Andrew Jackson was quite a character for a man on his time. Rank definitely for the common man in opposing the monied people and the aristocractic attitudes of those with wealth and breaking up of the Second Bank that thought they are above the government. They could use someone of that calibur today in fighting for the common people and breaking up monopolies and big businesses and those with wealth who are walking over the lowly born and treating them as slaves in their enterprise. ( )

A short biography concentrating on Jackson's presidency but also giving good coverage of the War of 1812 and the Battle of New Orleans. The author is fair and even handed on Jackson's accomplishments and flaws. The American Presidents Series is a fine collection of these short biographies. ( )

A short, but informative and comprehensive biography of a very controversial but highly significant president. The book gives a fair and objective analysis, detailing the basis for Jackson’s beliefs and actions. As the author makes clear, love him or hate him, unquestionably Jackson was a towering figure.

I would have given the work a higher rating except that, in my opinion, too much emphasis was placed on Jackson’s politics and the context surrounding his politics, and not enough on Jackson’s life and exploits before the presidency. ( )

This volume is a short, quick read that provides what seems to be a good overview of the current (as of 2005) scholarly views on Jackson's life and legacy. I don't know how balanced it is though. The author seems to be rather fond of his subject, and yet struggles with the need to find positive things about him, and frequently resorts to saying that the President must be judged by the standard of his times, and he meant well in ways that don't just make sense to us today even if his actions caused huge problems later... That said, there are plenty of direct quotes from relevant souces and balanced context setting. The volume does a good job of presenting the basic contours of Jackson's life story, what he said about his own actions, and objectives.

I picked up this volume in order to learn more about the President after deciding I needed to learn more specifically about him and his presidency (all in the context of the arguments about his role following the announced changed in art on the US $20 bill). After reading this volume, I feel like I have a better understanding of the man than I had from the broader historical surveys I've read about this period. I also believe I have a better sense of what his current apologists are tyring to get at by stressing his importance.

NOTE: Borrowed from the Anne Arundel County Library

(2016 Review #9)

Being a short, moderately analytical biography of Old Hickory, emphasizing, as the series title might suggest, his presidency. Wilentz's opening chapter is a brilliant exposition of the approach-avoidance problems the politically-minded of our own day have with the Jackson legacy, be they conservatives or liberals. I wish that there had been more such musings; it's always a little sad when the best stuff in your book is in the first ten pages. Wilentz is a talented enough writer to make such snoozes as the kerfluffle over the Second Bank halfway interesting, so the narrative portions of the book are readable enough, but this is one book which could have used a lot more authorial voice. ( )