Review of “American Patriarch: The Life of George Washington” by H. W. Brands
Released two weeks ago, H.W. Brands’s “American Patriarch: The Life of George Washington” is the most significant biography of our …
Author Archives: Steve
Harrison R. Tyler (1928 – 2025)
Harrison Ruffin Tyler – the last living grandson of the 10th president John Tyler – died this past Sunday evening, …
Related Reading: “Mark Twain” by Ron Chernow
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow 1,174 pages Penguin Press Published: May 13, 2025 Until now, readers enchanted by Mark Twain’s …
James E. Carter (1924-2024)
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died today at the age of 100. He was the oldest-ever …
Review of “John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People” by Randall Woods
Randall Wood’s biography “John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People” was published this summer. Woods is a Distinguished …
Related Reading: “King: A Life” by Jonathan Eig
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig 688 pages Farrar, Straus and Giroux Published: May 2023 Jonathan Eig’s “King: A Life” …
Review of “Reagan: His Life and Legend” by Max Boot
Max Boot’s long-awaited “Reagan: His Life and Legend” was released two weeks ago. Boot is an author, historian and Senior …
Related Reading: “Into the Amazon: The Life of Cândido Rondon” by Larry Rohter
Into the Amazon: The Life of Cândido Rondon, Trailblazing Explorer, Scientist, Statesman, and Conservationist by Larry Rohter 480 pages W.W. …
Related Reading: “Jackie: Public, Private, Secret” by J. Randy Taraborrelli
Jackie: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli 528 pages St. Martin’s Press Published: July 2023 Released this past summer, …
Review of “The Trials of Harry S. Truman” by Jeffrey Frank
Published in 2022, Jeffrey Frank’s “The Trials of Harry S. Truman: The Extraordinary Presidency of an Ordinary Man, 1945-1953” offers …
Related Reading: “Milton Friedman: The Last Conservative” by Jennifer Burns
Milton Friedman: The Last Conservative by Jennifer Burns 592 pages Farrar, Straus and Giroux Published: Nov 2023 Recently released, Jennifer …
Review of “An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford” by Richard Norton Smith
Published earlier this year, Richard Norton Smith’s long-anticipated biography of Gerald Ford is a valuable addition to the small collection …
Unrelated Reading: “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson 688 pages Simon & Schuster Published: Sept 2023 Despite my bias against biographies of people …
Related Reading: “Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams” by Louisa Thomas
Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams by Louisa Thomas 512 pages Penguin Books Published: April 2016 Fans of the …
Review of “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle” by Jon Meacham
Published last fall, “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle” is Jon Meacham’s review of the 16th …
My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies 