Presidential Reading List

Presidential Reading List

The following books are lauded by historians and pundits as the best sources of information about the institution and the individuals that make up the presidency

General Books

Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents: the Politics of Leadership from Roosevelt to Reagan by Richard E. Neustadt: The classic. A prominent Harvard professor looks at the leadership abilities of presidents from WWII to the end of the Cold War.

The Presidential Character: Predicting Performance in the White House. James David Barber: What characteristics affect the ability of presidents to lead and succeed? Barber looks at the inhabitants of the White House from Washington to Carter and singles out the patterns associated with successful presidential performance.

First Ladies by Betty Boyd Caroli: An in-depth look at presidential wives from Martha Washington to Nancy Reagan, including an examination of the origins of the term first lady, a look at the role’s controversies, and a study of the role’s evolution.

Chinatown, New York. Photo by Elena

Biographies

Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner: Originally four volumes, but even the abridged version is exhaustive in its account of Washington’s life from the French and Indian War to his death in 1799.

Jefferson and His Time by Dumas Malone: This work by investigative reporter claims to uncover new material and challenge previously held assumptions about Jefferson’s life, philosophy, and moral beliefs. It started quite a bit of controversy on its release.

James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity by Harry Ammon: A complete account of Monroe’s life, from his birth in Virginia in 1758 and his early army career through the Confederation Congress and the Presidency.

Andrew Jackson and the Collapse of American Empire by Robert Remini: From his childhood to the presidency. An examination of both character and historical context.

The Age of Jackson by Arthur M. Schlesinger: Beautifully written, this, is the definitive account of the impact of Jackson’s two terms on the evolving democratic traditions of 19th-century America.

The Presidency of James K. Polk, bu Paul Bergeron: One of the most important works about the Poli presidency. An examination of Polk’s emergence as a political leader.