[.ca] James Madison: A Biography (ISBN 0813912652)

Brilliant Book on a Brilliant Man:
This is an absolute gem of a read. In addition to being an excellent education on Madison, I felt as if I were traveling on a rich historical journey back in time. James Madison was a man of integrity and brilliance, and the chronicles in this literary treasure allow the reader to appreciate the greatness of this indespensable founding father. As President, his patient handling of the War of 1812 was commendable, despite difficulties and inept generals, and after the conclusion of the conflict, the nation was more unified than ever before. It was a solid reinforcement of the independence gained from the revolution. There was no question of a challenge from Britain again. There is no doubt in my mind that Madison is the most underrated President. And of course his exceptionally brilliant knowledge, skill and leadership during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 led to the ratification of the nation's cornerstone. Every person who values freedom owes a great debt to this man. America was an experiment in Democracy, and without James Madison it may not have been secured. This is more than a book, it is an experience.

Brilliant Book on a Brilliant Man:
This is an absolute gem of a read. In addition to being an excellent education on Madison, I felt as if I were traveling on a rich historical journey back in time. James Madison was a man of integrity and brilliance, and the chronicles in this literary treasure allow the reader to appreciate the greateness of this indespensable founding father. As President, his patient handling of the War of 1812 was commendable, despite difficulties and inept generals, and after the conclusion of the conflict, the nation was more unified than ever before. It was a solid reinforcement of the independence gained from the revolution. There was no question of a challenge from Britain again. There is no doubt in my mind that Madison is the most underrated President. And of course his exceptionally brilliant knowledge, skill and leadership during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 led to the ratification of the nation's cornerstone. Every person who values freedom owes a great debt to this man. America was an experiment in Democracy, and without James Madison it may not have been secured. This is more than a book, it is an experience.

Brilliant Book on a Brilliant Man:
This is an absolute gem of a read. In addition to being an excellent education on Madison, I felt as if I were traveling on a rich historical journey back in time. James Madison was a man of integrity and brilliance, and the chronicles in this literary treasure allow the reader to appreciate the greateness of this indespensable founding father. As President, his patient handling of the War of 1812 was commendable, despite difficulties and inept generals, and after the conclusion of the conflict, the nation was more unified than ever before. It was a solid reinforcement of the independence gained from the revolution. There was no question of a challenge from Britain again. There is no doubt in my mind that Madison is the most underrated President. And of course his exceptionally brilliant knowledge, skill and leadership during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 led to the ratification of the nation's cornerstone. Every person who values freedom owes a great debt to this man. America was an experiment in Democracy, and without James Madison it may not have been secured. This is more than a book, it is an experience.

Brilliant Book on a Brilliant Man:
This is an absolute gem of a read. In addition to being an excellent education on Madison, I felt as if I were traveling on a rich historical journey back in time. James Madison was a man of integrity and brilliance, and the chronicles in this literary treasure allow the reader to appreciate the greateness of this indespensable founding father. As President, his patient handling of the War of 1812 was commendable, despite difficulties and inept generals, and after the conclusion of the conflict, the nation was more unified than ever before. It was a solid reinforcement of the independence gained from the revolution. There was no question of a challenge from Britain again. There is no doubt in my mind that Madison is the most underrated President. And of course his exceptionally brilliant knowledge, skill and leadership during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 led to the ratification of the nation's cornerstone. Every person who values freedom owes a great debt to this man. America was an experiment in Democracy, and without James Madison it may not have been secured. This is more than a book, it is an experience.

A SERIOUS Biography of a Great Man!:
Reading this book is a bit of an undertaking. It took me several weeks to slog throught the first 2-300 pages. The book is absolutely comprehensive (at least relative to other single-volume biographies), maybe overly so in parts. For example, I thought the author went into way more detail than I needed on the contents of the Princeton University library while Madison was a student there. The first third of the book was pretty dry in my view, and I was already thinking about what other bio of Madison I could find. Once the discussion turned to the Revolutionary War period and especially the Constitutional Convention, however, the book really took off for me and thereafter was an absolute joy to read. I could not have enjoyed the last half to two-thirds of the book any more than I did. It was fascinating and went a great way toward renovating my impressions of Madison which were damaged somewhat after reading bios of Washington (Flexner) and Adams (McCullough), which were not all that comlimentary. I have to believe that this is THE definitive one-volume bio of Madison. I just wish it was still available in HB from someone other than the Easton Press. On to James Monroe (Ammon)!