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dasbooch's review against another edition
5.0
Dorris Kearns Goodwin crafts an epic tale of the United States’ shift from the laissez-faire ideology to the progressive era and a new attitude to the role of the United States government. To achieve this she follows the unique characters of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, as well as the early investigative journalists of the McClure’s Magazine. Masterfully told, she brings each of her characters and the state of the country at that period completely to life. She highlights the personalities and ideological drives of each President and journalist. Though I felt the conclusion could have been more formative and reflective on the drive of the book, I breezed through the long epoch, and enjoyed it thoroughly.
deanopeez's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
rosietomyn's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin is, hands down, the best book I have read this year. I wish we still lived in days where factual, quality investigative reporting drove public opinion and policy. I also wish the U.S. valued educated presidential candidates that promoted progressive policies and a government that works for the people.
While Theodore Roosevelt is a rather well-known historical figure, William Howard Taft does not generally garner the same attention. That is truly a shame.
I knew little of Taft, other than the biases held about his "failure" reflected in his inability to garner a second term. Taft was truly a remarkable man and leader.
I am so inspired to now have a much better understanding of Taft's qualities, as well as Roosevelt's shortcomings. The Bully Pulpit perfectly highlights the lives, passions, and personalities of both Taft and Roosevelt, and leaves the reader with a much better handle on how profoundly both impacted American politics.
Goodwin also expertly weaves the story of McClure's, the Muckrakers, and the power of the press into the lives of the two presidents. While I knew some about Ida Tarbell, I learned so much more reading this book.
The Bully Pulpit is a hefty read, but it is hard to put down. It is engaging and inspiring - and has left me profoundly hopeful that America will once again find itself in truth, justice, and progressive action against unfairness, propoganda, and false witnesses.
We are in an era much like that of the decades that preceeded Roosevelt's presidency. Dramatic wealth gaps, reduced regulation, pressure to open public lands to private interests, and increased autocratic rule. Roosevelt advocated that the industrial revolution created a need for progressive reform that spoke for the people over the wealthy and business interests. Now, in a technological revolution seeing declining union representation and increased misinformation, similar shifts are drastically needed. I have hope we will find our Roosevelt, and be able to see those who stand among us doing the work today against all odds.
Definitely recommend The Bully Pulpit. Especially at this moment in history.
While Theodore Roosevelt is a rather well-known historical figure, William Howard Taft does not generally garner the same attention. That is truly a shame.
I knew little of Taft, other than the biases held about his "failure" reflected in his inability to garner a second term. Taft was truly a remarkable man and leader.
I am so inspired to now have a much better understanding of Taft's qualities, as well as Roosevelt's shortcomings. The Bully Pulpit perfectly highlights the lives, passions, and personalities of both Taft and Roosevelt, and leaves the reader with a much better handle on how profoundly both impacted American politics.
Goodwin also expertly weaves the story of McClure's, the Muckrakers, and the power of the press into the lives of the two presidents. While I knew some about Ida Tarbell, I learned so much more reading this book.
The Bully Pulpit is a hefty read, but it is hard to put down. It is engaging and inspiring - and has left me profoundly hopeful that America will once again find itself in truth, justice, and progressive action against unfairness, propoganda, and false witnesses.
We are in an era much like that of the decades that preceeded Roosevelt's presidency. Dramatic wealth gaps, reduced regulation, pressure to open public lands to private interests, and increased autocratic rule. Roosevelt advocated that the industrial revolution created a need for progressive reform that spoke for the people over the wealthy and business interests. Now, in a technological revolution seeing declining union representation and increased misinformation, similar shifts are drastically needed. I have hope we will find our Roosevelt, and be able to see those who stand among us doing the work today against all odds.
Definitely recommend The Bully Pulpit. Especially at this moment in history.
giovannic's review against another edition
5.0
Some take stimulants to keep going, I read biographies of TR, Churchill, Hamilton, and the like. I might have found them obnoxious in real life, but boy they sure spur me into activity! Who else can I add to this list of stimulants?
I also liked Taft, who now seems underappreciated. Their tumultuous friendship reminded me of that between Adams and Jefferson. What are other examples of rollercoaster friendships between public figures?
I also liked Taft, who now seems underappreciated. Their tumultuous friendship reminded me of that between Adams and Jefferson. What are other examples of rollercoaster friendships between public figures?
karinlib's review against another edition
5.0
When I finished [b:Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln|2199|Team of Rivals The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln|Doris Kearns Goodwin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347278868s/2199.jpg|2861004], Doris Kearns Goodwin became firmly one of my favorite historical biographers (along with McCullough and Chernow). I was anxious to read this book, because I had vague memories of this time period. Needless to say, this book did not disappoint. Again, Goodwin has, through her book whetted my appetite for more information of Roosevelt and Taft, I cannot think of a higher praise.
slichto3's review against another edition
3.0
People are a lot more complicated than they seem. I remember learning about Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft in high school. All I remembered was that Roosevelt was nicknamed the "trustbuster" and that Taft had gotten stuck in a bathtub. In the case of Roosevelt, that's extremely reductive, and in the cast of Taft, it's stupid and mean. But hey, I was a teenager.
The Bully Pulpit tells a much more nuanced story about both presidents. It walks through the entirety of their lives, with a heavy focus on their respective presidencies. They both had quite different personalities. Roosevelt was loud, pugnacious, and energetic. Taft was amiable, methodical, and relatively unambitious. Despite their differences, they became close friends. Before either became president, they both were strongly in favor of reform and of eliminating corruption in government and business. When Roosevelt became president, Taft became essentially his right-hand man. When Roosevelt decided not to run after his second term, he campaigned on behalf of Taft, his chosen successor. After Taft became president, though, both men suffered a rift in their friendship that led to Roosevelt and Taft running against each other in the next presidential election. They both lost.
Overall, The Bully Pulpit was educational and mostly interesting. It certainly wasn't one of my favorite books, though, for a few reasons. Most prominent, to me, is that it was long and occasionally quite tedious. This could just be my fault - I'm dumb, and I have a short attention span. But I felt bogged down by this book numerous times. What made this problem worse is that the focus of the book is a bit fuzzy. Roosevelt and Taft are both in the spotlight, but then so are some of the prominent journalists of the time. This meant that the emphasis shifted from person to person throughout, which made it tough to understand the through line of the story. So I got bored. There were also just a lot of people to keep track of, like the relatives of all the different people involved. To be honest, I forgot who exactly one of the journalists was, and all of Taft's and Roosevelt's siblings mixed together. I know, I'm dumb.
Further, the book feels quite exhaustive. It talks about a lot of events that I don't really care about. There were so many descriptions of the parties that they went to and the long speaking tours that they went on. The detail was a bit much, for me. I suppose it helped to show what the world was like then, and what life was like for Taft and Roosevelt specifically, but I was bored.
Still, there were some really fascinating elements. Learning about the politics of the trusts I to be very interesting. It's a lot more complex than how I learned about it in school. There was also so much more to the situation in the Philippines than I had thought. What really got me, though, were some of the more personal stories for the specific individuals in the book. The collapse of the McClure's magazine staff, and McClure himself; the relationship between Taft and his wife, Nellie; the fraying of the relationship between Taft and Roosevelt. All of those stories were quite gripping. Finally, I was surprised at how moved I was by the epilogue - specifically, by the reconciliation of Taft and Roosevelt. It was just such a beautiful moment, beautifully described, that some tears definitely came to my eyes.
The Bully Pulpit is, on the whole, a bit of a mixed bag. There are some very educational and very moving moments, but there's also a lot of mundanity in between those moments. If you're prepared for those, by all means, have at it. I'm glad to have this one behind me, though, despite mostly enjoying it.
The Bully Pulpit tells a much more nuanced story about both presidents. It walks through the entirety of their lives, with a heavy focus on their respective presidencies. They both had quite different personalities. Roosevelt was loud, pugnacious, and energetic. Taft was amiable, methodical, and relatively unambitious. Despite their differences, they became close friends. Before either became president, they both were strongly in favor of reform and of eliminating corruption in government and business. When Roosevelt became president, Taft became essentially his right-hand man. When Roosevelt decided not to run after his second term, he campaigned on behalf of Taft, his chosen successor. After Taft became president, though, both men suffered a rift in their friendship that led to Roosevelt and Taft running against each other in the next presidential election. They both lost.
Overall, The Bully Pulpit was educational and mostly interesting. It certainly wasn't one of my favorite books, though, for a few reasons. Most prominent, to me, is that it was long and occasionally quite tedious. This could just be my fault - I'm dumb, and I have a short attention span. But I felt bogged down by this book numerous times. What made this problem worse is that the focus of the book is a bit fuzzy. Roosevelt and Taft are both in the spotlight, but then so are some of the prominent journalists of the time. This meant that the emphasis shifted from person to person throughout, which made it tough to understand the through line of the story. So I got bored. There were also just a lot of people to keep track of, like the relatives of all the different people involved. To be honest, I forgot who exactly one of the journalists was, and all of Taft's and Roosevelt's siblings mixed together. I know, I'm dumb.
Further, the book feels quite exhaustive. It talks about a lot of events that I don't really care about. There were so many descriptions of the parties that they went to and the long speaking tours that they went on. The detail was a bit much, for me. I suppose it helped to show what the world was like then, and what life was like for Taft and Roosevelt specifically, but I was bored.
Still, there were some really fascinating elements. Learning about the politics of the trusts I to be very interesting. It's a lot more complex than how I learned about it in school. There was also so much more to the situation in the Philippines than I had thought. What really got me, though, were some of the more personal stories for the specific individuals in the book. The collapse of the McClure's magazine staff, and McClure himself; the relationship between Taft and his wife, Nellie; the fraying of the relationship between Taft and Roosevelt. All of those stories were quite gripping. Finally, I was surprised at how moved I was by the epilogue - specifically, by the reconciliation of Taft and Roosevelt. It was just such a beautiful moment, beautifully described, that some tears definitely came to my eyes.
The Bully Pulpit is, on the whole, a bit of a mixed bag. There are some very educational and very moving moments, but there's also a lot of mundanity in between those moments. If you're prepared for those, by all means, have at it. I'm glad to have this one behind me, though, despite mostly enjoying it.
chaosmavin's review against another edition
5.0
I don't usually read historical non-fiction and I have to say I am so impressed! Goodwin does an amazing job painting history not as a regurgitation of facts but as a an epic tale filled with visceral imagery and emotion. The book is about three major stories in my mind: The effect of journalism on politics; American history and the lives of two presidents and their legacy; and friendship. Goodwin navigates and interweaves these three stories masterfully through the book. It is hard at times listening to it to not be distracted by thoughts of what amount of research it would take to write such a book.
Edward Herman narrates which works for the most part until you remember he was in Lost Boys as the head Vampire:)
One of my favorite parts is her paraphrasing of TR's speech at Madison Square Garden at the finale of his campaign on the progressive ticket. I was so moved by the snippet I looked it up to post it on FB only to realize it was not a section of the speech but a synopsis by Goodwin of the poignant parts. The actual speech is several pages and yet you would never guess from how well she brings it all together. Here is the excerpt:
"Perhaps once in a generation there comes a chance for people of the country to play there part wisely and fearlessly In some great battle of the age long warfare For human rights. Perhaps less dramatic than the struggles their forefathers had faced the battle for social justice was well nye as important. If the problems created by the industrial age were left on the tended America would eventually be sundered buy those lines of division that set have and have not against one another. We know that there are in life injustices that We are powerless to remedy but we know also there's much Injustice that can be remedied. The progressive party would harness the collective power of the people through their governmental agencies to move the country forward. We propose to live the burdens from the lowly and the weary, from the poor and the oppressed. We propose to stand for that sacred rights of childhood and womanhood nay more we propose to see that manhood is not crushed out of the men who toil by excessive hours of labor by underpayment of injustice and oppression surely there never was a fight better worth making then this."
Goodwin was well deserving of The Pulitzer.
Edward Herman narrates which works for the most part until you remember he was in Lost Boys as the head Vampire:)
One of my favorite parts is her paraphrasing of TR's speech at Madison Square Garden at the finale of his campaign on the progressive ticket. I was so moved by the snippet I looked it up to post it on FB only to realize it was not a section of the speech but a synopsis by Goodwin of the poignant parts. The actual speech is several pages and yet you would never guess from how well she brings it all together. Here is the excerpt:
"Perhaps once in a generation there comes a chance for people of the country to play there part wisely and fearlessly In some great battle of the age long warfare For human rights. Perhaps less dramatic than the struggles their forefathers had faced the battle for social justice was well nye as important. If the problems created by the industrial age were left on the tended America would eventually be sundered buy those lines of division that set have and have not against one another. We know that there are in life injustices that We are powerless to remedy but we know also there's much Injustice that can be remedied. The progressive party would harness the collective power of the people through their governmental agencies to move the country forward. We propose to live the burdens from the lowly and the weary, from the poor and the oppressed. We propose to stand for that sacred rights of childhood and womanhood nay more we propose to see that manhood is not crushed out of the men who toil by excessive hours of labor by underpayment of injustice and oppression surely there never was a fight better worth making then this."
Goodwin was well deserving of The Pulitzer.
kanejim57's review against another edition
4.0
Finally finished this wonderful biography of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Well researched and written, Goodwin tells a masterful tale of two very different men whose leadership at the beginning of the twentieth century sets the progressive agenda that shaped the American political agenda well into the twentieth century.