The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, A Memoir of Ronald Reagan, Theodore Rex ...

#26 Theodore Roosevelt

Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America by David Hackett Fischer

Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America by David Hackett Fischer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was recommended to me by my Dad who was an avid history buff. This takes an interesting look at the four main British folkways into the United States. It looks at how each influenced our history and continues to impact our culture and politics to this day. It gives a fairly good look at each one that would be a good starting point to look at any one of them more in depth. I found this to interesting reading for the most part it could be tedious in some places. It makes a better reference book than a casual reader. History buffs may not mind this but for a light reader it may be too much.

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The Roosevelts: An American Saga by Peter Collier

The Roosevelts: An American Saga by Peter Collier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An intimate look at the families of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt. rather than just look at what they did in history this takes an intimate look at the individuals and how they related as a family. In other words this is a family focused story account and outside events are treated as secondary priority. Everyone's strengths and flaws are looked at. If anything could be taken from this is that even though they may have had money and prestige they were imperfect and dysfunctional.

Theodore, Eleanor and Franklin each had to over come adversity in their lives. Theodore fought to over come his childhood illness's and losing his mother and first wife(soon after giving childbirth) on the same day. Eleanor who over came losing first her mother then her Father(Elliot who was Theodore's brother)who committed suicide for untold reasons. Franklin grew up struggling to gain independence from an overbearing mother and then to be struck with polio just as his political career was about to take off.

We learn how a rivalry developed between the two sides of the family. The children of each side struggled to live up to their parents image and strengths but many times coming up short. They are human just like the rest of us.

I did enjoy listening to this and certainly learned a lot from it. I recommend this if your looking for a more intimate look these families and that were a big influence on our country in the first half of the 20th Century.

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Disney's The Finest Hours - Trailer 1

Must see this!

Based on a true Coast Guard rescue. Filmed in New England and in the town I grew up in, Marshfield, Massachusetts. Based on the book by Michael Tougias and Casey Sherman who are both local authors.  

Sarah Vowell on The Daily Show

Happy Treason Day