Grant by Ron Chernow is a book that my father was reading the last time I visited him and he seemed to really be enjoying it. I listened to the audio version read by Mark Bramhall.
Started: 6/28/2018
Completed: 9/10/2018
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: My father
Review:
My thoughts of Grant mostly involved him being a disgraceful drunk who stopped drinking in order to join the Civil War and then he raised to President where his term was full of corruption. This is a harsh and unfair assessment of the man.
He had a difficult life as a young man and was not really able to be an effective businessman as he simply trusted people too much. He probably was encouraged to resign from the military due to drinking and definitely did not handle alcohol well (he was almost certainly an alcoholic). It was interesting to me to learn that his best man was Longstreet and that Longstreet supported Grant in many ways throughout his life.
Grant's life during the Civil War was largely known to me, but the rich details of the book helped put flesh on the bones with which I was familiar.
I was broadly aware that Grant had started reconstruction, but I was unaware of his two terms as President and his strong efforts to help newly freed slaves. His presidency was marked by corruption, but it seems that this corruption was due to Grant's innocence and not his complicity. I had no idea how strongly Grant fought the KKK.
I learned of Grant's "round the world tour" during which he met with leaders of many nations all over the world and was a true diplomat. I learned that Grant had pursued a third term and later campaigned for Republicans.
Grant's death surprised me (from cancer) at a relatively young age probably due to his love of cigars.
I was floored that Grant and Twain were close and that it was Twain who idolized Grant and not the reverse.
This is a long, good book. It is a really good look at the man, his friends, his enemies, and those who took advantage of him.
My thoughts of Grant mostly involved him being a disgraceful drunk who stopped drinking in order to join the Civil War and then he raised to President where his term was full of corruption. This is a harsh and unfair assessment of the man.
He had a difficult life as a young man and was not really able to be an effective businessman as he simply trusted people too much. He probably was encouraged to resign from the military due to drinking and definitely did not handle alcohol well (he was almost certainly an alcoholic). It was interesting to me to learn that his best man was Longstreet and that Longstreet supported Grant in many ways throughout his life.
Grant's life during the Civil War was largely known to me, but the rich details of the book helped put flesh on the bones with which I was familiar.
I was broadly aware that Grant had started reconstruction, but I was unaware of his two terms as President and his strong efforts to help newly freed slaves. His presidency was marked by corruption, but it seems that this corruption was due to Grant's innocence and not his complicity. I had no idea how strongly Grant fought the KKK.
I learned of Grant's "round the world tour" during which he met with leaders of many nations all over the world and was a true diplomat. I learned that Grant had pursued a third term and later campaigned for Republicans.
Grant's death surprised me (from cancer) at a relatively young age probably due to his love of cigars.
I was floored that Grant and Twain were close and that it was Twain who idolized Grant and not the reverse.
This is a long, good book. It is a really good look at the man, his friends, his enemies, and those who took advantage of him.
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