Presidential readings....

Despite our New Year's Resolution not to get sucked into any reading challenges for 2009, some of you may know that A Reader's Respite chucked that one out the window when Books 'N Border Collies sponsored the U.S. Presidential Reading Project.


We've since completely lost all control and like a person whose diet lasted one whole week, we then gorged ourselves on about a dozen other challenges, but that's not important right now.

Back to the original subject: books about American Presidents. The essence of the U.S. Presidential Reading Project is to read a book about each and every American President.

Yep, that's right, all of 'em.

And look what came in the mail today....


That's right, Jon Meacham's Pulizter Prize winner, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House.

Anyone else read this yet? This tome (at 512 pages, it ain't what we'd call a light read) has been called the definitive story of our seventh President. While there isn't any new material in this biography, we've heard tell that Meacham's writing style makes this one a must-read.

We'll report back and let you know.

In the meantime, can anyone recommend a good book (or, let's be honest here, any book) about President Chester Arthur?

(*sound of crickets chirping*)






13 comments:

  1. Wow, you've lasted a week on the diet. lol.

    Wow, all of them *whistling*. Impressive.

    Enjoy your hand weight book!

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  2. I've had this one since it came out. I love Meacham's writing and I love biography. I really should get going on this one!!!

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  3. You are on your way to rehabilitation, as the first step is admitting the problem. The next step? Just riding the wave and being at peace with our afflictions. One more damn challenge isn't going to kill you, hopefully!

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  4. I'll be reading this one soon. It is thick, but a lot of the pages in the back are notes.

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  5. I hear great things about this one, so I'll be very curious to see what you think of it when you're done.

    Chester Arthur. Yeah, I'll be falling back on The American Presidents series for guys like this. :-)

    Lezlie

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  6. My husband read this. Our review is posted here:

    http://rhapsodyinbooks.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/sunday-salon-review-of-american-lion-by-jon-meacham/

    He wasn't too enamored of it. He felt the author focussed too much on Jackson's personal issues and not enough on his significant policy moves (like the removal of the Native Americans, and the vitiation of the National Bank).

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  7. H! Books looks great! AND I have an AWARD for YOU!
    You probably have one already, but wanted to acknowledge you anyway!Come by and pick it up!

    http://chickwithbooks.blogspot.com/2009/07/awards-awards-and-big-thank-you-from-me.html

    Suzanne

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  8. ALL of the Presidents? Won't be joining that challenge myself, unless I could have twenty years to complete it?

    You go girl!

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  9. Amazon has this...

    http://www.amazon.com/Gentleman-Boss-Chester-Arthur-Signature/dp/0945707037

    Although I can't believe they're charging $32.50 for Chester!

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  10. I don't know anything about Chester Arthur but there is a great biography on Millard Fillmore -- it is called "Yes...He Really Was A President." HAHA!

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  11. I'm so tempted to join this challenge...

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  12. I've really been slacking off on this challenge. So far I've read about one president - Obama. I need to get my act together. :)

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  13. That's quite a challenge to take on! I'm not sure I'd finish it before a new President was in office ;)

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Fire away!