Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America

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Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America
by Walter R. Borneman
from Random House

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Enjoyable
  This book was easy and enjoyable to read. Before I read this, I knew little about Polk or his times, and I came out knowing a lot about the times and quite a bit about Polk. My only concern is that most of the book focuses on Polk's foreign affairs, the independent treasury and lowering tarriffs are only briefly mentioned. Also, I find that very little information is given on the man himself, the book completely glosses over his years as governor, his years in the House and his years as the Speaker of the... more info

• Best Polk Bio but missing some personality
  If you want to read about great or near-great US presidents, you of course should include James Polk on your list, especially since he is the least-known of the group. Polk served just one term - he said he would only serve one term and he never changed his mind - but that one term was packed with an agenda. He nearly doubled the size of the United States. If it hadn't been for Polk, the Pacific Northwest might today be a part of Canada and California might still be a part of Mexico. He was, compared to... more info

• Obscurity and Greatness
  James K Polk was barely a generation removed from our Founding Fathers when it is taken into account that he was mentored by Andrew Jackson and had John Quincy Adams in the House of Representatives during his Presidency.
  When one considers that Abraham Lincoln also served in the House during his Presidency, and Ulysses S. Grant served in his army, the shadow that Polk cast over 19th century politics becomes huge.
  Conventional wisdom has been that between Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, there... more info

• Polk: The Man Who Transformed Presidency and America
  This book was well-written and easy to read. The subject was engrossing, so it was hard to put down. He did this all without demonstrating political prejudice, too. I will read it again.

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