What do you think?
Rate this book
To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower—The New York Times Bestselling Biography of the Former President from the ... Political Anchor
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and Fox News Channel’s Chief Political Anchor, a captivating biography of Theodore Roosevelt, the stalwart naturalist, writer, ranchman, soldier, president, and avatar of our modern era.
There has never been a president like Theodore Roosevelt. An iconoclast shaped by fervent ideals, his early life seems ripped from the pages of an adventure abandoning his place in the New York aristocracy, he was drawn to the thrill of the West, becoming an honorary cowboy who won the respect of the rough men of the plains, adopting their code of authenticity and courage. As a New York State legislator, he fought corruption and patronage. As New York City police commissioner, he walked the beat at night to hold his men accountable, and as New York governor, he butted heads with the old guard to bring fresh air to a state mired in political corruption. He was also an obsessive naturalist, conservationist, and hunter who collected hundreds of specimens of birds and animals throughout his life. He was a soldier and commander who led a regiment of “Rough Riders” to victory in the Spanish-American War, a show of leadership and bravery that put him on the national map. As president, he brought energy, laughter, and bold ideas to the White House, pursuing a vigorous agenda that established America as a leader on the world stage.
Meticulously researched and grippingly written, Bret Baier’s exquisite book reveals the storied life of a leader whose passion, daring, and prowess left an indelible mark on the fabric of our country and reimagined the possibilities of the presidency.
There has never been a president like Theodore Roosevelt. An iconoclast shaped by fervent ideals, his early life seems ripped from the pages of an adventure abandoning his place in the New York aristocracy, he was drawn to the thrill of the West, becoming an honorary cowboy who won the respect of the rough men of the plains, adopting their code of authenticity and courage. As a New York State legislator, he fought corruption and patronage. As New York City police commissioner, he walked the beat at night to hold his men accountable, and as New York governor, he butted heads with the old guard to bring fresh air to a state mired in political corruption. He was also an obsessive naturalist, conservationist, and hunter who collected hundreds of specimens of birds and animals throughout his life. He was a soldier and commander who led a regiment of “Rough Riders” to victory in the Spanish-American War, a show of leadership and bravery that put him on the national map. As president, he brought energy, laughter, and bold ideas to the White House, pursuing a vigorous agenda that established America as a leader on the world stage.
Meticulously researched and grippingly written, Bret Baier’s exquisite book reveals the storied life of a leader whose passion, daring, and prowess left an indelible mark on the fabric of our country and reimagined the possibilities of the presidency.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2025
709 people are currently reading
1656 people want to read
About the author
Bret Baier
13 books202 followersWilliam Bret Baier is an American journalist and the host of Special Report with Bret Baier on the Fox News Channel and the chief political anchor for Fox. He previously worked as the network's Chief White House Correspondent and Pentagon correspondent.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 13, 2025
Teddy Roosevelt is one of the most covered people in history when it comes to biographies. I actually looked this up! He's not quite Winston Churchill, but he's no slouch. The question becomes, what is there left to say? In Bret Baier's To Rescue the American Spirit, it turns out how you say it might be what is most important.
It is generally accepted that the gold standard of Roosevelt bios is the three volumes written by Edmund Morris. However, even a history nerd like me recognizes that I could never get most people to sign up for somewhere around 2,000 pages worth of old Teddy.
This is where Baier's biography can fill a void while also giving a little bit of updated focus for today's times. In fact, Baier takes a moment in the introduction to put a finer point on what we (including a very specific person) can learn from TR. However, the author wisely dispenses with contemporary politics to illuminate the reader on how Roosevelt inspired a country between two extremely consequential wars for the U.S.
All of the major moments of Roosevelt's life are covered, but Baier does find a few places to drop in some less covered events like the medication of the Russo-Japanese War. The author also doesn't try to hold up Teddy as a beacon of pure virtue. He was a spotlight hog, and his total inability to truly connect with his daughter Alice prove he was human after all. (Side note: Alice Roosevelt might have spawned some of the greatest exasperated parenting quotes of all time.) It's all here, and you should give it a read.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Mariner Books.)
It is generally accepted that the gold standard of Roosevelt bios is the three volumes written by Edmund Morris. However, even a history nerd like me recognizes that I could never get most people to sign up for somewhere around 2,000 pages worth of old Teddy.
This is where Baier's biography can fill a void while also giving a little bit of updated focus for today's times. In fact, Baier takes a moment in the introduction to put a finer point on what we (including a very specific person) can learn from TR. However, the author wisely dispenses with contemporary politics to illuminate the reader on how Roosevelt inspired a country between two extremely consequential wars for the U.S.
All of the major moments of Roosevelt's life are covered, but Baier does find a few places to drop in some less covered events like the medication of the Russo-Japanese War. The author also doesn't try to hold up Teddy as a beacon of pure virtue. He was a spotlight hog, and his total inability to truly connect with his daughter Alice prove he was human after all. (Side note: Alice Roosevelt might have spawned some of the greatest exasperated parenting quotes of all time.) It's all here, and you should give it a read.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Mariner Books.)
September 3, 2025
There are no shortage of books dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt, and for good reasons. Roosevelt, his ascendency to the office of President of the U.S. not withstanding, emerges as a colorful and towering figure who is far more than the oft ascribed quote accorded him, “Walk softly…and carry a big stick”.
More than just another biography of a fascinating individual, this book does something remarkable—it transcends the period in time that Roosevelt lived and in rather subtle fashion, and without being overtly political/polemical, serves to remind the reader that Roosevelt’s passion and philosophy as it relates to positioning the USA as a global leader for individual freedom and Liberty and in galvanizing the populace to strive for societal betterment is a universal constant—his belief system being as apropos then as it was in his time.
The book is filled with remarkable episodes from Roosevelt’s life, beginning with personal familial tragedy to his rising up in the political arena to become an effective anti-corruption leading police commissioner, NY Governor and the nation’s president. We learn also much of his striving, his angst and his ceaseless drive to live multiple lives, as a rancher, explorer, big game hunter, botanist, a cavalry officer leading a decisive charge up San Juan Hill in a pivotal campaign in Cuba during the Spanish American War of 1898, and even served as arbitrator in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. If that weren’t enough, he wielded a monumental hand in procuring the development of the Panama Canal.
This is one book which will, in the words of one observer, make one realize the relevance in how while “Washington oversaw the birth of the nation, and Lincoln oversaw its salvation, Roosevelt ushered in the galvanizing of the nation”.
(My appreciation extended to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a non-biased review).
More than just another biography of a fascinating individual, this book does something remarkable—it transcends the period in time that Roosevelt lived and in rather subtle fashion, and without being overtly political/polemical, serves to remind the reader that Roosevelt’s passion and philosophy as it relates to positioning the USA as a global leader for individual freedom and Liberty and in galvanizing the populace to strive for societal betterment is a universal constant—his belief system being as apropos then as it was in his time.
The book is filled with remarkable episodes from Roosevelt’s life, beginning with personal familial tragedy to his rising up in the political arena to become an effective anti-corruption leading police commissioner, NY Governor and the nation’s president. We learn also much of his striving, his angst and his ceaseless drive to live multiple lives, as a rancher, explorer, big game hunter, botanist, a cavalry officer leading a decisive charge up San Juan Hill in a pivotal campaign in Cuba during the Spanish American War of 1898, and even served as arbitrator in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. If that weren’t enough, he wielded a monumental hand in procuring the development of the Panama Canal.
This is one book which will, in the words of one observer, make one realize the relevance in how while “Washington oversaw the birth of the nation, and Lincoln oversaw its salvation, Roosevelt ushered in the galvanizing of the nation”.
(My appreciation extended to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a non-biased review).
December 28, 2025
In To Rescue the American Spirit, Bret Baier delivers a fast-paced, richly detailed biography of Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, portraying him as the embodiment of an energetic, forward-looking, moral leadership that pushed America into its role as a superpower. Baier, better known as a Fox News anchor and political journalist, draws on archival research and evocative storytelling to bring Roosevelt vividly to life.
Baier’s Roosevelt is larger than life — a sickly, bespectacled child who overcomes frail health to become a tireless reformer, naturalist, soldier, and president. Baier tracks Roosevelt from his gilded but troubled youth in New York, to his dramatic flight west, to his time as New York City police commissioner walking the beat at night, then as governor battling the old guard, and ultimately to the White House after the assassination of President McKinley. Baier emphasizes Roosevelt’s moral core, his belief in virtue over wealth, his stewardship ethos, and his muscular brand of statesmanship: “speak softly, and carry a big stick.”
A particularly poignant thread in Baier’s narrative is Roosevelt’s personal tragedy. On February 14, 1884, Roosevelt lost both his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee, and his mother, Martha “Mittie” Roosevelt, on the same day.
Baier treats this catastrophe not just as a biographical footnote, but as the crucible out of which Roosevelt’s resilience and sense of purpose arose. In the wake of the double death, a heartbroken Roosevelt reportedly marked the day in his journal with a large “X” and confessed, “for joy or for sorrow my life has now been lived out.”
Baier also explores Roosevelt’s complicated relationship with his daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, who's birth was bookended by two deaths. Baier doesn’t shy away from Roosevelt’s emotional distance: he largely handed over her upbringing to his sister, resembled her to her departed mother, and later quipped, “I can do one of two things. I can be president of the United States, or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both.”
Baier’s depiction captures the tension between Roosevelt’s public ambition and private vulnerability: his love for his daughter, but also his inability to fully reconcile his grief and responsibilities.
Beyond the personal, Baier excels at weaving Roosevelt’s public achievements into a broader national narrative. He charts Roosevelt’s conservationism, his pioneering of the Panama Canal, his role in brokering peace during the Russo-Japanese War, the launching of the “Great White Fleet,” and his domestic reforms — all set against the backdrop of America’s rise.
Through these episodes, Baier argues that Roosevelt’s vision was deeply moral, rooted in duty, stewardship, and a belief in the common good.
Praise and Strengths
Many reviewers praise Baier’s book as a compelling, accessible, and urgently relevant biography. According to a RealClearPolitics review, Roosevelt “comes bursting out of the book on every page,” and Baier’s research yields “nuggets … lost to history,” shaping the portrait of a complex but heroic figure.
The Washington Examiner similarly describes it as a “nonstop page-turner” with vivid detail.
Washington Examiner
Baier’s narrative flair, combined with his journalistic discipline, gives the book both momentum and gravitas — and, for many, a sense that Roosevelt’s spirit still matters today.
Criticisms and Tensions
Still, the book is not without its flaws. One major criticism stems less from the scholarship than from Baier’s framing, given his role as a Fox News figure. While Baier clearly grounds his narrative in historical evidence, his political lens sometimes seems to steer the story toward partisan resonance. In his Fox News commentary, Baier explicitly draws parallels between Roosevelt and President Donald Trump — invoking their “larger-than-life” personalities, their combative relationships with the press, and their willingness to disrupt the political status quo.
This comparison raises uncomfortable questions. Roosevelt and Trump lived in radically different contexts, with different ideologies and objectives. Roosevelt’s “big stick” diplomacy, conservation legacy, and progressive reforms do not map cleanly onto Trump’s nationalist populism, media strategy, or policy agenda. By leaning into these analogies, Baier risks flattening Roosevelt into a vehicle for contemporary political messaging, rather than letting him remain a fully historical figure.
Moreover, Baier’s emotional storytelling sometimes glosses over more critical or controversial aspects of Roosevelt’s character. For example, while Baier emphasizes Roosevelt’s moral clarity, he does not deeply interrogate the contradictions in Roosevelt’s imperialist ambitions, or his paternalism toward marginalized groups. Roosevelt’s conservationism, while visionary in many respects, also carried elitist undertones; his social reform impulses were mixed with classist assumptions. A more critical biography would engage with these tensions more directly.
Another tension lies in how Baier handles Roosevelt’s personal grief over his wife and mother. The tragedy of February 1884 is powerfully rendered — but Baier might overuse it as a turning point in Roosevelt’s life, simplifying how grief shaped him. Historical evidence suggests that Roosevelt’s coping with loss was more complex: he burned letters, erased much of his diary about Alice Lee, and never fully spoke of his first wife to his daughter.
While Baier acknowledges these facts, he tends to frame them in a heroic redemption arc, rather than exploring long-term emotional damage.
Finally, Baier’s status as a Fox News anchor naturally colors the book’s reception and purpose. His journalistic instincts — to dramatize, to find relevance to the present, to offer moral lessons — sometimes overshadow pure historiography. Critics might reasonably ask whether this is a biography first, or a political manifesto dressed as history.
On the Trump-Roosevelt Comparison
Baier’s decision to compare Roosevelt to Trump is perhaps the most controversial choice in the book and his public commentary. He points to shared traits: forceful communication, disdain for conventional media, and a populist streak.
But these parallels are superficial and risk misleading readers.
Here are a few key ways in which Trump and Roosevelt are not similar, despite Baier’s framing:
Policy Vision and Ideological Foundations
Roosevelt was a progressive republican, deeply invested in social reform, trust-busting, conservation, and international peace. His “New Nationalism” emphasized civic responsibility, public welfare, and regulation. Trump’s ideology, by contrast, has centered more on deregulation, nationalist populism, and transactional diplomacy. Their foundational beliefs about government's role are fundamentally different.
Foreign Policy Approach
Roosevelt believed in America’s responsibility to lead, broker peace, and project strength through diplomacy and moral purpose. His “speak softly, carry a big stick” metaphor encapsulated a vision of leadership grounded in restraint but readiness. Trump’s foreign policy, though sometimes transactional and forceful, lacks that consistent moral stewardship; it has often been more unilateral and contractual than visionary.
Character and Legacy
Roosevelt’s legacy includes the conservation movement (establishing national parks), progressive reforms, and a long-term commitment to institution-building. His public service was driven by ideals, duty, and a belief in civic character. Trump’s legacy is still contested, but many of his decisions and rhetoric were more reactive, polarized, and focused on personal authority than institutional strengthening or long-term nation-building.
Conclusion
Bret Baier’s To Rescue the American Spirit is an ambitious and emotionally resonant biography of Theodore Roosevelt. It succeeds brilliantly in painting Roosevelt as a dynamic, passionate leader shaped by both triumph and tragedy. Baier’s journalistic style brings the story alive, and his use of archival sources offers compelling insights into Roosevelt’s character and life.
Yet the book is not without shortcomings. Baier’s role as a Fox News figure and political narrator colors the biography with a contemporary agenda — especially in his comparisons between Roosevelt and Donald Trump. These comparisons tend to obscure more than illuminate, flattening Roosevelt’s complexity and projecting modern partisan battles onto a very different era.
While Roosevelt and Trump may share certain performative traits, their core philosophies, motives, and legacies diverge sharply. The morally driven conservationist and international statesman Roosevelt has little in common with the transactional, polarizing populist Trump, beyond surface-level similarities.
In the end, Baier has delivered a vivid and readable portrait of one of America’s most consequential presidents — but readers seeking a dispassionate, critical, academic biography may find his framing too infused with present-day politics. And by tying Roosevelt too closely to Trump, Baier risks diluting Roosevelt’s own history in service of contemporary narratives.
Baier’s Roosevelt is larger than life — a sickly, bespectacled child who overcomes frail health to become a tireless reformer, naturalist, soldier, and president. Baier tracks Roosevelt from his gilded but troubled youth in New York, to his dramatic flight west, to his time as New York City police commissioner walking the beat at night, then as governor battling the old guard, and ultimately to the White House after the assassination of President McKinley. Baier emphasizes Roosevelt’s moral core, his belief in virtue over wealth, his stewardship ethos, and his muscular brand of statesmanship: “speak softly, and carry a big stick.”
A particularly poignant thread in Baier’s narrative is Roosevelt’s personal tragedy. On February 14, 1884, Roosevelt lost both his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee, and his mother, Martha “Mittie” Roosevelt, on the same day.
Baier treats this catastrophe not just as a biographical footnote, but as the crucible out of which Roosevelt’s resilience and sense of purpose arose. In the wake of the double death, a heartbroken Roosevelt reportedly marked the day in his journal with a large “X” and confessed, “for joy or for sorrow my life has now been lived out.”
Baier also explores Roosevelt’s complicated relationship with his daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, who's birth was bookended by two deaths. Baier doesn’t shy away from Roosevelt’s emotional distance: he largely handed over her upbringing to his sister, resembled her to her departed mother, and later quipped, “I can do one of two things. I can be president of the United States, or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both.”
Baier’s depiction captures the tension between Roosevelt’s public ambition and private vulnerability: his love for his daughter, but also his inability to fully reconcile his grief and responsibilities.
Beyond the personal, Baier excels at weaving Roosevelt’s public achievements into a broader national narrative. He charts Roosevelt’s conservationism, his pioneering of the Panama Canal, his role in brokering peace during the Russo-Japanese War, the launching of the “Great White Fleet,” and his domestic reforms — all set against the backdrop of America’s rise.
Through these episodes, Baier argues that Roosevelt’s vision was deeply moral, rooted in duty, stewardship, and a belief in the common good.
Praise and Strengths
Many reviewers praise Baier’s book as a compelling, accessible, and urgently relevant biography. According to a RealClearPolitics review, Roosevelt “comes bursting out of the book on every page,” and Baier’s research yields “nuggets … lost to history,” shaping the portrait of a complex but heroic figure.
The Washington Examiner similarly describes it as a “nonstop page-turner” with vivid detail.
Washington Examiner
Baier’s narrative flair, combined with his journalistic discipline, gives the book both momentum and gravitas — and, for many, a sense that Roosevelt’s spirit still matters today.
Criticisms and Tensions
Still, the book is not without its flaws. One major criticism stems less from the scholarship than from Baier’s framing, given his role as a Fox News figure. While Baier clearly grounds his narrative in historical evidence, his political lens sometimes seems to steer the story toward partisan resonance. In his Fox News commentary, Baier explicitly draws parallels between Roosevelt and President Donald Trump — invoking their “larger-than-life” personalities, their combative relationships with the press, and their willingness to disrupt the political status quo.
This comparison raises uncomfortable questions. Roosevelt and Trump lived in radically different contexts, with different ideologies and objectives. Roosevelt’s “big stick” diplomacy, conservation legacy, and progressive reforms do not map cleanly onto Trump’s nationalist populism, media strategy, or policy agenda. By leaning into these analogies, Baier risks flattening Roosevelt into a vehicle for contemporary political messaging, rather than letting him remain a fully historical figure.
Moreover, Baier’s emotional storytelling sometimes glosses over more critical or controversial aspects of Roosevelt’s character. For example, while Baier emphasizes Roosevelt’s moral clarity, he does not deeply interrogate the contradictions in Roosevelt’s imperialist ambitions, or his paternalism toward marginalized groups. Roosevelt’s conservationism, while visionary in many respects, also carried elitist undertones; his social reform impulses were mixed with classist assumptions. A more critical biography would engage with these tensions more directly.
Another tension lies in how Baier handles Roosevelt’s personal grief over his wife and mother. The tragedy of February 1884 is powerfully rendered — but Baier might overuse it as a turning point in Roosevelt’s life, simplifying how grief shaped him. Historical evidence suggests that Roosevelt’s coping with loss was more complex: he burned letters, erased much of his diary about Alice Lee, and never fully spoke of his first wife to his daughter.
While Baier acknowledges these facts, he tends to frame them in a heroic redemption arc, rather than exploring long-term emotional damage.
Finally, Baier’s status as a Fox News anchor naturally colors the book’s reception and purpose. His journalistic instincts — to dramatize, to find relevance to the present, to offer moral lessons — sometimes overshadow pure historiography. Critics might reasonably ask whether this is a biography first, or a political manifesto dressed as history.
On the Trump-Roosevelt Comparison
Baier’s decision to compare Roosevelt to Trump is perhaps the most controversial choice in the book and his public commentary. He points to shared traits: forceful communication, disdain for conventional media, and a populist streak.
But these parallels are superficial and risk misleading readers.
Here are a few key ways in which Trump and Roosevelt are not similar, despite Baier’s framing:
Policy Vision and Ideological Foundations
Roosevelt was a progressive republican, deeply invested in social reform, trust-busting, conservation, and international peace. His “New Nationalism” emphasized civic responsibility, public welfare, and regulation. Trump’s ideology, by contrast, has centered more on deregulation, nationalist populism, and transactional diplomacy. Their foundational beliefs about government's role are fundamentally different.
Foreign Policy Approach
Roosevelt believed in America’s responsibility to lead, broker peace, and project strength through diplomacy and moral purpose. His “speak softly, carry a big stick” metaphor encapsulated a vision of leadership grounded in restraint but readiness. Trump’s foreign policy, though sometimes transactional and forceful, lacks that consistent moral stewardship; it has often been more unilateral and contractual than visionary.
Character and Legacy
Roosevelt’s legacy includes the conservation movement (establishing national parks), progressive reforms, and a long-term commitment to institution-building. His public service was driven by ideals, duty, and a belief in civic character. Trump’s legacy is still contested, but many of his decisions and rhetoric were more reactive, polarized, and focused on personal authority than institutional strengthening or long-term nation-building.
Conclusion
Bret Baier’s To Rescue the American Spirit is an ambitious and emotionally resonant biography of Theodore Roosevelt. It succeeds brilliantly in painting Roosevelt as a dynamic, passionate leader shaped by both triumph and tragedy. Baier’s journalistic style brings the story alive, and his use of archival sources offers compelling insights into Roosevelt’s character and life.
Yet the book is not without shortcomings. Baier’s role as a Fox News figure and political narrator colors the biography with a contemporary agenda — especially in his comparisons between Roosevelt and Donald Trump. These comparisons tend to obscure more than illuminate, flattening Roosevelt’s complexity and projecting modern partisan battles onto a very different era.
While Roosevelt and Trump may share certain performative traits, their core philosophies, motives, and legacies diverge sharply. The morally driven conservationist and international statesman Roosevelt has little in common with the transactional, polarizing populist Trump, beyond surface-level similarities.
In the end, Baier has delivered a vivid and readable portrait of one of America’s most consequential presidents — but readers seeking a dispassionate, critical, academic biography may find his framing too infused with present-day politics. And by tying Roosevelt too closely to Trump, Baier risks diluting Roosevelt’s own history in service of contemporary narratives.
December 16, 2025
Disclaimer: I don’t watch Fox News (or any cable); Bret Baier’s role there had no bearing on my choice to read this book. Regardless of your political persuasion, this book has something for any reader interested in history, politics, conservation, fighting corruption, or just doing the right thing.
I really enjoyed this well-written biography! It is heartbreaking to read of the challenges and tragedies in Roosevelt’s life - and inspiring to see how he overcame them to become a great leader. Baier and Whitney are celebratory of Roosevelt’s many accomplishments while remaining clear-eyed about his (and his family’s) faults. Brash yet thoughtful, wealthy yet compassionate, Republican yet progressive, devoted to preserving America and eager to fight on behalf of the oppressed worldwide, Roosevelt was a complex man. This biography does an excellent job capturing his essence: a man of integrity and boldness who practiced what he preached. He lived by his morals, not a political party’s dictates. This book is not naive, but nonetheless refreshingly hopeful, and much needed today. Pretty much my only complaint is that I wish it had been longer!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.
I really enjoyed this well-written biography! It is heartbreaking to read of the challenges and tragedies in Roosevelt’s life - and inspiring to see how he overcame them to become a great leader. Baier and Whitney are celebratory of Roosevelt’s many accomplishments while remaining clear-eyed about his (and his family’s) faults. Brash yet thoughtful, wealthy yet compassionate, Republican yet progressive, devoted to preserving America and eager to fight on behalf of the oppressed worldwide, Roosevelt was a complex man. This biography does an excellent job capturing his essence: a man of integrity and boldness who practiced what he preached. He lived by his morals, not a political party’s dictates. This book is not naive, but nonetheless refreshingly hopeful, and much needed today. Pretty much my only complaint is that I wish it had been longer!
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.
November 6, 2025
If you drink in American history, this is a great one. I’m a lifelong history enthusiast & Bret Baier surprised me as an author. I will read more of his books.
5⭐️because there’s no way to objectively rate a true story with a great outcome. I can’t argue with his success in his time period.
5⭐️because there’s no way to objectively rate a true story with a great outcome. I can’t argue with his success in his time period.
December 6, 2025
I always love a good TR book and Bret's did not disappoint. I highly recommend as a read.
I did pickup one minor error. Eisenhower named Camp David after his grandson, not his son.
I did pickup one minor error. Eisenhower named Camp David after his grandson, not his son.
Read
June 25, 2025A fast-paced and patriotic portrait of Theodore Roosevelt, this biography leans into the bold, adventurous spirit that made him one of America’s most dynamic presidents.
From cowboy to war hero to reformer to president, Roosevelt’s life reads like fiction—and this book captures that energy well. Baier focuses heavily on TR’s leadership, courage, and accomplishments, offering an inspiring and accessible take on his legacy. It's especially strong in showing how Roosevelt challenged corruption and shook up the political system with charisma and fearlessness.
That said, it’s a very reverent account. Readers looking for deeper nuance or a broader political critique may find it a bit one-sided. But if you’re looking for a clean, clear, and celebratory overview of Roosevelt’s life, this delivers.
A solid recommendation for fans of presidential biographies, leadership studies, or readers new to TR’s legacy.
From cowboy to war hero to reformer to president, Roosevelt’s life reads like fiction—and this book captures that energy well. Baier focuses heavily on TR’s leadership, courage, and accomplishments, offering an inspiring and accessible take on his legacy. It's especially strong in showing how Roosevelt challenged corruption and shook up the political system with charisma and fearlessness.
That said, it’s a very reverent account. Readers looking for deeper nuance or a broader political critique may find it a bit one-sided. But if you’re looking for a clean, clear, and celebratory overview of Roosevelt’s life, this delivers.
A solid recommendation for fans of presidential biographies, leadership studies, or readers new to TR’s legacy.
September 3, 2025
To Rescue the American Spirit by Bret Baier.
I'll preface this by admitting that my husband is the history buff, not me. However, I do generally enjoy biographies and memoirs and I've always admired Teddy Roosevelt for his conservationism and unconventionality. Several years ago, I did read and enjoy his book "The Rough Riders."
I thought the author did a good job of describing Roosevelt's irrepressible personality and strong commitment to his personal beliefs and moral code. These traits of Roosevelt's shine through an impressive span of historical events that occurred throughout his lifetime, including: the Civil War, with family members divided on both sides; the Spanish-American War in which Roosevelt served with the Rough Riders; the building of the Panama Canal; the sinking of the Titanic; and WWI where he lost his son Quentin. It's stunning the amount of strife, changes on a world-wide scale, and technological advancements that happened during Roosevelt's span of years. I'll admit that I didn't realize the scope of history that happened in this time frame until I read this book. That being said, most of that information can be found in a Wikipedia article. However, what sets this book apart is how the author makes Roosevelt's character come alive. I didn't always agree with Roosevelt's decisions, but I did always respect his passionate commitment to putting his country and other's best interests first.
The author did make an attempt to bring relevance in respect to current political times. In the Prologue and Final Word, Baier makes an unconvincing comparison between Roosevelt and Trump. However, that's the extent of the brief correlation.
4/5 stars. Informative and engaging, but at times a little bit dry and repetitive. I've not read any other biographies on Teddy Roosevelt, so I have no other comparisons, but in my opinion this book was well worth the read, and I would consider reading other books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bret Baier, and Mariner books for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I'll preface this by admitting that my husband is the history buff, not me. However, I do generally enjoy biographies and memoirs and I've always admired Teddy Roosevelt for his conservationism and unconventionality. Several years ago, I did read and enjoy his book "The Rough Riders."
I thought the author did a good job of describing Roosevelt's irrepressible personality and strong commitment to his personal beliefs and moral code. These traits of Roosevelt's shine through an impressive span of historical events that occurred throughout his lifetime, including: the Civil War, with family members divided on both sides; the Spanish-American War in which Roosevelt served with the Rough Riders; the building of the Panama Canal; the sinking of the Titanic; and WWI where he lost his son Quentin. It's stunning the amount of strife, changes on a world-wide scale, and technological advancements that happened during Roosevelt's span of years. I'll admit that I didn't realize the scope of history that happened in this time frame until I read this book. That being said, most of that information can be found in a Wikipedia article. However, what sets this book apart is how the author makes Roosevelt's character come alive. I didn't always agree with Roosevelt's decisions, but I did always respect his passionate commitment to putting his country and other's best interests first.
The author did make an attempt to bring relevance in respect to current political times. In the Prologue and Final Word, Baier makes an unconvincing comparison between Roosevelt and Trump. However, that's the extent of the brief correlation.
4/5 stars. Informative and engaging, but at times a little bit dry and repetitive. I've not read any other biographies on Teddy Roosevelt, so I have no other comparisons, but in my opinion this book was well worth the read, and I would consider reading other books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bret Baier, and Mariner books for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 15, 2025
This is - as one of the blurbs on the dust jacket proclaims - the ultimate biography of Teddy Roosevelt, one of our more overlooked great Presidents. Of course, the Roosevelt scholar who has 399 volumes of Roosevelt books will say it's too short, but for 99% of the people, this is the book people will recommend if someone is interested in learning about Roosevelt.
Fox News broadcaster Bret Baier has once again zeroed in on an American President and given us a highly readable, entertaining and well-researched look at the subject. I certainly learned a few things and as with any book of this type, if the reader can say "I didn't know that" then the author has done his job. I found myself thinking that phrase numerous times. As a result, I have new-found respect for a President who epitomized his time in history. We could use a Teddy Roosevelt today.
We follow Roosevelt from his sickly childhood, to his days in the American West, through the Spanish-American War to the White House where he was determined to make his mark on history and did so quite well, then to his post-presidency days on a trip through the South American rain forest which almost cost him his life, to his final days, dying at the relatively young age of 60.
As are all of Baier's books, this one is meticulously researched and includes not just the highlights, but the low lights of that person's life. Who was the first president to fly in an airplane? If you guessed Roosevelt, you guessed correctly. Not until Kennedy was a president loved as much by the American people - there were no anti-Roosevelt protests like we see today - people knew he was looking out for their best interests and supported him. The reasons why are explored by Baier and if you didn't appreciate Teddy Roosevelt before, you will after reading this.
Ideal and recommended reading for the person who wants to learn more about Roosevelt, the political junkie, or someone who is just interested in reading a good, well-written historical biography.
Fox News broadcaster Bret Baier has once again zeroed in on an American President and given us a highly readable, entertaining and well-researched look at the subject. I certainly learned a few things and as with any book of this type, if the reader can say "I didn't know that" then the author has done his job. I found myself thinking that phrase numerous times. As a result, I have new-found respect for a President who epitomized his time in history. We could use a Teddy Roosevelt today.
We follow Roosevelt from his sickly childhood, to his days in the American West, through the Spanish-American War to the White House where he was determined to make his mark on history and did so quite well, then to his post-presidency days on a trip through the South American rain forest which almost cost him his life, to his final days, dying at the relatively young age of 60.
As are all of Baier's books, this one is meticulously researched and includes not just the highlights, but the low lights of that person's life. Who was the first president to fly in an airplane? If you guessed Roosevelt, you guessed correctly. Not until Kennedy was a president loved as much by the American people - there were no anti-Roosevelt protests like we see today - people knew he was looking out for their best interests and supported him. The reasons why are explored by Baier and if you didn't appreciate Teddy Roosevelt before, you will after reading this.
Ideal and recommended reading for the person who wants to learn more about Roosevelt, the political junkie, or someone who is just interested in reading a good, well-written historical biography.
August 17, 2025
I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. The book is scheduled for release on October 21, 2025.
I’ll admit up front that I may be a bit of an outlier when it comes to this book. While I certainly enjoyed reading it, I found it relatively short and somewhat surface-level. The author touches on the major highlights of Theodore Roosevelt’s life—his rise in politics, his role as a reformer, and his enduring legacy—but the treatment felt more like a sketch than a full portrait. By comparison, David S. Brown’s forthcoming biography, which I also had the chance to review, struck me as far more detailed, nuanced, and illuminating. That book dives deeply into Roosevelt’s world and provides the kind of context and analysis that helps a reader understand both the man and his times.
One aspect that gave me pause was the subtitle of this book. There’s no question that TR played a central role in shaping America into an emerging superpower, but the author’s argument in support of this theme felt underdeveloped. Rather than weaving a clear and persuasive case, the book presented the key milestones in Roosevelt’s career in quick succession, leaving me to piece together the larger significance on my own. Stronger biographies make their central claims unmistakably clear and then support them with layered evidence.
That said, there’s a certain value in this book’s brevity and accessibility. If you are new to Roosevelt or simply want a quick, readable overview of his life and accomplishments, this book will certainly serve that purpose. It reads smoothly, and in just a short sitting, you can come away with a sense of TR’s character and his impact on American history. However, if you are hoping for depth, complexity, and a more rigorous exploration of how Roosevelt truly shaped the United States, I would recommend looking to more comprehensive biographies for now.
I’ll admit up front that I may be a bit of an outlier when it comes to this book. While I certainly enjoyed reading it, I found it relatively short and somewhat surface-level. The author touches on the major highlights of Theodore Roosevelt’s life—his rise in politics, his role as a reformer, and his enduring legacy—but the treatment felt more like a sketch than a full portrait. By comparison, David S. Brown’s forthcoming biography, which I also had the chance to review, struck me as far more detailed, nuanced, and illuminating. That book dives deeply into Roosevelt’s world and provides the kind of context and analysis that helps a reader understand both the man and his times.
One aspect that gave me pause was the subtitle of this book. There’s no question that TR played a central role in shaping America into an emerging superpower, but the author’s argument in support of this theme felt underdeveloped. Rather than weaving a clear and persuasive case, the book presented the key milestones in Roosevelt’s career in quick succession, leaving me to piece together the larger significance on my own. Stronger biographies make their central claims unmistakably clear and then support them with layered evidence.
That said, there’s a certain value in this book’s brevity and accessibility. If you are new to Roosevelt or simply want a quick, readable overview of his life and accomplishments, this book will certainly serve that purpose. It reads smoothly, and in just a short sitting, you can come away with a sense of TR’s character and his impact on American history. However, if you are hoping for depth, complexity, and a more rigorous exploration of how Roosevelt truly shaped the United States, I would recommend looking to more comprehensive biographies for now.
October 22, 2025
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
This phrase was a part of Teddy Roosevelt's turn of the century speech in which he called Americans on the spirit of "daring greatly." The name of the speech was "The Strenuous Life" and was delivered on April 10, 1899, at the Hamilton Club in Chicago.
Teddy Roosevelt practiced what he preached. Despite a sickly, asthmatic childhood he became a rough and tumble adult who led his men to victory on San Juan Hill, served as president for nearly two full terms, and explored the River of Doubt in the Amazon.
This is my first read in Bret Baier's Presidential Series and I found it to be a fascinating read. To support my stars, here are the five divisions in this new biography:
🌟Part One: Gathering Strength
🌟Part Two: His Own Limelight
🌟Part Three: To Rescue the American Spirit
🌟Part Four: Daring Greatly
🌟Final Word
Roosevelt gave his "strenuous life" speech months before the birth of a new century, one that would herald America's elevation to leader of the free world. Today we are heading toward another significant moment--the 250th anniversary of the birth of America, on July 4, 2026. On this anniversary we will be reminded of our priceless values. And we'll surely be reminded of Theodore Roosevelt, whose most important idea was a call to toil among the brave.
Thank you to Mariner Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
This phrase was a part of Teddy Roosevelt's turn of the century speech in which he called Americans on the spirit of "daring greatly." The name of the speech was "The Strenuous Life" and was delivered on April 10, 1899, at the Hamilton Club in Chicago.
Teddy Roosevelt practiced what he preached. Despite a sickly, asthmatic childhood he became a rough and tumble adult who led his men to victory on San Juan Hill, served as president for nearly two full terms, and explored the River of Doubt in the Amazon.
This is my first read in Bret Baier's Presidential Series and I found it to be a fascinating read. To support my stars, here are the five divisions in this new biography:
🌟Part One: Gathering Strength
🌟Part Two: His Own Limelight
🌟Part Three: To Rescue the American Spirit
🌟Part Four: Daring Greatly
🌟Final Word
Roosevelt gave his "strenuous life" speech months before the birth of a new century, one that would herald America's elevation to leader of the free world. Today we are heading toward another significant moment--the 250th anniversary of the birth of America, on July 4, 2026. On this anniversary we will be reminded of our priceless values. And we'll surely be reminded of Theodore Roosevelt, whose most important idea was a call to toil among the brave.
Thank you to Mariner Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Two Theodore Roosevelt biographies released in 2025? Just a few weeks ago, I reviewed David S. Brown’s In the Arena (read the review here.) As someone who has devoured many Roosevelt histories, I found some new information about several major events in that book. Would I find out any other nuggets in To Rescue the American Spirit? Not so much, it turns out.
If you’ve never read a Theodore Roosevelt biography and don’t want to tackle Edmund Morris’ 2000-page trilogy of books about TR, this short biography will do. But don’t expect much substance to the tales of Teddy’s life; this book is a slick and surface-level biography that could only be written by a stuffed suit who anchors on Fox News.
I’m not sure why the host on a corrupt TV network that lies on a daily basis would want to profile Roosevelt, who was a champion of fighting big business and corruption. I guess it’s because Roosevelt was an imperialist who started the United States on its way to become a Superpower. Sure, he had progressive ideas about many things, which most modern Republicans choose to ignore (like conservation and environmental issues), but there’s a dichotomy to Roosevelt that isn’t fully developed in this book. Despite his love of nature and the outdoors, he also had no compunction to kill animals as trophies.
Overall, this is good biography that hits on the major points in Roosevelt’s life and career, but don’t expect much depth.
Two Theodore Roosevelt biographies released in 2025? Just a few weeks ago, I reviewed David S. Brown’s In the Arena (read the review here.) As someone who has devoured many Roosevelt histories, I found some new information about several major events in that book. Would I find out any other nuggets in To Rescue the American Spirit? Not so much, it turns out.
If you’ve never read a Theodore Roosevelt biography and don’t want to tackle Edmund Morris’ 2000-page trilogy of books about TR, this short biography will do. But don’t expect much substance to the tales of Teddy’s life; this book is a slick and surface-level biography that could only be written by a stuffed suit who anchors on Fox News.
I’m not sure why the host on a corrupt TV network that lies on a daily basis would want to profile Roosevelt, who was a champion of fighting big business and corruption. I guess it’s because Roosevelt was an imperialist who started the United States on its way to become a Superpower. Sure, he had progressive ideas about many things, which most modern Republicans choose to ignore (like conservation and environmental issues), but there’s a dichotomy to Roosevelt that isn’t fully developed in this book. Despite his love of nature and the outdoors, he also had no compunction to kill animals as trophies.
Overall, this is good biography that hits on the major points in Roosevelt’s life and career, but don’t expect much depth.
July 7, 2025
I'll start by saying I'm fascinated with Teddy Roosevelt and would love to have met him. This book is very well written with a nice variety of recollections of the Colonel some of which were new to me. This was a very detailed account of Colonel Roosevelt's life, the tragedies and triumphs that made him the man he was, and how his force of personality helped to guide the entire nation onto the world stage in the American way. Colonel Roosevelt took the reins of the nation and tamed the wild just enough to put us to the forefront of the world stage. One of the most famous Americans in the US or abroad we get to know the power of his personality, and how when he got an idea in his head he wouldn't stop until he accomplished what he set out to do, regardless of the opposition. He always loved a good fight, and he took a fledgling nation and brought it into its rightful place on the world stage. This serves as a good reminder of how terrible politics have been even 125 years ago as well as now. This book is well done and makes its points in a natural flowing narrative, very easily read. Definitely recommend whether you're a Teddy Roosevelt fan or not, you'll learn something you didn't know and will find an appreciation of our 26th president.
November 14, 2025
Overall, this is good biography that hits on the major points in Roosevelt’s life and career, but don’t expect much depth. Baier’s central thesis is that Roosevelt was not only a larger-than-life personality but also a visionary leader whose energetic reforms and robust foreign policy fundamentally transformed the United States. It is all here as the reader will find out that he was a champion of safer food, the father of conservation, a soldier and commander who led a regiment of “Rough Riders” to victory in the Spanish-American War and as president, he brought energy, laughter, and bold ideas to the White House, pursuing a vigorous agenda that established America as a leader on the world stage. Roosevelt’s buoyancy, lust for life, and patriotism combine to make for a rigorous read thanks to Baier’s writing and penchant for detail. If you’ve never read a Theodore Roosevelt biography and don’t want to tackle Edmund Morris’ 2000-page trilogy of books about TR, this short biography will do.
November 10, 2025
To Rescue the American Spirit is a biography by Bret Baier that explores the life of Theodore Roosevelt, detailing his transformation from an aristocratic New Yorker to a national hero who became president and established the U.S. as a world power. The book highlights Roosevelt's key experiences, from his time as a cowboy and soldier with the Rough Riders to his work fighting corruption as a police commissioner and governor, and his legacy of conservation and foreign policy during his presidency. It argues that Roosevelt's leadership and bold principles are relevant to America's challenges today. The book is well researched and informative of American during this era. What is refreshing about Mr. Bair's writing is the lack of politics in the book. The narrative is straight forward attempting to lift the spirits of the readers in this time of great turmoil. Instead of pushing a political agenda, he instructs in the greatness of America leading the world in civility and morality.
November 25, 2025
From Roosevelt’s resilience over tragedy to his heroism in war, from his midnight rambles as police commissioner to his dramatic fights for reform as governor and president, Baier summons Roosevelt’s irrepressible spirit. It’s a fresh and fascinating exploration of the extraordinary life of Teddy Roosevelt, revealing how his bold leadership thrust America onto the world stage and changed the course of world history. As president, he brought energy, laughter, and bold ideas to the White House, pursuing a vigorous agenda that established America as a leader on the world stage – from advancing the Panama Canal, brokering peace with Russia, and taking on business elites. Bret Baier’s exquisite book reveals the storied life of a leader whose passion, daring, and prowess left an indelible mark on the fabric of our country and reimagined the possibilities of the presidency.
December 29, 2025
Theodore Roosevelt looms large in U.S. History and Bret Baier produced an engaging telling of his life and legacy. If GoodReads allowed it, I would give this 3 and 1/2 stars. The pages turn quickly as the writing and narrative flows easily along. What is clear is the author admires his protagonist and tends to romanticize his life and character. Few weaknesses or shortcomings are mentioned. Baier also clearly draws lines between Roosevelt and the current President, Donald Trump, in his introductory and final pages. Thankfully these parallels rarely come up throughout the main text of the biography.
Overall, this is a solid telling of Theodore Roosevelt’s life, touching on all significant events of it. If you are unfamiliar with Roosevelt this book is a good and not overly detailed introduction.
Overall, this is a solid telling of Theodore Roosevelt’s life, touching on all significant events of it. If you are unfamiliar with Roosevelt this book is a good and not overly detailed introduction.
October 25, 2025
To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower
By Bret Baier
Bret Baier did his usual excellent work with this book about one of our greatest presidents. There have been countless books written about TR and the different aspects of his very full life. I have read many of them.
This book is a brief (by comparison) documentation of TR’s life. There are other more comprehensive works.
What makes Baier’s book worth reading is his analysis of certain key events. He did include a few details I had not heard before, or had heard differently. Baier provides narrative not just to recite dates and facts, but to explain why TR was so vitally important to the country, and how TR’s influence resonates today, or should.
By Bret Baier
Bret Baier did his usual excellent work with this book about one of our greatest presidents. There have been countless books written about TR and the different aspects of his very full life. I have read many of them.
This book is a brief (by comparison) documentation of TR’s life. There are other more comprehensive works.
What makes Baier’s book worth reading is his analysis of certain key events. He did include a few details I had not heard before, or had heard differently. Baier provides narrative not just to recite dates and facts, but to explain why TR was so vitally important to the country, and how TR’s influence resonates today, or should.
December 28, 2025
“I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph” - Teddy Roosevelt
I found this a great read. I didn’t realize how much influence Teddy had on the birth of our country. And sorry to say if it makes me stupid but I didn’t realize Teddy and Franklin were related. Maybe I missed that in history class somewhere back in high school 😁
I found this a great read. I didn’t realize how much influence Teddy had on the birth of our country. And sorry to say if it makes me stupid but I didn’t realize Teddy and Franklin were related. Maybe I missed that in history class somewhere back in high school 😁
November 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this read. Bair did a good job researching his subject and writing his findings in an easy to read tome. Teddy is one of my favorite U.S. Presidents. He worked hard and encouraged Americans to participate in life…just do something, and give it your all. His populism reminds me of today’s President Trump and his MAGA movement. A period of Teddy’s life mentioned in this book is his trip down the “River of Doubt,” a great read by a different author. Anyway, giving this book 4.5 Stars, but punching in 5.
December 17, 2025
Inspiring and pertinent to oir times I wish we had a TR now, one of the most moral presidents we have ever had. Not that he never made mistakes, but through policy and personality he aimed us at the "better angels" in our history. I attended Theodore Rossevelt High School in Chicago, but I do not remember ever hearing teachers or administration telling us why it was so named in his honor. Classes were cut in time so we could go to assembly and root for the football team "Rough Riders" but never were we told of what he for our country.
November 4, 2025
This is my eighth book about the life of who I consider the greatest president in American history. From Mornings on Horseback, about his early years, to this book that makes a case for our present healthy nation being a result of his leadership, I firmly believe his life needs to continue to be studied and his policies continue to be followed. I highly recommend this book.
December 16, 2025
I taught American History for 30+, Memphis, Tn and in the Bootheel of Missouri, and was truly impressed with with Bret’s version, MOST EXCELLENT! Theodore Roosevelt is in my top five favorite U.S. Presidents, real close 2nd behind George Washington, with Abraham Lincoln right behind Teddy. I wish to thank Bret and his staff for putting out a MOST WONDERFUL biography on Teddy Roosevelt!
October 23, 2025
I always admired him for creating national parks, national forests, and national monuments. Theodore Roosevelt was a larger-than-life character in every sense, dedicated to the ideal of American greatness. Here's a thorough look at a great man.
October 27, 2025
Fantastic book about a great man, husband father and American
A wonderful book that gives us a look at a fantastic President. It shows his personal and professional side, always honest and candid.
A wonderful book that gives us a look at a fantastic President. It shows his personal and professional side, always honest and candid.
November 2, 2025
There has never been an American life like Theodore Roosevelt’s. An iconoclast who embodied the energy and bursting potential of the young nation he lead, “Teddy” seemed ripped from the pages of an adventure novel.
November 12, 2025
Teddy was such an interesting person who was dedicated to good country and his ideals. He lived life fully and well! this book does a great job of covering the breadth of his life in a relatively short read
November 20, 2025
UNBELIEVABLY EXCELLENT
As an 85 year old, retired Air Force officer, with a BA degree in history, and a love of history books, I recommend this book as the best I’ve ever read! Get it,read it, you will love it also!! Thank you Bret for a job well done!!!
As an 85 year old, retired Air Force officer, with a BA degree in history, and a love of history books, I recommend this book as the best I’ve ever read! Get it,read it, you will love it also!! Thank you Bret for a job well done!!!
December 1, 2025
The greatest progressive Republican POTUS ever! His face is memorialized on Mt. Rushmore to prove it. This book has all the facts as to why. Bret Baier does a stupendous job as author and researcher on this biography. Well done!
December 2, 2025
4.7 Learned some fresh bits about a president I’ve studied extensively. The bull moose is the kind of leader our country desperately needs today. Baier did a wonderful job of researching and writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews