First published 2024
David Rubenstein examines the American presidency through direct conversations with those who have held the office and the scholars who study them. Drawing on his Carter administration experience, he conducts original interviews with living presidents including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. He pairs these presidential perspectives with insights from historians like Jon Meacham, Ron Chernow, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Candice Millard. Rubenstein weaves together history and personal anecdotes to trace how presidents have shaped modern America and their visions for its future. The book includes an original poll ranking the best and worst presidents. Through these dialogues, Rubenstein reveals the political complexities of presidential leadership and captures the wisdom that emerges from holding the nation's highest office.
Genres: biography, history, american, political-science, presidents, non-fiction, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: dialogues, interviews, original-research
Period: 21st-Century
496 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster