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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
5.0
It's strange. There are times when you wonder if you can read 1100+ pages on anything, especially a single person who died 150 years ago (give or take). If you can, you'll probably think it was worth it.
This is the third book about Grant I've read, after books by Jean Edward Smith, and Ronald C White. Having read this book, those books feel like they were cheerleading for Grant in some ways, but playing down his achievements in other areas. By this I mean that Chernow is more likely to admit Grant was an alcoholic (than either other author), and really wanted a third term in 1880 (than White), but was a better general too (the other authors felt he was... more likely to rely on his superior numbers).
This book is strange too, inasmuch as most presidential biographies spend most of their time on the "presidential bit", while this one does not, which shouldn't be a surprise, given what Grant achieved before he was president. The other way it's different is that most presidential biographies take a chronological approach. They'll start with the achievements in Yr. 1, and finish in Yr. 4 or 8 (depending on the length of the presidency). This book this more... thematic. It looks at his approach to the slaves, his approach to economic issues, and Democrats, and corruption in his regime. This shouldn't be surprising (not all writes write the same way), and it worked well, but it is different.
All this said, this is a good book. It is without doubt the best, and certainly most thorough one volume book on Grant you'll read.
This is the third book about Grant I've read, after books by Jean Edward Smith, and Ronald C White. Having read this book, those books feel like they were cheerleading for Grant in some ways, but playing down his achievements in other areas. By this I mean that Chernow is more likely to admit Grant was an alcoholic (than either other author), and really wanted a third term in 1880 (than White), but was a better general too (the other authors felt he was... more likely to rely on his superior numbers).
This book is strange too, inasmuch as most presidential biographies spend most of their time on the "presidential bit", while this one does not, which shouldn't be a surprise, given what Grant achieved before he was president. The other way it's different is that most presidential biographies take a chronological approach. They'll start with the achievements in Yr. 1, and finish in Yr. 4 or 8 (depending on the length of the presidency). This book this more... thematic. It looks at his approach to the slaves, his approach to economic issues, and Democrats, and corruption in his regime. This shouldn't be surprising (not all writes write the same way), and it worked well, but it is different.
All this said, this is a good book. It is without doubt the best, and certainly most thorough one volume book on Grant you'll read.
lkm706's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
lararunningwild's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
My views on Grant have totally changed.
rowedozer1836's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
kdawn999's review against another edition
5.0
A tremendous history full of incredible parallels to today’s political divides. My elementary and secondary education (developed by school boards in Southern states) provided predominantly negative talking points on Grant during the Civil war and a scant nothing on his commitment to reconstruction. Rather than framing him as the military genius the world at the time saw him as, my education framed him as a problematic drunk who only won because of Union resources. He was a champion of voting rights for blacks and all ethnic minorities during his presidency and after that. Another storyline I had never been taught about was the development of the clan and their blatant attacks (murders) of blacks and political opponents exercising ANY voting rights. The bloodiness was more than I ever knew before. They also helped foment literal insurrections of state legislatures in the South. If you are an American, you need to supplement your history.
sam_vimes_75's review against another edition
3.0
Chernow does a wonderful job of showing us Grant's faults as well as his remarkable intelligence. He gives equal weight to all key moments in Grant's life from the early failed business attempts to his post-Presidential years. It would be enough to note that alcoholism was a significant factor in Grant's life and address the issue only when it the accusation was genuine and affected Grant's decisions; however, Chernow addresses *every* accusation of drunkenness--sometimes valid and most often not--to the point that the flow of the biography is interrupted every few pages, even on the last page, with this single issue. It is remarkable that, despite this, I came away from the biography with a heartfelt appreciation for all that Grant did in the context of his time, especially with regard to Reconstruction. After reading it, I've immediately picked up Grant's own memoirs and am currently enjoying the beauty of his simple yet very intelligent prose.