- Hardcover: 1117 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (1 Jun 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0671456547
- ISBN-13: 978-0671456542
- Product Dimensions: 24.3 x 16.3 x 6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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- #4 in Books > Biography > Political > United States > Truman, Harry
- #5 in Books > History > World History > World War II 1939-1945 > Historical Figures > Harry Truman
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Truman
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Product Description
Review
"McCullough takes us on a beautifully guided tour of recent history--a journey that is as much a celebration of American experience as it is a captivating portrait of the ordinary 'man from Missouri' who became an extraordinary figure in the Cold War world. Keeping Truman himself always vividly in the foreground, Mr. McCullough has written a stirring, masterly, thoroughly absorbing book."
--Jean Strouse, author of" Alice James: A Biography "
Product Description
Here at last is the first full-scale biography of Harry S. Truman, his life and times, by David McCullough, distinguished historian and prize-winning author.
Huge, ambitious, ten years in the writing, and perfectly realized, "Truman" is an American masterpiece about that most American of presidents, "the man from Missouri, " the seemingly simple, ordinary man who in fact was always much more than met the eye and who would achieve a greatness of his own after coming to office in FDR's giant shadow.
No one but David McCullough, with his sure grasp of the American past and his feeling for people, could have written this extraordinary, deeply moving biography, at once spare in style yet rich in emotion and insight.
Much of the story is drawn from newly discovered archival material and from extensive interviews with Truman friends, family, and figures once prominent in Truman's Washington. And much will com as a surprise to many readers.
The story begins with Truman's origins in the raw, expansive world of the Missouri frontier. It chronicles a small-town, turn-of-the-century boyhood, family love, family tragedy, and young harry's years on the farm - years of relentless, often brutal work always cheerfully performed; of dogged learning, dogged courtship, optimism in the face of defeat, and courage in the face of war in 19418, the experience that changed everthing for Truman.
Here in colorful detail is the story of his political beginnings with the powerful Pendergast machine that ruled Kansas City, and of Boss Tom Pendergast who sent Truman to the United States Senate, where rapidly, unexpectedly, he proved himself no small-time party hack but a man of uncommon vitality andstrength of character.
With a telling account of Truman at Potsdam and his momentous decision to use the atomic bomb, McCullough's "Truman" shows a gritty, untried, unprepared new President facing responsibilities such as had weighed on no man ever before, confronting a new age and the growing menace of Soviet power, and, in a handful of years, under terrible pressures, defining the course of American politics and diplomacy for the next forty years.
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First Sentence
In the spring of 1841, when John Tyler was President, a Kentucky farmer named Solomon Young and his red-haired wife, Harriet Louisa Young, packed their belongings and with two small children started for the Far West. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
In the spring of 1841, when John Tyler was President, a Kentucky farmer named Solomon Young and his red-haired wife, Harriet Louisa Young, packed their belongings and with two small children started for the Far West. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It is crystal clear why author David McCullough was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for this 1992 publication of "Truman." His meticulous narrative vividly captures the decency, dignity and determination of Harry S. Truman. Moreover, McCullough carefully explains how the farmer from Grandview, Missouri...who never graduated from college, managed to become the thirty-third President of the United States of America.
Truman was eulogized as the president who faced the momentous decision of whether to use the atomic bomb, he was praised for the creation of the United Nations, for the Truman Doctrine (to support free peoples), the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, the recognition of Israel, NATO; for committing American forces in Korea and for upholding the principle of civilian control over the military. To this end, it must also be noted that Truman was the first president to recommend Medicare and that he had the courage to take a very strong stand on civil rights.
Truman was a man who lived by simple small-town Missouri articles of faith that urged individuals to, "say what you mean, mean what you say...keep your word...never get too big for your britches and never forget a friend." McCullough observes that, "they were more than words-to-the-wise, they were bedrock, as clearly established, as integral to the way of life, it seemed, as were the very landmarks of the community...not everyone lived up to them, of course, but to Harry it seemed everyone ought to try."
McCullough packs this book with an enormous amount of historical and personal information. For instance, Truman was the seventh man to succeed to the office after the death of the President...he was the first President to visit Mexico...he had a portrait of George Washington and Simon Bolivar in his White House office...he detested corporate greed...he was dedicated to his wife and daughter...he was a terrible speller...he was not an exciting speaker...he once worked in a haberdashery...he was in debt for years...he loved bourbon, he was uncomplicated, open and genuine...and without a doubt he was a great American. Highly recommended.
Bert Ruiz
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I knew I would enjoy this book because I'd read about the period and was predisposed to admire Truman as the most human and honest of politicians.I did not anticipate that Iwould find this quite the best historical biography I've read.Immensely detailed,superbly judicious,incredibly enthralling even though you know what will happen next.A book to re-read and treasure.Read this and you might regain a little faith in politics and politicians!But perhaps he was unique-McCullough's wonderful book is worthy of its fascinating subject.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of the most readable and fascinating biographies ever written--a story of how an ordinary American rose to great heights. But one feels it isn't quite the whole story. I don't think McCullough gets to the heart of Truman's peculiar relationship with Tom Pendergast. Although Truman clearly was not corrupt, he cannot possibly been so naive as to be ignorant of the workings of the Democrat's big city machines. When Truman was in control of awarding the contracts for paving the roads of Jackson county, he put a stop to blatant cheating by contractors who laid a mere 'pie crust' of concrete that quickly broke up. But since Tom Pendergast owned the local ready-mix concrete company, Truman's honesty meant big profits for him. McCullough doesn't seem to have made this connection, but I would be very surprised if Truman didn't.
McCullough's lack of economic acumen would be fatal if this were history rather than biography, but it still leaves some troubling gaps. Although he rightly eschews analysing the New Deal (or Truman's Fair Deal), which is a subject in itself, we are left none the wiser as to how the United States pulled out of the post-war slump so quickly--nor are we told whether the Truman administration's measures contributed to this recovery. We are not even given the the broad outlines of the Marshall Plan.
Still, these are quibbles, for after all, this is a biography, and a first-rate one at that. Sympathetic as it is, it stops well short of being a hagiography. Nonetheless, it certainly has contributed to the growing consensus that Truman was the last great American President.
McCullough's lack of economic acumen would be fatal if this were history rather than biography, but it still leaves some troubling gaps. Although he rightly eschews analysing the New Deal (or Truman's Fair Deal), which is a subject in itself, we are left none the wiser as to how the United States pulled out of the post-war slump so quickly--nor are we told whether the Truman administration's measures contributed to this recovery. We are not even given the the broad outlines of the Marshall Plan.
Still, these are quibbles, for after all, this is a biography, and a first-rate one at that. Sympathetic as it is, it stops well short of being a hagiography. Nonetheless, it certainly has contributed to the growing consensus that Truman was the last great American President.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
massive, yes, but often surprisingly thin and sentimental
This huge biography tells the story of a truly remarkable man, who rose from humble origins as a farmer and failed haberdasher - he was the last president not to have gone to... Read more
Published 12 months ago by rob crawford
A great portrait of American history
A superb portrait of American history, full of atmosphere ranging from the XIX century's race to the mid-west to the XX century's politics. Read more
Published 14 months ago by F. Brandi
Excellent Biography
I have just finished this book and had to share my thoughts with others in the hope that they might also buy this and enjoy the best biography I have ever read. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2009 by Donald McPhee
Brilliant
What a marvellous book. American biographers seem to have the knack of bringing history to life. Biographies of American political figures also have the advantage of not having the... Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2007 by Seamus Mcneill
A Great American
It is crystal clear why author David McCullough was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for this 1992 publication of "Truman. Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2004 by Bert Ruiz
A Great American
It is crystal clear why author David McCullough was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for this 1992 publication of "Truman. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2004 by Bert Ruiz
Give 'Em Hell Harry
Excellent from start to finish.David McCullough covers all aspects of this incredible man and great president.One of the finest biographies I have ever read.
Published on 1 July 2003 by Jw Mcconnell
Harry Truman - history's gift!
~~~~~If there ever seemed to be a man not marked for greatness it was Harry Truman. The man failed at so much throughout his life that his ability to continually return is... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2002 by "mattwilso"
Gigantic book about a gigantic man
David McCullough's Truman deserves all the praise it gets. Extremely long and extremely interestings. Mr. McCullough is a terrific writer with a good style and fine build-up. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2000
Excellent
This book is great and provides insights to one of the greatest, if not the greatest, presidents of the USA. Worth a read for anyone interested in history and American presidents.
Published on 5 Aug 1999
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