President's Day Reading List

In honor of President's Day, here's a list of some quality reading you can do to brush up on some of the most notable men to be Commander in Chief.


John Adams by David McCullough - McCullough is known as one of the best presidential biographers around. In this work, he takes a close look at our second president. With a detailed look at his personal wife, in addition to her service as president, this book provides a multi-dimensional glimpse at an influential leader.


Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin - There have been hundreds of books written about Honest Abe, but few explore his presidency like Goodwin's work. Here, the author probes more deeply into Lincoln's leadership style and the advisors he made use of during his years in office.


Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America by Rick Perlstein - In this work, Perlstein examines Nixon's political tactics and discusses how he impacted Americans' thoughts and beliefs on his road to victory.


Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom by Conrad Black - This comprehensive biography discusses FDR's life in great details. Plus, the author's exceptional storytelling style keeps the book interesting rather than becoming another dry non-fiction compilation.


His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis - This is one of the best books about our first presdent's life. Ellis not only discusses Washington's term as president, but also his military campaigns and private life. The author relies extensively on primary documents to paint a picture of Washington's views and the evolution of the man as a leader.