A Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt

This is an extraordinary book in terms of the research involved and the excellent writing. McCullough makes excellent use of primary source material to set Theodore Roosevelt in the context of his family. One of my interests is in how leaders emerge from families, and this is the best book in terms of that I've ever read. I listened to it two in audio format, and then bought the book. My latest purchases of it were as gifts for others.

An expansive historical picture of the early life of Theodore Roosevelt through his election as president of the USA. McCollough weaves an intriguing portrayal of family relationships, educational relationships and political relationships. All of this is strengthened by his love of adventure and western individualism. An excellent treatise by an exceptional author. ASK

This is the fourth book by David McCullough I have read. I expected it to be a biography of Teddy Roosevelt as President, but it only traces his life up until he became President. There is nothing in TR's upbringing to indicate the immense changes he brought to the Presidency once he assumed office on McKinley's assassination. Of course, no one expected him to become President; he was described by William Hanna, McKinley's campaign manager as that "damed cowboy" when he took office. Now I know why. McCullough describes at great length the many times TR was out west, probably the most tedious part of the book. However, it's great strength lies in the social history of the times. A very interesting read, but I wish it had encompassed TR's presidency as well.

This is a very-well written history of Teddy Roosevelt's family background, his parents and siblings, his upbringing and education and the development of his career. It stops short of his presidency. David McCullough is my favorite author and this book is among his best, in my opinion. I'll be reading another biography in order to learn about the rest of Roosevelt's life.

'Mornings on Horseback' has deservedly earned a reputation as THE definitive analysis of the background and early life of Theodore Roosevelt. The book delivered all I expected in this area, and then some. What I did not expect was an absolutely fascinating insight into the "vanished way of life" detailed by McCullough.

Almost too much detail! I was hoping for more about the time in the west and that was a small portion of the book. Still, and exhaustive work that gives you a greater understanding of a remarkable family.

What needs to be said about David McCullough? This was the last of his books which I had not read. Having read Edmund Morris' two fine works on Theodore Roosevelt, I couldn't imagine what else there was to say. How wrong I was! Theodore Roosevelt is, simply, one of the most important and interesting characters in American history. He is seriously overlooked in our day, but it is clear why Gutzon Borglum included TR on Mount Rushmore. This is an exception work of biography. Detailed, authoritative, well-referenced. Don't pass it by.

On the cover of David McCullough’s MORNINGS ON HORSEBACK, a young Teddy Roosevelt stares past the reader, rugged and confident. But don’t be fooled: the former president isn’t this book’s true focus. If it were, it would just be another Roosevelt biography. But it’s much more. It’s the story of a family. It’s a look into an age that swelled with exuberance and possibility.

To understand the 20th Century’s first president, one needs to understand his fascinating roots. McCullough ushers us into the Roosevelt’s Manhattan enclave, where we’re introduced to Teddy’s parents: Mittie (the consummate Southern lady) and Theodore (the dapper New York scion). They inhabit a life ripped straight from an Edith Wharton novel. These opening chapters bring into focus the complex, charming nest that hatched such a peculiar, dynamic President. Undoubtedly Teddy is iconic - the man has his face carved into a mountain for Pete’s sake - which can make us forget that he was more than just a President: he was a brother, a son, and a nephew. The book’s opening hundred pages explore this simple truth.

When Teddy leaves Manhattan for Harvard and, later, a budding political career, the book loses momentum. The slowness hits a particularly dense shoal when McCullough details the 1884 Republican primary. Anyone who’s read enough 19th century history knows that era’s political conventions are fatally boring - page after page of bargaining, politicking, and negotiation. McCullough tries his very best, but is unable to add much color to the convention’s blandness.

Some redemption is delivered in the chapters devoted to Teddy’s Dakota years. The man rode horses across the steppe, speculated on cattle, dealt with scofflaws, and nearly found himself drawn into a duel with a local kingpin (and sharpshooter, mind you). It’s exciting stuff.

Despite the flaws, it’s a good book. McCullough brings a fascinating era to life and makes the reader a part-time resident for 360 wonderful pages. You’ll come away from the experience with a fuller understanding of an historical figure. And, ultimately, isn’t that the goal of every biography?

The story was well documented, but sometime it drug on and on. Too much politics listing character after character that I didn't think added to the story. Just more name calling. I was glad to get the linage with Alice and Elenor straight in my mind.

I chose this book because it was recommended by a book club group. It is a very good book, but has times where the story has so many facts that it becomes disinteresting, unless you are deep into politics. Yet, for the history of this family and how things were done at that time, it's great.

This book is excellent. David McCullough is a superb writer. The e-reader version is very poor quality. Many spelling errors....no apostrophe's for some reason...repeated paragraphs. There's a misspelling in the title----which should be a clue to the problem right there.

Definitely read this but buy the hard copy not the Kindle version.

Much, much more than just another biography- "Mornings on Horseback" provides an in-depth perspective on the Roosevelt family from the very beginning. An extremely interesting read, this book captured and held my attention from cover to cover.

If you love history, you will enjoy this book. I liked this book because the author brought out the history of the family as well as Teddy's history. As usual, McCullough wrote another great book!
I wish he would write a book on Eisenhower. I would trust McCullough to write Eisenhower's history with true facts.

Great read, as are all of this authors books. Note however you will not see a discussion of his rise to mayor or to White House. For that, guess we are expected to read Teddy's autobiography, which is quite good.

David Mc Cullough's thorough research on one of our most colorful presidents disappoints only in that it ends far too soon in TR 's long and interesting life, the first half of which is more about his father, than TR himself.

David McCullough writes the most interesting historical novels. I have read a number of his books as his books always capture my interest---never boring or containing too many facts, making the stories difficult to plow through. Great book!

Interesting study of a monied family whose members were well-educated, well-read, well-travelled and who felt an obligation to serve their community and their country. McCullough's work represents years of research and good writing.

I am adding my straw to the approving wind surrounding David McCullough's work. He includes things in his histories and biographies that other historians don't include and yet these facts often are the things that make the subject understandable to laymen.

This was very interesting. I loved the part where the "powers tried to hide him in the vp spot, so his integrity wouldn't get in their way and low and behold McKinley is shot and Teddy goes on to Trust Bust/

The author did a stellar presentation of Teddy Roosevelt's amazing and fortunate background. He was a brilliant and
curious student of wildlife which was encouraged by his parents efforts to provide him with the books, guns to shoot wildlife, practise taxidermy, etc.

When he became president we have him to thank for making many of the beautiful landscape treasures we enjoy into national parks!

I would suggest this book for those interested in our national parks, enviromentalists and those would enjoy
a good read of one outstanding president !

I can't imagine a book written by David McCullough that isn't a five-star rating! This Pulitzer Prize historian always promises a great read that makes you long for more! I am always sad when the books end and this book did not disappoint! Teddy came to life for me in this book in a way that surprised me. The flow of the story kept me turning the pages and the only problem I had was getting anything done until this book came to an end. I would recommend this book to any history buff who wants an entertaining and informative read.

Wordy but great back history of how the times were and how thier personalities may have been formed. Eceptionally well researched and pesented. The time to create this manuscript must have been exceptionally long. Great read if you like the subject.

David McCulloutgh has done it again. He has written a book you will enjoy even as most readers learn. For example there is more about ranching and the settlement of the western USA. The intimate details and letters about the T Roosevelt family members will amaze the modern day reader.

I can't imagine a book written by David McCullough that isn't a five-star rating! This Pulitzer Prize historian always promises a great read that makes you long for more! I am always sad when the books end and this book did not disappoint! Teddy came to life for me in this book in a way that surprised me. The flow of the story kept me turning the pages and the only problem I had was getting anything done until this book came to an end. I would recommend this book to any history buff who wants an entertaining and informative read.

Wordy but great back history of how the times were and how thier personalities may have been formed. Eceptionally well researched and pesented. The time to create this manuscript must have been exceptionally long. Great read if you like the subject.

David McCulloutgh has done it again. He has written a book you will enjoy even as most readers learn. For example there is more about ranching and the settlement of the western USA. The intimate details and letters about the T Roosevelt family members will amaze the modern day reader.

David McCullough is my favorite author. Mornings on Horseback was a little bit harder to get into, but after the first 3 or 4 chapters, I really enjoyed the book. I have read several of his books and loved them all.

Love most of McCullough's books--John Adams, 1776 and Truman especially. This telling of Teddy Roosevelt's early years is well done and interesting. However, the minute details of his early political life are less interesting. This is not one of his best but still tells a story that needs to be told.

David McCullough's page-turner of a biography gets 5 stars, the Kindle version only 1. No literate human being so much as glanced at this before it was put on the market. In particular, nobody ever told the computer involved in scanning this edition about the existence and use of the apostrophe--hence I had to reread many sentences to make sense of them. The author deserves much better treatment from his publisher, and so do I. Buy a print version.

This book was excellent when it focused on TR but i felt too often it got into the politics when the book was basically supposed to be about his life before his big political push. But i did enjoy the most of it.