Truman
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"An impressive and valuable study of Truman, worthy of its subject."
--C. Vann Woodward, "The New York Review"
Product Description
This biography of Harry Truman goes beyond the traditional portrait of the "ordinary man" to present an extraordinary American President. Drawing on archival material and extensive interviews, McCullough chronicles Truman's boyhood in Missouri, his entry into politics and his surprising success as a US senator. But it is Truman's emergence as a decisive and confident President that forms the heart of this book. McCullough casts new light on Truman's character and motivations, and shows how he set the course of politics and policy for the next 40 years. This book won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1993.
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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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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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