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bookwarm_220's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Excellent history of American society and political life from the 1920's through the 70's, as told through the life story of J. Edgar Hoover. Very detailed, well-told narrative. Writing style was lucid but unemotional as the greatest events of 20th Century life unfold. Author keeps an emotional distance throughout, then wraps up with a more lyrical epilogue, which gave me some emotional satisfaction. I was interested throughout and learned a lot that help me put pieces together from my own memories of many of these events. Hoover is a tragic hero. He began his work with the highest motives but with time and events and pressures became corrupted. The institution itself became what we despise in a democracy and this is a well-told tale any American with an interest in government should read.
However, this book is LONG. It is an effort to get through. You have to be really interested in this subject to stay invested. Fortunately I stuck with it.
However, this book is LONG. It is an effort to get through. You have to be really interested in this subject to stay invested. Fortunately I stuck with it.
emzone's review
4.0
So dense, so thorough … hard to get through at times but overall a masterful biography of a complicated man
abagoflobsters's review
5.0
An astonishingly in-depth account of one of the most important figures in American politics in the 20th century. Gage gives a thorough account of the United States political history as seen and influenced by J. Edgar Hoover as he built the FBI into the sprawling institution it remains today.
I can’t begin to list all of the fascinating things I learned reading this book, as it covered so many events and movements from the 1920’s to the 1970’s. I have trouble recalling just how dense with information this book is now that I am reflecting on it. Hoover lived through so many changes in American society that it is hard to imagine him living through and playing a role in the First Red Scare, the Gangster Era and the professionalization of the FBI, the second world war, the second Red Scare, the Civil Rights era, Vietnam, and Nixon’s ascendency. Each of the 8 Presidential administrations he served under had its own vision for the FBI. Gage never loses sight of the story she is telling about government power, political machination, and conservatism. It is only after his death that the public reckoned with his actions and his massive popularity sank.
I was particularly fascinated by details of Hoover’s personal contradictions and the care with which Gage handled them. An important book that I am glad exists. I cannot even imagine the amount of work that went into assembling this book into a coherent and logical narrative. It is a titanic work.
This book took me several months to finish, with me listening mostly to the audiobook during my commutes. Gage writes each chapter logically and I never found the book to be boring or monotonous despite its length. Maybe the largest book I have read, and a great one.
I can’t begin to list all of the fascinating things I learned reading this book, as it covered so many events and movements from the 1920’s to the 1970’s. I have trouble recalling just how dense with information this book is now that I am reflecting on it. Hoover lived through so many changes in American society that it is hard to imagine him living through and playing a role in the First Red Scare, the Gangster Era and the professionalization of the FBI, the second world war, the second Red Scare, the Civil Rights era, Vietnam, and Nixon’s ascendency. Each of the 8 Presidential administrations he served under had its own vision for the FBI. Gage never loses sight of the story she is telling about government power, political machination, and conservatism. It is only after his death that the public reckoned with his actions and his massive popularity sank.
I was particularly fascinated by details of Hoover’s personal contradictions and the care with which Gage handled them. An important book that I am glad exists. I cannot even imagine the amount of work that went into assembling this book into a coherent and logical narrative. It is a titanic work.
This book took me several months to finish, with me listening mostly to the audiobook during my commutes. Gage writes each chapter logically and I never found the book to be boring or monotonous despite its length. Maybe the largest book I have read, and a great one.
risagross's review
5.0
At no point did I want this book to be shorter, or to move faster. For a book of this length, that’s saying a lot!
teriboop's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Drawing on newly released FBI files, diaries, scrapbook collections, and a wealth of archival resources, Historian Beverly Gage covers the entire life of J. Edgar Hoover, founder and head G-Man of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Born on January 1, 1895, Hoover ingrained himself into the Washington, D. C. political scene soon after his graduation from George Washington Law School in 1916. In college, Hoover was a key member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, a social organization known as Confederate and Southern nationalist sympathizers. This organization likely shaped much of Hoover's ideology on race relations and politics. Upon his graduation from law school, Hoover worked in the War Emergency Division and the Bureau of Investigations, the precursors to the FBI, which he headed as director in 1924. During his long career, Hoover shaped and molded the FBI through the course of 6 presidents, three of which were Republican and three Democrats. His services ended upon his death in 1972 at age 77, working beyond the typical retirement age for government workers.
Hoover was equally liked and hated in and out of Washington. He campaigned against communism (the Red Scare), the KKK, organized crime, and alleged militant Civil Rights activists. He was tasked with investigating homosexuals in government (the Lavender Scare) but mostly swept it under the rug to avoid outing himself. Gage uncovers a host of personal tragedies and secrets involving his family and his long-time relationship with fellow G-Man, Clyde Tolson. Hoover uncovered and policed the criminal and political issues that were relevant and important to him and those close to him while brushing over the issues that could negatively affect him and his career.
He had a tumultuous relationship with Presidents Truman and Kennedy but was in the back pockets of Johnson and Nixon. It is worth pondering, after reading this thoroughly researched book, how Watergate might have turned out if Hoover had still been alive and working within the Bureau. The Bureau and Hoover were synonymous entities for good and bad, and Gage uncovers it all. This is an engrossing biography of the G-Man himself and is worthy of its 2023 Pulitzer Prize.
Hoover was equally liked and hated in and out of Washington. He campaigned against communism (the Red Scare), the KKK, organized crime, and alleged militant Civil Rights activists. He was tasked with investigating homosexuals in government (the Lavender Scare) but mostly swept it under the rug to avoid outing himself. Gage uncovers a host of personal tragedies and secrets involving his family and his long-time relationship with fellow G-Man, Clyde Tolson. Hoover uncovered and policed the criminal and political issues that were relevant and important to him and those close to him while brushing over the issues that could negatively affect him and his career.
He had a tumultuous relationship with Presidents Truman and Kennedy but was in the back pockets of Johnson and Nixon. It is worth pondering, after reading this thoroughly researched book, how Watergate might have turned out if Hoover had still been alive and working within the Bureau. The Bureau and Hoover were synonymous entities for good and bad, and Gage uncovers it all. This is an engrossing biography of the G-Man himself and is worthy of its 2023 Pulitzer Prize.
topbob's review
4.0
Alright, I went into this book as an assigned reading for a high school history class. I was reluctant to read this at all, but I was pleased to find its contents interesting. But overall, the sheer diligence and scope in which Gage presents information make the book feel like it drones on if you aren't interested in the particular subject at a given point in time. Regardless, I am glad I read G-Man, the information in it is really valuable.