American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant by Ronald C. White
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Summary
In his time, Ulysses S. Grant was routinely grouped with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in the "Trinity of Great American Leaders." But the battlefield commander-turned-commander-in-chief fell out of favor in the twentieth century. In American Ulysses, Ronald C. White argues that we need to once more revise our estimates of him in the twenty-first.
Ronald White does a fantastic job of portraying Grant's life as a student, general, and president. It's no easy task to write about battles, but White manages to make every Civil War battle thrilling. Grant's story is quite tragic, as it appears his biggest aspiration was to become a university teacher. However, he ended up serving his country with great selflessness. Sadly, many individuals exploited his gentle demeanor. I'm eagerly anticipating Ron Chernow's upcoming biography on Grant to see how it compares to White's depiction.
I already had some knowledge about Grant's military career, albeit from other sources. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of depth I discovered in him. It was eye-opening to see his journey from being a soldier, General, President, and even an American ambassador, not to mention his unexpected foray into becoming an author. I must commend the narrator for doing a fantastic job as well. I've previously read another book by this author, "A. Lincoln," and it was also highly praised by me.
I've listened to quite a few history books on this service over the years, and I must say, this one is one of the most enjoyable ones I've come across in the past five years. The way the story is told is captivating, and the narrator is absolutely top-notch. If you're interested in learning more about a man whose reputation has taken a hit over time and is primarily known for his corrupt administration, then I highly recommend this book. It presents a whole new perspective on a truly remarkable American figure. You'll learn about how he offered generous terms to General Lee during their surrender at Appomattox, as well as how he used his presidency and influence to advance civil rights for both Native Americans and newly freed African-Americans after the Civil War.
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