Truman

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book, highly recommended!
Review: This may well be the best biography I've ever read, and it's no coincidence this book won the Pulitzer Prize and caused an upswelling of interest in the late 33rd President after its publication. McCullough does a masterful job in bringing to light an accidental President who nevertheless led the country, and led it well, through a perilous and uncertain time. Both Truman the man and Truman the president receive quality treatment in this fine work.

Rating:
Summary: Great reading for Democrats and Republicans
Review: There is something for everyone in this excellent biography. Democrats will revel in the last great age of liberalism, with a truly populist president who actually believed government could make life better for the average citizen. Republicans can admire a great man who was a great president, a man wholly matched with the incredible demands of the momentous events he shaped and influenced.

McCullough has written a masterpiece, worthy of the attention of anyone who is interested in the history of our country in the middle of the 20th century. I've read many political biographies, and this stands with the very best, both in terms of writer and subject.

Rating:
Summary: Superb book!
Review: Having read this book, I clearly understand why it won a Pulitzer: is writing is exceptional. The author does more to help the reader understand President Truman than any other biographer to date.

Rating:
Summary: Welcome to Machine
Review: Truman was virtually appointed President. And almost immediately thereafter he made the crucial decision to bomb Hiroshima. The Kansas City machine that put him into the Senate disintegrated, and gradually American demobilization turned into the Cold War dominated by the military. Truman, against all odds, was an effective leader. One is forced to wonder how he was able to navigate through the Post-WWII political minefield and emerge as a hero to the American people. McCullough's biography presents an easily readable account of the reality of power politics. I conclude that Harry Truman was indeed a man who could stand the heat, and one who stayed in the kitchen.

Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate biography on Harry Truman
Review: This magnificent book is just another wonderful writing accomplishment of David McCullough. It never surprises me when I find a book or a topic that I like and it is by this particular author. Mr. McCullough is today's best writer on history and biographies. His book on Truman and opened doors of understanding for me on how politics worked then, and probably continue to work. He writes with knowledge of the personal problems this man had to face in being an ultimately honest and fair person, but one who had to learn how to work within the confines of politics without losing his good qualities. Mr. McCullough also brings to the book an understanding about how many time Harry Truman was placed in situations beyond his control, or was ignored and humiliated because other people assumed he was a hick. FDR's snobbishness towards Truman is not a surprise, I read about it when reading about Los Alamos and the making of the Atom Bomb, but McCullough makes sure we know exactly how bad it was. I almost felt like crying for Truman when people behaved this way towards him and his family, and I am a Republican. This book sincerely made me wish not for a past period of history, but rather for more men and women who prized honesty and integrity beyond the glories of the world. I would wish for people not to underestimate those who choose to keep their lives simple and good, who place their family high on their list of priorities, and who aren't afraid to say what they think in an intelligent manner. This is all of what Truman was, in spite of his faults. Mr. McCullough did an outstanding job of writing in this biography! Karen L. Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh, [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Biography of One of our Greatest Presidents
Review: At approximately 1,000 pages, the sheer size of this biography might turn some readers away. Despite its length, however, it is never boring. McCullough's account of Harry Truman's life reads like a novel -- I literally could not put it down.

The Harry Truman that emerges from this book seems all the more remarkable within the context of the late 20th century politicians. How the public might react to his decisions was usually the last thing on his mind, contrary to political figures today. He made his decisions strictly on the basis of what was best for the country, no matter who agreed with him. He made many decisions that were unpopular at the time (such as firing WWII icon Douglas MacArthur) that proved to be the correct decision. He was also not afraid to speak out on controversial issues of the day such as civil rights, even though the Congress and the majority of the country were not ready to follow his lead. The eventual civil rights legislation enacted in the 1960s showed that Truman was again on the right side of history. If some of our more recent Presidents had Truman's integrity, perhaps we could have been spared things such as Watergate, Iran-Contra and Monica Lewinsky.

Thanks in part to the writing style of McCullough and in part to his subject, this is biography at its very best. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Romantic and Sentimental Rubbish
Review: Perhaps my view of the man has been contaminated by that of my Grandmother. She hated Truman. Really hated him. Thought he had no class. George Washington, Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt were her kind of people. Truman? A shabby haberdasher in everything he did. She would like David McCullough all right, but not his judgement.

Well, what about it? Was the old girl wrong? After reading this I'm not convinced she was. Sure, she was being superficial. But isn't a President's manner important? What about that rediculous(shabby) note of pretentious moralism that Truman scribbled to Eisenhower, the "Republican" presidential candidate? What about his acrimonious speech-making? And his hot-headed threat to punch that critic who had the good judgement (most likely) to call his daughter's musical talents into question? I suppose this is all way too superficial...but there is something "off" about the Truman cult. Does this guy really belong up there with Washington, Lincoln and TR?

Rating:
Summary: Astonishing man; brilliantly written & researched book
Review: Compellingly well written book, and I loathe biographies. I just couldn't put it down. Truman-via McCullough's skillful writing-reminds us that the measure of a person is integrity, honesty and loyalty, not a bank balance. Maybe we should all send a copy to Clinton.

Rating:
Summary: Truman Brings Back Political Optimism
Review: Today I completed "Truman" and I have got to say that it is the most fantastic biography I have read! Harry S. Truman is presented, warts and all, and the author gracefully allows us to judge for ourselves. The book reads like a novel, yet as a devoted reader, I wanted to read slow--sipping it like a fine bourbon. Unlike some of our more recent presidents, Harry S. Truman is someone who stands by his decisions no matter which way the Gallop wind is blowing and allows history to judge him. That is the true measure of presidential character and Truman stands with Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, and Teddy as a statesman who embraced these qualities. Hopefully some young man or woman can read this book, and believe again that anyone can be president, as long as you stand by your convictions and stay loyal to your friends and to yourself. I am not a fan of most 20th Century Democrat presidents, but I am now!

Rating:
Summary: Missouri - The Show Me State
Review: Mr. McCullough's portrayal of Harry S. Truman (the S doesn't stand for anything) is nothing less of spectacular. A real American Dream story; growing up in the midwest in a modest, hardworking family, fighting in WWI as a commander of his MO outfit, to a real "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". The author takes you through his trials (bankruptcy), his annointment into the volatile world of Washington Politics, and ultimately through to the White House. There he dealt with the bomb, White House remodeling, Tom Dewey, and the Korean Conflict.

David also takes a good look at Truman's policies from the beginning with his County seat, right on up to his Presidential Adminstration. Truman cemented his place in history with the bomb, and The Marshall Plan. He survived an assasination attempt, detested Hoover, and was the reason why there are pension plans for ex-presidents.

The personal aspect of Truman's life doesn't go unnoticed. The undying loyalty he had to "The Boss", his wife Bess, their daughter Margaret, and his mother, was tenderly and respectfully written about. This was proven when, he'd gotten to Washington, he was lead to a hotel room. Upon opening the door and finding a naked blonde woman on the bed, he turned an about face that would have done his old army commander proud.

A must read. Whether you're reading about Presidential Biography, The Bomb, 20th Century politics, or you live in Missouri, put this in your collection. Give 'em hell.