by Michael Holt Franklin Pierce often ranks as one of the worst presidents in US history. Michael Holt repeats this apparent axiom multiple times in his 133 page biography on the 14th President which is a part of Arthur Schlesinger’s The American President Project. Holt sticks to the facts and does not write to change anyone’s mind.Continue reading “Book Review: Franklin Pierce: The 14th President”
Tag Archives: nealsreview
POTUS and Me: Reading my way through presidential history
Back in May 2016, I picked up Ron Chernow’s book Alexander Hamilton shortly after the fiftieth time listening to the cast recording of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. Something inside me just clicked and I fell in love with biographies with an emphasis on American and political history. I realized though that I really hadContinue reading “POTUS and Me: Reading my way through presidential history”
Book Review: Ball Lightning
By Liu Cixin I have a love/hate relationship with this book. First, I loved the characters with their individual obsessions (Chen’s with ball lightning, Yun’s with weapons research, and Yi’s with physics). Each was well developed and I felt compelled to continue the book simply because of my attachment to the them. I also enjoyedContinue reading “Book Review: Ball Lightning”