An American Adventure into the Strange Deaths and Surprising Afterlives of Our Nation's Leaders
February 15, 2016
Inspired by a lifelong fascination with America's chief executives, Carlson, a reporter and NPR host, adopts a novel perspective on American history by exploring the ways in which past presidents have been remembered and memorialized. Blending political biography and road tours of memorials and monuments across the nation, he digs into the stories beneath each grave and behind every tomb. A lover of details regardless of how grotesque or quirky, Carlson leads a field trip to the resting places of both distinguished and obscure presidents, and gives some interesting death factoids along the way, including that Zachary Taylor's rumored last meal was cherries and buttermilk, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4th 1826, Ulysses S. Grant died of cancer before finishing his memoir, and attending doctors mistakenly killed James Garfield by sticking their fingers in his gunshot wounds. Carlson visits Mt. Rushmore, Grant's Tomb, Arlington National Cemetary, the joke-telling L.B.J. robot at the Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Tex., and Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY.âthe final resting place of Millard Fillmore as well as singer Rick James. Carlson's book entertains and enlightens, and reminds readers that presidents are also human beings. Photos.
June 1, 2016
Carlson, a New Hampshire public radio host, provides listeners with an unusual take on the story of the American presidents. In this humorous audiobook, he examines the lives after they left office of 40 of the 44 men who held the post, the circumstances of their deaths, and the gravesites, memorials, and libraries constructed to honor them. Some of the stories are tragic, such as the eight leaders who died in office through assassination or illness. Others, such as Millard Fillmore, William Howard Taft, and Herbert Hoover, show that a difficult presidency is only one chapter of an otherwise productive life. Carlson also provides a brief account of the lives of the descendants of the presidents. He closes the work with the story of Mt. Rushmore. Reader Tom Zingarelli presents the story in a light and funny manner. VERDICT This entertaining audiobook is recommended to listeners with an interest in American history. ["Readers who enjoyed Sarah Vowell's Assassination Vacation will enjoy Carlson's similar book": LJ 11/15/15 review of the Norton hc.]--Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Parkersburg Lib.
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 25, 2016
Inspired by a lifelong fascination with America’s chief executives, Carlson, a reporter and NPR host, adopts a novel perspective on American history by exploring the ways in which past presidents have been remembered and memorialized. It’s hard to imagine a better narrator for this audio book. Zingarelli’s deep and gravelly voice naturally contains the right amount of gravitas for the subject, especially during the more somber moments when the author visits the tombstones of the deceased American leaders. Zingarelli just as aptly captures the humor and curiosity that arises from quirky and morbid approach to American history. He uses a fittingly regal voice for the quotes and passages from the presidents themselves. With good pacing and emphasis, and a congenial tone, he keeps listeners’ interest long enough for readers to discover the fascinating ways that Carlson connects the different presidential deaths. A Norton hardcover.