Customer Reviews

Will Rogers: A Biography

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This is probably the best biography of Will Rogers currently available. It is comprehensive, insightful, well researched, and balanced. My only complaint with it is that it ends somewhat abruptly. Yagoda touches briefly on the legacy of Will Rogers after his death, but he could have said a great deal more. Rogers's death evoked profound mourning across the US and the rest of the world, and it would have been nice if he had focused a bit more on that. His analysis, however, of why Rogers gradually ceased to be what he was in his own time--arguably the most popular American who ever lived--is very helpful. I had always found his comparative demise to be quite perplexing, and Yagoda does a superb job of explaining this phenomenon.

One of the greatest virtues of the book is that it does not, like many books on Rogers, engage in hagiography. Will Rogers was a very good, compassionate, honest man. Any book on his will show that. He had his faults, but as presented by Yagoda, they do not diminish the man, whatever it may do to the myth. For instance, Yagoda insightfully points out that while Rogers was rightfully lauded for his wisdom and insight, his thought was marred by an inability to comprehend genuine evil. One is left wondering what Rogers's response to Hitler's behavior in the years just after Rogers's death, and what he would have been able to say about the moral complexities of the Second World War. On the other hand, I would very much have welcomed Rogers as a voice of reason during the days of the Communist Witch Hunts.

Anyone interested in Rogers is strongly encouraged to read this book. I would also like to recommend the first chapter in Lary May's THE BIG TOMORROW. This book is a study of the social dimensions of American cinema from the thirties through the fifties. The first and best chapter is about Will Rogers, and remains the best thing that I have read about Will Rogers. I strongly recommend both books.

I heartily recommend this book not only to those interested in Will Rogers but also anyone interested in the evolution of American popular culture. Yagoda does an excellent job of writing about the people and events shaping Will's life and work. He does not succumb to sentimentality (perhaps going overboard in trying to prove that Will was not perfect). My only regret is he could have researched Cherokee culture and history more thoroughly, which would have explained a great deal more about Will and his family. Otherwise, very compelling reading.

this is a great book, it has so much information on life in turn of the century America and vaudville. Also interesting stories of cowboys and indians in will rogers life.it drags alittle in places but for the most part is very enjoyable.

I searched for what I thought would be the best biography out on Will Rogers and decided on this one, even though it seemed to lack information following his death. I read it, it's good and pretty complete----until Rogers dies. Then it just stops. There is no information given about the funeral--which I understand was absolutely enormous--35000 people in attendance. I like biographies to follow through with funeral and burial information, and Yagoda just drops it here. With all the researching these writers do on books, to go the extra step and give us this information wouldn't hurt. Very disappointed on this point. Yagoda lets us down here.

I really enjoyed the story he's such a well rounded person. He's always has been one of my idols. I loved his philospys of life. I so glad I could get a copy of this book at a resonable rate.

Will Rogers seemed like a really interesting person, but like many people today I knew almost nothing about him.

Will Rogers was the first king of all media and he seems like he was a really decent guy. Ben Yagoda does a great job of bringing Will Rogers to life. His prose is extremely readable and Will Rogers gave him a lot of material to work with.

One of the most informative and and researched biography I have ever read. The talent and wisdom of Will Rogers is amazing. Beautifully presented and a page turner.

This book gives a good insight into Wills role as world traveler, vaudville comedian, wild west show star, the Ziegfield Follies, movie actor, reporter and familly man. The 20th Centurys Renisance Man