The Accidental President

Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World

By: A. J. Baime

Narrated by: Tony Messano

Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

The dramatic, pulse-pounding story of Harry Truman's first four months in office, when this unlikely president had to take on Germany, Japan, Stalin, and the atomic bomb, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Heroes are often defined as ordinary characters who get thrust into extraordinary circumstances and, through courage and a dash of luck, cement their places in history. Chosen as FDR's fourth-term vice president for his well-praised work ethic, good judgment, and lack of enemies, Harry S. Truman - a Midwesterner who had no college degree and had never had the money to buy his own home - was the prototypical ordinary man. That is, until he was shockingly thrust in over his head after FDR's sudden death.

During the climactic months of the Second World War, Truman had to play judge and jury, pulling America to the forefront of the global stage. The first four months of Truman's administration saw the founding of the United Nations, the fall of Berlin, victory at Okinawa, firebombings of Tokyo, the first atomic explosion, the Nazi surrender, the liberation of concentration camps, the mass starvation of Europe, the Potsdam Conference, the controversial decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the surrender of Imperial Japan, and, finally, the end of World War II and the rise of the Cold War. No other president had ever faced so much in such a short period of time.

Tightly focused, meticulously researched, rendered with vivid detail and narrative verve, The Accidental President escorts listeners into the situation room with Truman during this tumultuous, history-making 120 days, when the stakes were high and the challenge even higher. The result is narrative history of the highest order and a compelling look at a presidency with great relevance to our times.

©2017 Albert Baime (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Good for Truman fans

Interesting information about Truman that I had not seen in other biographies. Narrator has a pleasant voice.

I learned so much!

Harry S. Truman was an honorable man. I loved hearing details about his life, especially his Presidency!

Great read

Covered the time period with enough detail and also kept the narrative moving along. Good narration. really informative.

Fascinating

Excellent book of pivotal events in the most important 4 month period in the 20th century. Well written, well read and well worth your time.

Wow, Great Report of Critical Times

Talk about on the job training. This is a great report of how Truman shaped our history in 4 months. Nice job of celebrating how this “common man” stepped up to lead.

BEST BOOK ON TRUMAN //DECISIONS TO USE ATOMIC BOMB

This should get a Pulitzer! Transition of this Politician to a Statesman making Great Decision.
A must read for an fan os US history.

The unknown President

I am too young to remember Harry Truman, and this was a nice bio of the 4 months of his presidency that really had a long lasting impact. I just don't care for the narrator - his voice is a bit bland for me.

A president a man a mench!

He wasn't perfect, but he was probably one of my favorite presidents and this book really goes into detail on what are probably the most difficult first 4 months any president has ever had to face. We get to see all the details. The narration is great and pulls you in to the time and the mind of the man. This was a fantastic book and if you like history, full of facts and inside looks into the character and thoughts of the people living it, then you will love this book! I did.

Give um hell, Harry

Having lived in Independence when the President was still alive, I have been a fan of his for years. This book offered welcomed insights into his first four months in office.

There was a lot of review for me in this book. Yet, the insights into what he faced added value with every minute. You come away with a deep appreciation of how an "ordinary" man faced extraordinary circumstances and, for good or ill, prevailed.

Delightful.

Narrator should look up pronunciations

Loved the book, but was persistently annoyed by the carelessness of the narrator in mispronouncing names and words. He was otherwise quite good. I thank the author for teaching me so many important facts and stories of our history.