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A review by sometimesbryce
G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century by Beverly Gage
4.0
In that sense, Tolson and Hoover already had the affectionate, supportive marriage they were supposed to want.
I really thought this book was gonna kill me there for a minute but, just as Hoover facing a transition of power, I lived. I was interested in reading more about Hoover after engulfing [b:Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington|56347310|Secret City The Hidden History of Gay Washington|James Kirchick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635843911l/56347310._SY75_.jpg|87795667] last summer. Seven months later, I finally finished this meticulously researched, deeply nuanced portrait of one of the most influential civil servants in American history. Gage's portrait strikes a balance between authenticity and reflection. She doesn't let him get away with too much, but she keeps us honest too. In addition to being a well-researched portrait of the long-standing FBI director, this is a wealth of resource for anyone interested in 20th century America. The tea alone is worth it. This little gay boy was MESSSSSSSSSSSY. And you know what, so was everyone else.
Gage gives plenty of context (at times, a bit too much) to the historical events unfolding around and as a result of Hoover's FBI. Somehow though, there were still a few moments I wish she would've expanded more. At the end of this immense and intense study of Hoover, I'm not sure preciously how to feel about him, probably because he was a man of so many contradictions. He was a gay man campaigning for traditional values, a racist extolling justice, and a government servant set apart from partisanship but deeply embroiled in personal and professional politics. He simultaneously loved and abhorred power, worshiped and disdained the weight of government itself. Despite all the contradictions, and his mostly abhorrent legacy, it's hard to not feel some level of appreciation for what he went through, the kind of life he must have lived. I won't miss this book, though. I really did think I was going to die while reading it, even though I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it.
I really thought this book was gonna kill me there for a minute but, just as Hoover facing a transition of power, I lived. I was interested in reading more about Hoover after engulfing [b:Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington|56347310|Secret City The Hidden History of Gay Washington|James Kirchick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1635843911l/56347310._SY75_.jpg|87795667] last summer. Seven months later, I finally finished this meticulously researched, deeply nuanced portrait of one of the most influential civil servants in American history. Gage's portrait strikes a balance between authenticity and reflection. She doesn't let him get away with too much, but she keeps us honest too. In addition to being a well-researched portrait of the long-standing FBI director, this is a wealth of resource for anyone interested in 20th century America. The tea alone is worth it. This little gay boy was MESSSSSSSSSSSY. And you know what, so was everyone else.
Gage gives plenty of context (at times, a bit too much) to the historical events unfolding around and as a result of Hoover's FBI. Somehow though, there were still a few moments I wish she would've expanded more. At the end of this immense and intense study of Hoover, I'm not sure preciously how to feel about him, probably because he was a man of so many contradictions. He was a gay man campaigning for traditional values, a racist extolling justice, and a government servant set apart from partisanship but deeply embroiled in personal and professional politics. He simultaneously loved and abhorred power, worshiped and disdained the weight of government itself. Despite all the contradictions, and his mostly abhorrent legacy, it's hard to not feel some level of appreciation for what he went through, the kind of life he must have lived. I won't miss this book, though. I really did think I was going to die while reading it, even though I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it.