A monster of a book, entertaining throughout. In my childhood I used to be asked who my heros were, who my idols were. To my six year old self I found this question dumb, why would I have an idol, admitting someone to be a personification of a set of ideals which I hadn't even developed yet (not exactly the words my young self choose, but consistent with the feeling -- I was an introspective youth). Well, after having finished this book I can claim my first idol in Truman, a man who stood for what he believed right and moral despite the consequences time again. McCullough might be infatuated with Truman, but after reading his account of the man, so am I and I can hardly fault him for it. Easily my favorite non-fiction and in my top three of books I've ever read, though mostly for the inspirational value.