A Review of the Potus Geeks Books Read in 2014
This past year was an exceptional one for potus_geeks literature, so much so that I couldn't keep up with all of it. In looking back at the books I read and reviewed for this community over 2014, I see that I spent part of the year catching up on what I didn't finish from 2013 and previous years, including the excellent Washington's Crossing that seaivy has been recommending me to read for years.
Here's a list of the books we reviewed in Potus_geeks this year, followed by my top 10 list:
1. The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kears Goodwin, reviewed here. Few history writers have the ability to recount historical facts and turn them into a compelling, interesting and enjoyable story. Doris Kearns Goodwin is among the foremost among this group. She has the ability to take names from the pages of history books and turn them into fascinating personalities and to make the reader feel like he or she is present as these historically captivating events are unfolding. She has done it again with The Bully Pulpit, a most engaging and entertaining account of two complex presidents and the exciting times in which they lived.
2. Double Down: Game Change 2012, reviewed here. The authors take an objective look at what went right and what went wrong for both camps in the 2012 Presidential election. This is not the best post-mortem book on the 2012 election (that honor goes to Collision 2012: Obama vs. Romney and the Future of Elections in America by Dan Balz, reviewed here), but the authors of this book write in an enjoyable style that is neither too pedantic nor a dumbing down of its subject matter, but this is still a very good recap of Obama vs. Romney, told by a couple of very talented reporters and authors. Don't expect an HBO movie from this book, but it's still very good history of the election of 2012.
3. A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln and the 1846 US Invasion of Mexico by Amy Greenberg, reviewed here. The author takes it as a foregone conclusion that the Mexican-American War was an act of unjust aggression, formulated by an expansionist president who was beholden to the proponents of slavery. While it would have been preferable for the author to first present the facts and then reach a conclusion, this is an excellent history of an important conflict often overlooked by historians. Its consideration of issues often left out of most wartime histories make it an exceptionally good read. My only criticism is that it would have been even more compelling if the author had let her conclusions follow the evidence, rather than the reverse.
4. HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton by Jonathan Allen, reviewed here. At times the book is too full of dropped names of political operatives and staffers that mean nothing to the average reader, and this tends to slow the book down. At other times, stories are told of incidents involving staffers which might be of interest to Washington based gossip circles, but add little to the history of the book's subject. As a result, only about 40% of this book will grasp hold of the reader's interest, while the rest is best saved for Washington insiders.
5. Blood and Daring: How Canada Fought the American Civil War and Forged a Nation by John Boyko, reviewed here. The combination of the author's literary ability and the fresh and unique perspective on the historic subjects of the Civil War and the birth of Canada combine to make this an exceptional book, among the best, if not the best work of history from 2013. I keep asking myself, why did I wait so long to get around to reading this? The stories told in this book deserve a Ken Burns style miniseries. John Boyko has established himself to be in a class with such wonderful historians as Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Pietrusza or H. W. Brands. This is a must read for history geeks, but regular folks will also find it very enjoyable reading.
6. The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage During the Great War by James David Robenalt, reviewed here. History as mystery is always wonderful to read, and it's also a bonus when the author can tell us interesting things that we never knew. History geeks will appreciate and enjoy this book. Those who aren't history fans, but who like a spirited tale, will also find this to be a fun book. It's like eating delicious candy and being told it's good for you. In spit of some of its salacious subject matter, this is an intelligent and brilliant work.
7. James Buchanan (The American Presidents Series) by Jean Baker, reviewed here. In a careful examination of the various theories of why Buchanan did nothing while the nation disintegrated, Baker challenges the competing theories that Buchanan was a strict constitutionalist or a do-nothing ditherer. She makes a compelling case that Buchanan was "an intellectual and electoral hostage" to the South, and how he let ideology trump pragmatism. Baker provides both an excellent analysis of the Buchanan presidency, and showcases her own brilliance in the process.
8. Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fisher, reviewed here. Fischer writes an excellent account of a critical period in US history, covering a wide variety of aspects and subjects superbly. His analysis at the end of the book of this crucial period and of its importance not only at the time, but today as well, is brilliant. I was told that I would enjoy this book tremendously, and that was an accurate prediction. This is history written at its finest by an author possessed of intellectual insight, as well as a wonderful ability to communicate it to the reader.
9. An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by Todd S. Purdum, reviewed here. This book balances intelligent analysis with an understanding of the human element of its subject. There is much to appreciate about this book, including its exposure of the achievements of many dedicated legislators who have gotten little credit for their noble efforts, and its thought-provoking analysis of a subject that is as much a part of our present as our past. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in this important and interesting aspect of American history.
10. The Presidents' War: Six American Presidents And The Civil War That Divided Them by Chris DeRose, reviewed here. I had eagerly anticipated the release of this book and it did not disappoint. Great historians can take a subject like the civil war that has been written about countless times, and give the reader a wealth of new information and a fresh perspective. DeRose accomplishes this in spades. He has followed up his excellent previous books, Founding Rivals: Madison vs. Monroe and the Election That Saved a Nation, and Congressman Lincoln with this, his best work yet, and in doing so he has earned a place in the top tier of history writers, in a class with H.W. Brands and Doris Kearns Goodwin. If U.S. history is what you enjoy, you will love this book. It is superb both in its detail and its analysis.
11. Party over Section: The Rough and Ready Presidential Election of 1848 by Joel H. Silbey, reviewed here. The author ably makes the case for why the election of 1848 was a pivotal one for the future of the nation, and how conditions at the time were the kindling for what would later become the national crisis of the Civil War. In 156 pages, Professor Silbey gives the reader a tremendous understanding of the issues and the times. His analysis is brilliant and his detail is fascinating. This book will delight anyone with an interest in antebellum United States. It is also enlightening for anyone curious about what it was like to politic over 160 years ago.
12. James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney, reviewed here. If you have any concerns that author Lynne Cheney's biography of the 4th President of the United States may be tainted by her family's political ideology, you can discard those apprehensions. She writes a very detailed and objective account of the life of her subject and in doing so dispels many of the myths about Madison being ineffective or lacking energy during his presidency. This book is a pleasure to read because it adopts the ideal tone. It is neither too professorial or pedantic, nor does it dumb down any of its subject matter. Cheney respects the reader's intelligence and makes all of the issues of the life and times of James Madison interesting and clear. In the process, she establishes her credentials as an excellent historian and author.
13. Three Blind Mice: The Three Presidents Before Lincoln and the Decade of the 1850s by Darryl Murphy, reviewed here. If you enjoy reading about history in language liberally spiced with profanity and crude humor, then you'll love this book. But since I don't, I'm not part of the target audience for this f-bomb laced treatise that reads like a drunken sailor's stream of consciousness.
14. The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It by John Dean, reviewed here. This book is not recommended for the reader with only a passing interest in Watergate. It contains too much detail as the conversations of the participants rehash over and over again what has happened, with their own self-serving spin. It can seem tedious for those with a limited interest. But for the serious history geek, this books is fascinating as various incriminating statements emerge from the mouths of Nixon, Erhlichman, Haldeman and others, though one has to sift through a lot of other meaningless chatter surrounding them. This book presents a reasonably clear picture of how a stupidly planned burglary by some zealous Nixon loyalists turned into the downfall of a president with so much potential. Dean not only tells us what Nixon knew, and when he knew it, but also how his poor judgement, wrong choices and character flaws led to his ruin.
15. The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan by Rick Perlstein, reviewed here. This book will likely offend conservatives and especially admirers of Ronald Reagan. If you are not a patient reader or are intolerant of authors who do not use words economically, this is not a good book for you. But if you remember the 70s and are a political junkie who likes to read about details and stories not told in typical history books, this is a very enjoyable read (most of the time).
16. John Quincy Adams: American Visionary by Fred Kaplan, reviewed here. Kaplan's interesting and complex account of the life of his subject makes clear that the title of the book is quite appropriate. The author shows how John Quincy Adams was indeed a great visionary, many steps ahead of the thinking of his contemporaries and how he was able to predict, with accuracy, what was in store for his nation even after his passing. Kaplan also shows us how Adams came to acquire his deep and profound understanding of his nation and his strong moral compass. This is an exceptional biography. The reader with a keen interest in history will find this book a pleasure to read. It is not a biography of the Joe Friday "Just the facts ma'am" variety. It is intelligent, informative and contains an in-depth analysis of its subject, his family, his contemporaries and the very interesting times in which he lived.
17. Landslide: LBJ and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America by Jonathan Darman, reviewed here. Darman is very objective and approaches this controversial time in history without any apparent agenda. He succeeds in telling the reader about this fascinating period without verbosity, bias or academic overkill. He writes very well and has a natural way with words. If Jonathan Darman's first book is any indication, we can all eagerly look forward to his future literary output.
18. The Greatest Speech, Ever: The Remarkable Story of Abraham Lincoln and His Gettysburg Address by James L. Cotton Jr., reviewed here. Reading Judge Cotton's account of the story of the Gettysburg address is wonderful because it comes as close as possible to placing the reader at the scene of this historic event. Where there is a conflict in versions of what took place, Judge Cotton ably makes the case for which is the more probable account. This book has the added dimension of providing the reader with insight into Lincoln's thoughts, but also provides the reader with a reasonable basis for the author's speculation. In a departure from standard academic fare, the author uses many folksy euphemisms and similes to tell this story. These work to reinforce the concept that history is not the property of an elite group of pedants, it belongs to everyone and it is something to be enjoyed by all. It is the combination of excellent research, and a passionate but objective author who opens the pages of history for readers to enjoy that makes this book such a pleasure to read, especially for anyone with an interest in Abraham Lincoln ranging from slight to great.
19. America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion, and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation by John Bicknell, reviewed here. John Bicknell's brilliance as an author can be seen from how much information he is able to convey in only 257 pages. I learned a tremendous amount of information from this book and am amazed at the author's ability to convey that information so succinctly and yet so thoroughly. Bicknell also earns high marks as an analyst. His post-mortem of the failed campaign of Henry Clay in the election of 1844 is excellent, and I appreciated this book's epilogue in which the author not only fills the reader in on the subsequent lives of the major subjects of the book, but also explains why their actions in 1844 were important to how the nation unfolded in the years leading to the civil war. Most impressive for me was his profound analysis of how history might have taken a completely different path if Henry Clay had run a smarter campaign and won the election of 1844. In this book John Bicknell proves that excellent history does not have to be voluminous and wordy to be intelligent, informative and a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed America 1844 and highly recommend it to readers with an interest in history from slight to great who appreciate good writing that entertains and informs concurrently and concisely.
I'm currently reading another book that I expect to finish on a flight that I'm currently on. (This post was written a few days earlier as a scheduled entry.) The book is Lincoln and the Power of the Press: The War for Public Opinion by Harold Holzer, and I will write a review of it once I finish it.
Here are the 10 best potus_geeks themed books that I read which came out in 2014:
1. The Presidents' War: Six American Presidents And The Civil War That Divided Them by Chris DeRose
2. America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion, and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation by John Bicknell
3. Landslide: LBJ and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America by Jonathan Darman
4. John Quincy Adams: American Visionary by Fred Kaplan
5. James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney
6. An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by Todd S. Purdum
7. The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan by Rick Perlstein
8. Lincoln and the Power of the Press: The War for Public Opinion by Harold Holzer
9. The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It by John Dean
10. Whistle Stop: How 31,000 Miles of Train Travel, 352 Speeches, and a Little Midwest Gumption Saved the Presidency of Harry Truman by Philip White (Disclaimer: I still haven't read this, but I trust this review by gm_1787).
Finally, a list of the books I didn't read (yet) but wish I had:
1. Whistle Stop: How 31,000 Miles of Train Travel, 352 Speeches, and a Little Midwest Gumption Saved the Presidency of Harry Truman by Philip White
2. 41: A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush
3. James Buchanan and the Coming of the Civil War by John Quist
4. Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander in Chief by James M. McPherson
5. Unreasonable Men: Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican Rebels Who Created Progressive Politics by Michael Wolraich
2014 was such an exceptional year for great books for potus_geeks. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope that 2015 isn't as good of a year - it might give me a chance to catch up on my reading!
Here's a list of the books we reviewed in Potus_geeks this year, followed by my top 10 list:
1. The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kears Goodwin, reviewed here. Few history writers have the ability to recount historical facts and turn them into a compelling, interesting and enjoyable story. Doris Kearns Goodwin is among the foremost among this group. She has the ability to take names from the pages of history books and turn them into fascinating personalities and to make the reader feel like he or she is present as these historically captivating events are unfolding. She has done it again with The Bully Pulpit, a most engaging and entertaining account of two complex presidents and the exciting times in which they lived.
2. Double Down: Game Change 2012, reviewed here. The authors take an objective look at what went right and what went wrong for both camps in the 2012 Presidential election. This is not the best post-mortem book on the 2012 election (that honor goes to Collision 2012: Obama vs. Romney and the Future of Elections in America by Dan Balz, reviewed here), but the authors of this book write in an enjoyable style that is neither too pedantic nor a dumbing down of its subject matter, but this is still a very good recap of Obama vs. Romney, told by a couple of very talented reporters and authors. Don't expect an HBO movie from this book, but it's still very good history of the election of 2012.
3. A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln and the 1846 US Invasion of Mexico by Amy Greenberg, reviewed here. The author takes it as a foregone conclusion that the Mexican-American War was an act of unjust aggression, formulated by an expansionist president who was beholden to the proponents of slavery. While it would have been preferable for the author to first present the facts and then reach a conclusion, this is an excellent history of an important conflict often overlooked by historians. Its consideration of issues often left out of most wartime histories make it an exceptionally good read. My only criticism is that it would have been even more compelling if the author had let her conclusions follow the evidence, rather than the reverse.
4. HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton by Jonathan Allen, reviewed here. At times the book is too full of dropped names of political operatives and staffers that mean nothing to the average reader, and this tends to slow the book down. At other times, stories are told of incidents involving staffers which might be of interest to Washington based gossip circles, but add little to the history of the book's subject. As a result, only about 40% of this book will grasp hold of the reader's interest, while the rest is best saved for Washington insiders.
5. Blood and Daring: How Canada Fought the American Civil War and Forged a Nation by John Boyko, reviewed here. The combination of the author's literary ability and the fresh and unique perspective on the historic subjects of the Civil War and the birth of Canada combine to make this an exceptional book, among the best, if not the best work of history from 2013. I keep asking myself, why did I wait so long to get around to reading this? The stories told in this book deserve a Ken Burns style miniseries. John Boyko has established himself to be in a class with such wonderful historians as Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Pietrusza or H. W. Brands. This is a must read for history geeks, but regular folks will also find it very enjoyable reading.
6. The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage During the Great War by James David Robenalt, reviewed here. History as mystery is always wonderful to read, and it's also a bonus when the author can tell us interesting things that we never knew. History geeks will appreciate and enjoy this book. Those who aren't history fans, but who like a spirited tale, will also find this to be a fun book. It's like eating delicious candy and being told it's good for you. In spit of some of its salacious subject matter, this is an intelligent and brilliant work.
7. James Buchanan (The American Presidents Series) by Jean Baker, reviewed here. In a careful examination of the various theories of why Buchanan did nothing while the nation disintegrated, Baker challenges the competing theories that Buchanan was a strict constitutionalist or a do-nothing ditherer. She makes a compelling case that Buchanan was "an intellectual and electoral hostage" to the South, and how he let ideology trump pragmatism. Baker provides both an excellent analysis of the Buchanan presidency, and showcases her own brilliance in the process.
8. Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fisher, reviewed here. Fischer writes an excellent account of a critical period in US history, covering a wide variety of aspects and subjects superbly. His analysis at the end of the book of this crucial period and of its importance not only at the time, but today as well, is brilliant. I was told that I would enjoy this book tremendously, and that was an accurate prediction. This is history written at its finest by an author possessed of intellectual insight, as well as a wonderful ability to communicate it to the reader.
9. An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by Todd S. Purdum, reviewed here. This book balances intelligent analysis with an understanding of the human element of its subject. There is much to appreciate about this book, including its exposure of the achievements of many dedicated legislators who have gotten little credit for their noble efforts, and its thought-provoking analysis of a subject that is as much a part of our present as our past. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in this important and interesting aspect of American history.
10. The Presidents' War: Six American Presidents And The Civil War That Divided Them by Chris DeRose, reviewed here. I had eagerly anticipated the release of this book and it did not disappoint. Great historians can take a subject like the civil war that has been written about countless times, and give the reader a wealth of new information and a fresh perspective. DeRose accomplishes this in spades. He has followed up his excellent previous books, Founding Rivals: Madison vs. Monroe and the Election That Saved a Nation, and Congressman Lincoln with this, his best work yet, and in doing so he has earned a place in the top tier of history writers, in a class with H.W. Brands and Doris Kearns Goodwin. If U.S. history is what you enjoy, you will love this book. It is superb both in its detail and its analysis.
11. Party over Section: The Rough and Ready Presidential Election of 1848 by Joel H. Silbey, reviewed here. The author ably makes the case for why the election of 1848 was a pivotal one for the future of the nation, and how conditions at the time were the kindling for what would later become the national crisis of the Civil War. In 156 pages, Professor Silbey gives the reader a tremendous understanding of the issues and the times. His analysis is brilliant and his detail is fascinating. This book will delight anyone with an interest in antebellum United States. It is also enlightening for anyone curious about what it was like to politic over 160 years ago.
12. James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney, reviewed here. If you have any concerns that author Lynne Cheney's biography of the 4th President of the United States may be tainted by her family's political ideology, you can discard those apprehensions. She writes a very detailed and objective account of the life of her subject and in doing so dispels many of the myths about Madison being ineffective or lacking energy during his presidency. This book is a pleasure to read because it adopts the ideal tone. It is neither too professorial or pedantic, nor does it dumb down any of its subject matter. Cheney respects the reader's intelligence and makes all of the issues of the life and times of James Madison interesting and clear. In the process, she establishes her credentials as an excellent historian and author.
13. Three Blind Mice: The Three Presidents Before Lincoln and the Decade of the 1850s by Darryl Murphy, reviewed here. If you enjoy reading about history in language liberally spiced with profanity and crude humor, then you'll love this book. But since I don't, I'm not part of the target audience for this f-bomb laced treatise that reads like a drunken sailor's stream of consciousness.
14. The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It by John Dean, reviewed here. This book is not recommended for the reader with only a passing interest in Watergate. It contains too much detail as the conversations of the participants rehash over and over again what has happened, with their own self-serving spin. It can seem tedious for those with a limited interest. But for the serious history geek, this books is fascinating as various incriminating statements emerge from the mouths of Nixon, Erhlichman, Haldeman and others, though one has to sift through a lot of other meaningless chatter surrounding them. This book presents a reasonably clear picture of how a stupidly planned burglary by some zealous Nixon loyalists turned into the downfall of a president with so much potential. Dean not only tells us what Nixon knew, and when he knew it, but also how his poor judgement, wrong choices and character flaws led to his ruin.
15. The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan by Rick Perlstein, reviewed here. This book will likely offend conservatives and especially admirers of Ronald Reagan. If you are not a patient reader or are intolerant of authors who do not use words economically, this is not a good book for you. But if you remember the 70s and are a political junkie who likes to read about details and stories not told in typical history books, this is a very enjoyable read (most of the time).
16. John Quincy Adams: American Visionary by Fred Kaplan, reviewed here. Kaplan's interesting and complex account of the life of his subject makes clear that the title of the book is quite appropriate. The author shows how John Quincy Adams was indeed a great visionary, many steps ahead of the thinking of his contemporaries and how he was able to predict, with accuracy, what was in store for his nation even after his passing. Kaplan also shows us how Adams came to acquire his deep and profound understanding of his nation and his strong moral compass. This is an exceptional biography. The reader with a keen interest in history will find this book a pleasure to read. It is not a biography of the Joe Friday "Just the facts ma'am" variety. It is intelligent, informative and contains an in-depth analysis of its subject, his family, his contemporaries and the very interesting times in which he lived.
17. Landslide: LBJ and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America by Jonathan Darman, reviewed here. Darman is very objective and approaches this controversial time in history without any apparent agenda. He succeeds in telling the reader about this fascinating period without verbosity, bias or academic overkill. He writes very well and has a natural way with words. If Jonathan Darman's first book is any indication, we can all eagerly look forward to his future literary output.
18. The Greatest Speech, Ever: The Remarkable Story of Abraham Lincoln and His Gettysburg Address by James L. Cotton Jr., reviewed here. Reading Judge Cotton's account of the story of the Gettysburg address is wonderful because it comes as close as possible to placing the reader at the scene of this historic event. Where there is a conflict in versions of what took place, Judge Cotton ably makes the case for which is the more probable account. This book has the added dimension of providing the reader with insight into Lincoln's thoughts, but also provides the reader with a reasonable basis for the author's speculation. In a departure from standard academic fare, the author uses many folksy euphemisms and similes to tell this story. These work to reinforce the concept that history is not the property of an elite group of pedants, it belongs to everyone and it is something to be enjoyed by all. It is the combination of excellent research, and a passionate but objective author who opens the pages of history for readers to enjoy that makes this book such a pleasure to read, especially for anyone with an interest in Abraham Lincoln ranging from slight to great.
19. America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion, and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation by John Bicknell, reviewed here. John Bicknell's brilliance as an author can be seen from how much information he is able to convey in only 257 pages. I learned a tremendous amount of information from this book and am amazed at the author's ability to convey that information so succinctly and yet so thoroughly. Bicknell also earns high marks as an analyst. His post-mortem of the failed campaign of Henry Clay in the election of 1844 is excellent, and I appreciated this book's epilogue in which the author not only fills the reader in on the subsequent lives of the major subjects of the book, but also explains why their actions in 1844 were important to how the nation unfolded in the years leading to the civil war. Most impressive for me was his profound analysis of how history might have taken a completely different path if Henry Clay had run a smarter campaign and won the election of 1844. In this book John Bicknell proves that excellent history does not have to be voluminous and wordy to be intelligent, informative and a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed America 1844 and highly recommend it to readers with an interest in history from slight to great who appreciate good writing that entertains and informs concurrently and concisely.
I'm currently reading another book that I expect to finish on a flight that I'm currently on. (This post was written a few days earlier as a scheduled entry.) The book is Lincoln and the Power of the Press: The War for Public Opinion by Harold Holzer, and I will write a review of it once I finish it.
Here are the 10 best potus_geeks themed books that I read which came out in 2014:
1. The Presidents' War: Six American Presidents And The Civil War That Divided Them by Chris DeRose
2. America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion, and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation by John Bicknell
3. Landslide: LBJ and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America by Jonathan Darman
4. John Quincy Adams: American Visionary by Fred Kaplan
5. James Madison: A Life Reconsidered by Lynne Cheney
6. An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by Todd S. Purdum
7. The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan by Rick Perlstein
8. Lincoln and the Power of the Press: The War for Public Opinion by Harold Holzer
9. The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It by John Dean
10. Whistle Stop: How 31,000 Miles of Train Travel, 352 Speeches, and a Little Midwest Gumption Saved the Presidency of Harry Truman by Philip White (Disclaimer: I still haven't read this, but I trust this review by gm_1787).
Finally, a list of the books I didn't read (yet) but wish I had:
1. Whistle Stop: How 31,000 Miles of Train Travel, 352 Speeches, and a Little Midwest Gumption Saved the Presidency of Harry Truman by Philip White
2. 41: A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush
3. James Buchanan and the Coming of the Civil War by John Quist
4. Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander in Chief by James M. McPherson
5. Unreasonable Men: Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican Rebels Who Created Progressive Politics by Michael Wolraich
2014 was such an exceptional year for great books for potus_geeks. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope that 2015 isn't as good of a year - it might give me a chance to catch up on my reading!