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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
Liked the book however I learned many dismaying aspects of Roosevelt such as his tendency and belief in Anglo-Saxon superiority and the need for American Empire. It strikes me that he believed it suitable to eradicate black,brown, and indigenous people for the sake of conquest yet also longed to preserve the natural beauty of the United States. He truly was a man we should judge based on the limitations of thought,politics, and philosophy of the times which he rose to prominence.
This is a pretty huge book, so the fact that I read it in three days is testament to just how good it is. I've never come across a biography that was as readable and engrossing as fiction before. Of course, it helps that Theodore Roosevelt was such a larger-than-life character that any biography about him would be exciting and gripping, but one mustn't detract from the skill of the author. This is an excellent, truly excellent book. I'm just glad that this is the first in a trilogy, so I have the enjoyment of two more hopefully equally as good volumes to read.
This volume covers the years from TR's birth up to McKinley's assassination in 1901, which ensured TR's accession to the Presidency. That TR was headed for the White House seems inevitable when you read this book, although I'm sure no-one at the time expected him to assume office in the way that he did, and I'm positive TR himself would have regretted his path to the highest office in the land as much as anyone.
It's almost hard to believe, reading this book, that anyone like Theodore Roosevelt could be real outside the pages of a novel. Such an immense personality, such charisma and magnetism and energy. Whether he is battling corruption in the New York Police Department or tracking buffalo in the West, charging up San Juan Hill in Cuba with his Rough Riders or climbing mountains before breakfast for fun, writing books in a matter of weeks or single-handedly preparing the nation for war, his personality fairly leaps off the page.
What it must have been like, to experience politics with a man like Theodore Roosevelt on the scene. Modern politicians pale laughably in comparison. Hell, everyone seems to pale in comparison. I'm just glad that this book is every bit worthy of the man himself.
This volume covers the years from TR's birth up to McKinley's assassination in 1901, which ensured TR's accession to the Presidency. That TR was headed for the White House seems inevitable when you read this book, although I'm sure no-one at the time expected him to assume office in the way that he did, and I'm positive TR himself would have regretted his path to the highest office in the land as much as anyone.
It's almost hard to believe, reading this book, that anyone like Theodore Roosevelt could be real outside the pages of a novel. Such an immense personality, such charisma and magnetism and energy. Whether he is battling corruption in the New York Police Department or tracking buffalo in the West, charging up San Juan Hill in Cuba with his Rough Riders or climbing mountains before breakfast for fun, writing books in a matter of weeks or single-handedly preparing the nation for war, his personality fairly leaps off the page.
What it must have been like, to experience politics with a man like Theodore Roosevelt on the scene. Modern politicians pale laughably in comparison. Hell, everyone seems to pale in comparison. I'm just glad that this book is every bit worthy of the man himself.
"Take care of your morals first, your health next, and finally your studies."
"It is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself. But he can put himself in such shape that when or if the opportunities come he is ready to take advantage of them."
"We Americans have many grave problems to solve, many threatening evils to fight, and many deeds to do, if, as we hope and believe, we have the wisdom, the strength, and the courage and the virtue to do them. But we must face facts as they are. We must neither surrender ourselves to a foolish optimism, nor succumb to a timid and ignoble pessimism."
(Audiobook) I thoroughly enjoyed this first of three volumes detailing the life of Teddy Roosevelt. This first book, published more than four decades ago but a very smooth read/listen, narrates his life story right up to the moment he becomes "26." There are aspects of his personal disposition and habits I highly relate to, and others I cannot imagine. That beautiful mix made it all the more interesting!
"It is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself. But he can put himself in such shape that when or if the opportunities come he is ready to take advantage of them."
"We Americans have many grave problems to solve, many threatening evils to fight, and many deeds to do, if, as we hope and believe, we have the wisdom, the strength, and the courage and the virtue to do them. But we must face facts as they are. We must neither surrender ourselves to a foolish optimism, nor succumb to a timid and ignoble pessimism."
(Audiobook) I thoroughly enjoyed this first of three volumes detailing the life of Teddy Roosevelt. This first book, published more than four decades ago but a very smooth read/listen, narrates his life story right up to the moment he becomes "26." There are aspects of his personal disposition and habits I highly relate to, and others I cannot imagine. That beautiful mix made it all the more interesting!
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Read for work. Most random take away: when John Mulaney does his Bill Clinton bit, Mr. Mulaney is quoting Theodore Roosevelt raging at McKinley for being reluctant to declare war on the Spanish, lol.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Awesome bio! So much detail but not overly academic. Gives you a great sense of TR's character.
Made me feel like a bit of an underachiever after I finished though...
Made me feel like a bit of an underachiever after I finished though...
Edmund Morris writes the best historical prose I have ever read. Incredibly insightful, descriptive, and gripping, this first book in the Roosevelt Trilogy was a delight. Somehow Morris is able to write a narrative rivaling the best of fiction, and yet a historical work astonishingly thorough in its research and scope. The title character moved quite swiftly from Theodore Roosevelt to Teddy in my mind; from impressive historical figure to close friend.
Good book. Has some dry parts but its good compared to other biographies.