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The Strenuous Life: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete
Crippling asthma, a frail build, and grossly myopic eyesight: these were the ailments that plagued Teddy Roosevelt as a child. In adulthood, he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal heart condition and was told never to exert himself again. Roosevelt’s body was his weakness, the one hill he could never fully conquer, and as a result he developed what would become a lifelong obsession with athletics that he carried with him into his presidency. As President of the United States, Roosevelt boxed, practiced Ju-Jitsu, played tennis nearly every day, and invited athletes and teams to the White House constantly. He made certain that each of his children participated in athletics. During Roosevelt’s administration, America saw an unprecedented rise in fitness, sports, and recreational athletics unlike any that has come before or after it. Under Roosevelt, baseball’s first ever World Series took place. Interscholastic sports began, and schools began to place a legitimate emphasis on physical education. The NCAA formed, and the United States hosted the Olympic Games for the first time. It was a period of dynamic change, a time which set in place the athletic paradigm by which we still operate today.
Roosevelt resided squarely in the midst of the upheaval. He fought desperately (and sometimes successfully) to shape American athletics in accordance with his imperialistic view of the world. This book shows that, in one way or another, we can trace our fanaticism for fitness directly back to the 26th President of the United States and his relentless pursuit of “The Strenuous Life,” which shaped not only his own decisions, but the landscape of the country as it entered into the 20th century.
Roosevelt resided squarely in the midst of the upheaval. He fought desperately (and sometimes successfully) to shape American athletics in accordance with his imperialistic view of the world. This book shows that, in one way or another, we can trace our fanaticism for fitness directly back to the 26th President of the United States and his relentless pursuit of “The Strenuous Life,” which shaped not only his own decisions, but the landscape of the country as it entered into the 20th century.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2019
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229 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 15, 2019
Today I am going to an NFL game for the first time in years!!! My favorite team is making a rare visit to the city where I live, and my husband and I bought tickets the day schedules came out. I will be wearing a team hat, gloves, jacket, and sweatshirt. Sports have been such an integral part of my life from the time I was born. I check scores first thing in the morning to make sure I didn’t miss anything from the night before and tune into games featuring my favorite teams whenever possible. I even co-moderate a baseball book club here on goodreads so I don’t have to separate my two favorite activities, sports and reading. Although the NFL has been around for one hundred years and Major League Baseball for even longer, sports and an active lifestyle were not always a part of American life, especially as life moved from an agrarian, rural environment to one dominated by industries in urban settings. The mindset of being active changed when Theodore Roosevelt entered the White House. Using his bully pulpit to get his agenda across, Roosevelt preached that Americans should live a strenuous life. Roosevelt scholar Ryan Swanson has devoted a new book to where Roosevelt’s love of sports and politics intersect.
Volumes of books have been devoted to the life of Theodore Roosevelt. His head sits atop Mount Rushmore as he is considered one of the four leading presidents in American history. With his progressive policies, Roosevelt changed the United States into a modern nation. So much has been written on Teddy Roosevelt that I was thrilled to find a book about him from a new angle, that of him not just as a sportsman but as a sports enthusiast. Swanson introduces the basics for those who might not have read as much about Roosevelt as I have. Born on October 27, 1860 in New York, Roosevelt suffered from acute asthma as a child. His father, also Theodore, built a special wing in the family’s house for his son, his own gym, so that he could exercise within the comforts of his home without worrying about the sooty air outside. So the legend goes, Theodore, Sr told his son that “you made your mind, now you have to make your body,” and the future president devoted the rest of his into having an active lifestyle.
Roosevelt’s role in establishing the national park service, charging up San Juan Hill with the Rough Riders, and his legendary jaunts through Rock Creek Park along the Potomac River make an appearance here. Yet, what fascinates me is Roosevelt’s boxing career at Harvard and afterward. Always a bit odd, Roosevelt kept taxidermic specimens in his dorm room. He studied all hours of the day and was known as an peculiar person to say the least. One thing Roosevelt did well at Harvard was box and wrestle, winning many matches while at the university. He developed a reputation as a quality opponent, and he kept the practice of sparring with friends and members of his cabinet for the rest of his life. For those too shy to face the president in the ring, there was also a new tennis court installed right outside of the White House as well as the strenuous walks throughout the city that lasted entire days. It was one thing to lead an active life, it was another to promote this lifestyle to an entire country. Roosevelt was successful in doing both.
In his first months as president, Roosevelt attended the annual Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. So excited was he that he crossed the field at halftime in an attempt to motivate both teams to play better. Roosevelt was a proponent of amateur athletics, promoting the formation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1906 and being an honorary chair of the St Louis Olympic Games in 1904. His preferred sports were football, wrestling, boxing, tennis, swimming, and running, any sport that would stimulate the body. One sport Roosevelt did not approve of was baseball. Swanson theorizes that it is because baseball players stood around for long periods and were not as active as other athletes; ballplayers were not as physically fit as they are today and Roosevelt had one word for them: mollycoddles. Roosevelt also did not support baseball because the athletes were professionals. He believed that Americans should be active and play sports for the love of the activity itself. Although given a lifetime golden pass to all major and minor league games, Roosevelt never attended a game while he was president.
Roosevelt passed his love of activity on to his children. Son Ted played football at Harvard, and sons Kermit, Archie, and Quentin held their own against their father at tennis. The real star athlete in the family was daughter Ethel who did not have the same opportunities as her brothers but bested them on the tennis court nonetheless. Roosevelt also voiced his opinions in the formation of New York City’s Public School Athletic League in 1905, giving boys a chance to be active outside of the classroom. By 1910, this opportunity was extended to girls as well. Swanson notes that in the days before true competition between schools, the early days of the PSAL resembled the President’s Council on Physical Fitness that was a fixture in public schools from the 1950s through the 1990s. He reminisced about doing sit-ups, pull-ups, and the mile run in gym class, activities that were definitely not a highlight of his or my school experience. Yet, Roosevelt desired that children were physically fit so that they could enjoy active lifestyles well into adulthood, whether they could successfully run a mile or not. His behind the scenes advising lead to successfully setting the groundwork for athletic leagues and future competitions throughout the United States.
I doubt Theodore Roosevelt had multi billion dollar spectacles in mind when he promoted the founding of the NCAA. He only wanted an outlet for college students to participate in sports, using the experience to become active adults. The idea of an NFL Super Bowl, basketball league featuring players from all over the world, and women playing in high profile tennis and soccer tournaments were foreign to him. Roosevelt saw a sedentary American life on the horizon at the dawn of the 20th century that saw new innovations designed to make life easier but also more sluggish. The PSAL, NCAA, National Parks, and tennis, these were all methods to combat sloth and encourage Americans to be more active. I doubt Roosevelt would be running to attend the spectacle that is Super Bowl although he would probably find it to be bully. It is clear that Ryan Swanson is a Roosevelt scholar, devoting over ten years to researching the president. Unfortunately for him, volumes and influential biographies on Roosevelt have already been written and won numerous awards. Yet, there is always room for one more book from a new angle. The Strenuous Life has presented a different aspect of Roosevelt’s presidency, one that I would bully interesting.
4+ stars
Volumes of books have been devoted to the life of Theodore Roosevelt. His head sits atop Mount Rushmore as he is considered one of the four leading presidents in American history. With his progressive policies, Roosevelt changed the United States into a modern nation. So much has been written on Teddy Roosevelt that I was thrilled to find a book about him from a new angle, that of him not just as a sportsman but as a sports enthusiast. Swanson introduces the basics for those who might not have read as much about Roosevelt as I have. Born on October 27, 1860 in New York, Roosevelt suffered from acute asthma as a child. His father, also Theodore, built a special wing in the family’s house for his son, his own gym, so that he could exercise within the comforts of his home without worrying about the sooty air outside. So the legend goes, Theodore, Sr told his son that “you made your mind, now you have to make your body,” and the future president devoted the rest of his into having an active lifestyle.
Roosevelt’s role in establishing the national park service, charging up San Juan Hill with the Rough Riders, and his legendary jaunts through Rock Creek Park along the Potomac River make an appearance here. Yet, what fascinates me is Roosevelt’s boxing career at Harvard and afterward. Always a bit odd, Roosevelt kept taxidermic specimens in his dorm room. He studied all hours of the day and was known as an peculiar person to say the least. One thing Roosevelt did well at Harvard was box and wrestle, winning many matches while at the university. He developed a reputation as a quality opponent, and he kept the practice of sparring with friends and members of his cabinet for the rest of his life. For those too shy to face the president in the ring, there was also a new tennis court installed right outside of the White House as well as the strenuous walks throughout the city that lasted entire days. It was one thing to lead an active life, it was another to promote this lifestyle to an entire country. Roosevelt was successful in doing both.
In his first months as president, Roosevelt attended the annual Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. So excited was he that he crossed the field at halftime in an attempt to motivate both teams to play better. Roosevelt was a proponent of amateur athletics, promoting the formation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1906 and being an honorary chair of the St Louis Olympic Games in 1904. His preferred sports were football, wrestling, boxing, tennis, swimming, and running, any sport that would stimulate the body. One sport Roosevelt did not approve of was baseball. Swanson theorizes that it is because baseball players stood around for long periods and were not as active as other athletes; ballplayers were not as physically fit as they are today and Roosevelt had one word for them: mollycoddles. Roosevelt also did not support baseball because the athletes were professionals. He believed that Americans should be active and play sports for the love of the activity itself. Although given a lifetime golden pass to all major and minor league games, Roosevelt never attended a game while he was president.
Roosevelt passed his love of activity on to his children. Son Ted played football at Harvard, and sons Kermit, Archie, and Quentin held their own against their father at tennis. The real star athlete in the family was daughter Ethel who did not have the same opportunities as her brothers but bested them on the tennis court nonetheless. Roosevelt also voiced his opinions in the formation of New York City’s Public School Athletic League in 1905, giving boys a chance to be active outside of the classroom. By 1910, this opportunity was extended to girls as well. Swanson notes that in the days before true competition between schools, the early days of the PSAL resembled the President’s Council on Physical Fitness that was a fixture in public schools from the 1950s through the 1990s. He reminisced about doing sit-ups, pull-ups, and the mile run in gym class, activities that were definitely not a highlight of his or my school experience. Yet, Roosevelt desired that children were physically fit so that they could enjoy active lifestyles well into adulthood, whether they could successfully run a mile or not. His behind the scenes advising lead to successfully setting the groundwork for athletic leagues and future competitions throughout the United States.
I doubt Theodore Roosevelt had multi billion dollar spectacles in mind when he promoted the founding of the NCAA. He only wanted an outlet for college students to participate in sports, using the experience to become active adults. The idea of an NFL Super Bowl, basketball league featuring players from all over the world, and women playing in high profile tennis and soccer tournaments were foreign to him. Roosevelt saw a sedentary American life on the horizon at the dawn of the 20th century that saw new innovations designed to make life easier but also more sluggish. The PSAL, NCAA, National Parks, and tennis, these were all methods to combat sloth and encourage Americans to be more active. I doubt Roosevelt would be running to attend the spectacle that is Super Bowl although he would probably find it to be bully. It is clear that Ryan Swanson is a Roosevelt scholar, devoting over ten years to researching the president. Unfortunately for him, volumes and influential biographies on Roosevelt have already been written and won numerous awards. Yet, there is always room for one more book from a new angle. The Strenuous Life has presented a different aspect of Roosevelt’s presidency, one that I would bully interesting.
4+ stars
March 6, 2023
We have a hidden gem on our hands here, folks.
Swanson can write. He can really write. And he has done commendable work in digging up anecdotes that aren't the standard TR fare. Of the dozen or so stories Swanson tells, I had not before encountered the great majority of them. They're fun and feature fascinating personalities, and what's more, none of them are a reach. What I mean by that is that there are times when Swanson begins a storyline and you think, Alright, this has nothing to do with TR. This was a manufactured connection to fill space and name-drop, but then, sure enough, by the time the story is finished, TR is actually a substantive piece it. It's not contrived.
Which is why I say this: If you were curating a shortlist of essential—and only the essential—TR books, this belongs there. It's that fresh, it's that insightful, and it's that deee-lightful to read.
Here is the problem. I think Swanson's editor and publisher let him down.
This is the point-blank conversation his editor should have had with him.
Editor: Swanny you have a best seller here. I mean it. But there are a couple things we need to fix if we're gonna make it to the top. In the introduction you lay out two themes that you're going to carry throughout the book. One is the importance of athletics to the development of TR's character. The other is how athletics infiltrated every corner of American culture. Drop the second theme. I realize you're a historian and this is probably the part you're most intrigued by, but it's got to go. You have a unique angle on TR. Let him be the center of attention. Isn't that like the one thing you learned about him in your research? That's the way he'd want it. The work you've done on him is hearty enough to stand on its own. Let it stand on its own. We'll cut the second theme and present the book to the world as a biography—a biography that looks at the man through one specific window. Just like McCullough did. You know, Mornings on Horseback? He looked at the trials of Teedie's youth and how they formed the man TR. You've done the same, but yours is better. I'm serious, Swanny. You've written a better book than McCullough. That's no slight to him. It's a credit to you. We just need to reframe it. Tighten it up. The tighter the nozzle, the greater the force.
***
And here is the point-blank conversation Swanson should have had with his publisher.
Swanson: I just received the proof copy. Thank you. You are the integral piece to this thing. No publisher, no sales. We are only going as far as you take us. That means I'd like to make some changes. I want this to look like a book that belongs on the center table at Barnes & Noble. So first, we need to resize it. A little shorter, a little narrower. Second thing is the paper. This looks like it was printed on the ream I bought at Staples last week. We need something thicker, with some texture—needs great hand-feel—and slightly off-white. Then there is the font. I'm not sure what it is but it is noticeably different. The key word there is noticeably. A good font is a font that is so comfortable, so natural, that it dissolves into the page. And while we're talking fonts, what is with the obnoxiously long tail on the letter Q? This shouldn't be problem, but I've written a book about a President who met the Queen of Norway, had a son named Quentin, and was protected by a police chief named Quirk. So it's a problem. And please nix the gray font on the page numbers. A low-contrast font is begging our readers to get agitated. I know this is all very direct and comes across as an excoriation of your work. It's not. Size, paper, font—these are small changes, and they will make a world of difference.
***
I realize Swanson probably has close personal relationships with both his editor and publisher and that I've just run absolute roughshod over their ties by letting loose a torrent of unguarded words. It was just a silly way to make my plea. But it is a plea that must be made because I truly believe in this book's potential. I fear it has been passed over, undeservedly, because the form does not meet the substance. That is lamentable. Swanson's book should receive every bit of the attention that his outstanding work merits.
Swanson can write. He can really write. And he has done commendable work in digging up anecdotes that aren't the standard TR fare. Of the dozen or so stories Swanson tells, I had not before encountered the great majority of them. They're fun and feature fascinating personalities, and what's more, none of them are a reach. What I mean by that is that there are times when Swanson begins a storyline and you think, Alright, this has nothing to do with TR. This was a manufactured connection to fill space and name-drop, but then, sure enough, by the time the story is finished, TR is actually a substantive piece it. It's not contrived.
Which is why I say this: If you were curating a shortlist of essential—and only the essential—TR books, this belongs there. It's that fresh, it's that insightful, and it's that deee-lightful to read.
Here is the problem. I think Swanson's editor and publisher let him down.
This is the point-blank conversation his editor should have had with him.
Editor: Swanny you have a best seller here. I mean it. But there are a couple things we need to fix if we're gonna make it to the top. In the introduction you lay out two themes that you're going to carry throughout the book. One is the importance of athletics to the development of TR's character. The other is how athletics infiltrated every corner of American culture. Drop the second theme. I realize you're a historian and this is probably the part you're most intrigued by, but it's got to go. You have a unique angle on TR. Let him be the center of attention. Isn't that like the one thing you learned about him in your research? That's the way he'd want it. The work you've done on him is hearty enough to stand on its own. Let it stand on its own. We'll cut the second theme and present the book to the world as a biography—a biography that looks at the man through one specific window. Just like McCullough did. You know, Mornings on Horseback? He looked at the trials of Teedie's youth and how they formed the man TR. You've done the same, but yours is better. I'm serious, Swanny. You've written a better book than McCullough. That's no slight to him. It's a credit to you. We just need to reframe it. Tighten it up. The tighter the nozzle, the greater the force.
***
And here is the point-blank conversation Swanson should have had with his publisher.
Swanson: I just received the proof copy. Thank you. You are the integral piece to this thing. No publisher, no sales. We are only going as far as you take us. That means I'd like to make some changes. I want this to look like a book that belongs on the center table at Barnes & Noble. So first, we need to resize it. A little shorter, a little narrower. Second thing is the paper. This looks like it was printed on the ream I bought at Staples last week. We need something thicker, with some texture—needs great hand-feel—and slightly off-white. Then there is the font. I'm not sure what it is but it is noticeably different. The key word there is noticeably. A good font is a font that is so comfortable, so natural, that it dissolves into the page. And while we're talking fonts, what is with the obnoxiously long tail on the letter Q? This shouldn't be problem, but I've written a book about a President who met the Queen of Norway, had a son named Quentin, and was protected by a police chief named Quirk. So it's a problem. And please nix the gray font on the page numbers. A low-contrast font is begging our readers to get agitated. I know this is all very direct and comes across as an excoriation of your work. It's not. Size, paper, font—these are small changes, and they will make a world of difference.
***
I realize Swanson probably has close personal relationships with both his editor and publisher and that I've just run absolute roughshod over their ties by letting loose a torrent of unguarded words. It was just a silly way to make my plea. But it is a plea that must be made because I truly believe in this book's potential. I fear it has been passed over, undeservedly, because the form does not meet the substance. That is lamentable. Swanson's book should receive every bit of the attention that his outstanding work merits.
December 23, 2019
Thoughts soon.
December 23, 2019
Theodore Roosevelt was known to be one of the more active Presidents, but just how active he was and the impact he had on both participating and spectator sports is captured in this book by Ryan Swanson. In it, Swanson takes an in-depth look at Roosevelt's experience in sport, whether it was in his youth and college days, his time at the White House or frankly, any other time.
While many know about TR's concern about the violence in college football and his asthma that affected his activity as a child, other activities that are not as well know make their way into the reader's attention. One of this is the "tennis cabinet" – staff members with whom TR would play tennis on a regular basis. He was an enthusiastic boxer, both at Harvard and at the White House. Of course walking regularly was also a favorite activity of his.
Something that may be surprising, however, is his lack of enthusiasm for baseball. Even though he was presented with a "golden ticket" good for admission to any major or minor league baseball game, Roosevelt believed the game was not active enough as he preferred sports and activities that required more motion by the body. He felt that all ages should be more active, as he established what became known as the physical fitness tests for school-age children.
These are just some of the topics Swanson covers with gusto and in great detail. Because of the detail, it is a book that requires careful reading, but once done, the reader will have taken a fascinating look at the active life of the 26th United States President.
While many know about TR's concern about the violence in college football and his asthma that affected his activity as a child, other activities that are not as well know make their way into the reader's attention. One of this is the "tennis cabinet" – staff members with whom TR would play tennis on a regular basis. He was an enthusiastic boxer, both at Harvard and at the White House. Of course walking regularly was also a favorite activity of his.
Something that may be surprising, however, is his lack of enthusiasm for baseball. Even though he was presented with a "golden ticket" good for admission to any major or minor league baseball game, Roosevelt believed the game was not active enough as he preferred sports and activities that required more motion by the body. He felt that all ages should be more active, as he established what became known as the physical fitness tests for school-age children.
These are just some of the topics Swanson covers with gusto and in great detail. Because of the detail, it is a book that requires careful reading, but once done, the reader will have taken a fascinating look at the active life of the 26th United States President.
April 2, 2023
Excellent addition to TR historiography!
Everyone knows that Theodore Roosevelt was a sports and health nut. This book delves into that part of his life in great detail. Unlike many other books, it avoids the trap of simply rehashing the life and stays focused on the theme. The chapters on football and baseball were especially interesting. The end where he imagines what TR would make of today's sports culture is both entertaining and insightful. Swanson also avoids the trap of whitewashing Roosevelt, pointing out that TR's blind spots when it came to race and gender (his Strenuous Life was for white men) unfortunately are still with us, even if somewhat mitigated. All in all, a worthy addition to our Roosevelt knowledge.
Everyone knows that Theodore Roosevelt was a sports and health nut. This book delves into that part of his life in great detail. Unlike many other books, it avoids the trap of simply rehashing the life and stays focused on the theme. The chapters on football and baseball were especially interesting. The end where he imagines what TR would make of today's sports culture is both entertaining and insightful. Swanson also avoids the trap of whitewashing Roosevelt, pointing out that TR's blind spots when it came to race and gender (his Strenuous Life was for white men) unfortunately are still with us, even if somewhat mitigated. All in all, a worthy addition to our Roosevelt knowledge.
August 3, 2022
A solid read about a very interesting man and his obsession with, as the title indicates, “The Strenuous Life.” Fun facts about boxing, baseball, football, the White House, New York, and more. I wish others could have as much zest for life as Roosevelt. The world would be a livelier place. Those interested in American history and athletics would enjoy this book.
October 30, 2019
A really great read. Written by informally, almost conversationally, this is both informative and entertaining. Most of the material will be well-known to TR aficionados, but there will be detail that likely will be new, regarding the supporting cast of characters if not TR himself. The author is obviously a fan, but does not hesitate to point out where TR perhaps did not rise to the level we might hope. The mistake of taking him out of his time and holding him to a different standard is mercifully not done, however. The shortcomings of the Brownsville dishonorable discharges, for example, are mentioned and lamented that TR did not rise to a level equaling his rhetoric, but he is not bashed from 100 years of progress. Interesting discussions outside of TR himself are also to be found, for example the paradox of the "student athlete". There is not time for this to be explored in the depth it deserves, probably requiring its own book, but interesting discussion points abound.
May 4, 2021
This book was a really interesting project. A fusion of Theodore Roosevelt- his Strenuous Life philosophy, his athletic and physical biography; the rise of competitive organized sports, - from college football, boxing, baseball and the Olympics, And TR's either direct or indirect hand in influencing their trajectories.
One of the biggest takeaways from this read is that as the Wise Solomon said "nothing under the sun is new". Way back in the late 19th/early 20th century there was a large push for young men to partake in rough manly sports because of a fear that men were becoming urbanized and soft- That conversation is ongoing in 2021.
Overall a fascinating project and a good read, especially for any TR fan.
One of the biggest takeaways from this read is that as the Wise Solomon said "nothing under the sun is new". Way back in the late 19th/early 20th century there was a large push for young men to partake in rough manly sports because of a fear that men were becoming urbanized and soft- That conversation is ongoing in 2021.
Overall a fascinating project and a good read, especially for any TR fan.
August 25, 2019
From un unorthodox angle and plenty anecdotes, it gets academic at times, especially the first part, lots of info on rules of the games. But hey *spoiler alert* Miley Cyrus is in the book. Anyone manages to put Roosevelt and Miley in one book deserves at least a 3start rating, no? Kidding aside, this is an easy and entertaining read overall.
Theodore Roosevelt’s opening line was hardly remarkable for a presidential campaign speech: “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible.” His second line, however, was a bombshell.
“I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot.”
Theodore Roosevelt’s opening line was hardly remarkable for a presidential campaign speech: “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible.” His second line, however, was a bombshell.
“I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot.”
August 21, 2019
I have read a lot of books about Theodore Roosevelt, but this is a unique one. It was interesting to read about the impact he had on the government's involvement into athletics. President Roosevelt was extremely athletic, as were his children. It was interesting to see the downside of when his children excelled in sports, as well. This was a great read with unique information that I hadn't read elsewhere.
June 9, 2025
While the story was very interesting, I found the author's quips to be really annoying and detract from the book. Easily a 4 or 5 star book if not for the seemingly constant editorializing. Also, the description of Col. Roosevelt's death comes after an epilogue about going to a Roosevelt convention and also how the author thinks Roosevelt would go to In-N-Out if he was around today. Entirely unnecessary, and I nearly missed the end of the book because of it.
November 12, 2019
Incredible read! Now I understand why Theodore Roosevelt is on Mount Rushmore. Great historical information, great insights into Theodore Roosevelt's family life, amazing dialog, and twists of humor. Two thumbs up!
January 11, 2020
Great book!
Read
April 9, 2020Audible Audiobook
November 28, 2020
A good study of the development of the popularity of sports in the United States, and how it linked to TR's presidency.
November 8, 2025
Unique and enjoyable. Sports. Fitness. History. Politics. TR through the lens of his love for vigorous effort. Loved it.
January 25, 2020
TR, Sport and US History
What a wonderful blend of History, Sport, and the presidency of TR. A book you will have trouble putting down and will most definitely enjoy.
What a wonderful blend of History, Sport, and the presidency of TR. A book you will have trouble putting down and will most definitely enjoy.
June 9, 2020
A very interesting book. I really enjoyed it. However I feel like it could have been 30% shorter. Some points were a little belabored. Overall, though, I really enjoyed reading about Roosevelt and his influence on athletics in America.
December 25, 2019
A very fun and at times humorous account of Theodore Roosevelt (TR) and the rise of sports in the United States in the first decade of the twentieth century. TR was the most outspoken presidential proponent of sports in the history of the United States and his administration coincided with with the rise of American sports culture, including football, organization of college level sports, the olympics, adoption of sports in K-12 schools, personal and physical fitness, tennis, boxing, baseball and the first World Series, etc. Two things that really stood out to me. First, TR greatly favored amateur competition over the professional, which he considered tainted by big money. He loved college football with its toughness, but derided baseball as a mollycoddle sport, not just because it lacked physicality, but also because it was professional and money-centered. There was no professional football at this time. TR similarly enjoyed boxing, but he likewise denounced prize-fighting, which was essentially any professional boxing match. The chapter on Jack Johnson and race was very informative. Second, TR's advocacy of the strenuous life was both about the nation and based in some part on very ugly social Darwinist assumptions, it was also deeply personal. His father's challenge to a young and asthmatic TR that he had to make his body resonated throughout his life. At the same time, TR spoke frankly about his own lack of prowess in athletics. He was never the champion, frequently injured himself, and struggled throughout his life with his weight. In that sense, everyone from a gold medal olympian to the middle class, white-collar dad could identify with TR.
February 2, 2020
I really liked the concept of this book and would have given it 4 stars if the author hadn't spent so much time in detailing every aspect of some sports contests. A good example comes at the beginning of the book where he covers almost every minute of the Army-Navy football game that Roosevelt attended. This is way more than the reader needs to get the point. Teddy Roosevelt absolutely believed that physical activity was just as important as education in forming the complete person, although in his case person was really a male. He gave short shrift to worrying about women. His time in office as president coincided with the growth of organized sports and athletic activity in general. Swanson provides an entertaining account of how Roosevelt affected that trend and how in turn the rise of a sporting America affected Roosevelt. The most enjoyable chapter for me was the section on baseball, the one sport that Roosevelt cared little for, seeing it as a pastime for mollycoddled idlers, certainly not those striving for the "strenuous life." The author provides a balanced picture, acknowledging the problematic issues that Roosevelt brings to bear, without losing his admiration for Roosevelt's energy. This is an excellent combination of presidential and sports history. The reader of this audiobook did a fine job of conveying the author's enthusiasm for his subject.
June 14, 2020
This book is a fantastic account of the sporting and strenuous life of Teddy Roosevelt. It gets 5/5 for this. However, the subtitle states “Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete”. I kept waiting to hear how Teddy helped make the American athlete, but it never came. Was he an archetype and forefather of our athletic life today? Yes. But does this book explain how he helped shape the current American athlete? Not as explicitly as it suggests. A great read nonetheless.
August 24, 2019
Interesting premise, it gets academic at times. Overall, a good read.
December 29, 2022
Never take the easy way out
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews