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  A good, readable presidential biography--know one?

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  Just finished Doris Goodwin Kearn's No Ordinary Time and it was great. It helped that there was a strong female presence (obviously Eleanor) in the book and that it read like a novel. Read the Carl Bernstein bio of Hillary Clinton and that was great too. Anyone know of anything that reads almost like fiction?
  
  Thanks!

  Marcy G started this discussion 5 years ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  Kate MacDonald 

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  Truman by David McCullough is one of the best books ever.

  posted 5 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Bohemianvegan 

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    I'd like to get a copy of that.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )

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  David H 

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  Agreed on Roosevelt. TRex is a great read about a true character. I also enjoyed John Adams, but it could be considered dry.

  posted 5 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Sanaa 

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  David McCullough is VERY readable. Even the 700-page "John Adams" was easy to get through and very interesting.

  posted 5 years ago. ( permalink )

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  PJ 

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  I have the brilliant (?) idea to read a biography on each of the presidents... starting, of course, with Washington. I see there are quite a few... anyone know a good one? PJ

  posted 5 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Matt McBrien 

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    I really enjoyed "His Excellency: George Washington" by Joseph J. Ellis.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )

• Ken T 

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  Richard Reeves has two great books, President Kennedy: Profile of Power and President Nixon: Alone in the White House.

  posted 5 years ago. ( permalink )

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  woman of the word 

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  You might enjoy Dearest Friend by Lynne Withey. It's about the relationship between John and Abigail Adams, particularly focusing on their correspondence. I read it right after I read John McCullough's book on John Adams (also a great read), and enjoyed it thoroughly.

  posted 5 years ago. ( permalink )

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    Bennnc63 

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    Just watching the John Adams mini series, and I am intrested in a Adams bio. Which of the 2 books you mentioned to you consider the best??

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )

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  two-sticks 

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  I'm just finishing re-reading "The Arrogance of Power, the secret world of Richard Nixon" by Anthony Summers. My second read-through, back to back, this time taking notes for a project. Nixon has fascinated me for over 30 years and I've read quit a bit on him; Summers' book gave me many new details and insights into who must be the oddest, most tormented man to have been President. Don't know if this would be such a page-turner for someone not so fascinated by Nixon but I recommend this most highly.

  posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Jamie B 

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  The Doro Bush Koch book about George H. W. Bush (her Dad) is very readable. It's called My Father My President.

  posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )

• Narom d 

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  "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" and "TRex" by Edmund Morris are SUPERB reading! Also another good read is "Mornings on Horseback" by David McCullough detailed TR's early years up to the time he became President.
  
  Ulysses S. Grant, A Personal Memoirs is a must read for all lovers of auto-bio; as well as "Grant" by Jean Edward Smith.
  

  posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )

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  rxbfan 

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  this isn't a biography, but its about teddy roosevelt and his exploration in the amazon. Its called the river of doubt. Great book! quick read and very gripping and a true story.

  posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Brett L. Abrams 

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  Enjoyed Truman by David McCullough and his Adams is very good too.

  posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )

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