Sean Wilentz

This book is long and detailed, a bit of a slog at the beginning, but I stuck with it, and felt rewarded for it. In some ways the book is old-fashioned history in its broad narrative sweep and its resuscitation of the hero-approach, as the subtitle implies. Along with role played by Jefferson and Lincoln, but not quite on their level because of his own personal flaws and the irreconcilable contradictions in his political movement, is the treatment devoted to Jackson. But the real hero of the book is democracy itself, in Wilentz's recounting something never fully achieved and constantly under threat from elitist impulses, or simply from the desire to distort the system for the benefit of a few.
The broad disparity of ratings in the reviews posted so far is a fair reflection of the fact that this book is not for everyone. If you are looking for a first orientation on US political history in the first half of the nineteenth century, you would be better served by a shorter treatment. In my case, I was basically up to speed on the broad outlines of the period, but was hazy on the details of the various sectional crises, and never understood the fuss Jackson made over a national bank. I was fascinated by the author's attention to state and local political developments. They were not only affected by national trends but also shaped them in turn.
My three-star rating is not a reflection on the quality of the book; those with an interest in the subject will find it excellent.… (mere)

I expected this book to focus specifically on President Reagan and the modern conservative movement, however it's broader than that. Wilentz examines the impacts and legacy of the Presidents from Nixon through G.W. Bush. The author has attempted an element of fairness, praising the good and condemning the bad in each of the past administrations. Of course, since this is a political topic, people with strong party feelings from either side of the aisle will find fault with the authors criticism of their favorite president or party. Political books bring out strong emotions in people, the only book judged to be 'fair' would probably only be a book you write yourself. That said, I thought the author provided a decent summary of our recent political history.… (mere)