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bryan8063's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. What resonated with me was how she showed what the presidency was before the modern one. What a difference. Coolidge believed in refrain, waiting to act, then act at the right moment. His presidency was about fiscal responsibility as he cut the WWI debt, which is hard to leave a large legacy with that. His foreign policy accomplishment was the Kellogg-Briand Pact and that fell to ashes with the start of WWII. What was left? The Great Depression and he was unfairly blamed for that. Then you had FDR, JFK, LBJ, and so one that had these huge personalities. Coolidge just wasn't that kind of president.
I think Shlaes could have refrained her bias, especially during the time she was writing about Coolidge's presidency. Some of her points about Coolidge's thinking, especially about his relationship with the farmers, is a little confusing. Yet, overall, I recommend this book to anyone interested in Coolidge or history of the presidency.
I think Shlaes could have refrained her bias, especially during the time she was writing about Coolidge's presidency. Some of her points about Coolidge's thinking, especially about his relationship with the farmers, is a little confusing. Yet, overall, I recommend this book to anyone interested in Coolidge or history of the presidency.
statman's review against another edition
3.0
Coolidge is a relatively unknown and underrated president so it was great to have a biography that covered his life. He is so different than the modern politician with his non-verbose ways and his strong fiscal conservativeness. What a different notion than anything you hear today - that government should only spend what it receives.
jmtaylor1981's review
3.0
I love US Presidential history, I feel like learning about the best & worst of this country's leaders can help one to determine where this country is headed. I was hoping this be up there with David McCullough's Adams, or Ron Chernow's Washington, or A. Scott Berg's Wilson but it wasn't even close. I could not get past Shlaes' writing style. And, because of that, I could not invest in the story as much as I wished.
That being said, nearly a century after his death, Coolidge is often an overlooked American President; Shlaes deserves thanks for helping us know and understand the 30th President of the United States.
That being said, nearly a century after his death, Coolidge is often an overlooked American President; Shlaes deserves thanks for helping us know and understand the 30th President of the United States.
pamiverson's review
3.0
Long, detailed biography of 1920's President. Highlights what a small role the President expected to have -- he was involved in details of the budget -- how can each Department make cuts. Not a spectacular President, did not realize how what he was doing might contribute to the downfall of the economy.
judyward's review
4.0
Calvin Coolidge was placed on the 1920 Republican ticket as the vice-presidential candidate because of his actions during the 1919 Boston Police Strike when he was Governor of Massachusetts and he became the president on the death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. Untainted by the scandals of the Harding administration, Coolidge went on to be elected in his own right in 1924 and presided over four years of pre-Great Depression prosperity. Amity Shlaes has created a glowing portrait of Calvin Coolidge and views him as an unappreciated hero in the political history of the 20th century. Shlaes is clearly an admirer of Coolidge and praises his emergence as a champion of low taxes, small government, and admirer of business as the foundation of America ("He who builds a factory builds a Temple") without analyzing what his administration's policies meant for the average American worker or farmer. Readers who don't share Shlaes' conservative views may become impatient with her dismissal of the real economic distress in which many Americans found themselves after World War I and during the years that we were "Keeping Cool with Coolidge".
spinnerroweok's review
3.0
This was not as compelling other presidential bios I have read. It begins well, but then his vice-presidency and presidency becomes and long talk on fiscal policy which seems to be the dominant issue of the time. Not bad, just not compelling once you get to Washington in this book.
emttim's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t believe I have ever read a more compelling yet aggressively detailed account of another man’s life. It was worth every word.
kayoft's review
3.0
Fascinating human stories nearly buried in details and minutiae and yet interesting and thought-provoking in light of current political climate