“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”
History tells us that some men are born great, whilst others have greatness thrust upon them. In the case of the Harry S Truman, the 33rd President of America from 1945-1953, the latter part of this saying could hardly be more true. From his humble beginnings as a failed owner of a haberdashery business in Missouri, Truman’s ascent to the leader of the Free World was unremarkable and almost entirely accidental. Often seen as a steady stickler for details, he was only selected as Franklin D Roosevelt’s vice-President as a compromise. FDR’s sudden death, however, thrust the uninspiring Truman into a position that would have been unfathomable even for him just a few years prior.
Mild-mannered and believing in creating a White House driven by honour and duty, Truman’s reluctance to grab the spotlight seems out of place when compared to some of the giants of his time. And yet he steered the US and Western world through the dropping of the atomic bombs, the aftermath of WW2 and the opening chapters of the Cold War. Join us at What We Reading for the best Harry Truman books!
Truman – David McCullough
The Pulitzer Prize-winning biography from one of the US’ most acclaimed historians, David McCullough’s Truman is the ultimate sweep through the life of America’s 33rd President. From the dropping of the atomic bombs to the start of the Korean War, McCullough successfully captures the nuances and complexities of Truman’s life.
Utilising recently released archival material, the historian explains how this seemingly mild-mannered man was actually one of the most courageous and determined leaders the US has ever had.
Man Of The People – Alonzo L. Hamby
Alonzo Hamby’s Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman explores the personality behind the President. Remembered as the plain-speaking President, Hamby delves deeper past this assumption and how there was much more than met the eye with Harry Truman.
Insecure, a staunch loyalist and housing a grit many underestimated, Man of the People does an excellent job of mapping the rise of Truman and chronicles how significant events in his life impacted his outlook and political thinking.
The Accidental President – A.J. Baime
The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World is the dramatic tale of the rise of America’s 33rd President.
Author A.J. Baime illustrates how an unlikely small-time former farmer suddenly found himself taking on Germany, Japan, Stalin, the Manhatten Project and an uncertain fate hanging over the world. For a demonstration of how an ordinary, unremarkable individual found himself in the most powerful role on the planet, Baime’s work stands as one of the best Harry Truman books around!
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Where The Buck Stops – Harry Truman
Harry Truman famously had a ‘Where The Buck Stops’ sign on his desk in the Oval Office, summing up his attitude towards what the role of the President entailed. Edited by his daughter Margaret, Where the Buck Stops: The Personal and Private Writings of Harry S. Truman is the intimate peek behind the curtains at what the Truman presidency was all about.
In it, readers have the opportunity to hear from the man himself about the best and worst presidents, as well as his own experiences holding office. It is an eye-opening read and one that gives readers a valuable new perspective on Trumanism and American history as a whole.
A Life From Beginning To End – Hourly History
Hourly History are known for their historical biographies on US Presidents that are designed to be condensed enough to be read in a swift hour. In their 33rd edition, they take on the life and times of Harry Truman.
One of the best Truman books for understanding how an unremarkable life can suddenly lead to greatness, Hourly History do a stellar job of contrasting the President’s humble beginnings with the magnitude of the issues he tackled during his time in office. Concise and accessible, it is a valuable guide to America’s first post-WW2 leader.
1948 – David Pietrusza
The 1948 election will forever go down as one of, if not the, greatest upset in US presidential history.
The iconic image of Harry Truman gleefully holding aloft a Chicago Times newspaper proclaiming ‘Dewey Defeats Truman’ has gone down as the Missouri man’s most triumphant moment, and in 1948: Harry Truman’s Improbable Victory and the Year that Transformed America, author David Pietrusza explores how this shocking victory was achieved. Detailing the personalities and drama behind the election, it is an acclaimed look at how contemporary campaigning began.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
