Friday, March 28, 2014
Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life
by Kathleen Dalton
Ms. Dalton starts out her biography of Theodore Roosevelt by pointing out his legacy as a caricature--all spectacles, mustache and teeth. She then goes on to present him as a real human being with a significant legacy in American history, but he comes across as no less a character. As she tells the tale, Theodore Roosevelt was a force of nature. He was raised in wealth and imbued with a sense of duty and an obsession to be strong and manly. Roosevelt's father set the tone for his life. Coming from wealthy stock, the elder Roosevelt devoted much free time to philanthropy and social reform. When he died in Theodore's 20th year, he left a high standard for his eldest son to achieve. But the younger Roosevelt managed to go far beyond his father's contributions.
The political climate, in Roosevelt's younger days, saw the rise of civil reform. The liberal Republican party tended to advocate for such, at least in Democratic strongholds, while also becoming the party of finance and business. Roosevelt tried to straddle the middle, having friends and advisors on both ends of the party. He was a great politician when it came to relating to the common people, but his tendency to speak his heart kept getting him in trouble. After his presidency he grew more and more liberal. In one sense he was powerless, yet he was also a man who could not be ignored.
All in all, Ms. Dalton has crafted a wonderful book. She really painted a picture of Theodore Roosevelt and the time in which he lived. I've often said that of the American presidents, John Quincy Adams was the man I admire most. But I may have to re-evaluate that in light of this biography. There were plenty of things about Theodore Roosevelt I find repulsive, but I can't help but admire his character, faith and willingness to stand up for his ideals and the needs of others.
Do check it out.
LibraryThing link
Ms. Dalton starts out her biography of Theodore Roosevelt by pointing out his legacy as a caricature--all spectacles, mustache and teeth. She then goes on to present him as a real human being with a significant legacy in American history, but he comes across as no less a character. As she tells the tale, Theodore Roosevelt was a force of nature. He was raised in wealth and imbued with a sense of duty and an obsession to be strong and manly. Roosevelt's father set the tone for his life. Coming from wealthy stock, the elder Roosevelt devoted much free time to philanthropy and social reform. When he died in Theodore's 20th year, he left a high standard for his eldest son to achieve. But the younger Roosevelt managed to go far beyond his father's contributions.
The political climate, in Roosevelt's younger days, saw the rise of civil reform. The liberal Republican party tended to advocate for such, at least in Democratic strongholds, while also becoming the party of finance and business. Roosevelt tried to straddle the middle, having friends and advisors on both ends of the party. He was a great politician when it came to relating to the common people, but his tendency to speak his heart kept getting him in trouble. After his presidency he grew more and more liberal. In one sense he was powerless, yet he was also a man who could not be ignored.
All in all, Ms. Dalton has crafted a wonderful book. She really painted a picture of Theodore Roosevelt and the time in which he lived. I've often said that of the American presidents, John Quincy Adams was the man I admire most. But I may have to re-evaluate that in light of this biography. There were plenty of things about Theodore Roosevelt I find repulsive, but I can't help but admire his character, faith and willingness to stand up for his ideals and the needs of others.
Do check it out.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, PresidentialBioReadingList
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Christianity for Modern Pagans
by Blaise Pascal & Peter Kreeft
What's the difference between a sound bite and a proverb? I think I would define a sound bite as a morsel of information that one can ingest and will probably soon forget. A proverb, on the other hand, is an idea that you can ingest and then contemplate, embrace, or even follow. It's a reminder of deeper things. Blaise Pascal's Pensées definitely fall into the "proverb" category. They are a series of notes written down for a book that he never lived to write. This book is Professor Peter Kreeft's collection, translation and commentary on Pascal's Pensées. He adds the organization and humor to make these profound thoughts into a delightful read.
If I don't put it on my shelf, my wife will.
LibraryThing link
What's the difference between a sound bite and a proverb? I think I would define a sound bite as a morsel of information that one can ingest and will probably soon forget. A proverb, on the other hand, is an idea that you can ingest and then contemplate, embrace, or even follow. It's a reminder of deeper things. Blaise Pascal's Pensées definitely fall into the "proverb" category. They are a series of notes written down for a book that he never lived to write. This book is Professor Peter Kreeft's collection, translation and commentary on Pascal's Pensées. He adds the organization and humor to make these profound thoughts into a delightful read.
If I don't put it on my shelf, my wife will.
LibraryThing link
Labels: OnMyShelf, PeterKreeft
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