Complete Book of U.S. Presidents

I was a history major in college and did some student teaching at the high school level. Whether I was working on an essay or preparing a lecture, this book was one of my favorite references. Not only does it offer well organized information on the Presidents (birth, childhood, family, education, etc.), it offers tons of information on the people, legislation, and events of their administrations. It describes cabinet members, laws that were passed, foreign relations, domestic issues, you name it. It saved me a lot of time in my research. The sections on the physical descriptions, personality traits and, in some cases, pre and extramarital affairs on each of the presidents was very interesting and offered info you normally do not find in other books. I highly recommend it.

In addition to being a thorough research guide, this work combines the thoroughness of subject matter of an encyclopedia along with a purposeful series of biographies. There is much about the presidents individually from Washington to the present while presenting historians and research enthusiasts alike with an opportunity to zero in on a particular president and his era and learn much more. There are thorough listings of cabinet members, detailed informations on vice-presidents, and lists of books available on the leaders and the periods of which they were a part for those who wish to do additional research on presidents and their eras. One of my favorite parts of the book was the section dealing with presidential campaigns. One can easily get a feel for an era and its leaders by reading about the campaigns, learning about the major issues involved, and analyzing the critical problems facing the nation at those points, whether it be slavery and the Civil War or the Depression of the thirties. Comprehensive election results are also available, whereby interested readers can discern just where the country stood at a given point in time in terms of the voting power strengths of the parties regionally. Trends become clearly discernible through careful analysis.I also like the way that comments regarding presidents, both pro and con, appear, done in an objective way. Patterns become discernible as to which major political forces backed and opposed certain presidents as well as why.

This is a solid reference book. If you are looking for thumbnail sketches of U.S. Presidents and their administrations, this book will satisfy. The personal history of the president is here, family information, political career highlights, administration personnel, major issues faced, election results, quotes and opinions for and against. It is the kind of book I remember as a youngster that gives you enough information to fire one's thirst for historic knowledge -- great for browsing. Only complaint, the paper on which the work is printed is of a very inferior quality that is not the best one could ask for for reading -- also not particularly durable. These are production criticisms, the work is very good for its purpose.

This book goes beyond complete and into the obscure and bizarre. Details include everything from the presidents' family tree, health maladies, cabinet and supreme court nominations, and positve and negative quotes from notable persons of the era. This excellent reference has a very easy to read and consistent format. Even the most ardent presidential scholar is likely to learn a thing or two. There is no better reference available in my opinion.

I am a college student and a history/political science major. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents is an excellent reference guide and will give you all the ins and outs you could ever possibly want to know about the Presidents. Not only extremely in depth and informative, but very entertaining as well. A great read.