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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
It took a while, but I got through the first volume (800 pages) of this great biography of a great man. This book only tells the story up to the point where TR becomes president, but even up to that point, Roosevelt had accomplished more than most men in history have in a full lifetime. The book chronicles his time growing up as a frail and asthmatic child, the death of his first wife and mother on the same day, his election to the New York State Assembly, his time hunting big game in the Dakotas, his authoring of several biographies and textbooks, his time in the US Civil Service Commission, his presidency of the board of New York Police Commissioners, his time as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, his leading of troops in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, his becoming Governor of New York and finally the Vice President of the United States. I plan on moving on to the next volume telling of his Presidency after a short break to read a few other books.
An extremely in-depth look into the life of Theodore Roosevelt pre-presidency. I was recommended this book by Joe Wiegand, a nationally recognized Theodore Roosevelt impersonator, as the epitome of biographies on T. Roosevelt. I hastily found it at my local library on audiobook and, after waiting months for my turn, finally had the chance to listen. What a ride! In a mere 40 years of life, Roosevelt accomplished and did more than most people will do in a lifetime. A fantastic read for anyone interested in American history and an eye-opener on his progressive stances at a pivotal moment in US history.
Very, very well researched and written. Well, that’s my impression from reading it, without personally doing any research of my own to validate that opinion. But, the quirks of Teddy’s nature, along with the force of his personality, ring true. One eye-opener for me was how openly dirty American politics were at that time. My guess is they still are today, just less overtly. In other words, we still are victims of gerrymandering, it just isn’t done as obviously or overtly as in the past.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Incredible writing about an extraordinary man! I can't believe how little I knew about President Roosevelt before reading this biography and how much I've come to admire him. (Killing aside. According to the author, he took out over 1000 animals during one hunting trip as he grieved the loss of his first wife.) He went from a weak and ill child to a vibrant, confident leader in both politics and the military. He defined strength and leadership for his time. The author left this volume with a cliff-hanger so I'm looking forward to picking up the continuation.
slow-paced
An awe inspiring story, extensively researched, masterfully curated, superbly narrated. This book will surely stay with me for the rest of my life.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced