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Review
from: Choice Magazine — July 2002
The seventh edition is a welcome update
and revision to the sixth (1993). Format and purpose remain essentially
the same—to provide the facts about each president "most likely to
be sought by the general reader." The first part supplies personal
and political information about each president, Washington to George W.
Bush: date of birth and death, religion, term in office, family, personal
relationships, and a chronology of important dates. Descriptive data about
the president’s political careers follow, including composition of the
Cabinet and Congress during the president’s term, a chronology
highlighting critical events and accomplishments, and "additional
data" about activities of the president during his term, highlighting
conflicts with other political leaders and involvement in foreign affairs,
but often including social and cultural trivia (e.g., that William Howard
Taft was the first president to throw out the first ball to open the
baseball season). The second part supplies detailed data concerning a
broad range of topics (military background, education, career, first
ladies) offered in formats that facilitate comparisons and identification
of key trends. An interesting section is devoted to presidential
commemoratives (e.g., stamps, coinage, and locations named after
presidents). This and other sections presenting social and cultural facts
add value beyond basic information found in most works about the
presidency. Data is current through June 2001. The book’s consistent
formatting makes it an essential ready reference source for any library.
—R.V.
Labaree, University of Southern California |
