A review by nschilling10
Grant by Ron Chernow

4.0

Great book. Actually reads more like a novel than a stuffy history book. In the beginning it seems like you're going to get more of Grant the person; a window into his soul and reasons for why he did what he did. We get some of that in the beginning and maybe toward the end, but the middle is mostly just a description of what Grant did. But oh boy did Grant do a lot of things! He oversaw one of the most dynamic and transient periods of history in the US since it's founding; from the Civil War through reconstruction to the start of the Gilded age. Though I disagree with his some of his political decisions I do respect him.

This author also judges Grant by modern standards, as opposed to standards at the time. Which is refreshing! I think it makes Grant all the more interesting because he's ahead of his time, especially in his treatment of black people, jewish people, and others.