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laura_leest's review against another edition
5.0
An interesting and insightful read. This book contains 4 mini biographies, of Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. The lives of these presidents are viewed through the lens of leadership, detailing what they did right and what they did wrong.
Goodwin shows her extensive knowledge about the lives of these presidents, and her clear and comprehensive writing makes for a compelling story. Her first hand accounts of LBJ’s life were especially interesting.
I also remembered half way through this book that it was used and referred to in one of my college courses, which made me even more impressed with Goodwin.
Goodwin shows her extensive knowledge about the lives of these presidents, and her clear and comprehensive writing makes for a compelling story. Her first hand accounts of LBJ’s life were especially interesting.
I also remembered half way through this book that it was used and referred to in one of my college courses, which made me even more impressed with Goodwin.
dale_kooyenga's review against another edition
2.0
This book has little additional insight to the presidents featured (Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Lyndon Johnson and A. Lincoln). It felt to me like the publisher wanted her to punch out another book so she just condensed the content in her previous works about these presidents into a cliff note size version, slapped "Leadership" on the cover, and the marketing machine couple with a well known author did the rest.
I think her personal relationship with Lyndon Johnson detracts from the many attributes that make him a poor leader in my book. He treated his wife like absolute crap, multiple affairs, insults in front of guest, verbal abuse...... Civil Rights legislation also would have occurred decades before his time as President if he did not ally with Sen. Richard Russell in blocking passage in the US Senate. However, Goodwin doesn't touch these on these attributes which are a big part of Lyndon Johnson's character and therefore his leadership attributes. She does cover his train wreck as a Commander & Chief during Vietnam.
If you really want to understand these men I would recommend the following works to give you a better understanding of their entire stories and the context of their time:
Carl Sandburg's Lincoln biography.
Edmund Morris TR books (Don't read his Reagan book, it's horrible)
Robert Caro's 4 part series on LBJ
FDR - No recommendation
I think her personal relationship with Lyndon Johnson detracts from the many attributes that make him a poor leader in my book. He treated his wife like absolute crap, multiple affairs, insults in front of guest, verbal abuse...... Civil Rights legislation also would have occurred decades before his time as President if he did not ally with Sen. Richard Russell in blocking passage in the US Senate. However, Goodwin doesn't touch these on these attributes which are a big part of Lyndon Johnson's character and therefore his leadership attributes. She does cover his train wreck as a Commander & Chief during Vietnam.
If you really want to understand these men I would recommend the following works to give you a better understanding of their entire stories and the context of their time:
Carl Sandburg's Lincoln biography.
Edmund Morris TR books (Don't read his Reagan book, it's horrible)
Robert Caro's 4 part series on LBJ
FDR - No recommendation
bookhawk's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Excellent writing, research, organization, and topic. Goodwin provided a wonderful comparative study on leadership and the variations needed to fit specific circumstances. 4 stars and highly recommended for fans of US presidential history or just US history.
louiskillebrew's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
wooknight's review against another edition
5.0
A riveting read . A masterful study of 4 presidents and various personal and professional crisis and their high points . Wish every president was forced to read this before they took office !!!
randywgravitz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
mcqconor's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
DKG is great and I need to read more of her stuff