Reviews
"A.J. Baime is a master. His reporting and storytelling are woven to hypnotic effect. Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like pulling up a chair to Truman's White House desk where we sit engrossed as world events unfold in the most intimate manner, titanic in scale. Baime brings us as close as we are likely to get to this completely surprising, quirky, wily, and transformational president. This is history and humanity in lush, vivid color." -- Doug Stanton, New York Times bestselling author of The Odyssey of Echo Company "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, NYT bestselling author of Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and O pening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season "People sometimes ask me if I've ever considered running for office. My answer is usually, "Sober? No." All it would take is to recall what my grandfather went through in the first four months of his presidency. No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, "It's hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth." --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman's grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo "A fast-paced, well-detailed chronology of Truman's transformation from an official with little administrative responsibility into a politically astute and ultimately beloved leader . . . A warmly human portrait of an unlikely president." - Kirkus Reviews, "A.J. Baime is a master. His reporting and storytelling are woven to hypnotic effect. Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like pulling up a chair to Truman's White House desk where we sit engrossed as world events unfold in the most intimate manner, titanic in scale. Baime brings us as close as we are likely to get to this completely surprising, quirky, wily, and transformational president. This is history and humanity in lush, vivid color." --Doug Stanton, author of The Odyssey of Echo Company and Horse Soldiers "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo "No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, 'It's hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth.'" --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman's grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry Truman "An entertaining new history of Truman's first months in office...filled with events that are strikingly proportionate to what the Trump administration has weathered since January." --John Batchelor, The Daily Beast "A fast-paced, well-detailed chronology of Truman's transformation from an official with little administrative responsibility into a politically astute and ultimately beloved leader.... A warmly human portrait of an unlikely president." --Kirkus Reviews "An attractive tale for fans of both presidential and WWII history. . . Baime opens a clear . . . window on a pivotal moment in history." --Publishers Weekly, "A.J. Baime is a master. His reporting and storytelling are woven to hypnotic effect. Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like pulling up a chair to Truman's White House desk where we sit engrossed as world events unfold in the most intimate manner, titanic in scale. Baime brings us as close as we are likely to get to this completely surprising, quirky, wily, and transformational president. This is history and humanity in lush, vivid color." --Doug Stanton, author of The Odyssey of Echo Company and Horse Soldiers "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo "No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, 'It's hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth.'" --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman's grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry Truman "An entertaining new history of Truman's first months in office...filled with events that are strikingly proportionate to what the Trump administration has weathered since January." --John Batchelor, The Daily Beast "A fast-paced, well-detailed chronology of Truman's transformation from an official with little administrative responsibility into a politically astute and ultimately beloved leader.... A warmly human portrait of an unlikely president." --Kirkus Reviews "By relying mostly on primary sources, Baime allows for a better perspective of Truman, in which his political decisions are equally as significant as the correspondence with his beloved wife, daughter, and mother. He also adeptly manages to include nuanced U.S.-Russia relations and East Asian diplomacy." -- Library Journal (starred review) "An attractive tale for fans of both presidential and WWII history. . . Baime opens a clear . . . window on a pivotal moment in history." --Publishers Weekly, "The story of Truman''s accession to the presidency is worthy of a Hollywood melodrama, and A.J. Baime''s zippy, well-judged and hugely readable book more than does it justice . . . although there are plenty of good biographies of Truman, few are as entertaining as Baime''s." --Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times "A.J. Baime is a master. His reporting and storytelling are woven to hypnotic effect. Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like pulling up a chair to Truman''s White House desk where we sit engrossed as world events unfold in the most intimate manner, titanic in scale. Baime brings us as close as we are likely to get to this completely surprising, quirky, wily, and transformational president. This is history and humanity in lush, vivid color." --Doug Stanton, author of The Odyssey of Echo Company and Horse Soldiers "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime''s biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo "No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, ''It''s hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth.''" --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman''s grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry Truman "An entertaining new history of Truman''s first months in office...filled with events that are strikingly proportionate to what the Trump administration has weathered since January." --John Batchelor, The Daily Beast "A fast-paced, well-detailed chronology of Truman''s transformation from an official with little administrative responsibility into a politically astute and ultimately beloved leader.... A warmly human portrait of an unlikely president." -- Kirkus Reviews "By relying mostly on primary sources, Baime allows for a better perspective of Truman, in which his political decisions are equally as significant as the correspondence with his beloved wife, daughter, and mother. He also adeptly manages to include nuanced U.S.-Russia relations and East Asian diplomacy." -- Library Journal (starred review) "An attractive tale for fans of both presidential and WWII history. . . Baime opens a clear . . . window on a pivotal moment in history." -- Publishers Weekly "Baime is a master story-teller who appears to have invented a time machine. His carefully crafted narrative transports the reader back in time... Each sentence is carefully constructed and colorfully packed with details that makes Harry Truman and this period in history come alive. The Accidental President reads more like a captivating novel than non-fiction. The book is good history in that it simplifies events without being simple." -- PresidentialHistory.com, "A.J. Baime is a master. His reporting and storytelling are woven to hypnotic effect. Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like pulling up a chair to Truman's White House desk where we sit engrossed as world events unfold in the most intimate manner, titanic in scale. Baime brings us as close as we are likely to get to this completely surprising, quirky, wily, and transformational president. This is history and humanity in lush, vivid color." -- Doug Stanton, New York Times bestselling author of The Odyssey of Echo Company "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, NYT bestselling author of Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and O pening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season "People sometimes ask me if I've ever considered running for office. My answer is usually, "Sober? No." All it would take is to recall what my grandfather went through in the first four months of his presidency. No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, "It's hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth." --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman's grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo, "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo , "A.J. Baime is a master. His reporting and storytelling are woven to hypnotic effect. Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like pulling up a chair to Truman's White House desk where we sit engrossed as world events unfold in the most intimate manner, titanic in scale. Baime brings us as close as we are likely to get to this completely surprising, quirky, wily, and transformational president. This is history and humanity in lush, vivid color." --Doug Stanton, author of The Odyssey of Echo Company and Horse Soldiers "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo "No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, 'It's hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth.'" --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman's grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry Truman "An entertaining new history of Truman's first months in office...filled with events that are strikingly proportionate to what the Trump administration has weathered since January." --John Batchelor, The Daily Beast "A fast-paced, well-detailed chronology of Truman's transformation from an official with little administrative responsibility into a politically astute and ultimately beloved leader.... A warmly human portrait of an unlikely president." --Kirkus Reviews "By relying mostly on primary sources, Baime allows for a better perspective of Truman, in which his political decisions are equally as significant as the correspondence with his beloved wife, daughter, and mother. He also adeptly manages to include nuanced U.S.-Russia relations and East Asian diplomacy." -- Library Journal (starred review) "An attractive tale for fans of both presidential and WWII history. . . Baime opens a clear . . . window on a pivotal moment in history." --Publishers Weekly "Baime is a master story-teller who appears to have invented a time machine. His carefully crafted narrative transports the reader back in time... Each sentence is carefully constructed and colorfully packed with details that makes Harry Truman and this period in history come alive. The Accidental President reads more like a captivating novel than non-fiction. The book is good history in that it simplifies events without being simple." -- PresidentialHistory.com, "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, NYT bestselling author of Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig and O pening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season "People sometimes ask me if I've ever considered running for office. My answer is usually, "Sober? No." All it would take is to recall what my grandfather went through in the first four months of his presidency. No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, "It's hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth." --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman's grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo, "The story of Truman's accession to the presidency is worthy of a Hollywood melodrama, and A.J. Baime's zippy, well-judged and hugely readable book more than does it justice . . . although there are plenty of good biographies of Truman, few are as entertaining as Baime's." --Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times "A.J. Baime is a master. His reporting and storytelling are woven to hypnotic effect. Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like pulling up a chair to Truman's White House desk where we sit engrossed as world events unfold in the most intimate manner, titanic in scale. Baime brings us as close as we are likely to get to this completely surprising, quirky, wily, and transformational president. This is history and humanity in lush, vivid color." --Doug Stanton, author of The Odyssey of Echo Company and Horse Soldiers "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo "No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, 'It's hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth.'" --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman's grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry Truman "An entertaining new history of Truman's first months in office...filled with events that are strikingly proportionate to what the Trump administration has weathered since January." --John Batchelor, The Daily Beast "A fast-paced, well-detailed chronology of Truman's transformation from an official with little administrative responsibility into a politically astute and ultimately beloved leader.... A warmly human portrait of an unlikely president." -- Kirkus Reviews "By relying mostly on primary sources, Baime allows for a better perspective of Truman, in which his political decisions are equally as significant as the correspondence with his beloved wife, daughter, and mother. He also adeptly manages to include nuanced U.S.-Russia relations and East Asian diplomacy." -- Library Journal (starred review) "An attractive tale for fans of both presidential and WWII history. . . Baime opens a clear . . . window on a pivotal moment in history." -- Publishers Weekly "Baime is a master story-teller who appears to have invented a time machine. His carefully crafted narrative transports the reader back in time... Each sentence is carefully constructed and colorfully packed with details that makes Harry Truman and this period in history come alive. The Accidental President reads more like a captivating novel than non-fiction. The book is good history in that it simplifies events without being simple." -- PresidentialHistory.com, "A.J. Baime is a master. His reporting and storytelling are woven to hypnotic effect. Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like pulling up a chair to Truman's White House desk where we sit engrossed as world events unfold in the most intimate manner, titanic in scale. Baime brings us as close as we are likely to get to this completely surprising, quirky, wily, and transformational president. This is history and humanity in lush, vivid color." --Doug Stanton, author of The Odyssey of Echo Company and Horse Soldiers "A.J. Baime is a master storyteller, and The Accidental President contains everything a reader could ever want from a work of history: characters that jump off the page, tension that makes your pulse pound, and smooth, smart writing that makes you think. Amazing!" --Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man "Intimate and absorbing, A.J. Baime's biography uses new sources to paint Harry Truman as a complex and thoroughly American figure. A sharply-drawn portrait of an era as well as a man." -Stephan Talty, author of The Black Hand and Agent Garbo "No president in history - particularly one who came in without having been briefed by his predecessor - has faced such monumental decisions. A.J. Baime has put a spotlight on those four months, recounting them faithfully and with heart, so that you come away with not only a sense of history, but a sense of the man, Harry Truman, as well. As Grandpa himself said a few years later, 'It's hell to be President of the Greatest Most Powerful Nation on Earth.'" --Clifton Truman Daniel, Truman's grandson and author of Growing Up with My Grandfather: Memories of Harry Truman "An entertaining new history of Truman's first months in office...filled with events that are strikingly proportionate to what the Trump administration has weathered since January." --John Batchelor, The Daily Beast "A fast-paced, well-detailed chronology of Truman's transformation from an official with little administrative responsibility into a politically astute and ultimately beloved leader.... A warmly human portrait of an unlikely president." --Kirkus
