American Lion

Andrew Jackson in the White House

By: Jon Meacham

Narrated by: Richard McGonagle

Length: 17 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Biography/Autobiography, 2009

Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency.

Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson's election in 1828 ushered in a new and lasting era in which the people, not distant elites, were the guiding force in American politics. Democracy made its stand in the Jackson years, and he gave voice to the hopes and the fears of a restless, changing nation facing challenging times at home and threats abroad.

One of our most significant yet dimly recalled presidents, Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, the founder of the Democratic Party, and the architect of the presidency as we know it. His story is one of violence, sex, courage, and tragedy. With his powerful persona, his evident bravery, and his mystical connection to the people, Jackson moved the White House from the periphery of government to the center of national action, articulating a vision of change that challenged entrenched interests to heed the popular will or face his formidable wrath. The greatest of the presidents who have followed Jackson in the White House have found inspiration in his example, and virtue in his vision.

Jackson was the most contradictory of men. The architect of the removal of Indians from their native lands, he was warmly sentimental and risked everything to give more power to ordinary citizens. He was, in short, a lot like his country: alternately kind and vicious, brilliant and blind; and a man who fought a lifelong war to keep the republic safe, no matter what it took.

Jon Meacham, in American Lion, has delivered the definitive human portrait of a pivotal president who forever changed the American presidency and America itself.

©2008 Jon Meacham (P)2008 Random House

Critic reviews

2009, Pulitzer Prize, Winner

"A master storyteller, Meacham interweaves the lives of Jackson and the members of his inner circle to create a highly original book." (Doris Kearns Goodwin)

"American Lion is a spellbinding, brilliant and irresistible journey into the heart of Andrew Jackson and his unforgettable circle of friends and enemies." (Michael Beschloss)

"What passes for political drama today pales in the reading of Jon Meacham's vividly told story of our seventh president....Reading "American Lion" one is no longer able to look on the gaunt, craggy face on the $20 bill without hearing the tumult of America in the making." (Tina Brown)

Changed my View

Wonderful book, it changed my view of #7. He truly was a great American leader. The negative part, trail of tears, taught in my schooling is bad but there is so much more about the General. His ability to keep our country together was totally new to me.

top notch in all it is good.I like it.very good

loved it to the very end. it inspires me to
emulate him even now!

Excellent Jackson Biography

A wonderfully written biography of President Jackson. Prior to reading this biography I knew very little about America’s seventh President. In fact, most of what I knew of him was rather negative. However, reading this book allowed me to learn of Jackson’s deep devotion to his family and country and I learned that despite his flaws he was a great man and president. I came away really appreciating what he did for the country and how well he served. This book greatly informed me about the extraordinary life he led. The biography is well written and extremely enjoyable to listen to. I highly recommend.

Engaging and Enlightening

A pleasure to listen to and easy to understand. This biography has very compelling relevance today.

Fierce biography

The book highlighted the life and times of President Andrew Jackson, and also reflected on his character as President.

Highly recommend reading it.

Exceptional!

Outstanding, compelling, and informative portrayal of the complex life and presidency of Andrew Jackson. The parallels to today's political climate are strikingly similar. Highly recommend.

Disappointing, but not dreadful

This book is often tedious and rambling. Andrew Jackson had a most consequential presidency, and he deserves a better biography. Only the subject's inherent intrigue made this a tolerable listen.

Love to hate

This is a great story of a man full of contradictions. The story of his rise to general and then to the presidency of the United States is nearly American myth. This book focuses on the White House years and other reviewers have found fault with this limitation. Jackson is a complex figure and this is a great introduction to the many facets of the man and the men and women that surrounded him. Very little time is spent on his role in the war of 1812. This story includes some of the people who helped Jackson gain the presidency and also those who thought his 'monarchy' would bring down the United States. He expanded the powers of the presidency, fought to remove native peoples from their lands, kept the union together, survived assassination attempts and duels, facilitated the expansion and acquisition of more territory, and destroyed the bank of the United States, and this book shares all of this with a great narrator and an engaging story. Enjoy.

True to the times

Often I feel that historians see what they want out of figures of the past instead of trying to see them how they were. This is a book that I felt made genuine efforts to live in the world of the time

Very Informative

From start to finish, it was at times it was a struggle to keep up with the names of everyone.