The extraordinary story of Andrew Jackson—the colorful, dynamic, and forceful president who ushered in the Age of Democracy and set a stil...
read full description
reviews
Jun 22, 2008
Paul
rated it: 
Excellent bio. I flew through this gripping account of one of our more controversial presidents. Jackson looms large in my hometown of Tallahassee. He’s celebrated at our annual spring festival (growing up my family was fairly active as members of a float crew) and he always inspires protest. And of course, as a graduate of Florida State, I’m reminded of his, uh, regional achievements every time I do the Seminole chop.
It’s easy to pick Old Hickory apart in order to reconstruct the m More...
It’s easy to pick Old Hickory apart in order to reconstruct the m More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 05, 2009
Critics agree that even though there's mild interest in the life of President Andrew Jackson, the author who could spark a forest fire of curiosity would be acclaimed biographer, H. W. Brands, who teaches at the University of Texas at Austin. In tackling the life and times of Jackson, Brands doesn't overlook any of the controversial aspects of "Old Hickory" and his history. Who remembered that Jackson killed a man for disrespecting his wife, was fiercely protective of his honor, and ad
More...
Sep 23, 2011
Ben
rated it: 
This is a good overview of the life of Andrew Jackson, focusing on the grand sweep and memorable events at the expense of greater depth into either his character or the events themselves. The pacing was brisk enough that the reader won’t feel the 560 pages, though, again, the readers of biographies and histories will feel a bit slighted by the once sentence overviews and quick transitions to the next thing. Brand does a good job of placing Jackson, and keeping the reader, squarely in his times
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 21, 2011
This is my very first biography that I have ever read, so this should be interesting. Apparently he was a raving lunatic. When the book gets around the whole Indian situation, it should get really awkward.
I received this book as a joke gift because of my own stupidity. I was doing the whole tour around Pensacola's historic landmark Ft. Pickens (I must say, tour guide Barbie would have been proud).
Friend- "Wasn't the fort built at the beginning of WWI?"
More...
I received this book as a joke gift because of my own stupidity. I was doing the whole tour around Pensacola's historic landmark Ft. Pickens (I must say, tour guide Barbie would have been proud).
Friend- "Wasn't the fort built at the beginning of WWI?"
More...
Feb 05, 2011
Andrew
rated it: 
This is the second book I’ve read on Jackson in the last 18 months. For more on the Presidency and less on his former life--take a look at Meacham's book, American Lion. I must admit that issues like Biddle and bank crisis make my eyes glaze over.
One of the exciting things about this book for me was discovering the contexts of Jackson’s life. I tend to view history as this set of discrete facts, tenuously connected by time. But reading Jackson truly highlighted the interconnectedness More...
One of the exciting things about this book for me was discovering the contexts of Jackson’s life. I tend to view history as this set of discrete facts, tenuously connected by time. But reading Jackson truly highlighted the interconnectedness More...
Jan 06, 2011
Wallace
rated it:
For those who like their politicians pure, don't read this dose of reality. For those who know of Jackson only that he was a populist and that his inauguration chaos with its thousands of rude/crude rowdies--this will explain how that came about and that in many ways it signalled the first great democratization of national politics.
Jackson, almost as much as Washington, changed and preserved the on-going process of democratizing America. Sure, he was a slave holder, disobeyed order More...
Jackson, almost as much as Washington, changed and preserved the on-going process of democratizing America. Sure, he was a slave holder, disobeyed order More...
Feb 10, 2010
Steven
rated it:
Andrew Jackson was a major figure in American history from his service in the War of 1812 through his presidency. And even in retirement after his departure from Washington, D. C., he was still an important figure in American politics.
His life parallelled the American development from a new nation to one that was rapidly developing during his presidency and thereafter.
This book deals with the highs (military victories, political victories, a great ambition being matched More...
His life parallelled the American development from a new nation to one that was rapidly developing during his presidency and thereafter.
This book deals with the highs (military victories, political victories, a great ambition being matched More...
Oct 17, 2009
Lauren
rated it:
I was torn between a 3 and a 4 for this. My main criticism is that the book should have had broader coverage of the time since it is called Andrew Jackson: His Life and TIMES. Brands should have given some background, for instance, on the currency issue since it is something very important to Jackson's presidency. But I learned some interesting things--the succession issue came up long before the civil war and didn't have anything to do with slavery but with tariffs. Since the South was a n
More...
Aug 11, 2011
A very enjoyable book about Andrew Jackson by one of my favorite historians. Andrew Jackson was certainly a forceful man who was more than ready to back up his words at the end of a gun (or sword or cannon). He was truly the first "common man" to become president.
There is a great deal about him that is distasteful, especially from the view of today's morals. He was an unapolegetc slave owner and his treatment of the Native Americans was appalling. Still I found my self liking him des More...
There is a great deal about him that is distasteful, especially from the view of today's morals. He was an unapolegetc slave owner and his treatment of the Native Americans was appalling. Still I found my self liking him des More...
Jan 30, 2010
Richard
rated it:
H.W. Brands is a prolific author of history/non-fiction, with several critically acclaimed biographies published before the Jackson story, including "T.R." about Theodore Roosevelt, and "Traitor to His Class" about Franklin Roosevelt. He is able to get a ton of detail about Jackson's busy life into this one-volume, 560 pages of text, covering the life of the Seventh President.
Jackson was the first person to become president who was not born into Southern planter More...
Jackson was the first person to become president who was not born into Southern planter More...
Jan 27, 2009
Derek
rated it:
Brands does a fantastic job enlightening on a president who had previously been for me a rather mysterious and ambiguous character. This study reveals him to be a much more sympathetic, if still rough and flawed, character. Brands presents him as a man whose public life was relentlessly dedicated to two central goals; protecting the interest and liberty of the common man, and neutralizing any potential threat to the nation which made that liberty possible, whether that threat come from Indians,
More...
Dec 13, 2011
Blair
rated it:
Andrew Jackson may be the most important American not yet exhumed in the rush to learn from the leading lights of our early history. If so, it makes sense that H.W. Brands is leading the charge toward his rediscovery. For one thing, Brands teaches at the University of Texas at Austin, in a state that might well be an independent republic if not for Jackson. For another, over the past decade Brands has proven himself a bloodhound with a nose for tracking down subjects ahead of the pack. There hav
More...
Nov 23, 2011
Tim
rated it:
One of the areas I had wanted to read about this year was American history and I had the thought that viewing it from the top down might be an interesting way in which to do it. That object prompted me to start looking at things from the point of view of the different Presidents. Jackson covered a time period of which I was not overly familiar and this book looked interesting from the beginning. It really did not disappoint! One of the most interesting aspects of the book was the gradual progres
More...
Aug 10, 2008
rmn
rated it:
This is a hard book to review because it suffers from two inherent flaws:
1. It is a 560 page single volume biography of a man who lived to be 78 years old. So the author can either write on average 7 pages per year of Jackson’s life or skip through many periods. Obviously the author chooses the latter as after ~100 pages Jackson is already ~30 years old and a Senator from Tennessee. So in trying to cram Jackson’s life into one volume, his childhood is almost completely left alone More...
1. It is a 560 page single volume biography of a man who lived to be 78 years old. So the author can either write on average 7 pages per year of Jackson’s life or skip through many periods. Obviously the author chooses the latter as after ~100 pages Jackson is already ~30 years old and a Senator from Tennessee. So in trying to cram Jackson’s life into one volume, his childhood is almost completely left alone More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 28, 2008
Diane
rated it: 
I seem to be working my way through the presidents on CD. This was only okay. The reader was right on the edge of spoiling the book for me - he read too fast I think. However, the text was really not that great either. HOWEVER, since I knew next to nothing about Andrew Jackson and that period of history, I found it worthwhile to listen to. I was most interested in Jackson's personal story, which we have mostly only hints about. He did seem to be of a stereotypical frontier mentality who solved
More...
Jul 03, 2008
Bill
rated it:
Completed: June 2008
I found this to be an excellent book, fairly objectively written, containing many quoted passages. There was enthusiasm displayed about Jackson by the author, Dr. Brands, that didn't get carried away into what might be deemed as hero worship. Not all that occurred in Jackson's life was what one would consider "correct" today, and he certainly wasn't concerned about being politically correct in his actions, which Dr. Brands brings out in his writting.
More...
I found this to be an excellent book, fairly objectively written, containing many quoted passages. There was enthusiasm displayed about Jackson by the author, Dr. Brands, that didn't get carried away into what might be deemed as hero worship. Not all that occurred in Jackson's life was what one would consider "correct" today, and he certainly wasn't concerned about being politically correct in his actions, which Dr. Brands brings out in his writting.
More...
Jan 28, 2008
Larry
rated it:
Enjoyed the book, don't care much for Jackson. Find that while I admire extension of democracy to the "everyman" I don't admire the folks who first championed the extenstion, i.e. Jefferson and Jackson. That's probably blasphomy in reference to Jefferson, but he was the epitomy of the manipulating politician who got others to carry his load while he seemingly stayed out of the fray. His early refusal to come to Philadelphia durikng Washington's first term was a real problem for oper
More...
Dec 11, 2008
Suzy
rated it:
So, I know a good amount about the Revolutionary War period of American history and I know a good amount about the Civil War period as well. It's that in-between time that's a little foggy.....but not anymore! This book covers that time via the life and times of Andrew Jackson - quite the American hero! I knew next to nothing about him before I read this book and am now a Jackson admirer. If you liked John Adams by David McCullough, you will like this book.
Oct 22, 2011
Jonathan
rated it:
Interesting profile of an enormously popular, man of the people president. It was interesting to learn more about the War of 1812 and its lesser known place in the history of this country as a 2nd war of independence. Jackson is not exxactly a warm and fuzzy president but you have to admire his strength and fortitude as characteristics the country needed. I thought it was a pretty decent read, the book had a good flow and engaging stories.
Aug 19, 2009
James
rated it:
Good biography of Jackson and his times, from the American Revolution (which he fought in as a teen ager) to his time as president from 1828 to 1836. Provides a great look at the expansion of democracy and the final breaking of the original oligarchy in the USA. Also shows all of his warts (Cherokee Trail of tears, etc) as well.... One of those books as much about the times as about the man...a good vacation read
Aug 15, 2010
HBalikov
rated it:
The approach is a bit helter-skelter but the research is both fascinating and reassuring.
The author is excellent in giving more of the historical context for Jackson's early years and draws some interesting material related to rural life and the early demands for expansion from those on the frontier. Young Jackson's experiences with the Revolutionary War and his practice of law shaped him to an extent of which I was unaware.
The author is excellent in giving more of the historical context for Jackson's early years and draws some interesting material related to rural life and the early demands for expansion from those on the frontier. Young Jackson's experiences with the Revolutionary War and his practice of law shaped him to an extent of which I was unaware.
Jan 10, 2009
Jeff
rated it:
What can I say? I'm a history nerd. Sue me.
It was a good book and did a nice job of summarizing Jackson's life and times and actions. Still, something didn't quite click for me because I found myself reading it because I felt I should rather than I wanted to. Never a great sign that.
It was a good book though. I think in the end, perhaps, it just didn't quite capture my imagination like I had hoped.
It was a good book and did a nice job of summarizing Jackson's life and times and actions. Still, something didn't quite click for me because I found myself reading it because I felt I should rather than I wanted to. Never a great sign that.
It was a good book though. I think in the end, perhaps, it just didn't quite capture my imagination like I had hoped.
Jan 26, 2011
Justin
rated it:
I was "iffy" about the book throughout the first 2/3rds but I think it was because I wasn't thrilled with the man I was reading about. The author did a great job of helping explain why Jackson was the way he was and in the end I liked the book much more than I thought I would when I first picked it up. Moral of the story? (my story I mean, not Jackson's)...keep reading, it gets better and when it ends you might be just a little disappointed that its all over.
Aug 06, 2008
Albert
rated it:
Although, I generally distrust people with initials for first names, and having read a couple of other books he's written - TR: The Last Romantic and The First American - I wasn't sure which Brands I was going to get, as the former was well-written and the latter, eh ... not so much. I found this book to be of the well-written variety, although many times I had a sense that there was more that I needed to know, but that can run the risk of the The First American, which seemed a bit bogged down
More...
Jun 24, 2008
Kathie
rated it:
What a treasure of a book. I learned so much about this former president. Some of what I thought I knew of him was confirmed; other things I learned about him were new & surprising to me. This fascinating & well-researched book provides another piece of the puzzle of what makes my United States so wonderful & so maddening. Outlines the birth of democracy & the Democrats (no, the signing of the Declaration of Independence was not the beginning of democracy in America). Also discusses the reasons
More...
Sep 16, 2010
Alan
rated it:
#7 in the Presidential biography project. This biography did a great job of combining the historical backdrop with the personality of the subject. Jackson, so far, has been the most fascinating president and really helped usher in the party system and the rule of the people.
Nov 06, 2009
Jim
rated it:
Great book about a fascinating historical figure who left his mark on our country. It was interesting to see that many of the contentious issues that still plague our politics have their roots as far back as the Revolutionary period. It was also interesting to see how early the problems that led us to Civil War began to germinate. I didn't realize how precarious the very existence of the United States was as late as the mid 19th century. I recommend this one to anyone who is interested in U.S.
More...
Apr 05, 2009
Craig
rated it:
Well-researched and well-written summary of Jackson's life. I wrote the author after the publishing of the book and he wrote back with a prompt answer to a question I had about Jackson's son. (turns out Brands is the son of a twin who is in his 90s)
Mar 17, 2009
Robert
rated it:
This is a decent biography, but it doesn't do much to illuminate Jackson's contradictions. In a lot of ways, he was a complete asshole, and he is almost certainly the only president of the United States who was an actual murderer.
Jul 27, 2011
Mark
rated it: 
A wretched book. Brands doesn't tread any new ground, and he relies too heavily on a fraudulent source to take him seriously as an authority on the Jacksonian period. IMHO, Brands cranks out too many books too quickly.
