The Presidents: Every Leader from Washington to Bush [Paperback]

Michael R. Beschloss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

America's most credible history magazine, American Heritage(r), joins forces with one of America's most esteemed and preeminent presidential historians, Michael Beschloss, to present a unique and extraordinary behind-the-scenes look at the forty-four Presidents and presidencies that have shaped this country. The Presidents: Every Leader from Washington to Bush offers a biographical profile of each man and a full account of the issues that shaped their presidency. This book will serve as an indispensable reference guide for many years to come, for seasoned observers, students just learning about the presidency, and readers interested in the men and issues that shaped America.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Ibooks, Inc. (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596870818
• ISBN-13: 978-1596870819
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Overview of the Presidents. Scholarly yet Readable, September 16, 2004

By 

T. Carlsen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Heritage: The Presidents (Paperback)

In a review for a previous edition of this book, another reviewer praised this book and warned positively of "information overload." I agree. This book is excellent and is loaded with facts of presidential history.

I am a reader of American presidential history, and this is the best overview of the presidents I have read so far. The authors clearly are superb scholar of presidential history. This book meets the highest standard of scholarship while being very readable.

Too many other books on the presidents are too vague (even inaccurate) or targeted for junior high readers. Others have a rotten political bias. This book is neither.

This book does not subject you to watered down propaganda, recycled speeches, or overly-extended biographies covering the lives of the presidents before they were presidents. This book profiles the presidents in an unbiased way, with an emphasis on their acts as president, in scholarly detail. You will truly get to know the truth of every president in this book.

Highly recommended for pleasure reading and reliable reference.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey, Phil, I think it's pretty good, July 31, 2004

By 

paul (Oakland, california United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Heritage: The Presidents (Paperback)

I haven't read the whole book yet, but I've found it has fascinating facts and anecdotes, especially about the early founding fathers and prexies. It personalizes and further brings into focus the incredible story of the first truly successful republic in modern history. The shorter bios. help give a flow and sweep to the historical periods that their tenures embody. No, you wouldn't want to read it in one or two sittings, but it's good in shorter snatches. They get amazingly complete and interesting details in each story; what an amazing life Andrew Jackson led, for example, in both his great and despicable qualities.

0 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just the facts, Jack, June 10, 2004

By 

Phil (Morton, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Heritage: The Presidents (Paperback)

This book seemed more like a textbook than an entertaining read. It presented nothing more than the facts and I wasn't very entertained by it. Nevertheless, it is a good 5-second history reference and would make good use as a dust collector on your bookshelf.