Rating: 
Summary: Another 10
Review: I'll have a hard time forgiving David McCullough for introducing me to my good friend Harry Truman, then taking him back 1000 pages later.
Rating:
Summary: An inspiring story in these times of anything-goes politics.
Review: To one who was a teen-ager in Texas during the Truman years and thus was taught how poor a President and man he was, this was a truly inspirational story of what a real man and President should be. He was probably the last really fine person to have held that office, with the likely exception of Dwight Eisenhower. McCullough, of course, is a surpassingly entertaining and thorough biographer.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent, conprehensive study of our best president.
Review: While the size of this biography is indeed somewhat intimidating, it is clearly one of the best, interesting, and comprehensive studies of Truman. It makes fascinating reading, and while McCullough appears to be a fan of Truman's, he leaves on unsavory traits unrevealed. It is truly one of the best books I've read.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: I am neither a fan of history nor biographies, but this book blew me away. Don't be intimidated by its size; every page is worth it.
Rating:
Summary: A Rich Narrative
Review: McCullough's strength is as a story teller. My favorites are his describing Truman's work on the Truman Committee, which vaulted HST to national prominence; detailing Truman's dash through the Capitol to learn of FDR's death; and re-creating the smoke-filled rooms in Chicago in 1944 where the party bosses anointed Truman as FDR's running mate and certain successor. McCullough clearly loves his subject and the breadth of this labor of love evokes Dumas Malone's six volume biography of Thomas Jefferson. Neither Malone nor McCullough has many negative words for his subject. McCullough offers some fair criticism of Truman--his indifference in selecting his running mate in 1948, his caving to Republican pressure on the loyalty oath, and his selection of Johnson as secretary of defense--an aberration in an otherwise luminous foreign policy team. McCullough sees Truman as the embodiment of 19th Century virtues of honesty, determination, modesty, and integrity and a personal vindication of government of the people. In so focusing on Truman's character, McCullough gives short shrift to the fundamental changes in the presidency over which Truman presided. This void is nicely filled by Robert Ferrel's "Harry S. Truman," which lacks McCullough's narrative sweep. As much as I enjoyed McCullough's work, I regret that it completely overshadowed Professor Ferrel's analytically more satisfying work. Those interested in understanding Truman in historical context will benefit from Ferrel's careful and insightful scholarship.
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive portrait of a complex human being
Review: From the earliest pages of this gargantuan work, it is clear that David McCullough likes his suject. While this might be considered a venal sin in today's cynical iconoclast culture, the author somehow manges to support his admiration in this wonderful biography. McCullough's Truman is an ambitious but ethical human being, wrought with many of the faults which plague us all. What sets Truman apart was his ability to rise above adversity and ultimately truimph against overwhelming odds. McCullough has been accused of presenting a biased view of the former president, but a thorough reading of the text exhonerates both the author and his subject. Truman is presented as a descendent of that hardworking and sturdy pioneer class which has become the stuff of our folklore. When compared with the media-savvy and poll-obsessed politician of today's political scene, Truman is seen as a breath of fresh air. Moreover, even though McCullough's praise sometimes becomes cloying at times, Truman's positive qualities are more than confirmed by those who knew him best. If it is hard these days to imagine an honest politician, McCullough does a credible job of backing up Truman's reputation with proper documentation. Even when confronted with Truman's many faults, such as his political-machine beginnings, his border-state racism, and his unbridled opinions of others, Truman's virtues clearly outweigh his faults, as does this biography.
Rating:
Summary: Great Biography
Review: Well written book that shows Truman as a man who didn't want to be in the spotlight. The author shows how Truman by standing by his ideals rose from the Midwest and was a great leader. Fate choose Truman as president and his life was a great story to see him rise from childhood and war and become our national leader
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Summary: Truman is a True Man
Review: Harry Truman was perhaps the last of those who serve in the public interest not so much as to get their name in the history books as to accomplish something worthwhile. Now we have president's who in their second term are already thinking of their presidential library. This book reads like a novel and tells the story of a common man, a man who failed at so many things yet rose above that failure to accomplish much. It's a great primer (or refresher) on the early days of the Cold War and a fresh look at an American President who once was thought of as below average in intelligence and ability. But, beneath the surface was a man of substance. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, serious biography, worthy of praise
Review: I'm normally not one to chat on-line or write reviews like this, but I had to weigh in to defend an unfair comment re McCullough's Truman. An earlier reviewer chastens McCullough for not writing a "balanced" biography. This is a false and unfair charge. In fact, this is why Truman is such a great book. It paints an accurate picture of the mere man, Harry S. Truman --- his frailities, weaknesses and outright blunders as a human being, all presented in light of his remarkable Presidency. A good summary of Truman's blunders (there were many) appears on p. 990 of the hardback edition. More in depth discussion of these and other misguided actions are found throughout the book. Harry T's scathing letter, written to a music critic who dared to tell the truth about Margaret's singing, is an excellent example (p. 829). All in all, this IS a well-balanced, beautifully written, engaging biography. It has all the credentials of serious biographical scholarship, yet it is wrapped in an elegant, warm style. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in understanding the plain-spoken man from Missouri.
Rating: 
Summary: Tremendous Story, but the Blind Praise is Overdone
Review: McCullough's narrative strength is wonderful. How else does an author keep his reader chained to a 1,000 page book? Truman's story takes one through the most important periods in the formation of the cold war. It's fascinating reading. Still, McCullough'c ceaseless praise for Truman begs a question of balance. You're hard-pressed to find five lines of criticism of Truman anywhere in the book. Given the magnitude of the controversies through which HST led America, Truman must have done something McCullough to which McCullough objects. Anything? For example, Truman joins the Klan, yet this warrants nary a negative comment from the obseqiuous McCullough. Yes, it's a great story, but not a balanced one.
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