Presidents’ Day Book Recommendations

Happy Presidents’ Day weekend! If you’ve got Monday off, I hope you’ll have some time to dive into a good book! While this holiday has become very commercialized with mattress sales and Amazon warehouse discounts, it actually started as a celebration of George Washington, America’s first president. Washington’s was born on February 22, 1732, and a federal holiday was established on that day to honor all US Presidents in 1879. In 1968, the holiday was moved to the 3rd Monday of February, giving employees a 3-day weekend!

I’ve been on a bit of a mission to read biographies of historical figures for the past few months. I started with George Washinton, but I’ve been expanding to other presidents. If you’re looking to read more about our Presidents this weekend, below is a list of biographies I would recommend for our Founding Fathers:

You Never Forget Your First by Alexis Coe – One of the first comprehensive biographies of George Washington written by a female author, this book brings humor and lightness to our first president’s life. Detailing his upbringing by a single mother to his unlikely status as a war hero.

Washington’s Immortals by Patrick K. O’Donnell – two of the things that have always astonished me about the Revolution are the way the colonists deployed guerilla warfare and the use of spies on both sides. This book tells the story of these spies and how they changed the course of history.

The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer – I don’t know if I ever learned about attempts on Washington’s life while I was in school. Meltzer details the multiple attempts on Washington’s life in this book. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars when I read it last year.

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade – The Marine Corps hymn includes the lyrics “From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli, we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea” – but do you know why Tripoli is included? Jefferson deployed a blockade around the city to help quell pirates who were capturing American merchant ships, enslaving the sailors, and selling the cargo for loot. This book by the Fox News star details that battle and the fight for national security and protection of our citizens.

John Adams Under Fire by Dan Abrams – Before the men took office, many of our Presidents were lawyers. For the founding fathers, that meant they held court in the colonies under British rule and early American civilities. John Adams was no different, acting as the lawyer for the British soldiers accused of murder in the Boston Massacre.

James Madison by Lynne Cheney – James Madison was one of the most influential men in the early formation of our country. He helped to form the US Constitution, made the largest land purchase in US history, and led the country in the first war as a new government. Written by the wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney, this comprehensive biography of Madison will provide a new look at the man.

The Last Founding Father by Harlow Giles Unger – this one is next up on my list of reads. It was during James Monroe’s time in office that America became a superpower in the world. This biography follows both Monroe and the country as they grew and developed into powerful entities.

Do you have a favorite presidential biography? I’d love your suggestions! Drop them in the comments!