Theodore Roosevelt, An Autobiography (Annotated and Illustrated): Includes The Complete Essay "The Strenuous Life" and Over 40 Historical Photographs and Illustrations

by Theodore Roosevelt, Julie Hinton (Introduction)

THEODORE ROOSEVELT, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY is a classic written by the President himself. I love this book and am a student of all of his writings. I've given careful attention to what he wrote and researched photos and illustrations of the period and of the people who played significant roles in his life. I've added these illustrations to enhance the reading experience. I've also added the complete text of his essay and speech - The Strenuous Life - which was an important perspective that he preached and lived. This version of the book has the following features:
40+ historical photographs and illustrations
The complete text of Roosevelt's essay and speech, "The Strenuous Life"
Links to 100+ audio and video presentations of scholars discussing the life of the President
A brief biography and introduction to help you understand the place and time of this writing
Clean formatting giving you full control over fonts and font sizes
Active table of contents for easy navigation
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have!

SUMMARY:

THEODORE ROOSEVELT, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY is a classic written by the President himself, a prolific author. Roosevelt was highly educated, extremely well-read, and authored over 40 books. He was such a diligent and skilled writer, that when he lost his fortune in the Dakota Territory after the brutal winter of 1886 and had to find a way to make a living and support his family, he did so for the rest of his life by writing. Relatively modest salaries from public and elected positions never were his main source of income.


This book he titled his "autobiography," - some call it his memoirs. It is not so much a timeline of his life as it is a collection of writings about certain memorable times that shaped who he was or which he wanted to leave as his legacy. While he speaks loud and clear about how family was of the highest value, this book does not so much outline his personal life as it does his individual and political life.

And it was a rich life. He was a sportsman, a naturalist, a conservationist; he was a police commissioner of the nation's largest city, a governor, a Vice-President, and the Commander in Chief. He was committed to public service, to fighting for the poor and needy while also recognizing the contributions of the wealthy and powerful. As President he played an important role in international affairs, and even won the Nobel Peace Prize for his successful negotiation of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty between Russia and Japan. He challenged the political parties and the politicians of his time with great rancor and argued against being labeled by monikers of the time; he held to his principles and values and eloquently stated them.


This book is unique specifically because it is written by him, by Theodore Roosevelt. It is not a story from the sidelines; it is directly from the man who lived through all of these events. It gives the reader insights into his thoughts about matters of the utmost importance to America. He also shares his views on life, including the value he placed on strenuous effort and overcoming hardships which he details in his essay and speech, "The Strenuous Life," which we have added in its entirety. The speech is important because it reflects the American spirit at the turn of the 20th century, a spirit that we come back to again and again in times of trouble, a spirit that keeps our country moving forward and continues to provide the light of hope for our future.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Politics, Presidents, American History

576 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., also known as T.R., and to the public (but never to friends and family) as Teddy, was the twenty-sixth President of the United States, and a leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Movement.

He fathered Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a daughter.

He became the youngest President in United States history at the age of 42. He served in many roles including Governor of New York, historian, naturalist, explorer, author, and soldier (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001 for his role at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War).

Roosevelt is most famous for his personality: his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" persona.

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 1 out of 5]

Theodore Roosevelt led an extraordinary life.  He was also a talented writer.  (His Winning of the West histories, for instance, are fast paced and highly engaging.)  And yet, TR's autobiography is an absolute slog.  Perhaps part of the problem is that huge portions of the book do not tell the story of TR's life;  instead, these sections serve as rebuttals to criticisms of his various policies.  If, like me, you are exceptionally interested in the 26th President, you may want to struggle through this work for its few turd blossoms.  Otherwise, stay clear! 

[Bertcrabbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was ridiculously good. Roosevelt was a one-of-a-kind.

I wish we had more like him.

His 'speak softly and carry a big stick' rhetoric won him the reputation of a war monger but the fact is that in his 7 1/2 year term as president (he took over for McKinley when he was assassinated 6 months into his presidency), America was totally at peace and not one round was fired at an enemy.

A couple of other interesting facts about TR:

- He lived in Oyster Bay, Long Island.

- He started life asthmatic and puny.

- He spent in the west driving cattle and working on ranches.

- He led the "Rough Riders" in the Spanish-American war in Cuba and came home a war hero. This led to his being elected governor of New York during one of the state's most corrupt periods.

- He won his second term election by a true landslide.

- Has the first American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; an honor he was given for brokering peace between Japan and Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. Not bad for a war-loving Republican!!

- He authored more than 35 books.

- He had a photographic memory.

- He was frequently referred to as 'Teddy' but never to his face. He was called that by his first wife, who died young and he had a strong aversion to it.

- 'Teddy' bears are actually named after Teddy Roosevelt. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman and on one particular trip, he didn't bag any game. It's said that the well meaning guides had captured a bear and wanted TR to shoot it just so he wouldn't have to come home empty-handed. TR refused as it was totally unsportsmanlike. A cartoonist created an image of Roosevelt, shotgun in hand, turning away from a small bear tied to a tree. The image became so famous that children began to refer to small stuffed bears as 'Teddy's Bear.' And the rest is history.


Reading his words was like stepping back 100 years in history.


It was a long read, but well worth it.

[Craig Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book, and Roosevelt creates a wonderful autobiography. This is required reading for most in the area of American History, begining of the 20th century, and late 19th century. This is wonderful primary source material.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Whether in national or in private affairs it is ordinarily not advisable to make a bluff which cannot be put through."

Many of us don't recognize the fourth person on Mount Rushmore. Many more, knowing only the caricature he's become, don't know why Teddy Roosevelt is there. Reading his autobiography helps bridge that gap. Roosevelt was a Progressive. We who see the world through the lens of Democrat or Republican will not readily understand what that means. In our terms, Roosevelt was a liberal in domestic politics and a conservative in international, but even that falls far short of explaining him. He was an honorable and an honest man, not ruled by fear but filled with hope.

He was famous for his short military career, yet just as proud that not a shot was fired by the nation during his administration. He confronted both big unions and big business, being the first "trust buster." He was an avid hunter, who was equally avid as a naturalistic. He read voraciously.

This book is not for the casual reader: it is long and dense and heavily laced with the politics of the first decade of the twentieth century. Yes, and its self-serving and self-justifying. But, like the tale told by the "unreliable narrator", that bias makes the whole both more entertaining and more enlightening. It's laced with wit and quotable expressions. It also gives moderns a glimpse at the attitudes which moved our nation from unregulated freedom to the social contract which dominated the last century.

"It is better for government to help a poor man make a living for his family than to help a rich man make more profit for his company."

A very, if exhausting good read.

[Stefania Dzhanamova · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one knows you better than you know yourself.

Theodore Roosevelt’s autobiography is a brilliant first source material. I was intrigued to see the political affairs of the age through this prominent politician’s eyes.

His beautiful descriptions of his childhood, nature and family make the book really enjoyable.

For me, Roosevelt is an admirable character. Although his “Speak quietly and carry a big stick” became a famous quote, his administration was remarkably peaceful.

A big part of the book is dedicated to politics, but it was written well enough not to be boring.

Roosevelt comprises a lot of aspects of his life. His work is a wholesome autobiography. Definitely worth a read both as a biography and a memoir.

[Colin Darby · Rating 3 out of 5]

TR's autobiography suffers from two problems. First, the author has an exceptionally high opinion of himself and his causes, and never acknowledges the slightest possibility of error in principle even when he acknowledges that his opponents were equally high-minded men. As often as not, he lacks that acknowledgement, though, which leads to his autobiography being a series of moments where he describes his awesomeness as awesome stuff happens while he does awesome deeds because he is a man and men have a duty to do things, whether awesome or otherwise, and his opponents are a conniving breed of milksops and do-nothings, else they are equally energetic but of thoroughly black character. Roosevelt lives opposed by a world of Shakespeare characters, whether Richard III or Falstaff. They are, of course, all overcome by our hero, for that is precisely what he is in this book - the hero of his own story.

This would be, in its natural state, quite entertaining to read. This leads us to the second problem. Edmund Morris described in "Colonel Roosevelt" how Roosevelt's memoirs were written, or rather, dictated to a secretary who transcribed it. This worked well when it was just TR and the secretary, and when TR was telling anecdotes (though as described those get tiresome too, only occasionally leavened by a flash of self-deprecation). However, when he indulges his natural tendency to lecture, or when his wife was in the room, it turns well-nigh unreadable, leading to a page about capital punishment in the middle of the otherwise splendid little narrative of San Juan Hill.

In conclusion, reading his own words made me admire the man less, and understand how his opponents would find him so infuriating that they simply refused to allow his program to succeed even when they might agree with him.

[Joelle Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joelle WILL Read Her Bookcase #7

I hesitated to make this a 3 or a 4 star rating, but I went with 4 star because Roosevelt really is an exceptional writer.

There were parts that were admittedly boring; such as when he takes 7 or so pages to enumerate his opinions on songbirds. Or when he spends about 20 pages in his Appendix A to his last chapter repeatedly discussing his opinions on trusts. He just says it over and over and over...

I was surprised that there were no chapters about his journey shooting through the African continent, and he completely refuses to talk about his "Bull Moose Party" campaign as a 3rd party Progressive for the election of 1912.

He also paints the Panama Canal activity in broad strokes; it was more intricate and more involved then he would lead one to think.

He was naive in many things: he was appalled by "lynch law," but never raised legislation to prosecute it. He firmly believed in the equality of all humans, but he didn't seem to notice the degradations the African Americans were enduring. He believed that Indigenous tribes should cede their land to the nation, and didn't investigate the reservations they were starving on.

Yet, does all this mean cancel culture was justified in having his statue removed from in front of The Museum of Natural History in NYC?

I would argue "no".

He fought for universal suffrage.
He fought for the indigenous rights of tribes in Oklahoma, when the state tried to remove their land.
He believed in raising the wages of women.
He was disgusted by any form of domestic abuse, and fought for laws to protect women and children.
He firmly believed in respecting all people groups; his reasons for wanting to limit immigration from Japan had nothing to do with prejudice. (He makes the valid point that Japan would not allow unchecked immigration of Americans from the West Coast across their borders; the nations needed to work together to alleviate the burdens caused, and the reasons why it occurred.)
He was firmly against all forms of corruption.

Any human being is going to have failures; this is a simple fact of our nature. Yes, Roosevelt had an implicit bias, but this does not mean his monument was in the same category as those that glorify leaders of the Southern Confederation. He invited Booker T. Washington to the White House, but gave in to White Supremacist Hysteria and instead met him elsewhere - a true and tragic failing.

He was horrified by the housing conditions of the AfroCaribbeans who worked at the Panama Canal, and condemned, in the strongest of terms, the inequality they were subjected to. (Whether or not he got the White managers to listen is debatable.) He condemned them because they were doing equal work as equal members of the World, and should be treated exactly the same. (This is, of course, a weird variant in light of the fact that he didn't choose to challenge Jim Crow Laws. However, as an Upstate New Yorker, it's probable he had no real idea of what was happening in the South, unless it concerned corporations.)

It would seem like I'm constantly contradicting myself, but I'm simply trying to acknowledge his successes while allowing that he did have or did allow to continue national failures. And there is not one of us to whom the exact same statement is not applicable. We all have wonderful marks on our character; we all have failures against either someone or something. To refuse to see this is a refusal to acknowledge our humanity.

So yes: despite all his failures, I believe the successes of Theodore Roosevelt should have allowed his statue to stand. I have attempted to remove my implicit bias when considering this standpoint, especially as regards to Indigenous people groups. Should we therefore refuse to commemorate any individual, because of their imperfect history? Anyone who checks into the records of how our current President voted and acted while Senator of Delaware would be able to answer that question most astutely.

*Edited to add:
Roosevelt was completely naive when he believed that another nation inviolating another's sovereignty was permissible as long as it was done for humanitarian reasons - such as the US gaining control of the Philippines, and Britain invading Sudan. He was insistent that once the nation that was in crisis had been reconciled with its people and brought into democracy, the invading nation would step aside. He made these assertions adamantly concerning the Philippines, though history tells us just how little we actually became hands - off; the stunning amount of corruption perpetrated before and after World War Two - General McArthur being a stellar example - belies his insistence on the purity of US motives. And we all know how Egypt faired as a member of the Commonwealth.*

[Luka V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Теодор Теди Рузвелт отјеловљење реализма и схватања америчког националног интереса.
Морал, частан рад, знање и преданост те свјесност да је рат еминентан људској природи главне су карактеристике 26. америчког предсједника. Америка произашла из Моонрове доктрине и потпуне контроле западне хемисфере на почетку 20. вијека постаје велика и снажна сила а Рузвелт схвата важност америчког интереса у цијелом свијету уз оживљавање и модернизовано оживљавање Моонророве доктрине. Један од учесника у Шпа��ско-Америчком рату, иницијатор за изградњу Панамског канала и добитник Нобелове награде за мир у Руско- Јапанском рату.
Ова занимљива и читка аутобиографија поред самог живота Рузвелта биће на корист свима који се интересују за међународну политику и спољну политику САД али и онима који је читају из опште знатижеље.
Сјајан допринос упознавању америчког предсједника у српском преводу.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It pains me to only give 2 stars to a book written by my favorite president, but "it was okay" is an honest and accurate assessment.

I'm not into political history at all, and a large chunk of this book is long-winded descriptions of political things from 100+ years ago. Snooze. I skimmed over most of these chunks. It got too tedious after a while.

The segments where Roosevelt is talking about nature and books were a complete tone shift, and I actually would love to read more of this sort of thing from Roosevelt instead of political/governmental babble. It was remarkable to go from the snooze-fest of government to Roosevelt describing birds and telling entertaining stories instead. Much more fun to read.

I think people who are interested in political minutae would enjoy this quite a bit. Roosevelt is fairly boasty in parts as well, which is to be expected, obviously. I found it quite amusing.

[Jordan Herling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only reason this is getting 4 and not 3 stars is because 1) the large amount of primary sources used throughout, typically in the form of open letters he wrote/received and 2) the last 30 minutes of the audiobook being him absolutely slamming on Woodrow Wilson. This book has turned me off from autobiographies in general due to the amount of information that can be left out for the sake of reputation that any unbiased biographer would have delved into. Past his college experience, most of this autobiography is just a history and justification of his policies, and the book is even divided up this way, making the exact chronology of his life hard to follow.

[Marty Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading H.W. Brands’s biography on Theodore Roosevelt, I knew that I wasn’t done with him. I needed more. And who better to go to than the horse’s mouth? At first, I simply read some of his speeches and his account of the Rough Riders, but then I found his autobiography and decided to take a big bite.

As writers go, Roosevelt is engaging. It’s comforting to be able to recognize his own style and know that you’re not dealing with a ghost writer. That brash, sincere, and self-aware voice is no doubt the boomingly confident Teddy. Whether you agree with his politics and positions, Roosevelt will not be duplicated and will almost always demand attention.

Conveniently, if he doesn’t grab attention, then you can skip to the next chapter, which will take off on a new subject that may be of more interest. Of course, my reading ethics do not allow such an approach, but it was kind of nice to know that once you had your fill of one stage of Roosevelt’s life or take on a particular issue, then you would be given a sampling of a whole new, unexplored area.

Not surprising is the lack of information on Roosevelt’s involvement in the Progressive “Bull Moose” Party and his subsequent loss in the general election to Wilson. The only hint we get of that aspect of his life is his rebuttal to a piece that President Wilson wrote demeaning him and his party.

As far as Teddy’s politics go, he offers a lot of sound advice for anyone who is a level-headed, moderate-leaning person. And if you were unsure as to how he felt about any sort of policy, specific or ambiguous, rest assured he will clarify for you. For the most part, I found Roosevelt to have an anchor of common sense when it comes to political standings--something that makes me envious when taking into account modern day politicians. Sometimes, he manages to simplify too much, and sometimes this unwavering man of principle is too quick to glorify his position as an absolute, when it is really just a matter of policy. But by and large, I will take a passionate man of principle tampered with common sense over a cool-headed man of opportunity driven by ambition.

And that leads into the final thing of note about Theodore Roosevelt: his character. Sure, he is strong-headed and perhaps overly-intense in some of his opinions, but in spite of these externally annoying traits, internally Roosevelt genuinely seems to be a good and pure man. Would that more politicians fell under that category. Would that all of us might.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book were thoroughly enjoyable. Other parts -- not so much.

I remember hearing once that he was devastated by the death of his first wife as evidenced by the fact that he never even mentioned her in his autobiography. I wonder if whoever said that actually READ his autobiography. There is one delightful chapter about his children, but other than that one chapter, he barely mentions his wife and children.

I just felt like he spent way too much time explaining the minute details of how he got everything accomplished that he did politically. If he would have spent more time on his life (the parts of the book I enjoyed) and less about who he talked to about how to get what law passed and how he blocked other laws, I would have given this book a higher rating.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent volume. Roosevelt's autobiography is quite interesting, particularly how he describes his time out West as well as with the Rough Riders. It's also quite valuable because he gives an estimate of his own actions in office and defends them according to his principles. He does go into quite a bit of detail on several situations so it can be a bit dry reading at times.

Included in this volume is "The Strenuous Life" a speech T. R. gave in Chicago. Absolutely fantastic and quite timely for the generations alive today, especially young people out to make their mark on the world. Highly recommended.

[Darío · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my personal idols. A true role-model every man should aspire to be more like. I can't express my admiration for Roosevelt's character and work. I specially enjoyed the chapters in which he talked about his life as a cowboy and when he lived in the country, it felt that this is what a masculine man looks like. Enjoying nature and life, doing hard and often uncomfortable work in the country, building strong relations with his fellow men, always being a gentleman and a man of principles.
He was a true leader, a man that cared about the people of his country and put righteousness above everything else, even peace if necessary, who didn't hesitate to take action if something needed to be corrected, and who didn't tolerate corruption or wrong-doing. It is true that the parts in which he talked about politics sometimes turned out to be a little tedious, but i still learned a lot from them.
Highly recommended, so much wisdom contained in this pages, and if by reading this book you become at least a little more like Theodore, it will be worth it, trust me.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was extremely interesting reading. I like to read biographies, but I have not read many autobiographies. I imagine with autobiographies you often get someone trying to convince the reader to take their point of view, so you have to be careful to keep in mind that you're getting a slanted picture of events. I tried to approach the book with that outlook. However, especially for the pre-Presidency history, I felt like he tried to take a pretty neutral tone on events: he admitted where he was wrong or where he hadn't come to fully understand things yet, and had some fascinating thoughts on politics, life and morality. I loved it. The chapters on his presidency felt more like he was defending himself, so the tone felt a little different, but there was still some good stuff. He wasn't a perfect man, certainly, but I came away feeling very impressed by him and by his good-hearted, sincere and tough-minded approach to life.

[Elizabeth]

Roosevelt's book should be read by every American

I thought Roosevelt's autobiography was interesting in some parts but dragged in others. My two thoughts were "Wow this is interesting" and like Jeffy in the Family Circus cartoon that takes place at Independence Hall where he is,asking his mother if our forefathers had roller coasters. This is a scholarly book and it was hard to read at times, but I am.A better person for reading it since it stretched me mentally.

[J.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teddy Roosevelt was truly a remarkable human being. However, he was probably a much better president than author. I learned a lot about a man who I highly regard, but the work to do so wasn't always entertaining. I'll forgive him, for I'm probably worse at writing, and not nearly as interesting.

[Adam Wylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough read, but gives incredible insight on the mindset and attitudes of this great man. Can be very boring at times.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (liked it)

[van.derwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

เขาได้เรียนรู้ว่ามีร่างกฎหมายจำนวนมากที่ไม่ได้มีเจตนาจะผ่าน แต่ถูกเสนอขึ้นมาเพื่อ "แบล็กเมล์บริษัทต่างๆ" (blackmail corporations) หรือที่เรียกว่า "strike bills"
.
มีผู้พิพากษาที่ใช้อำนาจตุลาการเพื่อรับใช้ผลประโยชน์ของนักการเงิน ผู้พิพากษาผู้นี้เขียนจดหมายว่า "ผมยินดีที่จะไปถึงขอบเขตสุดขีดของดุลยพินิจทางตุลาการเพื่อรับใช้ผลประโยชน์อันมหาศาลของท่าน"
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งานที่ไม่ก่อให้เกิดรายได้ หรือ "non-remunerative work"
งานเหล่านี้ไม่ใช่การใช้เวลาว่างไปกับการไม่ทำอะไรเลย แต่เป็นการใช้เวลาอย่างชาญฉลาดเพื่อดำเนินงานที่ไม่ได้รับค่าตอบแทนในสาขาวิชาต่างๆ เช่น วิทยาศาสตร์, วรรณกรรม, ศิลปะ, การสำรวจ, และการวิจัยทางประวัติศาสตร์
.
ความแข็งแกร่งของร่างกายเป็นวิธีการสร้างความแข็งแกร่งของจิตวิญญาณ
.
เขาไม่เชื่อว่าก���รเมืองควรเป็นอาชีพเดียวของคนๆ หนึ่ง เพราะอาจทำให้คนรู้สึกว่าชีวิตและความสุขขึ้นอยู่กับการอยู่ในตำแหน่ง ซึ่งอาจทำให้เขาประนีประนอมกับมโนธรรมเพื่อรักษาตำแหน่งไว้ , เขาเชื่อว่าคนเราควรมีอาชีพอื่นสำรองไว้เสมอ

เพื่อนๆ ที่เขาคบหาสมาคมด้วย ซึ่งเป็นชนชั้นสูงและนักธุรกิจ มักจะเยาะเย้ยและบอกเขาว่า "การเมืองเป็นเรื่องต่ำต้อย" และถูกควบคุมโดย "เจ้าของร้านเหล้า คนขับรถราง และคนอื่นๆ" ที่ไม่คู่ควรกับเขา รูสเวลต์ตอบกลับว่า หากเป็นเช่นนั้น ก็หมายความว่าคนที่เขารู้จักไม่ใช่ชนชั้นปกครอง และเ���าตั้งใจที่จะเป็นหนึ่งใน "ชนชั้นปกครอง"
.
รูสเวลต์เชื่อว่าความสัมพันธ์กับเพื่อนร่วมงานการเมืองในสมัยนั้นเป็นสิ่งที่มีประโยชน์มาก เพราะมันอยู่บนพื้นฐานของ ความเป็นเพื่อนและหุ้นส่วน ไม่ใช่การอุปถัมภ์
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ช่วยยกระดับมาตรฐานชีวิตและสร้างความดีงามในสังคม ผู้ทำงานด้านการกุศล ไม่ว่าจะเป็นนักบวชหรือฆราวาส ล้วนแสดงให้เห็นถึงการอุทิศตนโดยไม่หวังผลตอบแทน เพื่อยกระดับความเป็นอยู่ของผู้อื่น
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ช่วยสร้างความรู้สึกเป็นพี่น้อง ความเห็นอกเห็นใจ และความเข้าใจซึ่งกันและกันระหว่างบุคคลและกลุ่มต่างๆ แต่ละคนทำหน้าที่ของตนเองเพื่อปรับปรุงตนเองและผู้อื่น สร้างสังคมที่มีสุขภาพดี และช่วยลดความไม่เข้าใจหรือความแปลกแยกที่อาจเกิดขึ้น โดยเฉพาะในเมืองใหญ่
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ความยิ่งใหญ่ของชาติมาจาก "ชีวิตแห่งความเพียรพยายาม" ซึ่งรวมถึงการทำงานหนักและความมุ่งมั่น ไม่ใช่ความสงบสุขที่เกิดจากการขาดความปรารถนาหรือพลังในการมุ่งสู่สิ่งยิ่งใหญ่
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รูสเวลต์เห็นด้วยว่าการสอบเขียนเหมาะสำหรับงานบางประเภท เช่น ทนายความ หรือเสมียน
แต่ไม่เหมาะสมอย่างยิ่งสำหรับงานภาคปฏิบัติ เช่น ช่างไม้ นักสืบ หรือผู้ตรวจวัวบนหลังม้า รูสเวลต์พยายามเสนอให้มีการทดสอบภาคปฏิบัติ เช่น การอ่านตราสินค้า การยิงปืนไรเฟิลและปืนพก การขี่ม้าป่า และการจับมัดวัว แต่ความคิดนี้ถูกต่อต้านจาก "ความคิดของข้าราชการประจำ"
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ผู้ปฏิรูปบางคนแม้จะมีอุดมการณ์สูงส่ง แต่ก็ขาดความเข้าใจอย่างลึกซึ้งต่อวิถีชีวิตและความคิดของพลเมืองทั่วไป
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แม้จะประสบความสำเร็จในการหยุดการแบล็กเมล์ แต่กฎหมายปิดร้านเหล้าวันอาทิตย์ก็ไม่สามารถคงไว้ซึ่งความเข้มงวดได้เท่าเดิม เพราะ "ความรู้สึกของประชาชนไม่ได้อยู่ข้างเราจริงๆ" และมีการตีความกฎหมายแบบใหม่ เช่น ผู้พิพากษาตัดสินว่า "เบียร์ 17 แก้วกับเพรทเซลหนึ่งชิ้นถือเป็นมื้ออาหาร"
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จงตระหนักว่านักธุรกิจและทนายความผู้มั่งคั่งมักใช้รัฐธรรมนูญเป็นข้ออ้างในการขัดขวางการปฏิรูปสังคม
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"ผมเกลียดสงครามที่ไม่ยุติธรรม...แต่ผมสนับสนุนการเตรียมพร้อมสำหรับสงครามเพื่อหลีกเลี่ยงสงคราม"
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[Asher Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me hooked from the foreword, though it started to drag (strangely enough) during his presidency. Roosevelt’s prose is elegant and readable, and he seasons his writing with a wry sense of humor.

I agreed with and admired a lot of what he said, and disagreed with and admired a lot of other things. It’s enjoyable to be able to disagree with a well-put opinion while still respecting the motive behind it.

[Donald Owens II · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised at how well President Roosevelt wrote. With few exceptions, he kept my attention, and with good humor.

Like most autobiographies, the book was partly a defense of his beliefs and actions. On periphery and personal character matters I agreed, but I was not convinced by his core political views, especially his "ends justify the means" defense of government overreach and his overstepping the constitutional limits of his office.

But personally he appears to have been a courageous, likeable, leader of men. And I can't help having affection for a man who would write, "Books are all very well in their way, and we love them at Sagamore Hill, but children are better than books." and, "There are many kinds of success in life worth having... but for unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly makes all other forms of success and achievement lose their importance by comparison."

[Arlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I would ever finish this. Teddy really needed a editor. One hundred word sentences tend to be hard to follow. Despite the wordy style the content was quite interesting, although, except for some childhood memories, it was devoid of family remembrances. He gave great descriptions of cattle drives in North Dakota, but said nothing about the family tragedies that drove him out there. His military and political careers are covered in great detail and, considering today's political mess, you can appreciate his integrity, honesty and tenacity in getting laws passed that, for the most part, helped the working man and woman, and kept big business from destroying the environment. I think you probably need to be a real fan of his to patiently wade through this book, but you will certainly learn a lot about a very special man.

[JD' · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teddy Roosevelt died 97 years ago and spoke of his father as, "the best man I ever knew."
Reading his autobiography, the president upon reaching the White House, "never took any serious step or made any vital decision for his country, without thinking first what position his father would have taken."
Theodore's father taught Sunday School, contributed in founding charities for homeless orphans and newsboys.
Proverbs 23:24 "He who fathers a wise son will be glad in him."

[Stephen Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite people, not because he was President, we had many of them ; but because what he did with the office he held.In this book it explains his feelings on all types of issues and lets us see for ourselves how he was before his time. In this book it is also written how he respected nature and it is a great read so enjoy...

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a memoir than an autobiography. While Roosevelt was a genius and a work horse it seems he couldn't get past the self aggrandizing in his writing. The book is quite inspiring and well worth the read.

[Steve Rust · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autobiographies, especially this one, are tough for me regardless. Teddy brings a lot of ego and bias into his own account of things. Interesting, but reading a critical account of his life or tenure would probably be better. Something like Mornings on Horseback.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm about halfway through this amazing book. So far it is an amazing tale. I can't wait until I can sit down and finish it.

[Selina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for college students studying American history or politics.

[Michael Percy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography is a mini-tome. Reading it from the perspective of a foreigner means I comment disinterestedly on the work of one of the US Presidents who was immortalised in Mount Rushmore. I have read Roosevelt's The Strenuous Life, and while I enjoyed reading it, I was surprised by the rather cumbersome writing style of a man who allegedly read tens of thousands of books. Maybe speed-reading (for which Roosevelt was apparently famous) doesn't help with writing? There was so much of the man, speaking plainly and as one might expect a politician to write one's memoirs, but I felt the endless ebb and flow of agreement and disagreement, while the numerous letters included as annexes to the chapters read something like following President Trump's Twitter feed. Justifications and defences and sharing text of his earlier and others' letters - all the things one might expect a president to do. While reading this book, I completed a humanitarian training course that enabled me to use some of my long underutilised military skills. During the course, I found myself using these skills but with the opposite purpose. Indeed, if I did the exact opposite of my military training, it would invariably be the right decision in the humanitarian sphere. This had me thinking about Aristotle's "golden mean" of virtue, at the precise time I was reading about Theodore Roosevelt's idea of courage. Roosevelt, for example, stayed away from bars and other trouble spots, preferring to respond decisively to unexpected challenges to one's safety or dignity only as a last resort, rather than go looking for trouble. He wore glasses, and as a "cowboy", he had to work doubly hard to earn the respect of the men he worked with. All of this follows closely the idea of the golden mean. Brave, but not cowardly or reckless. (Roosevelt was awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts in leading "Roosevelt's Rough Riders" during the Spanish American War; dealing with the police corruption, corporate and political corruption, not to mention the Philippines, the Panama Canal, Russia and Japan and so on.) Yet Roosevelt appears to have ever been in the right place at the right time, especially in being awarded the Medal of Honor (he was only four months away at war); to become President (he became President in the first instance after William McKinley was assassinated); and to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet his achievements were remarkable. I did not know the extent he had played in bringing about modern corporations and competition laws. The Sherman Antitrust Act came into being in 1890 but by Roosevelt's time it was hardly having the desired impact. All sorts of modern checks and balances we now take for granted in liberal democracies were simply not happening. It would seem that Roosevelt's leadership in creating a governance culture made liberal democracy, in the American sense, to function at least somewhat fairly. The United States had been a wealthy, functioning democracy for at least four decades (from the time of the Civil War until Roosevelt's presidency). Yet we assume much poorer, less well governed, less educated countries can become functioning democracies in the space of a few years when the oldest liberal democracy in the early 1900s suffered from all of the corruption we see in poorer nations today. Yet Roosevelt had the idealism of the times, a form of neo-conservatism tempered by a strong sense of moral purpose. He was tough with the corporations and the unions, but equally interested in prosperous businesses looking after workers - a form of "fair trade" that was unique for the times. I also found the references to Australia interesting, around the time of the "Great White Fleet" and its circumnavigation of the globe, visiting numerous ports throughout the world (including Sydney) over a sixteen month period. I didn't have the "Team America" theme song playing in my head while I read this, but rather the thoughts and actions of a sober, intelligent man influencing my own thoughts and actions as I discovered, in the practical sense, the idea of the golden mean of virtue. My trepidation with reading Roosevelt is that many modern fans of his work talk up his manliness and courage. But having read the man's memoirs, I discovered a sensitive man (which appears obvious in his letters - I think Woodrow Wilson cut him a little too deeply) who was far from fake and far from superhuman, yet strong and of moral righteousness all the same. The book ends along with the end of his presidency, almost as if he was hoping to write more after he was re-elected. (Roosevelt was encouraged to stay on after his second term, as he had not been elected to the first term, nor had served two full terms, but he refused on principle.) And so the book ends with a few letters. No uplifting moral lesson, no standing ovation. And that was how he lived. If I am to take the Stoic's view, he lived a good life. Not the Disney-fied life we have come to expect from the popular media, but a real man doing real things for good. How times have changed.