American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White HouseAmerican Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
Score Modern
What it's about
Jon Meacham tells the story of Andrew Jackson's years in the White House from 1829 to 1837, through Jackson and the circle of family and friends around him. He covers the scandal over a cabinet member's wife that split the government, Jackson's war against the national bank, his stand against South Carolina's threat to leave the Union, and the forced removal of Native Americans that remains his darkest legacy.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize for biography. It's an intimate, vivid portrait of one of the most powerful and divisive presidents.
You'll love it if you liked
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
American Sphinx
The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin FranklinGood to know
It focuses on the presidency, not his whole life. Some critics feel it treats Indian removal too lightly.
By the numbers
- Readers18 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller47 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #35 of the 44 politics books we rank
- #216 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #921 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1708 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize for biography. It ranks #1,708 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House about?
Jon Meacham tells the story of Andrew Jackson's years in the White House from 1829 to 1837, through Jackson and the circle of family and friends around him. He covers the scandal over a cabinet member's wife that split the government, Jackson's war against the national bank, his stand against South Carolina's threat to leave the Union, and the forced removal of Native Americans that remains his darkest legacy.
How long does it take to read American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House?
About 14 hours (546 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House won?
Pulitzer Prize (Biography) winner (2009).
What should I read after American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House?
If you liked it, try Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, American Sphinx by Joseph J. Ellis or The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands.