I have always been interested in history, especially biographies of those in power. I’ve always found it fascinating to be a fly on the wall in the corridors of power.
American history is especially fascinating. Not just because of the democratic experiment, but also because it’s such a young country that the history of the founders is still relevant.
I put together a list of all the biographies and history books I’ve read, so far. I tried to stick to American Presidents for this specific list. If the book mentioned Presidents, but was not specifically about them or their policies I did not include it.
For example, the wonderful Monticello : A Daughter and Her Father by Sally Cabot Gunning didn’t make the list because it’s about Martha, Thomas Jefferson’s daughter and her relationship with her famous father. Neither did books such as Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford by Clint Hill & Lisa McCubbin, while American Presidents are a huge part the book, the narrative is about Mr. Hill’s Secret Service career.
Both of those, and more, are well worth reading.
Some other books, such as Jeff Shaara’s Shadow of War did make the list, even though it’s historical fiction about The Cuban Missile Crisis. I felt that books such as those, well researched in which the President is front and center, should be in my list because one can learn a lot from them.
Other books, mostly about recent Presidents are more of a political analysis of the administration. I thought I’d include those as well, but I stayed away from “hit pieces”.
Happy reading, happy Independence Day and check out the list of Presidential Books.
Zohar – Man of la Book
No Comments