James Madison
by Gary Wills
I’ve read two books about President Madison, one that solely focused on his philosophy, and this one. James Madison is a true biography, from Madison’s upbringing, through his education, and his entire political career.
What’s really interesting about James Madison is his incredible influence on the country even before his presidency. Not only did he write the Federalist Papers, and he was one of the primary writers of the Constitution, but Garry Wills documents how much George Washington conferred with Madison during his two terms. Nowadays, presidents have a smaller window of opportunity during which to leave their mark, but President Madison had so many years to help shape this country. It’s really fascinating to read.
I enjoyed this book, but I haven’t made a study of several Madison biographies. If you find another that you like, I’m sure it will cover the same information, but if you’re looking for a relatively short book introducing the political figure, this is a good one.
What’s really interesting about James Madison is his incredible influence on the country even before his presidency. Not only did he write the Federalist Papers, and he was one of the primary writers of the Constitution, but Garry Wills documents how much George Washington conferred with Madison during his two terms. Nowadays, presidents have a smaller window of opportunity during which to leave their mark, but President Madison had so many years to help shape this country. It’s really fascinating to read.
I enjoyed this book, but I haven’t made a study of several Madison biographies. If you find another that you like, I’m sure it will cover the same information, but if you’re looking for a relatively short book introducing the political figure, this is a good one.