The History Buff’s Guide to the Presidents (Key People, Places, and Events)

Thomas R. Flagel
Cumberland House Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9781581826135
Reviewed by Josef F. Buenker for Reader Views (2/08)

 

I am no history scholar, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I believe that Mr. Flagel succeeded in his stated objective of writing a book that would be enjoyable for the casual reader and, at the same time, be of interest for the more knowledgeable reader. 

The book is written in a “Top Ten” format, perhaps based on David Letterman’s nightly segment, and is thus made up of a large number of relatively short sections.  This format makes “The History Buff’s Guide to the Presidents” a good night-time read, as there is no storyline to forget – you can read a section one night, pick the book up again a week later and start off again without losing anything.  Some of the sections of the book (i.e., “Top Ten Machiavellian Presidents”) are the subjective opinions of the author, and persons more knowledgeable than I about presidential history might not agree with all of Mr. Flagel’s top ten rankings, while other sections (“Top Ten Veto Presidents”) are based on objective fact; but I enjoyed reading most of them.

I have a shelf full of history books that I have every intention of reading, but find the task too daunting.  “The History Buff’s Guide to the Presidents” is one that is written in such a way that it can be easily read by anyone, no matter what a person’s daily time constraints are.

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