Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for All the President’s Money:
Just the legally obtained kind.
Quick synopsis:
A look at how the U.S. presidents did (or did not) make and grow their money.
Fact for Non-History People:
Harry Truman was probably the poorest president when he took office.
Fact for History Nerds:
Donald Trump is the richest president, most likely followed by George Washington.
My Take on All the President’s Money:
I do appreciate books which can be laser-focused on a specific topic which is a bit off the beaten path. Megan Gorman walks this tightrope in All the Presidents’ Money. What do you need to know? Presidents worry about money just like us!
As a political cynic, my first thought when opening the book was, “Yes, let’s see how they stole all the money from us.” I kid (mostly!). However, Gorman does the yeoman’s work of skipping the politics and focusing on the people who are just trying to figure it out like the rest of us. I can personally attest that a solid financial decision is to attend a military academy like Grant, Eisenhower, and Carter (boo, Navy!). No student loans! Gorman does address the fact that college is not what it used to be and that is very much the case when discussing the financial aspects.
It’s this type of focus which makes this book different from many others. With the exception of slavery, which is clearly relevant when discussing finances, Gorman eschews politics even for recent presidents. In doing so, she humanizes these men by showing they ask themselves the same question we all do. How the hell do I make some money?
If you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on my 401k and get some solid financial anxiety in before bed.
(This book was provided as review copy by the author.)
Verdict:
Fun and fascinating. Buy it here!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.