Roosevelt

by Brett Harper

He was one of America's greatest presidents and certainly our most colorful. Theodore Roosevelt, known to all but his friends as Teddy, was born a sickly child but transformed himself into an outdoorsman, a cowboy, and a warrior who led his Rough Riders up the San Juan Heights of Cuba in a charge that still ranks among the world's military legends. But Roosevelt was also a man of letters who churned out some forty books, a gifted politician who charmed the nation, and a statesman who could settle a war as well as wage one. His wily acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone set up an engineering feat that has lasted a century, and it's safe to predict that we'll never again see his match for exuberance, force of character, patriotism, and sheer energy. His story will grip you like his handshake.

Genres: Biography, History, Presidents, Politics, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

118 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2014

Reviews

[Albert Qian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned a lot about Teddy beyond his known quotes. Amazing to hear how progressives and Republicans too were in turmoil back in the early 19th century too.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considered by many to be one of America's greatest presidents, Theodore Roosevelt started out as a sickly asthmatic child but overcame those conditions to become an ardent outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing and even owned a cattle ranch out west. Roosevelt by Brett Harper presents these facts and much more including a military leader who led the famous Rough Riders to victory in a charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba. He was an author of at least forty books all while he was absorbed in his other accomplishments. He got into politics first on the local and state level before, as Vice President under President William McKinley, he became president upon the president's assassination. He was technically a Republican and was generally conservative, but he also was known as a progressive and had many ideas that troubled his political party. He established lands set aside and protected as National Monuments and Parks, was a strong supported of conservation as a nod to his love of the outdoors. He also worked out agreements that let the United States build, own, and operate the Panama Canal. The author shows us Roosevelt's strong character and powers of persuasion that propelled him to the highest levels in our country.

[Dan Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

President Theodore Roosevelt is an interesting historical figure. There is much to be learned about his life and this book endeavors to briefly go beyond the mere biographical and highlights to convey a sense of what drove the man. Be certain, if you choose to read this book, there is a balance of flattering and unflattering info all of which gives an interesting perspective to the man. It is a quick read and difficult to put down once you start to read it. This book does a much better job of conveying the timeline of events in his life then most of the "event based" stories about him.

[Tracy Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t a thick biography delving into everything about Teddy Roosevelt. It is a short biography pulling out the significant decisions he made through his life. Some were incredibly brave and courageous, many showing his ability to work strategically across party lines in order to make progress. He comes across as extremely fervent in his career from leading Rough Riders into battle in Cuba to taking on a corrupt New York City as Police Commissioner. This book reads a bit like great management and leadership strategies along with some, not as many, devastating and even racial decisions he made while in power. He rises to be McKinley’s Vice President but early in that term McKinley is assassinated and Theodore finds himself President. The book touchs on key events, both personally and publicly that shaped him into the “Bull Moose” we’ve read about,

Many, particularly presidential biographies, are so thick that one can sometimes get lost in the never ending mire of details. Though definitely a part of a person’s life, it can sometimes drown the story. This book is short with quick chapters giving you a quick play-by-play of Roosevelt’s stepping stones through life. It made me reflect back on the book, “River of Doubt”, which goes in detail about Roosevelt, his son Kermit and a small team navigating an unchartered river in the Amazon. That would be a good book to follow this one.

Though not Pulitzer Prize material, it was interesting, fast paced and wet your whistle to possibly read more on the subject. In seeing other biographies by Brett Harper, I may try another one out. This was a 4 for me.

[Bennie]

A very good account of one of America's greatest presidents. A very colorful man, Theodore Roosevelt, known to all but his friends as Teddy, was an outdoorsman, a cowboy, and a warrior who led his Rough Riders up the San Juan Heights of Cuba in a charge that still ranks among the world's military legends. A literary man, in addition to his voracious reading, Roosevelt wrote some forty books. He was one of, if not the most popular presidents and politicians who charmed the nation, and a statesman who could settle a war as well as wage one. This is a very good read for the Roosevelt admirer or for someone wanting to learn about a great man.

[Nathanael Winslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, straightforward, just the big stuff. I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla driving to and from work, and it was a perfect commute listen. Harper hits the main points, doesn't go into a ton of detail or analysis. He just says what happened. I like it. If you're not interested in spending a month fleshing out every detail and implication of Roosevelt's life...just want to be more familiar with him...pick it up.

[Duane Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, simple overview of the life of "Teddy" Roosevelt. The brevity of the book was refreshing, as it still provided a great deal of fact-based information, without the author giving his own opinion. It was nice to have this approach to the life of Roosevelt, offering a quick 2-3 day book that isn't all-encompassing.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction, but lacks the depth and breadth of biographies written by Chernow, Isaacson, Meacham, and McCullough.

It was a perfect introduction to prepare me for a class that I’m going to take on TR and his time. A big plus - I got a sense of the good of the man as well as some of his less admirable qualities.

[Robert Nelsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of the man's life. It was balanced and show his best decisions and his worst decisions.

[Jessica Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply fascinating. Truly gave me a great appreciation of TR.

[T R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Not incisive. A bit pro Teddy.

[Joy Shak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This man had a very full life.
This was a four hour audio book. Not enough time to tell about this man's life. The book sounded like it was at a junior high or lower high school level. I didn't know that when I checked it out from the library. It gave a basic overview of the major events in his life. The nice part was that it was written to be interesting and teaching at the same time. I had a great tone and kept me interested. I liked this author and will probably pick up another one of his books. I'm also going to try and find a longer, more in-depth, novel about Roosevelt's life.

[Jim Barainca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic overview of a life worthy of many books.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve written my review out twice and both times I lost it so, good book.

[Carl Sjölin Fagerlind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bra men ganska kortfattad

[Paul Herriott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little survey of TR's life and influences. Probably one of our more interesting Presidents, he would have been a fun guy to sit down with, or go hunting with.

[Mike Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but I felt like it could’ve been better written. It seemed rather “surface-level” and lacked a certain depth.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this on my kindle for years before I got to it. Honestly I prob thought it was about FDR vs Teddy when I got it but oh well. It was easy to digest and a quick read. Def learned some new things about TR!

[G Lee Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse into a unique person in American history.

Certainly this biographical sketch is a vivid portrait of one of America's most extraordinary Presidents. I enjoyed the pace and rhythm of the essay. It probably was not important to the editorial staff to delve into the mechanics of Roosevelt's manipulations to shepherd his agendas through Congress, but I would have liked a peek into the 'shadowy world' of political maneuvering during that fascinating period of American history.

[Ron Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but too short to give a complete story about Roosevelt