Theodore Roosevelt: A Life

by Nathan Miller

Book Overview

Nathan Miller's comprehensive one-volume biography of Theodore Roosevelt (the first such work published in more than 35 years) illuminates both the private and political life of a leader and president whose life bubbled over him like life from a healthy child. Photos.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688067840
• ISBN13: 9780688067847
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co
• Length: 624 Pages
• Weight: 2.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 6.5" x 1.8"

Customer Reviews

A gripping recount of TR and the Progressive Era

Having read a biography of Theodore Roosevelt 20 years ago it's amazing the light years biographies have come. Biographies until recent times had been little more than recitations of their life and times, but now are delving much more deeply into original source documents and completing a much fuller and more comprehensive picture of that subject. Biographers are also taking a much more multi-disciplinary approach pulling in sociology, psychology, history, political science and economics that make biographies a much richer read. You feel like you really understand them in the context of their times. Theodore Roosevelt by Nathan Miller is just such a read. Theodore Roosevelt is already a lively and entertaining figure and his life was like a movie anyways. Sickly child to Wildman of the West, Society Dandy to wily politician, scorned outsider to President. Miller captures it all in style that fairly crackles with life. His writing on the period of TR's entry to politics through to the Spanish-American War was so gripping I could hardly put it down. Miller pulls in a great number of archival and original sources to paint a much more complete comprehensive and engaging portrait of TR. I haven't read Edmund Morris's Theodore Rex yet, but hear it's equally good. The anecdotes Miller throws in showcases what a manic bundle of energy TR was, yet he lets TR live in his era. Too often revisionist historians try and impose today's standards on past figures. Miller eschews that and TR is really seen for the man he is. Theodore Roosevelt is a compelling read for those interested in learning more on him and the Progressive Era. I'd read this book as a companion piece to two courses I was taking last semester, Gilded Age and Progressive Era (HIST 4461) and US Diplomatic History 1890 to Present (HIST 3321) and it tied to both exceedingly well, providing great insight into the context of the times. As far as insight into TR himself I dare say Miller is far more objective than TR was in his autobiography and truly captures TR in most every respect.

Theodore Roosevelt -- What a life!

This excellent biography, published in 1992, is interesting and lively. It paints a picture of a dynamic leader and "literary feller" who was also a nice guy. Well, that is, unless you had crossed him in some way. But he had lofty ideals that he usually stuck to, and he loved his big family. Of particular interest are the pictures and section devoted to his first wife, the tall and lovely "Sunshine" Alice, who died tragically on Valentine's Day at age 22. There is the charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba, his cowboy times "out West," his struggles with gout, the Nobel Peace Prize for helping end the Russo-Japanese War...and during all these activities, the amazing man found time to publish 40 books! They don't make 'em like this anymore. Well, maybe they will in the future, but the U.S. political horizon looks gray and dim, does it not? Can you imagine Clinton or Bush publishing 40 books? Or winning the Peace Prize? Great book for those folks interested in Great Men. It's fascinating and highly readable, not your daddy's biographical Oldsmobile.

Fabulous!

This book is by far one of the best I've ever read! Although I am only 17 I found it to be very well written and intriguing, not in the least bit boring! I was a bit overwhelmed at first when I found out that the book was 567 pages long but as I began to read the book I found the pages going by more and more quickly. A true biography, it goes from his childhood to his death and details his life in politics, his friends, his foes, and the decisions he made as well as why he made them; also includes many in depth looks at the his private life and the events that shaped him. I hadn't read much of anything ,prior to having read this book, about Teddy Roosevelt and now find myself to be as informed as the most fervent admirer of the former president. Don't pass up the opportunity to read this book, I guarantee you'll love it!

Dee-Lighted. (to Quote T.R.)

Miller captures the frentic energy and optimism of the president who could be called the living embodiment of the American ideal.Theodore Roosevelt's life story is a great study in the art of living life fully. For young people particularly, Roosevelt's example can be a valuable lesson highlighting the benefits of taking risks, seizing the initiative, being true to one's beliefs and taking charge of molding one's personna. Simply put, TR's life shows why a can-do attitude has the chance to produce success when applied consistently to life's challenges and opportunities.TR's incredible rise and success in public life (as well as family, literary and outdoor life) is due much more to his constatly being in a state of forward motion rather than the execution of any long term plans. This very practical man combined this trait with several extraordinary gifts and a charasmatic personality to will himself on the American people over a thirty year period. It is a remarkable storyAll of these facts need an able story teller. Theodore Roosevelt has found one in Nathan Miller. Richly researched, the author weaves facts with well reasoned commentary to produce an easily read tome. This is a fun book to read. It is fast paced and thoroughly interesting. In Miller's hands, TR's lively personality leaps from the page and enthuses the reader.

An inspiring look into the life of our 26th President.

A very inspiring and thoughtful book of Theodore Roosevelt, the tradgedies and triumphs. Dealing with asthma as a boy, the care of a devoted father which he would try to measure up to all his life, the deaths of his wife and mother on the same day. This book is about Theodore's life and rise to power as the most powerful and beloved man on the Earth at that time, the building of the Navy, the Panama Canal, the National Parks saving millions of acres of woodlands and marshes and animals. Just the type of leader we need now, truly a must read.