AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAN NPR CONCIERGE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR“In her form-shattering and myth-crushing book….Coe examines myths with mirth, and writes history with humor… [You Never Forget Your First] is an accessible look at a president who always finishes in the first ranks of our leaders.” —Boston GlobeAlexis Coe takes a closer look at our first–and finds he is not quite the man … look at our first–and finds he is not quite the man we remember
Young George Washington was raised by a struggling single mother, demanded military promotions, caused an international incident, and never backed down–even when his dysentery got so bad he had to ride with a cushion on his saddle. But after he married Martha, everything changed. Washington became the kind of man who named his dog Sweetlips and hated to leave home. He took up arms against the British only when there was no other way, though he lost more battles than he won.
After an unlikely victory in the Revolutionary War cast him as the nation’s hero, he was desperate to retire, but the founders pressured him into the presidency–twice. When he retired years later, no one talked him out of it. He left the highest office heartbroken over the partisan nightmare his backstabbing cabinet had created.
Back on his plantation, the man who fought for liberty must confront his greatest hypocrisy–what to do with the men, women, and children he owns–before he succumbs to death.
With irresistible style and warm humor, You Never Forget Your First combines rigorous research and lively storytelling that will have readers–including those who thought presidential biographies were just for dads–inhaling every page.
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Every now and then a fresh, new biography told by a gifted storyteller on a familiar figure captures our imagination. So it is with this spirited and engaging biography of George Washington.
Very interesting look at George Washington’s life from a different point of view. Makes him more of a relatable man instead of the superior creature most of history makes him out to be. Easy to read, full of interesting facts and statistics and glimpses into some of his not-so-nice behavior and beliefs.
More of a rant by the author about other historical/biographical authors than actual info about President Washington. Highly disappointing.
What do I know about George Washington? Pretty much whatever fits on overlapping section on a venn diagram of what you learn in the Alabama public school system (yikes) and…..Hamilton references? So basically that he was tall, a general, he was on a boat on the Delaware, and he was the first President of the United States.
Alexis Coe’s You Never Forget Your First succinctly covered the broad strokes of his early life, his part in the Revolution, his Presidency. Her creative use of tables and breaks in the story gave more insight in to Washington’s life and was very effective. Coe does a fantastic job helping readers get to know the very flawed man that was a legend not only to his peers, but to Americans today.
Coe has a wonderful sense of humor, and I loved reading about Washington from a woman’s viewpoint.
An interesting account with some little-known facts about Washington, particularly his position on slavery. The book paints both his mother Mary and wife Martha as less-than wonderful ladies. Recommended.
I really enjoyed this—a new biography of Washington that has a winking wit behind it, which aims not to be comprehensive but to give a warts and all impression of his character. Plus there are charts and tables!
If you think there is nothing new to learn about George Washington, then you have a treat in store with Alexis Coe’s You Never Forget Your First. In this keen and savage analysis of our longstanding Washington canon, Coe dramatically reshapes our understanding of the president who could not tell a lie (actually, he could, and did). The result is a humorous, sympathetic and refreshingly human portrait of Washington that is destined to become a classic.
A bewitching combination of erudition and cheek, You Never Forget Your First is a playful, disruptive work of history.
With quick wit and an abundance of humor, Alexis Coe introduces readers to the nation’s first president in a new and accessible style. You Never Forget Your First will make readers laugh AND reconsider American history.
Alexis Coe energetically dusts off an old-boys genre to present a life in full, without sentiment or whitewashing. It’s a public service, and it’s also a lot of fun.
Alexis Coe knocks the standard fusty portrait of George W. off the wall and gives us a fresh, funny, and decidedly feminist take on our primo president. At once deeply researched and delightfully cheeky, You Never Forget Your First gives Washington a modern spin, revealing the complicated man behind the many myths, peeling away the macho veneer applied by previous (male) biographers. Coe proves how valuable a new set of eyes on the historical record can be.