Worst. President. Ever.

James Buchanan, the POTUS Rating Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents

By: Robert Strauss

Narrated by: Tom Perkins

Worst. President. Ever. flips the great presidential biography on its head, offering an enlightening - and highly entertaining - account of poor James Buchanan's presidency to prove once and for all that, well, few leaders could have done worse.

But author Robert Strauss does much more, leading listeners out of Buchanan's terrible term in office - meddling in the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision, exacerbating the Panic of 1857, helping foment the John Brown uprisings and "Bloody Kansas", virtually inviting a half-dozen states to secede from the Union as a lame duck, and on and on - to explore with insight and humor his own obsession with presidents, and ultimately the entire notion of ranking our presidents. He guides us through the POTUS rating game of historians and others who have made their own Mount Rushmores - or Marianas Trenches - of presidential achievement, showing why Buchanan easily loses to any of the others, but also offering insights into presidential history buffs like himself, the forgotten "lesser" presidential sites, sex and the presidency, the presidency itself, and how and why it can often take the best measures out of even the most dedicated men.

©2016 Robert Strauss (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Strauss maintains a light tone, but doesn't sacrifice substance in offering solid historic detail and insights into American politics as the country careened toward civil war." ( Publishers Weekly)

Best Bio On the Worst President Ever

This was well done and I enjoyed the humor of the author. The narrator did a great job bringing it to life.

We have survived bad Presidents before

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. This book is full of interesting history that most people never learn.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I assume the author started this project long before the election of Donald Trump, but the title suggests the publisher, at least, recognized the commercial opportunity afforded by our controversial new Commander in Chief. Still, we don't need the constant drumbeat of "Worst. President. Ever." Also, perhaps it was a necessary writing device to underrate James K. Polk, who is less familiar to the average reader than the author's preferred bookends -- Jackson and Lincoln. But that is a significant weakness in the narrative because Polk was very successful in achieving his aims as President, and he recognized Buchanan as a shallow, climbing placeholder.

What about Tom Perkins’s performance did you like?

His delivery was listenable and did not interfere with enjoying the book. Too often, Audible's readers over-dramatize or "over-gravitize" (an invented term, perhaps, but there are Audible readers so proud of their voices that they forget the reason we're listening is NOT them.)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the author's discussion of the Presidential rating game, that marketing trick used by historians to win public recognition of their craft. But his analysis is a little too binary -- some good, others bad. Most have been a well-intentioned mix of success and failure.

weak on details

Overall it was okay, but I would have liked to have heard more history and less personal observations and stories.
#President #History #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Good despite the rambling

the book tended to ramble abouth other more interesting people in the same time frame as Buchanan.

One of the most entertaining biographies I’ve read.

This biography truly surprised me on how well it’s written. I’ve been going through all the presidents biographies in a row, yet I found this book to be possibly my favorite so far. The writer put a lot of heart into this book, with personal stories that where very relevant to Buchanan. Definitely recommend reading. I will be purchasing this book.

A Most Interesting Story

This is not just a hit piece on James Buchanan, it is far more. This is a biography combined with shrewd analysis and comparisons of many presidents, and a wealth of fascinating vignettes of 19th century America.
The tone of the book is that of a teacher who reluctantly, but necessarily has to fail a student at the end of a school year: 'He's a good kid, but he just kept screwing up until there was no saving his grade.'
The insights into what makes a president successful make this book one which read and studied.
I learned much and was challenged in my own life about leadership, and decision-making, and judging others.
Highly recommended!

Very engaging and informative

I picked this book wondering whether there was anything good to say about the 15th president. Strauss has written an entertaining book that explains Buchannan without apologizing for him. His personal asides enhanced the story.

Happy to have purchased.....

..... this audio book. The subject is a distant relative of whom I knew very little, despite his success in life. Really all you can know from anything other than a biography is that he's the worst president (though Obama, Bush and Trump are giving him a run for his money) and that he may have been gay. How sad that truth is not told more widely.

Thought provoking & Brisk

I'd become interested in President Buchanon after twice listening to A Country of Vast Designs, by Robert Merry, about the Polk presidency. Mr. Buchanon came off very badly as Secretary of State, and Worst. President. Ever offered many examples of Buchanon's self-serving shifty style.

Discovery

I knew very little concerning our 15th President so this is an eye opening experience. I learned how indecisive he was.