U.S. Presidents for Dummies (Paperback)

by Marcus Stadelmann (Author) "In 1774, 12 colonies (Georgia refused to attend) agreed to get together and set up a united legislature, or Continental Congress, to speak with one..." (more)
Key Phrases: ten worst presidents, foreign policy accomplishments, first party system, United States, New York, Soviet Union (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Forty-three Americans have held the job of President of the United States. Each has a story, be it one of vision, accomplishment, conflict, scandal, triumph, or tragedy. And each story is at the center of the national story, a part of what we all experience. History buffs find endless fascination – and a greater understanding of America today – in the colorful personalities and momentous events that surround the Oval Office.

If you want the complete take on U. S. presidents, from George Washington to George W. Bush, you’ll appreciate U. S. Presidents for Dummies. Written in a lively style by a history professor at the University of Texas, this fun guidebook of chief executives is packed with information, factoids, and memorable quotes. Inside, you’ll find out which president:

• Promised to only serve one term, and kept his word!
• Was a great person but a rotten president
• Campaigned on nothing but image – in the n ineteenth century!
• May be the most underrated president in history
• Had his own distributor bringing liquor to the White House – during Prohibition!
• Appointed the first female cabinet member
• Pushed through the first civil rights legislation after the end of the Civil War
• Said of himself, “I am a man of limited talents from a small town. I don’t seem to grasp that I am president”

U. S. Presidents for Dummies offers a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to be the leader of the free world, and who has stepped up to the challenge. Dividing the ranks of presidents into chronological groups for a broader, historical understanding of the office, this book discusses:

• The birth and evolution of the presidency
• Ineffective presidents
• Forgettable presidents
• Working up to the Civil War
• Reconstruction presidents
• Becoming a force in the world
• Instituting the Imperial Presidency
• Today’s changing dynamics and the Presidency

A treasury of information, this book features an easy-to-comprehend style and sharp historical analysis. Sidebars, photos, timelines, and best and worst lists make U. S. Presidents for Dummies a historical blast to read and a must-have for understanding the state of both yesterday’s and today’s union.

From the Back Cover
Hail to the Chief!

Get the lowdown on our nation’s leaders

Packed with little-known facts and fascinating stories

Get the scoop on America’s leaders from George Washington to George W. Bush

Ever wonder how America’s presidents deal with the fame, stress, and criticism that come along with the most powerful position in the world? From their successes to their scandals, from their public personas to their private lives, this friendly guide follows the careers of the 42 men who have held the office – revealing intriguing details about their personalities, lifestyles, and the events that influenced their decisions.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (April 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764508857
• ISBN-13: 978-0764508851
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #214,663 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction, March 2, 2003

By	therosen "therosen" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Do you want to know what makes a Great President? Do you want to know the names and details of some of the 43 that you've never heard of? Do you want to know the people behind the historical facts?

This book is a great introduction to US presidents for the lay reader. I bought it because I felt underinformed about American history, and couldn't name even half of our presidents. The book certainly helped increase my breadth of knowledge on the subject. It also provided enough tongue in cheek humor to make the history interesting.

After the fact I felt good enough about the book to give it away as a gift.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and fun, October 22, 2002

By	Scott Skiles (Texas) - See all my reviews

Being a Politics buff, I enjoy books that inform me about our political structure in general. I wasn't really that enthused about this book until I started reading it. I figured, "You've read ONE president's book, you've read them ALL!" Boy was I wrong! This is one book that is so packed with information sure to astound and amaze you, that the trivia tidbits are worth the purchase price alone! Even I, a college senior, couldn't have told you all the cool stuff here. For example; wanna know who the first president to give an interview to a woman reporter was? Wanna know what he was (or rather wasn't) wearing? It's in here. Feel the need to impress your friends with your dazzling knowledge of who the first cross-dressing president of the U.S. was? Yup, right here too. See? I'm telling you: you won't find a better book of (seemingly) worthless presidential information out there. And, if you're not careful, you just might learn something useful as well...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Broad Primer of the U.S. Presidents, July 25, 2006

By	Michael Menninger "#1 Good Eats Aficionado" (Woodstock, Georgia, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really like this book because it gives one a great overview of each president. The author doesn't hold back or gloss over any of the presidents. If he thinks one did well, he says so and why. The converse is true for the bad ones.

Each president is given a short pre-history to their presidenthood, a short overview of their actions (and mis-actions) in office and what happened to them when they left.

The edition I own goes up to Preisdent George W. Bush's first term.

I highly recommend it with you need to know the basics of a president to get you started on larger research.