The Handy Presidents Answer Book

The Handy Answer Book

by David L. Hudson Jr.

Offering an engaging overview of the U.S. presidency and all past presidents, this valuable tome asks a variety of questions, from the trivial to the topical, that further expands one’s understanding of America’s highest office. With an intriguing range of questions about religious affiliations, unusual backgrounds, and tidbits of odd trivia—from Which president killed a man in a duel? to Who was the first Baptist to become president?—this reference also covers former presidential candidates, first ladies, key appointments, and election results. Revealing important answers to foreign policy questions and decisions made during times of war, as well as presidential actions in times of economic boom and bust, isolationism and expansion, and economic policies and unusual anecdotes, this fun and absorbing anthology provides a thorough overview of more than 200 years of U.S. presidents.

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

David L. Hudson Jr. is a scholar at the First Amendment Center. Hudson writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications devoted to First Amendment issues. He is the author or co-author of more than 30 books, including several on the U.S. Supreme Court, the Constitution and student rights.

He is a First Amendment contributing editor for the American Bar Association’s Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases. Hudson graduated from Duke University in 1990 and obtained a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1994. He teaches First Amendment classes at Nashville School of Law and Vanderbilt University Law School. He also teaches at Middle Tennessee State University.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great resource for information on the presidents. It's chock full of information and maybe a little too chock full. This book is DENSE and not one that is easy to read cover to cover, but it's great if someone wants some information on a particular president or has a fascination with America's leaders.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Item Title: Hudson, D. L. (2011). The handy presidents answer book. (2nd ed.). Canton, MI: Visible Ink Press.

Citation created by: Michele Powell

Format: Handbook

Call Number: 973.09 HUD

Description: A handbook to satisfy any teenager’s inquiry about all of the United States presidents and the presidential process.

Professional Review: Mueller, M. (2012). Reference Review [Review of the book The handy presidents answer book, by D.L. Hudson]. School Library Journal, 58(2), 78.

Relevance and Relationship: This book would be appropriate for the collection analyzed during my field experience because the collection is lacking trivia handbooks. Print edition $21.95 and e-book $18.95.

Purpose: The purpose of this reference is to help students answer their presidential inquiries. Appropriate for grades 7-10.

Validity: Reviewed in School Library Journal

Format: Paperback print edition and e-book edition

Arrangement and Presentation: Question and answer format, the first three chapters provide background knowledge of the origin and duties of the United States presidency, campaign and nomination history, presidential election history. The remaining chapters offer a view into each of our president’s lives before and after they were president. Each president has his own chapter which includes a photo or illustration of that president.

Diversity: The presentation of material helps met the needs of struggling readers.