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saraireads's review against another edition
4.0
I am incredibly proud of myself for having finished this TOME of a book. If I were to have read this in paperback, it would have totaled 960 pages.
I have the utmost respect for Edmund Morris. You can feel just how passionate he is about the subject of Teddy Roosevelt. The time his research alone must have taken... I am in awe. After reading this book, I feel like I know Roosevelt on a personal level.
This book deals with Roosevelt's childhood, his college years, his first marriage, his early political career, and his path to the Presidency. The book ends with him receiving word that he is about to become President.
I firmly believe, after reading this incredibly detailed account of his life, struggles, and personal convictions, that Roosevelt was one of the most interesting people in American history. Just reading about all of his accomplishments is exhausting. How could one man do it all? But he did. I feel he lived at least three lives. And Edmund Morris makes sure to tell you about every second in an interesting and thought-provoking way.
I'm extremely proud for finishing this and look forward to reading the next chapter of his life.
I have the utmost respect for Edmund Morris. You can feel just how passionate he is about the subject of Teddy Roosevelt. The time his research alone must have taken... I am in awe. After reading this book, I feel like I know Roosevelt on a personal level.
This book deals with Roosevelt's childhood, his college years, his first marriage, his early political career, and his path to the Presidency. The book ends with him receiving word that he is about to become President.
I firmly believe, after reading this incredibly detailed account of his life, struggles, and personal convictions, that Roosevelt was one of the most interesting people in American history. Just reading about all of his accomplishments is exhausting. How could one man do it all? But he did. I feel he lived at least three lives. And Edmund Morris makes sure to tell you about every second in an interesting and thought-provoking way.
I'm extremely proud for finishing this and look forward to reading the next chapter of his life.
tonycarr72's review
4.0
Excellent read, whirlwind of a life, written with style and humor typical of Morris. Bring on the next two volumes...
jimbowen0306's review
4.0
"The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" by Edmund Morris charts Roosevelt's early life. It actually wasn't bad. I have an instinctive suspicion of modern Republicans (I've been put off by the recent crop I think) so I fully expected to dislike the guy, but I didn't.
This book covers Roosevelt's early life, from his birth to a well meaning patrician father in New York, to his finding out that he had ascended to the Presidency after the assassination of McKinley (the President who dies because they were poking round his intestines without anaesthetic).
Roosevelt comes across as a sort of centrist patrician type (like Bush Snr.) with a common touch (unlike Bush Snr.), who loved his hunting and fishing as much for the scenery as for the hunting. By today's standards he is hideously patronizing to what he might call the "lesser races" (he seems to assume they should all aspire to being white, even though they would never achieve "caucasian class" for want of a phrase), but he is a product of his time so that shouldn't be all that surprising. It did, however, result in him making some odd decisions though, especially with regard to foreign policy.
All in all it's a balanced biography but I'm left with a couple of thoughts after reading it. Firstly, part of me thinks that he would struggle to get the nomination today (or even possibly be a Bill Clinton style center-right Democrat at a stretch) because of his centrist views. Secondly I don't think he'd have been nominated as Vice-President had people known he would ascend to the Presidency after taking office.
Americans presumably know a lot more about Roosevelt than I do (and so can correct my views on the guy if I'm wrong), but my instinct is that I’m not all that far off about the guy!
This book covers Roosevelt's early life, from his birth to a well meaning patrician father in New York, to his finding out that he had ascended to the Presidency after the assassination of McKinley (the President who dies because they were poking round his intestines without anaesthetic).
Roosevelt comes across as a sort of centrist patrician type (like Bush Snr.) with a common touch (unlike Bush Snr.), who loved his hunting and fishing as much for the scenery as for the hunting. By today's standards he is hideously patronizing to what he might call the "lesser races" (he seems to assume they should all aspire to being white, even though they would never achieve "caucasian class" for want of a phrase), but he is a product of his time so that shouldn't be all that surprising. It did, however, result in him making some odd decisions though, especially with regard to foreign policy.
All in all it's a balanced biography but I'm left with a couple of thoughts after reading it. Firstly, part of me thinks that he would struggle to get the nomination today (or even possibly be a Bill Clinton style center-right Democrat at a stretch) because of his centrist views. Secondly I don't think he'd have been nominated as Vice-President had people known he would ascend to the Presidency after taking office.
Americans presumably know a lot more about Roosevelt than I do (and so can correct my views on the guy if I'm wrong), but my instinct is that I’m not all that far off about the guy!
utahmomreads's review
5.0
I was anxious to read a biography on Theodore Roosevelt and did some research about which one to choose. Morris's work seemed the most thorough and with a length over 750 pages, I initially assumed that it covered Roosevelt's entire life. Ha! A man as exciting, ambitious, and fascinating as Theodore Roosevelt needs so much more than one volume. This tome chronicles his childhood, young adulthood and ultimately his rise to the presidency of the United States of America. Morris continues his study of Roosevelt's presidency in "Theodore Rex" (I've already ordered it and am looking forward to reading more about this amazing man).
Between Roosevelt's exciting life and Morris's thoroughly researched, well-written style, "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" is gripping and fascinating. It's long but I couldn't wait for the kids to go to bed at night so that I could read.
Roosevelt, who was his own best promoter, LIVED life and had an interesting one. He was a sickly child but had a delightful childhood with parents who loved him and indulged his desire to learn. His young adulthood was filled with intense love and tragedy. Occasionally prone to depression and having lost his fortune, Roosevelt battles onward with work, study and fun (in the form of tests of physical endurance).
He is honest, moral and uncorrupt. He sees life as black and white and brings that background to the political table. His rise to the presidency is unusual and quick. He was not without his setbacks and failures but he never stopped grinning and rarely stopped to sleep.
Between Roosevelt's exciting life and Morris's thoroughly researched, well-written style, "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" is gripping and fascinating. It's long but I couldn't wait for the kids to go to bed at night so that I could read.
Roosevelt, who was his own best promoter, LIVED life and had an interesting one. He was a sickly child but had a delightful childhood with parents who loved him and indulged his desire to learn. His young adulthood was filled with intense love and tragedy. Occasionally prone to depression and having lost his fortune, Roosevelt battles onward with work, study and fun (in the form of tests of physical endurance).
He is honest, moral and uncorrupt. He sees life as black and white and brings that background to the political table. His rise to the presidency is unusual and quick. He was not without his setbacks and failures but he never stopped grinning and rarely stopped to sleep.