Customer Reviews

The Health of the Presidents: The 41 United States Presidents Through 1993 from a Physician's Point of View

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A potentially fascinating topic sullied by lazy writing. This long-winded manuscript screams for a ghost writer. An editor wouldn't have hurt, either, as several non-sequiturs jar the reading experience. Finally, mistakes doom this treatise to the academic dustbin. For example, the author has Theodore Roosevelt writing a letter in February of 1919; quite a feat, as Roosevelt had died six weeks prior. In addition, Bumgarner alleges that Roosevelt was shot while President--another inaccuracy, as Taft, not Roosevelt, was President preceding the 1912 election. Such errors, though perhaps more forgiveable in another milieu, have no excuse in a book ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL HEALTH.

I have owned this book for several years. I have a small collection of presidental books and this book, along with "First Mothers" are my two favorites. It is fascinating to find out health histories of the presidents, especially what went on in Woodrow Wilson's White House. I also have a book on Sarah Polk written by Dr. Bumgarner. I totally enjoy his work.