Patrick

To a fan of presidential history, this book concisely and compellingly highlights the character, wit, and courage of an often overlooked president. Would the Guilded Age have progressed differently had Garfield survived? We'll never know but this book tells the story a much beloved president. As a history buff I'm especially grateful for a story that illustrates a critical ripple in the fate of the nation. In the case of Garfield's assassination, it was certainly for ill. He was a great American; citizen, teacher, general, congressman, and even president in the too brief time he presided. Much obliged for the great read.

This book is good history in a way so few are. The stories are compelling not just for what they entail but the degree of frequency they show genocide to occur in merely the past century. And having been published before the tragedy of Darfur it shows we still haven't learned. Its great also for showing several heroes most people are likely not even aware of. Most prominnently William Proxmire, Senate successor of Joseph McCarthy. Amazing work. And I am rarely so powerfully surprised by history works anymore. A difficult topic. But worthy of everyone's attention and expertly handled by both author and narrator.