Coolidge

By: Amity Shlaes

Narrated by: Terence Aselford

Amity Shlaes, author of The Forgotten Man, delivers a brilliant and provocative reexamination of America’s thirtieth president, Calvin Coolidge, and the decade of unparalleled growth that the nation enjoyed under his leadership. In this riveting biography, Shlaes traces Coolidge’s improbable rise from a tiny town in New England to a youth so unpopular he was shut out of college fraternities at Amherst College up through Massachusetts politics. After a divisive period of government excess and corruption, Coolidge restored national trust in Washington and achieved what few other peacetime presidents have: He left office with a federal budget smaller than the one he inherited. A man of calm discipline, he lived by example, renting half of a two-family house for his entire political career rather than compromise his political work by taking on debt. Renowned as a throwback, Coolidge was in fact strikingly modern—an advocate of women’s suffrage and a radio pioneer. At once a revision of man and economics, Coolidge gestures to the country we once were and reminds us of qualities we had forgotten and can use today.

Easter Egg?

Has anyone else noticed that in Chapter 6 with an Hour and 50 minutes left in the chapter, that there is a reference to the "Cameras of Fox News" rolling? Was this a joke played by the Narrator?

Interesting listen about a President I knew little about

An interesting biography! Lots of discussion of finances, and lots of cool historical tidbits! The last two chapters are acknowledgments and sources!

Overall it was great, but one detail was missing.

Why was Coolidge's sleeping 11 Hours a day after his son's death not mentioned? Some historians said that he was not an engaged President after that tragedy.

Cool, cool cool cool....idge

Awesome biography of an under appreciated president. The author has written an exhaustive and intimate volume that depicts a discipline, strong, and relatable President that guided the United States through a time of scandal that shook it to its core and an unprecedented time of economic success. This is a must for any American History buffs.

Great Presidential Biography

This book seems to bridge the gap between non fiction biography and a narrative. It's full of facts about a Great Man and President, but it feels like you're getting to know the person. highly recommend