser mammals, as well as dozens of birds, from ostriches (two) and great buzzards (four) More...
Dec 09, 2009
Marty
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I really had no business reading this book. I had just started a new semester of grad school (hopefully my last), I currently have no prep period at school, and any spare time I have leftover I've been trying to catch up with my family. And yet, I saw this book at my parents and knew that I wanted to read it sometime, so I figured I would borrow it indefinitely until things started to slow down. From the moment I had it off the shelf, I guess it was inevitable that I couldn't resist taking a pee
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Jul 21, 2008
Chris
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Wow, it's pretty clear that Brands hates Roosevelt ... anything good that Roosevelt did is clearly an accident, and not because of anything Roosevelt believed in, or any skill that Roosevelt had. It definitely reads like a post-Watergate revisionist work, where no politician can have any good in him or her, that everything is done because of an ulterior motive, and that all politicians are hugely flawed, and one must emphasize their flaws and dismiss their strengths. That's Brands' interpretat
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May 04, 2011
Virginia
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This is my 26th presidential biography and is by far the best written and interesting. Holds ones attention and not full of minute detail of party politics. Gets to the essence of the man (truly an eogist) with antedotal writings taken from personal letters and books written by T R. The author respectfully makes fun of of some of T R's ways and at times surmises what he might have thought of a situation.
Sep 22, 2009
Eunice
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Engaging book about a fascinating American. TR advocated strenuously (everything he did was strenuous) for a strong US military and projecting US strength in the world. He famously split the Republican party in 1912, running (and losing) on the Progressive ticket as part of the tidal wave of the progressive movement that reached a high point with the presidency of his cousin FDR.
May 29, 2008
Kendra
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This book takes a close look at T.R.'s childhood and the events that shaped his life (including the loss of his father, 1st wife, and mother) through his term as president and during his time as a former president (attempting to regain the presidency). It gives equal weight to his political life, examining how his personality suited him for politics and the events occurring during his young adulthood that propelled him into politics. This is the first book I've read about T.R., but I think it
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Feb 10, 2011
Chris
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A great read that shows TR in a great light. Brands is the type of writer to leave absolutely nothing out. The book is completely full but Brands is still able to provide his readers with an opinion of Roosevelt that he comes to after immersing himself in the writings and life of TR. Great book, long...but good.
Jan 09, 2011
Devoreangmail.com
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TR is an extraordinary account of one of the most versatile figures in American hsitory - Theodore Roosevelt, and Brands engages the reader's interest from start to finish - all 897 pages. I give it five stars.
Sep 29, 2009
Zachary
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This was a solid, if not a little long, bio of TR. It seemed to get bogged down a little in the details, but was enjoyable nonetheless. Not quite in the same league as John Adams (or even Team of Rivals--so far).
Nov 23, 2008
Sera
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This tome is not for the timid - it is a beast, but worth every minute of it. The author provides a comprehensive view of TR's life. I think that Teddy was awesome, and this book gives him his justice.
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Oct 28, 2010
Craig
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I love Brands writing style, includes in the broad sweep of this fascinating man's life enough detail to make us feel that we knew him. I would love to sit down for a long dinner with Teddy.
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Apr 21, 2010
Rosenthal
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Roosevelt was certainly different than the Republican Party of his time. His ideas of government were not the ways of big business. The party elite never trusted him. This was nothing new but what was of great interest to me was the politics that were going on during his time. In many respects, one could close your eyes and see similarities to today.
Oct 01, 2009
Tony
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I can't get past Brands' treatment of the Brownsville incident. Compare Edmund Morris' version. I went back and re-read Brands and was horrified at his simplistic, close-minded recounting.
Jan 13, 2009
Vincent
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Dear Sirs and Madams,
If you are considering a biography not written by Mr. Brands, you are in the act of doing yourself a grave disservice.
N,
V
If you are considering a biography not written by Mr. Brands, you are in the act of doing yourself a grave disservice.
N,
V
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Jun 05, 2010
Marian
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Not particularly well written but very well researched and definitely comprehensive, this book probably just needed a better editor.
Feb 24, 2009
Bill
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Great book!! H.W. Brands really has a way of putting together a biography without it bogging one down in facts. I gained an increased understanding about Theodore Roosevelt I hadn't remembered after all the history classes I sat through in school. This was NOT a book that sang nothing but praises and left out the bad stuff. I felt that Mr. Brands was extremely honest and objective in his writing, allowing the reader to see the faults as well as the successes of this president. The next book
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Sep 08, 2008
Bill
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This was actually the regular paperback edition of this book, but I couldn't find it from the selection provided.
I thought this was a great book! H.W. Brands gives an extremely fair representation of one of our nations most colorful men and presidents. Before reading I knew only vague things about TR, recalled from the deep dark corners of my mind. I enjoyed the factual aspects of the book, but also the personal parts that gave me an opportunity to see why TR became the person he b More...
I thought this was a great book! H.W. Brands gives an extremely fair representation of one of our nations most colorful men and presidents. Before reading I knew only vague things about TR, recalled from the deep dark corners of my mind. I enjoyed the factual aspects of the book, but also the personal parts that gave me an opportunity to see why TR became the person he b More...
Sep 18, 2008
Jennie
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I thought Brands did a fantastic job of illustrating Roosevelt's forceful personality, especially with the anecdotes about TR's time on the ranch, and the excerpts from his letters to Alice, as well as in his dealings with the "bosses" who helped him get elected to his early public offices. Brands both humanizes and lionizes TR in this excellent book; and even though I may not have always agreed with TR's choices, I'm left with a great deal of admiration and respect for a man who poss
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Aug 08, 2008
Jared
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I wanted to start my TR research with the biggest book I could find (theory being it would cover everything). This book is a monster at 800 pages. There is much about TR that is compelling enough for the casual reader; that said I imagine it would be difficult for said average fan to plough through the whole work. I loved it. I devoured a few hundred pages at a time and then read something else for a week or so and got back to it.
Dec 31, 2011
Mitch
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This is an enjoyable and informative portrait of a great American President. Much of what is right and wrong about the American Presidency and the role of federal government today can be traced to TR. He was a proud imperialist and crusader for the middle class, the poor, and the environment. Even where I believe him to be wrong, I admire Roosevelt's commitment and his moral and physical courage.
Jul 05, 2010
I don't think I can finish this 800+ page monstrosity. It's getting awfully dull and I'm 250 pages in. I basically picked it up because I wanted to get a view of his childhood and time at Harvard.
Nov 18, 2010
Colleen
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this is the 1st Teddy Bio I've read, so I cannot compare it to others. At over 800 pages, I was still left feeling that I'd barely skimmed the surface. Would have liked more detail on his time in Africa and the Amazon, but really, eveything was given fairly even coverage
Mar 31, 2008
Brigham
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Finishing this book was a difficult battle.
I should have just read the Teddy Roosevelt wikipedia entry and then decided if I needed to supplement that information with some serious reading before taking on this voluminous volume of letter-excerpt chains.
I should have just read the Teddy Roosevelt wikipedia entry and then decided if I needed to supplement that information with some serious reading before taking on this voluminous volume of letter-excerpt chains.
Nov 26, 2008
Jennah
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TR was only 60 when he died! But they were a good 60 years. I will read anything by HW Brands. He provides tons of nerdy/wonky details with an egaging style so it doesn't get boring.
Jun 15, 2010
Amanda
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I had to return it to the library before I finished it! Still waiting to see what happens after his run in New York Politics... I have a hunch he has his eyes on the White House.
Oct 08, 2007
Aaron
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A good read on TR. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though it was a good 800 pages. A lot of info on Roosevelt before the presidency.
Apr 20, 2011
loved it. epic, really took a long time to get through, but amazing, interesting, and educational.
