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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
One of the best books, and THE best presidential biography I have ever read.
One of the greatest men in modern history. A dynamic figure. Book can get a bit verbose tho
'The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt' is long. Clocking in at around 24 hours, it took me about a month to listen to the whole thing when played between 2x-3x speed.
I felt like the time raced by. When it ended, I was hungry for more.
'The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt' is an exhaustive, yet still briskly moving, look at Roosevelt's life from birth through to his ascension to the Presidency. When dealing with the episode of the man's life with which I am very familiar, his time with the Rough Riders, the book gives the reader a sense of the Cuba Campaign without getting bogged down in the details. This gives me confidence in the reliability of the rest of the tome and wins my respect for author Edmund Morris's brevity and judgment.
Your experience with 'The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt' will depend primarily on your interest in / tolerance for Roosevelt himself. He was a big personality, cocksure and aristocratic while mastering the skill of connecting with everyday people. Some will (Many did!) find him insufferable, and some will (Many did!) find him a hero. Whatever your affinity for the man, the book is meticulously researched, well written, and altogether enjoyable. Again, I look forward to the next volume.
I felt like the time raced by. When it ended, I was hungry for more.
'The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt' is an exhaustive, yet still briskly moving, look at Roosevelt's life from birth through to his ascension to the Presidency. When dealing with the episode of the man's life with which I am very familiar, his time with the Rough Riders, the book gives the reader a sense of the Cuba Campaign without getting bogged down in the details. This gives me confidence in the reliability of the rest of the tome and wins my respect for author Edmund Morris's brevity and judgment.
Your experience with 'The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt' will depend primarily on your interest in / tolerance for Roosevelt himself. He was a big personality, cocksure and aristocratic while mastering the skill of connecting with everyday people. Some will (Many did!) find him insufferable, and some will (Many did!) find him a hero. Whatever your affinity for the man, the book is meticulously researched, well written, and altogether enjoyable. Again, I look forward to the next volume.
The only criticism I've read about Morris is that he is too worshipful of TR. I didn't find this to be that, so much. An amazing book about an amazing, truly American, man. I can't wait to get into Theodore Rex.
Morris traces the incredible life story of Theodore Roosevelt from birth up to the point where he's about to take over as President. I cannot imagine a more amazing and inspiring subject. In addition to his mental brilliance (he never forgot a person's face or life story and could recite passages of books read dozens of years earlier), Roosevelt had a natural curiosity that his parents allowed to develop: they not only permitted him to kill and stuff thousands of animals throughout his childhood but even provided a room to serve as his museum. His father attacked Roosevelt's debilitating childhood asthma with a regimen of hearty exercise, inspiring him to develop a body that was as strong as his keen mind.
Starting at age 16, various people who meet Roosevelt begin saying that he'll probably be president some day, because his knowledge is so great in a wide range of subjects, his actions are ethical and his personality is electric. In college, he writes his first two books (on birds), woos his wife, and loses his father. As a young man, he writes a few more books (including a thoroughly researched history of the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812 that becomes required reading for naval officers), studies law, socializes with other old-moneyed families in Manhattan, joins the NY state legislature, establishes himself as a cattle rancher, catches some horse thieves (while simultaneously reading Anna Karenina), and loses his wife and never speaks of her again (not even to the daughter born a few days before her death).
In his late twenties, Roosevelt remarries, starts breeding copiously and "patriotically," and uses political appointments in Washington and New York City to fight corruption. As assistant secretary of the Navy, he lobbies for war in Cuba and as soon as war is about to begin he joins the Army to lead the Rough Riders into battle (literally jumping up and down with glee). By the time Roosevelt ascends to the governorship of New York, he's written more than a dozen books and become a national hero.
Finally, having alienated Repbulican party bosses by legislating against big business, he realizes that a second term as governor won't be likely, so he might as well accept the vice-presidential nomination. The book ends when newly sworn-in Vice President Roosevelt, not sure what the future holds and contemplating a return to law school, gets the telegram informing him of President McKinley's death.
Although it's hard to imagine a dull book about the life of Roosevelt, Morris's clear prose and use of lively quotes make for especially fun reading. Even the footnotes are delightful.
Starting at age 16, various people who meet Roosevelt begin saying that he'll probably be president some day, because his knowledge is so great in a wide range of subjects, his actions are ethical and his personality is electric. In college, he writes his first two books (on birds), woos his wife, and loses his father. As a young man, he writes a few more books (including a thoroughly researched history of the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812 that becomes required reading for naval officers), studies law, socializes with other old-moneyed families in Manhattan, joins the NY state legislature, establishes himself as a cattle rancher, catches some horse thieves (while simultaneously reading Anna Karenina), and loses his wife and never speaks of her again (not even to the daughter born a few days before her death).
In his late twenties, Roosevelt remarries, starts breeding copiously and "patriotically," and uses political appointments in Washington and New York City to fight corruption. As assistant secretary of the Navy, he lobbies for war in Cuba and as soon as war is about to begin he joins the Army to lead the Rough Riders into battle (literally jumping up and down with glee). By the time Roosevelt ascends to the governorship of New York, he's written more than a dozen books and become a national hero.
Finally, having alienated Repbulican party bosses by legislating against big business, he realizes that a second term as governor won't be likely, so he might as well accept the vice-presidential nomination. The book ends when newly sworn-in Vice President Roosevelt, not sure what the future holds and contemplating a return to law school, gets the telegram informing him of President McKinley's death.
Although it's hard to imagine a dull book about the life of Roosevelt, Morris's clear prose and use of lively quotes make for especially fun reading. Even the footnotes are delightful.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
A little bit too intense with the Americanism/patriotism- otherwise, fun and insightful.
informative
slow-paced
informative
fast-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Really great book for learning about the beginnings of the politician Theodore Roosevelt. Unfortunately it is almost unbearable if one is not inclined to read political drama.