Challenges discussion

I'm thisclose to being done with Madison. Who are we going to read for Monroe? Thoughts? I think Ammon's or Unger's are good recommendations.

It sounds like Ammons is the more authoritative while Ungers might be the more entertaining. While I want to read the more authortiative books, I think it might be wise with some of the less obviously interesting presidents to go with the more entertaining reads. What does everyone else think?

I could use a reprieve. I'm for Unger.

Sounds good to me! Let's see if anyone else has any thoughts before making it official.

Unger sounds good to me!

How is everyone enjoying Monroe? I'm finding Unger's style much more to my liking than Cheney's Madison. I find it a good balance of primary sources and commentary. I find he is zipping through the early Revolutionary years, but a-okay with me since it's already been hashed out for us several times over.

Sorry to say I haven't started yet! I'm waiting to get it from my library and it's taking longer than I expected. I'll catch up as soon as possible!

Monroe was a breath of fresh air after Madison- even Unger depicted Madison as a bore and weak, which I already sensed in his own biography. Though Unger liked to skim history I didn't find it especially off-putting (this time anyways). I felt like I can walk away knowing more about Monroe without feeling cheated about his life or presidency. His indebtedness continued a sad theme for the land rich-cash poor presidents.

I finally finished this book. I can't say I like Unger at all. I will avoid his books in the future.

Hi all, I just found this group and joined - hope that's OK.

Wanted to say, I read the Unger biography last year. I came away with a strong impression of disillusionment. Monroe started out idealistic, enthusiastic about the principles of democracy and believing that a worldwide revolution was beginning in the United States that would spread across Europe (really feels like for Monroe and his contemporaries, "the world" means about 10 countries in W. Europe) erasing nationalism and culture and creating a universal brotherhood of men.

But by the Monroe Doctrine, he had become very nationalist, abandoning those ideals and returning to politics as usual. Probably profoundly influenced by JQA, who had seen a lot more of Europe than Monroe had.

Thoughts?

Good points. But I've found that reality affected the idealism of all of the presidents at least a little, once they sat in that chair. Monroe was blessed with the most capable cabinet yet, but I think politics as usual returned despite it--or perhaps because of it. Too many cooks in the kitchen...?

And welcome to the group, I too am a newby. I'm currently wrapping up Niven's Van Buren.

Welcome!

Monroe was among the first of disappointing presidents I read during my President biography challenge. I found him uninspiring and insipid.

Off topic, but I always loved this scene from The Critic about James Monroe. It's kind of true in a way, he was a bit of a badass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M3Sr...