Call number
BIO GOO
Collection
Publication
Simon & Schuster (2018), 496 pages
Description
Business. History. Politics. Nonfiction. HTML:From Pulitzer Prize�??winning author and esteemed presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, an invaluable guide to the development and exercise of leadership from Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The inspiration for the multipart HISTORY Channel series Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. "After five decades of magisterial output, Doris Kearns Goodwin leads the league of presidential historians" (USA TODAY). In her "inspiring" (The Christian Science Monitor) Leadership, Doris Kearns Goodwin draws upon the four presidents she has studied most closely�??Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson (in civil rights)�??to show how they recognized leadership qualities within themselves and were recognized as leaders by others. By looking back to their first entries into public life, we encounter them at a time when their paths were filled with confusion, fear, and hope. Leadership tells the story of how they all collided with dramatic reversals that disrupted their lives and threatened to shatter forever their ambitions. Nonetheless, they all emerged fitted to confront the contours and dilemmas of their times. At their best, all four were guided by a sense of moral purpose. At moments of great challenge, they were able to summon their talents to enlarge the opportunities and lives of others. Does the leader make the times or do the times make the leader? "If ever our nation needed a short course on presidential leadership, it is now" (The Seattle Times). This seminal work provides an accessible and essential road map for aspiring and established leaders in every field. In today's polarized world, these stories of authentic leadership in times of apprehension and fracture take on a singular urgency. "Goodwin's volume deserves much praise�??it is insightful, readable, compelling: Her book arrives just in time" (The Boston… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member rakerman
Unabridged audiobook:
An unusual choice to have readers assigned to particular presidents.
If my ear is right, Richard Thomas reads the chapters about Theodore Roosevelt and Beau Bridges reads the chapters about Lyndon Johnson.
An unusual choice to have readers assigned to particular presidents.
If my ear is right, Richard Thomas reads the chapters about Theodore Roosevelt and Beau Bridges reads the chapters about Lyndon Johnson.
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Excellent book about 4 presidents. I always wonder why she gives FDR a pass on so many of the things he did and did not do before and during the WWII. She is much more critical and balanced when discussing LBJ making him seem much more sympathetic. Worth the read.
LibraryThing member kaulsu
Wow. A powerful book, much better listened to than read because of the excellent narrators.
Goodwin is a powerful researcher and historian. Although I have read much of Lincoln and his Civil War presidency, I still gleaned more from this book. Teddy Roosevelt meant nothing more to me than his
I enjoyed the manner in which she broke up the telling of their stories, concentrating on youth, preparation for leadership, presidential leadership, and, for T. Roosevelt and Johnson, the aftermath of the limelight. As an example, I knew that (of course) Lincoln had authored the Emancipation Declaration, but not that it was written so far in advance of the issuance thereof or how much he used his cabinet as a sounding board prior to the final draft. I knew that F. Roosevelt had been undersecretary of the Navy, but no idea that he followed in his Uncle's footprints. Johnson has been forever linked with the sour taste of the war in Vietnam, and although I knew Johnson had his "Great Society," I was unaware of that this meant more to LBJ than pure political pragmatism.
The narrators hired by Simon & Schuster brought these four men to life!
Goodwin is a powerful researcher and historian. Although I have read much of Lincoln and his Civil War presidency, I still gleaned more from this book. Teddy Roosevelt meant nothing more to me than his
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caricature and San Juan Hill--whatever and wherever that was. Franklin Roosevelt was overly familiar, and yet, he too became more alive under Goodwin's hand. And Johnson!I enjoyed the manner in which she broke up the telling of their stories, concentrating on youth, preparation for leadership, presidential leadership, and, for T. Roosevelt and Johnson, the aftermath of the limelight. As an example, I knew that (of course) Lincoln had authored the Emancipation Declaration, but not that it was written so far in advance of the issuance thereof or how much he used his cabinet as a sounding board prior to the final draft. I knew that F. Roosevelt had been undersecretary of the Navy, but no idea that he followed in his Uncle's footprints. Johnson has been forever linked with the sour taste of the war in Vietnam, and although I knew Johnson had his "Great Society," I was unaware of that this meant more to LBJ than pure political pragmatism.
The narrators hired by Simon & Schuster brought these four men to life!
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LibraryThing member muddyboy
Every American voter should read this book or expect the kind of leadership we are suffering through today. Goodwin studies the lives of Lincoln, Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt and LBJ and looks for what makes them great leaders. Some of their overriding principles include intellectual curiosity
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reading and listening to vast amount of information. They surround themselves with people with different opinions and truly listen to what they have to say. They are also will to change course if necessary. There are many other qualities that are sorely lacking today. Show Less
LibraryThing member JosephKing6602
Good assembly of ideal examples of presidents exhibiting true leadership! Lincoln,Teddy Roosevelt,FDR,and most impressively,LBJ.
LibraryThing member bemislibrary
Goodwin divides the book into three sections that cover ambition, adversity, and leading. Each section has how Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson approached the topic, outside influences, and how it influences their presidency. Since this is based on actual
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historic figure, some information may be familiar to readers. What is different and stands out is the ability the reader will have to identify the contrasts and similarities between the four. Extensive notes and index is provided. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarysGirl
I really looked forward to this book. I’ve studied leadership—not at the presidential level, but I have worked with several Fortune 50 CEOs and dozens of executives in my professional career. I also taught leadership and change management to ambitious young managers in MBA courses. Effective
My answer to both questions (with one caveat) is “Yes!”
Goodwin organizes her book around four presidents and their leadership during four crises: Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, Theodore Roosevelt and the coal strike, Franklin Roosevelt and his first one hundred days during the Great Depression, and Lyndon Johnson and the Civil Rights Act in the aftermath of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. She takes each man in turn and explores three themes. Part I deals with their early days and how they recognized their own ambitions. Part II shows how they overcame significant early obstacles: crippling personal losses, physical and mental setbacks, and political defeats. Part III details how they met the challenges of their presidencies with specific leadership strategies based on their own gifts, personalities, and experiences.
Because I have considerable knowledge of Lincoln and the two Roosevelts, their sections in Parts I and II, felt like visiting old friends. Goodwin reminded me of much that I already knew and admired about these three men. Reading their stories was like eating comfort food—familiar with a touch of nostalgia. The outlier is Johnson. I lived through the Kennedy/Johnson era, so this time period doesn’t feel like “history” to me. I was on a campus torn apart by the Vietnam war and mourned the loss of student lives in clashes with state troopers. My feelings toward Johnson and his leadership during this period—even fifty years later—was mixed, to say the least. I knew a few details of Johnson’s early life and trials and had a vague notion of his contribution to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, but most of what Goodwin told me was new and interesting. It made me want to pick up her biography Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream: The Most Revealing Portrait of a President and Presidential Power Ever Written. Mission accomplished.
In Part III of Leadership in Turbulent Times, Goodwin delves into the titular problems these four men met and overcame during their presidencies. She analyzes each man’s actions in meeting an external crisis step by step and labels each: Lincoln’s transformational leadership, Teddy Roosevelt’s crisis management, Franklin Roosevelt’s turnaround leadership, and Johnson’s visionary leadership. Here Goodwin falters just a bit. If she didn’t consciously realize it, she unconsciously acknowledged it. Teddy’s section is titled “crisis management” rather than “crisis leadership.”
The example of the coal mine strike she uses, although foundational to Teddy’s progressive agenda, did not rise to the level of exceptional leadership. He went on to accomplish much more significant change. In the coal crisis, Teddy displayed mastery of the kind of communication and management skills we hope all presidents (and marriage counselors) would bring to their positions. He brought two seemingly irreconcilable groups (labor and management) together to make the country better for ordinary people. He did a good job, but Lincoln and FDR faced greater obstacles with far more serious consequences in the case of failure.
Likewise Johnson’s challenge—on the surface—didn’t seem to rise to the level of “visionary leadership.” However, Goodwin changed my mind. She laid the foundation for Johnson’s personal transformation to civil rights champion in the earlier sections. Although she worked in the Johnson administration and helped him write his memoirs, Goodwin is honest about Johnson’s abject failure in prosecuting the Vietnam War. She chose to write about his early successes in domestic matters.
And what prodigious successes they were! It was fascinating to see how masterfully Johnson planned and executed his vision. He managed, in painstaking detail, his major legislative accomplishments in the wake of tragedy and the face of obdurate racist opposition in his own party. He skillfully used every parliamentary trick and personal tool in his box to influence, cajole, out maneuver, and sometimes bribe reluctant law makers. His accomplishments in passing the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts—in concert with the sacrifices of the wide-spread, grass-roots, civil rights movements of the 1960’s—significantly and enduringly changed society for the better.
Goodwin wraps up her book with a short epilogue titled “Of Death and Remembrance” where she brings each man’s life to a close, exploring their thoughts on their enduring legacies. She says:
“While their personal stories came to very different ends, they were all looking beyond their own lives, hopeful that their achievements had shaped and enlarged the future. The fame they craved, the recognition they sought, bears little resemblance to today’s cult of celebrity. For these leaders, the final measure of their achievements would be realized by their admittance to an enduring place of communal memory.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, both for its history and leadership lessons. I recommend it for both.
Note: I originally published this review on my website where there is additional information, including a video interview with the author.
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leadership is key to a company/country’s ability to survive and thrive. In addition, I’ve had an abiding interest in the lives of Lincoln; and Teddy, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt and have read several biographies about them. Although I’ve seen Doris Kearns Goodwin on TV frequently, the only one of her books I’d read previously was Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, an 890-page tome about Lincoln’s time in office, which I thoroughly enjoyed. So I looked at Leadership in Turbulent Times from two perspectives: Was it good history/biography? Was it good leadership analysis?My answer to both questions (with one caveat) is “Yes!”
Goodwin organizes her book around four presidents and their leadership during four crises: Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, Theodore Roosevelt and the coal strike, Franklin Roosevelt and his first one hundred days during the Great Depression, and Lyndon Johnson and the Civil Rights Act in the aftermath of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. She takes each man in turn and explores three themes. Part I deals with their early days and how they recognized their own ambitions. Part II shows how they overcame significant early obstacles: crippling personal losses, physical and mental setbacks, and political defeats. Part III details how they met the challenges of their presidencies with specific leadership strategies based on their own gifts, personalities, and experiences.
Because I have considerable knowledge of Lincoln and the two Roosevelts, their sections in Parts I and II, felt like visiting old friends. Goodwin reminded me of much that I already knew and admired about these three men. Reading their stories was like eating comfort food—familiar with a touch of nostalgia. The outlier is Johnson. I lived through the Kennedy/Johnson era, so this time period doesn’t feel like “history” to me. I was on a campus torn apart by the Vietnam war and mourned the loss of student lives in clashes with state troopers. My feelings toward Johnson and his leadership during this period—even fifty years later—was mixed, to say the least. I knew a few details of Johnson’s early life and trials and had a vague notion of his contribution to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, but most of what Goodwin told me was new and interesting. It made me want to pick up her biography Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream: The Most Revealing Portrait of a President and Presidential Power Ever Written. Mission accomplished.
In Part III of Leadership in Turbulent Times, Goodwin delves into the titular problems these four men met and overcame during their presidencies. She analyzes each man’s actions in meeting an external crisis step by step and labels each: Lincoln’s transformational leadership, Teddy Roosevelt’s crisis management, Franklin Roosevelt’s turnaround leadership, and Johnson’s visionary leadership. Here Goodwin falters just a bit. If she didn’t consciously realize it, she unconsciously acknowledged it. Teddy’s section is titled “crisis management” rather than “crisis leadership.”
The example of the coal mine strike she uses, although foundational to Teddy’s progressive agenda, did not rise to the level of exceptional leadership. He went on to accomplish much more significant change. In the coal crisis, Teddy displayed mastery of the kind of communication and management skills we hope all presidents (and marriage counselors) would bring to their positions. He brought two seemingly irreconcilable groups (labor and management) together to make the country better for ordinary people. He did a good job, but Lincoln and FDR faced greater obstacles with far more serious consequences in the case of failure.
Likewise Johnson’s challenge—on the surface—didn’t seem to rise to the level of “visionary leadership.” However, Goodwin changed my mind. She laid the foundation for Johnson’s personal transformation to civil rights champion in the earlier sections. Although she worked in the Johnson administration and helped him write his memoirs, Goodwin is honest about Johnson’s abject failure in prosecuting the Vietnam War. She chose to write about his early successes in domestic matters.
And what prodigious successes they were! It was fascinating to see how masterfully Johnson planned and executed his vision. He managed, in painstaking detail, his major legislative accomplishments in the wake of tragedy and the face of obdurate racist opposition in his own party. He skillfully used every parliamentary trick and personal tool in his box to influence, cajole, out maneuver, and sometimes bribe reluctant law makers. His accomplishments in passing the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts—in concert with the sacrifices of the wide-spread, grass-roots, civil rights movements of the 1960’s—significantly and enduringly changed society for the better.
Goodwin wraps up her book with a short epilogue titled “Of Death and Remembrance” where she brings each man’s life to a close, exploring their thoughts on their enduring legacies. She says:
“While their personal stories came to very different ends, they were all looking beyond their own lives, hopeful that their achievements had shaped and enlarged the future. The fame they craved, the recognition they sought, bears little resemblance to today’s cult of celebrity. For these leaders, the final measure of their achievements would be realized by their admittance to an enduring place of communal memory.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, both for its history and leadership lessons. I recommend it for both.
Note: I originally published this review on my website where there is additional information, including a video interview with the author.
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LibraryThing member RolandB
Excellent description of our past leaders.
LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
In Leadership in Turbulent Times, Doris Kearns Goodwin seeks to uncover what traits make a leader of nations using Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson as case studies. She writes, “These four extended examples show how their leadership fit the historical
Goodwin writes of Abraham Lincoln’s early foray into politics, “Lincoln revealed early on a quality that would characterize his leadership for the rest of his life – a willingness to acknowledge errors and learn from his mistakes. The pact Lincoln offered the people – the promise of unremitting labor in return for their support – was for him a covenant… From the start, the destiny he sought was no simple craving for individual fame and distinction; his ambitions were, first and always, linked with the people” (pg. 12). Even in defeat, Goodwin demonstrates how Lincoln set an example for leadership, writing, “Lincoln voiced a sentiment that would become a refrain in his troubled passage to middle age: ‘How hard – Oh how hard it is to die and leave one’s country no better than if one had never lived’” (pg. 105). Further describing setbacks, Goodwin writes, “There are points of likeness in the seminal disasters that befell both Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt in the early stages of their careers. Both crucibles were precipitated by a combination of intimate, personal crises and public repudiation that seemed to crush their core ambitions. Both swore off politics or at least paid lip service to deserting politics forever. Both suffered severe depressions. Healing change had to come from within while they waited for the historical kaleidoscope to turn” (pg. 130). Discussing the onset of FDR’s polio, Goodwin writes, “Franklin Roosevelt’s ordeal provides the most clear-cut paradigm of how a devastating crucible experience can, against all expectation and logic, lead to significant growth, intensified ambition, and enlarged gifts for leadership” (pg. 162). She writes of FDR’s leadership and frankness during the First 100 Days, “If ever an argument can be made for the conclusive importance of the character and intelligence of the leader in fraught times, at home and abroad, it will come to rest on the broad shoulders of Franklin Delano Roosevelt” (pg. 305). Goodwin credits “Johnson’s gargantuan ambition, driving temperament, and unique legislative experience” for his early Presidential successes (pg. 327). She does, however, discuss the paradox of his success at domestic policy and failings in foreign policy, specifically his handling of Vietnam. Writes Goodwin, “From the first day of his presidency, when engaging domestic affairs and civil rights, Johnson had a concrete vision of the goals he wanted to achieve and a clear strategy for how to rouse Congress and the people to attain those goals. By contrast, when he drew his countrymen into a ground war in Vietnam he was motivated less by a set of positive goals than by a powerful sense of what he wanted to avoid – failure, loss, and a humiliating defeat for himself and his country” (pg. 338-339).
Like much of Goodwin’s work, Leadership in Turbulent Times is primarily a synthesis of scholarship on the four presidents and theories of leadership, relying largely on the “great men doing great things” formula of writing history. That said, the work itself is highly readable with insights that both academics and non-academics may find useful, especially in applying the lessons Goodwin extracts from her subjects’ lives. Goodwin discusses Lincoln’s philosophy, writing, “He considered history, an understanding of how we came to be, the best vehicle for understanding who we are and where we are going” (pg. 368). Such a philosophy guides Goodwin’s focus in this work. This Easton Press edition is gorgeously leather-bound with gilt page edges and signed by the author. It makes a lovely gift for recent college or university graduates studying history.
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moment as a key fits a lock… While there is neither a master key to leadership nor a common lock of historical circumstance, we can detect a certain family resemblance of leadership traits as we trace the alignment of leadership capacity within its historical context” (pg. xv). To this point, Goodwin argues, “These four men form a family tree, a lineage of leadership that spans the entirety of our country’s history” (pg. xvi). Describing leadership qualities, Goodwin cites Lincoln’s natural empathy, Theodore Roosevelt’s intellect and ability to step outside his world of privilege, Franklin Roosevelt’s temperament, and Lyndon Johnson’s persistence.Goodwin writes of Abraham Lincoln’s early foray into politics, “Lincoln revealed early on a quality that would characterize his leadership for the rest of his life – a willingness to acknowledge errors and learn from his mistakes. The pact Lincoln offered the people – the promise of unremitting labor in return for their support – was for him a covenant… From the start, the destiny he sought was no simple craving for individual fame and distinction; his ambitions were, first and always, linked with the people” (pg. 12). Even in defeat, Goodwin demonstrates how Lincoln set an example for leadership, writing, “Lincoln voiced a sentiment that would become a refrain in his troubled passage to middle age: ‘How hard – Oh how hard it is to die and leave one’s country no better than if one had never lived’” (pg. 105). Further describing setbacks, Goodwin writes, “There are points of likeness in the seminal disasters that befell both Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt in the early stages of their careers. Both crucibles were precipitated by a combination of intimate, personal crises and public repudiation that seemed to crush their core ambitions. Both swore off politics or at least paid lip service to deserting politics forever. Both suffered severe depressions. Healing change had to come from within while they waited for the historical kaleidoscope to turn” (pg. 130). Discussing the onset of FDR’s polio, Goodwin writes, “Franklin Roosevelt’s ordeal provides the most clear-cut paradigm of how a devastating crucible experience can, against all expectation and logic, lead to significant growth, intensified ambition, and enlarged gifts for leadership” (pg. 162). She writes of FDR’s leadership and frankness during the First 100 Days, “If ever an argument can be made for the conclusive importance of the character and intelligence of the leader in fraught times, at home and abroad, it will come to rest on the broad shoulders of Franklin Delano Roosevelt” (pg. 305). Goodwin credits “Johnson’s gargantuan ambition, driving temperament, and unique legislative experience” for his early Presidential successes (pg. 327). She does, however, discuss the paradox of his success at domestic policy and failings in foreign policy, specifically his handling of Vietnam. Writes Goodwin, “From the first day of his presidency, when engaging domestic affairs and civil rights, Johnson had a concrete vision of the goals he wanted to achieve and a clear strategy for how to rouse Congress and the people to attain those goals. By contrast, when he drew his countrymen into a ground war in Vietnam he was motivated less by a set of positive goals than by a powerful sense of what he wanted to avoid – failure, loss, and a humiliating defeat for himself and his country” (pg. 338-339).
Like much of Goodwin’s work, Leadership in Turbulent Times is primarily a synthesis of scholarship on the four presidents and theories of leadership, relying largely on the “great men doing great things” formula of writing history. That said, the work itself is highly readable with insights that both academics and non-academics may find useful, especially in applying the lessons Goodwin extracts from her subjects’ lives. Goodwin discusses Lincoln’s philosophy, writing, “He considered history, an understanding of how we came to be, the best vehicle for understanding who we are and where we are going” (pg. 368). Such a philosophy guides Goodwin’s focus in this work. This Easton Press edition is gorgeously leather-bound with gilt page edges and signed by the author. It makes a lovely gift for recent college or university graduates studying history.
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LibraryThing member nmele
At times, I felt like Goodwin just combed through her previous books and research to put together this study of leadership. At other times, I was very interested by what she had to say about how Lincoln, the two Roosevelts and LBJ rose to the challenges they faced or why, in the case of LBJ, he
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didn't stop the escalation in Vietnam. Show Less
LibraryThing member etxgardener
Doris Kearns Goodwin returns to her favorite subjects: Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, and LBJ to illustrate the qualities that make an effective leader. Although remarkable different in their backgrounds all four men possessed a fierce ambition to succeed and make their mark upon society,
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as well as an uncommon ability to face and overcome adversity in their personal lives. This book should be required reading for every politician in this country. Show Less
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
The instructive nature of history feels apparent in this volume by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Comparing the lives, presidencies, and leadership styles of Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, FDR, and LBJ, this text calls attention to the similarities between these remarkable presidents, but also displays the
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differences in leadership each man. Still, each of these presidents suited their own tumultuous era and used their unique and hard-won abilities to guide the nation they governed. This book is not a summary of each man life or presidency; rather, significant events are examined in detail and other happenings are unmentioned. Those seeking comprehensive histories of any of these presidents should likely seek another book. However, this thoughtful examination of leadership in American history is a book well suited to the present and is a volume I would recommend for those seeking both history and context for contemporary American politics. Show Less
LibraryThing member scottjpearson
In this work, Goodwin charts the lives of four influential US Presidents – Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson. Having written leading biographies previously of each of these, she combines her insights to profile the character of leadership, at least in
Most educated American adults know something of these leaders’ presidential history. What Goodwin does most effectively is to correlate their behavior in office to their individual histories before taking office. Further, she charts how their times after office and their deaths reflected the style of leadership they displayed during their respective seminal crises. As such, she does not merely focus on how each dealt with the crisis at hand; rather, she extends it towards a study of individual character – and the reflected character of the American people.
Written during the era of Trump (in which the nature American leadership seems to be questioned), this book displays a historical critique of this new style of “leadership.” By tying her analysis to leaders of change in American history, she seems to tacitly argue that this new style is neither progressive nor definitively American. Each of these presidents were progressive in their time, yet the changes they wrought have become central to subsequent American self-understanding. (Johnson’s principal change, in Goodwin’s telling, is limited to the Civil Rights Acts and does not extend to the Great Society, which had mixed results.) Turbulence marks the current era. What kind of leadership will emerge? Goodwin argues that a knowledge of history ought to inform our response.
This book has broad appeal, particularly among Americans and particularly among societal leaders. It entertains. It educates. It ties contemporary discussions to historical events. It discusses themes which most Americans deal with in their everyday lives. How do we choose to conduct our lives? How can we treat our neighbors with dignity? How should we proceed with self-government? Citizens of democracies all face these common problems. Goodwin’s individual biographies of these leaders have won critical accolades like the Pulitzer Prize. This work summarizes this erudition in an acceptable and interesting series of case studies. Almost any reader can learn how to navigate the future better through this map of well-told history.
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an American form. She distills prior deep study of these presidents into an interwoven narrative that highlights how their personal narratives enabled them to meet the challenges of their times of leadership. In so doing, she leads us to understand how we can learn from and be formed by our life crises. Studying these events hopefully molds us readers to lead in our moments in our situations.Most educated American adults know something of these leaders’ presidential history. What Goodwin does most effectively is to correlate their behavior in office to their individual histories before taking office. Further, she charts how their times after office and their deaths reflected the style of leadership they displayed during their respective seminal crises. As such, she does not merely focus on how each dealt with the crisis at hand; rather, she extends it towards a study of individual character – and the reflected character of the American people.
Written during the era of Trump (in which the nature American leadership seems to be questioned), this book displays a historical critique of this new style of “leadership.” By tying her analysis to leaders of change in American history, she seems to tacitly argue that this new style is neither progressive nor definitively American. Each of these presidents were progressive in their time, yet the changes they wrought have become central to subsequent American self-understanding. (Johnson’s principal change, in Goodwin’s telling, is limited to the Civil Rights Acts and does not extend to the Great Society, which had mixed results.) Turbulence marks the current era. What kind of leadership will emerge? Goodwin argues that a knowledge of history ought to inform our response.
This book has broad appeal, particularly among Americans and particularly among societal leaders. It entertains. It educates. It ties contemporary discussions to historical events. It discusses themes which most Americans deal with in their everyday lives. How do we choose to conduct our lives? How can we treat our neighbors with dignity? How should we proceed with self-government? Citizens of democracies all face these common problems. Goodwin’s individual biographies of these leaders have won critical accolades like the Pulitzer Prize. This work summarizes this erudition in an acceptable and interesting series of case studies. Almost any reader can learn how to navigate the future better through this map of well-told history.
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LibraryThing member rayski
Goodwin looks at critical times in the Lincoln, Teddy & Franklin Roosevelt and LBJ presidencies. She builds a little history into what made each man - the road each traveled to the presidency and how those roads built their character and decision making. She then looks at the critical moment in
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each's reign and finally their final days on earth as each wrestled with the decisions made. It was a very interesting book, very well written. It left me hungry for more of each man than the small chapters of their presidency covered by this book, but a complete presidential biography was not the purpose of the book but rather how difficult times challenged them and how they rose above it to lead a nation through its ills. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecataldi
This is a book that made me slow down and savor what I was reading, which is a change of pace from the fluff that I've read most of this year. Leadership in Turbulent times is a historical fiction/leadership book that recounts how four different presidents handled adversity and hardship. Abraham
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Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson became presidents at trying times. The Great Depression, The Civil War, Civil Rights, and the industrial revolution. Doris Kearns Goodwin does a remarkable job relating the character and leadership styles of each president from childhood through early politics and all the way through the White House. None of these men were saints and most suffered many setbacks and failures, but learning how they overcame those as well as their successes is what makes this book great. Utterly fascinating and compelling. Leadership has many styles and reading the profiles on these four leaders is a feast for the heart and mind. Show Less
Awards
NPR: Books We Love (2018)
Pages
496
ISBN
1476795924 / 9781476795928
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