Wilson

De: A. Scott Berg

Narrado por: Jeremy Bobb

In the tradition of Truman, John Adams, and Team of Rivals, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning biographer of Charles Lindbergh, Maxwell Perkins, and Samuel Goldwyn sheds new light on a president and his presidency in a way that redefines our understanding of a tide-turning historical moment.

A hundred years after his inauguration, Woodrow Wilson still stands as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, and one of the most enigmatic. And now, after more than a decade of research and writing, Pulitzer Prize-winning author A. Scott Berg has completed Wilson - the most personal and penetrating biography ever written about the 28th President.

In addition to the hundreds of thousands of documents in the Wilson Archives, Berg was the first biographer to gain access to two recently discovered caches of papers belonging to those close to Wilson. From this material, Berg was able to add countless details - even several unknown events - that fill in missing pieces of Wilson's character and cast new light on his entire life.

From the scholar-President who ushered the country through its first great world war to the man of intense passion and turbulence, from the idealist determined to make the world "safe for democracy" to the stroke-crippled leader whose incapacity and the subterfuges around it were among the century's greatest secrets, the result is an intimate portrait written with a particularly contemporary point of view - a book at once magisterial and deeply emotional about the whole of Wilson's life, accomplishments, and failings. This is not just Wilson the icon - but Wilson the man.

©2013 A. Scott Berg (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Very Good

This is a great book, written from a very honest and objective perspective, lacking severe politics. The way history should be remembered.

Good not great

Woodrow Wilson is an interesting character in an American history. In many ways he led to many of the socialist agendas being perpetuated on America today. Although that is not emphasized in this book. Neither is his racist upbringing or continued thought into his presidency. Even his Christian faith is not discussed in depth. Overall I found this biography to be filled with inconsequential facts it did not take a deep look into the most interesting parts of Wilson‘s life and legacy.

A remarkable biography about a remarkable man

The splendid prose by the author does justice to the life and accomplishments of Woodrow Wilson. A true visionary.

A complex man

The last few years I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about World War I. Woodrow Wilson was the President during WWI therefore I have read several biographies on Wilson. In 2012 I read “Woodrow Wilson: A Biography” by John Milton Cooper which I enjoyed. Due to all my reading of Wilson I might have been demanding more from Berg’s biography of Wilson than he could deliver. Berg successfully demonstrates Wilson in all his complexity. The book covered in-depth Wilson’s youth, education process, his early career and his turning toward academe. The book describes his ascent form academia to president. Berg also noted that when he was young Wilson practiced his signature over and over because he felt that someday he would be writing it on important documents. His early goal was to be a statesman and he studied toward that goal. As President Wilson created the Federal Reserve Bank, progressive taxation and the State of the Union address. Berg downplayed Wilson’s faults for example he displayed a southern perspective of racial intolerance and he increased segregation in some government agencies. He also downplayed Wilson inability to forgive anyone he thought crossed him, his womanizing, and his behavior negotiating the Treaty of Versailles. His first Secretary of State was William Jennings Bryant who most people recognize from the Scope Trial and his railing against evolution. I did not care for the bible quotes at the beginning of each chapter. If this is a person’s first book on Wilson remember even thought the book is in-depth coverage in it not unbiased. Jeremy Bobb did a good job narrating the book.

Wonderful story of an amazing president

What did you love best about Wilson?

I learned so much about Wilson as a man and president. It was such a great story and helped frame that period of time in US history. It was well-written and edited (something I notice more when I listen to a book than when I read one).

Have you listened to any of Jeremy Bobb’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first book narrated by Bobb.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Wilson--Man and President

Wilson

It is well written but has a clear pro Wilson stance that causes it to gloss over the negative aspects of his career. It mentions them but as briefly as is acceptable. Despite this it is a gripping telling with great detail.

Keep the interest most of the time

Would you consider the audio edition of Wilson to be better than the print version?

I did no read the book

What other book might you compare Wilson to and why?

Truman life. He is a fighter.

What about Jeremy Bobb’s performance did you like?

He keeps the rythm.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I do not see a film with this book. It is too intellectual (this is not a critic but a part of Wilson life). Theodore Roosevelt life for example could make a good film.

Any additional comments?

The reading is good and the character is well define. However some evangelical parts could be cut. We already understand he is from a religious family.

Helpful in understanding the liberal mind

I've been on a tour of presidential biographies enjoying them all and learning much. You won't learn about the policies of Wilson by this work other than they were liberal, progressive and assumed beneficial. But what most impressed me was how pivotal this period was in American history and the role Wilson played in turning the direction of the country. Love it or hate it, we reap the fruit of it still to this day.

A great listen and read!

A very fascinating man. Wilson was a brilliant but flawed man that did much to lead the US into is Era of global importance. I learned a lot and will listen again down the line.

I had no idea!

I found this book to be very inspiring. My perception of Wilson was uninformed, this detailed documentation of his life changed my mind. He certainly had his weaknesses, but the character of his life and the outpouring of support by the country at large is strong evidence that he was one of our greatest presidents.