The life of Harry S. Truman is one of the greatest of American stories, filled with vivid characters — Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Wallace Truman, George Marshall, Joe McCarthy, and Dean Acheson — and dramatic events. In this riveting biography, acclaimed historian David McCullough not only captures the man — a more complex, informed, and determined man than ever before … ever before imagined — but also the turbulent times in which he rose, boldly, to meet unprecedented challenges. The last president to serve as a living link between the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries, Truman’s story spans the raw world of the Missouri frontier, World War I, the powerful Pendergast machine of Kansas City, the legendary Whistle-Stop Campaign of 1948, and the decisions to drop the atomic bomb, confront Stalin at Potsdam, send troops to Korea, and fire General MacArthur.
Drawing on newly discovered archival material and extensive interviews with Truman’s own family, friends, and Washington colleagues, McCullough tells the deeply moving story of the seemingly ordinary “man from Missouri” who was perhaps the most courageous president in our history.
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Should have 10 stars. Harry Truman where are you now that we need you? Great book. Great man!
WOW! Everyone should read this! Harry handled everything with thought and dignity. A must read!!
One could tell the author liked Truman. There is such a contrast between Truman (the humble guy from Independence) and the current occupant of the White House. FDR did not prepare him and he knew little about the Manhattan project. He had some bad years right after World War II. But of course, he fought the great comeback fight in 1948 upsetting …
A wonderful, readable portrait of a great president.
A man for his times as I reflect, now wonder how ‘show me’ man of his world will be parallel in 50 years to our ‘I’ll show YOU’ current president! This is an amazing book!
It’s been over 20 years since I’ve read this book, but I remember it as an excellent and very readable biography of Harry Truman.
Great book about a great president
A great view of President Truman!
The best biography of an American President I have ever read.
Maybe my 2nd favorite biography next to “Titan” (the John D Rock bio). perhaps the early Truman family saga of Kentucky to Missouri is a bit dry, the rest of the Truman story is amazing and amazingly told
He was a true PRESIDENT !
Beautifully written, as all books that I have read by the great historian author, David McCullough. Thank you Mr. McCullough for making history books interesting, informative and so easy-to-read.
Having been taught a biased history, I put off reading this story. I am grateful that I finally read this book and feel that McCullough’s research was consummate. I now know what Harry Truman was like as a person and a politician. I think this biography eliminates many biases and misunderstandings the public has long-held as fact. I understand why …
I learned a great deal from this well-written and compelling book.
I combined my curiosity about the person who was president when I was born with one of my favorite authors. Neither disappointed.