About this title: From the "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Franklin and Winston" and "American Gospel" comes a magnificent portrait of Andrew Jackson, the man who shaped the modern presidency. Illustrated with black-and-white photos.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Random House
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9781400063253ISBN:1400063256
Description: Like New in Like New jacket. Nice bright like new copy in a like new dust jacket. 483 pp. "Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency. Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson's election in 1828 ushered in a new and ... read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Random House Inc, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9781400063253ISBN:1400063256
Description: Very Good in Good jacket. Light wear on jacket; Book condition like new; Small nick on top edge of front cover on book; Very light edgewear on book; US Pres. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Random House, New York, NY
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9781400063253ISBN:1400063256
Description: Very Good in Very Good jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Fourth Printing. Scuffing and wear to dust jacket, clean and crisp within. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780812973464ISBN:0812973461
Description: New. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 483 p. Contains: Illustrations. New York Times Notable Books. Audience: General/trade. Brand New Softcover-just arrived from publisher-ships with tracking # (Not a Cheap Book Club Edition) read more
"There are several points I would like to make about this book. First, It was great to read books about Lincoln, TR, and Truman before this one. All of those great presidents always used Jackson as example. S it was interesting to read about the first non-noble, executive power inducing president and see how he set a precedent for all future presidents. I also really enjoyed how the author would not always stick with a chronological time line in a book. To keep certain ideas and relationships from being forgotten, the author would every once and a while meander away with a topic, only to return to the departed place in time after the present subject was fully resolved/explained. Finally, the best part of this book is that it is not focused mainly on the politics, but more of the person Jackson was and his relationships with his family. This is key because Jackson was orphaned at a very young age and essentially treated America as his family. The way he molded his presidency and that example he past on to future presidents is based off of the role of a father, protecting his children from outside harms and sometimes themselves. Great book to read!"
"STATEMENT: I received a free copy of this book thru the GoodReads site to review.
Well, Mr Meacham has done an excellent job researching Andrew Jackson as well as the culture and history surrounding his time in the White House. I cannot fault him in his research... and his book did impress upon me the amount of knowledge that he has acquired on the subject.
However, I was not a fan of the book. I had to force myself to persevere thru its reading. I found it dull, but more importantly, I felt that he tried to include too much information. He tried to include "dirt" as well as personal decisions that Jackson had to face during his presidency, but because he tries to cover such a wide range, we are left with only superficial scratchings on most of it.
I think if he had concentrated on just one of the issues, like the issue of a Federal Bank or perhaps on some of the social scandals regarding his "adopted" family, then the book would be far better.
Instead, it becomes hard to follow as characters in the book come and go, with only occasional passages to describe them. There is no depth. It reads like a cliff notes version of a book.
This book came highly rated, with lauds from the New York Times and other media outlets. I'm thinking it is only because of recent pop histories like 1776 this book received such honors. I was disappointed."
"For a history buff, this is a fine portrayal of a controversial, inconsistent, temperamental president. Yet, he is a dedicated patriot committed to the preservation of the Union and to the fulfillment of his own personal will.
Jackson's story is capably rendered by Jon Meacham, current editor of Newsweek, in a style that is polished and professional, yet easy to read (not a pedantic work). While focusing on Jackson's presidency, it incorporates relevant facts from Jackson's earlier life that influenced his formation as a person, family man and politician. Jackson rode the crest of his success at the Battle of New Orleans into the White House and was at constant loggerheads with Congress, especially on the issue of states rights (which would find a bloody resolution in the Civil War) and regarding the power of the National Bank (a battle he won, but at great cost to him personally). The narration also weaves in the personal and complex family dynamics that affected his presidency and the various scandals and the poor decisions (or poor implementation of good decisions) that have altered the path of history--and which seem to beleaguer so many notable persons.
One of the joys of reading history is the discovery of details that history classes don't and probably can't offer--small "aha!" facts and connections that clarify for the reader why something is the way it is and why we as a people now live as we do--the inheritors of the actions and decisions of those who have gone before us. In understanding Jackson's presidency, one can better understand the power and limitations of today's executive office.
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