The Presidents Club (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“interesting but slow”

• Rated 5 stars

“"The Presidents Club" is a vast survey of Presidential politics of the last century, and how current Presidents interacted with those who served before them. The idea of a Presidents Club is fascinating, and though the authors stretch at times to show how former Presidents influenced current Presidents, they do offer up some riveting new details about large world events, including the end of the Vietnam War and the unfolding of the Cuban Missile Crisis, among others. The book confirms your impression of some Presidents, and alters it for others. Nixon emerges as even more dishonest and manipulative than previously believed, if that's even possible. LBJ is portrayed as indecisive and unsure of his position, surprising given his image as a brash, confident Texan. Eisenhower looms over the book, and much of American modern history, far more influential than perhaps many of us remember or were taught. Hoover and Truman are clearly of another era, a quaint time when partisan politics were tempered by a genuine desire to do good for the country. Reagan seems far more prickly and calculating than we might have believed during the 1980s -- and strangely at odds with Ford. If you have an interest in Presidential politics and political history from the past 100 years or so, The Presidents Club is well written and easy to digest, despite its length and complex subjects. I thoroughly enjoyed it. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“fascinating subject. history presented in a unique way. ”

• Rated 3 stars

“I thought this book was a novel concept. Usually we read about a President's time in office, but this book focused on how Presidents impacted the office after their terms were over through their influence and mentor-ship over the "new guy" ”

• Rated 0 stars

“Great insights into the Presidencies from Hoover to Obama.”

• Rated 0 stars

“Started this but didn't want to read it all; book club choice”

• Rated 3 stars

“This book was hard to get into, but it warmed up on me. The inside details on the relationships between ex-presidents and presidents were interesting and unexpected. Presidents of opposite parties seemed to get along together better than presidents of the same parties. Throughout the book the impression was that ex-presidents have, as a rule, been much less political and sometimes way more productive than they were as president. An interesting insight into human nature. Too bad we can't get active politicians to behave this way.”

• Rated 0 stars

“insightful”

• Rated 0 stars

“Listened to the Audible version. Interesting and detailed glimpse of the evolving relationships and machinations between past, present and sometimes future presidents. Sprinkled in are some very interesting moments before and after the old guy leaves and the new guy starts. Also included are many stories about the role of former presidents have played in a wide range of global skirmishes. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“A good analysis of the leveraging of many political tools, even adversaries, to break down barriers at the highest levels. ”