Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt - Biography & Autobiography

He liked the mention of different diseases in addition to the war saga. The references to the heroic people such as Teddy Roosevelt, Clara Barton, President Wilson were fantastic. I didn't like the repetition of the various characters..for example the characters are always descriptively titled and this is unnecessary.

Great book. Greater man - Teddy Roosevelt! I'm sure men like this exist today - but where are they? I've read about 10 books recently about and by this man. I think all our politicos should do the same.

This book is a jewel with excellent pictures and illustrations. Because it was written by TR himself, it has a special historical meaning to any student or admirer of this Great & unique president.

This book should be a must read for every student in America. It would teach the youth of today that our ancestors had to make do with so much less than with what the instant gratification generation takes for granted today.

This is the best formatted public domain book I've found. The book itself is very good, and I found it upbeat enough to read while at the gym. It's also pretty short, the last 1/4 is the Appendix and reference section.

This is the best formatted public domain book I've found. The book itself is very good, and I found it upbeat enough to read while at the gym. It's also pretty short, the last 1/4 is the Appendix and reference section.

People might want to study Teddy Roosevelt prior to reading this book. It's a lot shorter than I thought it would be. There are very few photographs, no maps or graphics to support Teddy's report of his Rough Rider Volunteers attack on Cuba in 1898. Fast read...three days if you have some time.

In "The Rough Riders" the story of this famed regiment flows from pen of its creator and commander, Theodore Roosevelt. Beginning with his preparations for war while serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, TR takes the reader along during the four month life of this romantic regiment.

A polyglot collection of Cowboys and Indians, lawmen and outlaws, Ivy Leaguers and half-breeds, the Rough Riders captured the imagination of the nation. Authorized to organize a volunteer cavalry from the western territories, Roosevelt, recognizing that his own limited military experience may prevent the regiment from a timely arrival at the front, accepted the position of second in command to his friend, Leonard Wood. With Wood's leadership and Roosevelt's energy building on the rough and tumble abilities of its troops, the Rough Riders were quickly whipped into shape and shipped to the embarkation site in Tampa.

Struggling to get to the port and aboard ship, the Rough Riders were among the first troops to get into combat. Charging up Kettle Hill during the attack on the San Juan Hills, the Rough Riders passed through glory on their way to the trenches surrounding Santiago.

With the Spaniards vanquished, the Rough Riders took on a more lethal foe, disease, prominently malaria. As a volunteer officer who did not have to fear official retribution, TR took the lead in fighting for an early return of the army to the U. S. before it was destroyed by tropical diseases.

TR tells the Rough Rider story from every angle. The reader meets its characters and learns its legends. We learn of its triumphs and its disappointments, such as leaving many of its men and most of its horses in Florida. We read of the challenges of transport, landing, fighting and marching. The brass come in for both praise and criticism.

At times the descriptions of the individual soldiers can make the book a bit slow, but for description of the action, it is great. Enjoy this classic piece of Americana!

In "The Rough Riders" the story of this famed regiment flows from pen of its creator and commander, Theodore Roosevelt. Beginning with his preparations for war while serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, TR takes the reader along during the four month life of this romantic regiment.

A polyglot collection of Cowboys and Indians, lawmen and outlaws, Ivy Leaguers and half-breeds, the Rough Riders captured the imagination of the nation. Authorized to organize a volunteer cavalry from the western territories, Roosevelt, recognizing that his own limited military experience may prevent the regiment from a timely arrival at the front, accepted the position of second in command to his friend, Leonard Wood. With Wood's leadership and Roosevelt's energy building on the rough and tumble abilities of its troops, the Rough Riders were quickly whipped into shape and shipped to the embarkation site in Tampa.

Struggling to get to the port and aboard ship, the Rough Riders were among the first troops to get into combat. Charging up Kettle Hill during the attack on the San Juan Hills, the Rough Riders passed through glory on their way to the trenches surrounding Santiago.

With the Spaniards vanquished, the Rough Riders took on a more lethal foe, disease, prominently malaria. As a volunteer officer who did not have to fear official retribution, TR took the lead in fighting for an early return of the army to the U. S. before it was destroyed by tropical diseases.

TR tells the Rough Rider story from every angle. The reader meets its characters and learns its legends. We learn of its triumphs and its disappointments, such as leaving many of its men and most of its horses in Florida. We read of the challenges of transport, landing, fighting and marching. The brass come in for both praise and criticism.

At times the descriptions of the individual soldiers can make the book a bit slow, but for description of the action, it is great. Enjoy this classic piece of Americana!

They came from all over the United States and the Western Territories. They were Ivy Leaguers, Cowboys, Indians, Sheriffs, Outlaws, Civil War veterans, Indian fighters, businessmen. Men like Allyn Capron, Buckey O'Neill, (future Secretary of the Navy) Frank Knox, Hamilton Fish, the famed Indian fighter Leonard Wood, and of course the bespectacled Assistant Secretary of the Navy, former New York Police Commissioner and sometime cowboy named Theodore Roosevelt.

The "Rough Riders" is Roosevelt's classic story of these highly motivated volunteers who eagerly volunteered to fight in the Spanish-American war, and whom many, including the regular army officer Capron, the Arizona sheriff O'Neill, Fish and others paid the ultimate price. And not all of the nearly 1000 men who volunteered ever made it over to Cuba. Several troops, to their everlasting sorrow, and nearly all of the horses had to stay in Tampa, the port of embarkation, because of a lack of troopships.

Roosevelt tells the entire story, which helped catapult him to the Presidency, of the feisty former Confederate Cavalry commander Joseph Wheeler, who commanded all of the volunteer cavalry, and who, to the amusement of his men, blurted out at Las Guismas, "We've got the damn Yankees on the run" - momentarily lapsing into Chickamauga, not Cuba!, and of how San Juan Hill was stormed and captured under intense fire from Spanish rifles, gatling guns, and cannon, and giving praise not just to his own men, but to the accompanying Black Cavalrymen of the 9th and 10th cavalry, and of the regular infantry units that were involved in the operation.

The colorful and fact-based story of brave American men who fought for the freedom of others, now sadly under totalitarian rule. A Classic slice of Americana written by one of America's best.

"The Rough Riders," by Theodore Roosevelt, is the author's memoir of his experiences as part of the First United States Volunteer Cavalry during the Spanish-American War. The book's title comes from the nickname earned by the unit. The copyright page notes that the text was originally published in 1899. TR tells about the recruitment and training of the Rough Riders, their voyage to Cuba, their battles, and their return home.

Much of the book concerns what, in TR's opinion, makes for good soldiers and good leaders. Although the book first appeared over a century ago, I found many of TR's observations startlingly relevant to contemporary warfare; he discusses wartime refugees, guerrilla warfare, wartime atrocities, and battlefield news correspondents. Other topics covered include illness among the troops and the impact of weather and terrain on warfare. He also discusses occasional humorous material, such as the nicknames some soldiers earned.

Roosevelt includes fascinating technical details about the weapons of this era. Although he frankly discusses the violence, wounds, and deaths of the battlefield, overall I got a sense that TR saw the war as a grand adventure-even fun on a certain level. The writing style is very engaging and has a clear, matter-of-fact quality. TR's admiration and love for his troops ultimately gives the book a real warmth and humanity. This is truly a landmark in the rich canon of American military memoirs.

This is an entertaining account of the Rough Riders' history--and exactly what you would expect from TR. It's energetic, fun to read, and bursting with a sort of manly good feeling. Regardless of your views on militarism, imperialism, etc., by the end of the of the book you'll be thinking, "Yeah, I'd totally follow him up that hill if he asked."

Modern Library puts out some of the greatest book ever written. This is no different. Roosevelts account of his Rough Riders days jump off the page like a great fiction book. He discribes how he left the Navy Department and volunteered to serve in the Spanish American War. He discribes all of the charactors who served in the famed regiments that made up the Rough Riders. Some we College Graduate, some were cattle rustlers, farmers, etc. A real bunch of misfits.

I like his attention to detail and all the researchable facts. There is a list of all the men who served as Rough Riders.

This is recomended for anyone who likes history, the Spanish American War, and Theodore Roosevelt. I happen to like all three.

Teddy Roosevelt was one of the most inspiring men in American history for a variety of reasons---and this book captures them all, from politician and military leader to writer and conservationalist.

This is a book all schoolchidren should read...so don't expect public education to do so.

Anyway, the quotes, stories and background information really open the reader's eyes to what an incredible life -- in so many areas -- this man lived. There are too few like him these days (in any area).

I would have given the book five stars, but since it was written recently, there seems to be some "updates" (or revisionism), which do not always portray America or Teddy in as positive a light as he and WE deserve. Nothing major, but still noticeable.

This classic by President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt is worth having on your bookshelf, in this particular edition, if only because the cover art is so laughably bad and completely out of tune with what the book is actually about. Let me know if you find out what that is.

I had read much about Teddy Roosevelt over the years, he is one of my favorite presidents, but I had never read any thing written by him. This is a well written memoir of his time leading the Rough Riders Brigade during the Spanish-American War. One forgets that he had earned a living earlier in life as an author.

What impresses me about this book is how it differs from most any other narrative of any war I have read before or since. The battlefields of Cuba take on Homerian proportions in this book. Roosevelt sings the praises of the brave soldiers of his regiment (not least of all, himself) and paints a vivid picture of the harsh (yet glorious) realities of war. Rough Riders is valuable as, more than anything, an example of historical paradigm. It is a perspective on the values of a people and a living example of the way in which war has been viewed as a part of the American experience.

Good read. Very detailed account, almost too detailed. It is more written for those who read it at the time then it is now because there are so many recognitions he pays to many men, which at times there are interesting stories; other times, though, you are just reading pages and pages of names of brave men. Didn't make for an exciting story always but nometheless I enjoyed it.

If you liked the movie the ROUGH RIDERS starring Tom Berringer at "TR", you will enjoy this book. It was apparent that Berringer and crew did their homework as many parts of the movie are found in the book almost word-for-word. Much detail.

Nothing like history written by someone who was actually there.

My expectations were high but this is just a poorly written book. About half the narrative is about the characters who joined the Rough Riders. Very little of the book deals with the battles in Cuba and the sections that do make the exploits of the Rough Riders seem grossly over rated. Roosevelt seems to write withh the intent on securing his place in history. And, if that wasn't enough, he includes self-serving appendices that laud his conduct on the battlefield and support his yearning for the medal of honor. I found his writing style tedious and often repetitious--you'll encounter countless references to the smokeless ammunition used by the Spanish. Enough already!

WOW... A great american story and extremely well written. This book has changed my life by motivating me to be a better person and citizen. I only wish we had men in elected positions that were half as intelligent and half as concerned for the average american as Teddy. Rough Riders is a must read for any young man trying to find his calling.

Good, inside view of the Spanish-American War unit with Theodore Roosevelt. I learned a lot that I didn't know. Fast-moving, with enough detail and background in end notes to satisfy those looking for more.

While some of the historical information seeps through this is mostly a pat on the back for the various members involved in this war. Lots of talk of this regiment covering that flank while so and so charged the front. I would have prefered more of a story of the Rough Riders than a flat accounting of a few battles. T.R. is a very interesting figure and the more I learn about him the more admiration I have.