For those of you who don't like their history in dry textbook form, this is definitely the book for you. Manifest Destiny follows the adventures of a young Theodore Roosevelt in the Dakota Badlands as seen through the eyes of the local inhabitants. Sometimes a geek, sometimes a genuis, but always tough, the future President is a far cry from the Rough Rider throughout most of this book. An immature, rather spoiled, sickly young Eastern dude matures into manhood after losing both his first wife and political battles. The book chronicles TR's Dakota Badlands trips and the differences the locals notice in him each trip. The book is written as novel (and compares favorably with L'Amour for you Western fans) and is an excellent read. I only hope someday this book will be reprinted; I'd love to upgrade my tattered paperback copy. Until then, however, I'll treasure my paperback.

I cannot be sure of the historical authenticity of this book, but that is due to my own ignorance, rather than any question of its validity. It is an excellent read and it shows some insight into Temujin's personality (he is strikingly similar to Yoshikawa's Musashi, e.g. the mountain climbing, desire to be the best, etc). This book also goes beyond the history centered around him and into the Golden Horde and post-Temujin Mongols. Overall, it gives some much needed attention to an ethnic group that is oftne ridiculed in today's world. People often forget that the Mongols held more land under their sway than any other civilization at any time in the world.

The Naval War of 1812 is the best book I have read on the war. Even though it was written back in the 1880's it is a very easy read and very informitive. It very clearly discribes the state of the Navy and the battles that it fought with England. It is a must read for anyone that enjoys naval or military history.

No, the illustrations are not gorgeous, but my five-year old and I adored the witty, engaging text. He had already heard of Teddy Roosevelt from watching "Arsenic and Old Lace" ("Chaaarge!") but even if he hadn't, I'm sure he would have enjoyed the book just the same. I wish more history books for young readers were presented in the form of personal narrative. It really helps to convey to children a sense of immediacy about history that standard third-person accounts lack.

I have an original copy of this classic. Not a photo-copy. NOT much else of Americana as spectacular.

H. Paul Jeffers' Roosevelt The Explorer: Teddy Roosevelt's Amazing Adventures As A Naturalist, Conservationist, And Explorer is an outstanding biography of American President Teddy Roosevelt and one which focuses specifically upon his work in the areas of conservation and exploring. Dwelling on Roosevelt's enthusiastic appreciation of nature, and his struggles as President against tough opposition in order to create a system of national parks and to protect America's forests and wetlands from the depredation of development, Roosevelt The Explorer is a thoughtful, environment-oriented, biographical study of a truly great American leader, family man, outdoor enthusiast, and human being.

This book is such an inspirational book for children, with gorgeous illustrations and a story to match. I bought this book recently for my grandchildren as it was recommended to me by a friend. It is ideal for children of all ages and I highly recommend it.

Alexander has taken a segment of Theodore Roosevelt's life and done wonders with it. As a police commissioner of New York City, Roosevelt was a mover and shaker and not too popular in some quarters of city government. The author takes this period of TR's life and builds a great tale of 19th century crime.

In the first chapter you get a good taste of what it was like to be a child in TR's household as TR is having an interview with his son's teacher. The latter is trying to explain that it might help TR's son if dad was a little less invovled with the details of his homework assignment. TR's "you're taking all the fun out of it" sums up his eternal quest to be a boy again. This seems to sum up TR quite nicely - the adult striving to recapture the best moments of his youth. Maybe this applies to all of us?

You also meet the towering figures in the construction of early US submarines, John Holland and Simon Lake. Lake's submarine is stolen so we see a bit of industrial espionage 19th century style as well as plain old fashion murder.

You will meet various and sundry of the extended Roosevelt family of several generations. Franklin D. makes and appearence.

This is a good detective novel to sit down with. It flows well and informs as well as entertains, but you don't really catch on to the history lessons being delivered. I came to this book more with an interest in TR than in the detective mystery, but I think the author does a fine job of inserting TR into a mystery and doing it well. I highly recommend this book to any mystery buff, without reservation.

The Teddy Bear Men: Theodore Roosevelt and Clifford Berryman by Linda Mullins is a great book that I found hard to put down before reading every word and experiencing every picture. I find my joy and enthusiasm for this book overflowing into my conversations and e-mails.

The book delightfully combines teddy bears, political cartoons, and history in pictures and words. Although the intent of author Linda Mullins in writing this book was not to write a biography of either Theodore Roosevelt or Clifford Berryman, there is enough biography information included to bring their personalities and character to life and give perspective to the book. Clifford Berryman is described as "one of the most thoughtful and constructive political philosophers of his day". Berryman possessed the unusual ability to achieve "satire that never left a scar" in his political cartoons. He is best know for his political cartoons of President Teddy Roosevelt with his trade mark teddy bear in them.

President Theodore Roosevelt is described as " a boy who grew up to be the man of his dreams". The association of teddy bears and big game hunting with Theodore Roosevelt is well know. The author traces the development of Clifford Berryman's cartoon signature, the Berryman/Roosevelt Bear, and discusses the public love and acceptance of this delightful little bear and the fascinating association of teddy bears with the lives of both of these great men.

The copies of Berryman's cartoons richly enhance the experience of the book as do the teddy bear illustrations. The Teddy Bear Man: Theodore Roosevelt and Clifford Berryman by Linda Mullins is a "must have" addition to the collection of any collector of political cartoons or teddy bear lover.

Researching students will find the book a good resource for human interest to include in term papers on either Roosevelt or Berryman and related subjects.

The authors reexamine the "Hero of San Juan Hill" to find that the heroic legend was manufactured, partly by Roosevelt himself, partly by the powerful newspaper correspondents he courted, and, perhaps surprisingly, supported by the Rough Riders themselves. That Roosevelt didn't mind risking their lives in his political ambition didn't seem to bother them overmuch - they were, after all, alive and victorious, and shared the prevailing military ethos of those innocent pre-Passchendaele days, when "glory" was counted as a real and achievable goal.
The story is well told here in this well-researched and readable work, with admirable maps by Texas A&M's own Cartographic Unit. Highly recommended for the general reader of military history and Roosevelt fans, as well as others who would like to see the birth of "spin".

The "score" rating is an unwelcome feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.