Top reviews from the United States

• 

  Peaceableme

  5 out of 5 stars

  Accurate, logical, inspiring, and FUN!

  Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2014

  Format: Paperback

  Verified Purchase

  Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

  Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

  I have been interested over the years of Sam Houston biographers seeming to almost compete in their fervor to join the anti-Houston group think. It frustrated me because it was always at the expense of the facts (which were seldom cited) and with a great deal of subjectivity and supposition. In historical biographies, supposition is often required where facts are scant or non-existant.....but why was James L. Haley able to find the facts and not the other guys? It makes one think..... In an attempt at graciousness, lets just assume that all the facts available to Haley hadn't been found yet.

  This book debunks a great many "facts" that were rumored to me as a child growing up in Texas-by-Gawd. He was a drunk, a drug addict, a coward who happened into a victory due to Santa Anna's shallowness and arrogance. Santa Anna's shallowness and arrogance turn out to be true. Houston lucking into victory is not. In fact, as I read this biography I was completely amazed at Houston's ability to hold together his army and take them to victory DESPITE every effort made to stop him from doing so.

  Houston seems to be a polarizing figure to say the least. One does not attain such a prominant place at the table of history without doing so it seems. As all men and women, he was flawed with some pretty serious problems. One of my favorite aspects of this biography is how he lived his life in spite of his mistakes and flaws. What a character!

  I love this book for several reasons. First, it is factually written with citations throughout proving what was being written. Second, it uses the same facts to debunk (and often times hammer) the anti-Houston cliches as well as the unoriginal and inaccurate biographers that lazily furthered those fact-less cliches of old. Third, Haley is not afraid to point out (with similar citations) Houston's problems. All these aspects and more are brought into a well written account of an incredibly interesting man who was a big part of Texas history.

  The only down side that I could find as I read is that I was constantly wishing there were maps for me to refer to as Houston progressed throughout his life.....especially as he fought Santa Anna. I would have preferred more photos of those involved in his life, places he lived/worked, maps, etc.

  Overall, this is by far one of the best and most accurate biographies I've read in years. I am a book lover and often keep them for years so that I can pull them down and read them again. I love this biography so much that I can't wait to give it to someone else to read and learn from. This level of excitement is rare for me.

  Read moreRead less

  40 people found this helpful

  Helpful

  Sending feedback...

  Thank you for your feedback.

  Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

  Report

  Sending feedback...

  Thanks, we'll investigate in the next few days.

  Sorry, We failed to report this review. Please try again
• 

  Jerry E. Gorde

  5 out of 5 stars

  Haley brings Houston to life

  Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2013

  Format: Hardcover

  Verified Purchase

  Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

  Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

  Biography can be tricky - peering into not only the known history of the individual but also probing and speculating as to motive and reason. Haley did his homework. He makes studied sound speculations into some of Houston's deepest secrets. Houston is one of our most interesting Americans at a pivotal moment in our history. Following his exploits from an early age provides background and insight into the man. This helps put flesh onto later bones of his life which is admittedly one of the most colorful and perplexing. Protege of Andrew Jackson, he follows him into war, the Governorship of Tennessee and well beyond as a founder of Texas from its inception as the leader of its revolution against Mexico, to the Presidency of Texas as a nation and navigates the journey to Statehood. His bravery, principles, personal journey all combine under the skillful hand of Haley - a non-academic historian of significant talent to provide a lively page-turner. Along the way one gains a full understanding of both the man and his times - of Texas, the politics of slavery, manifest destiny and the emergence of America as Empire. SAM HOUSTON is a must read if one is serious about both understanding our nation and the rare and exceptional people who brought our nation into being.

  Read moreRead less

  5 people found this helpful

  Helpful

  Sending feedback...

  Thank you for your feedback.

  Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

  Report

  Sending feedback...

  Thanks, we'll investigate in the next few days.

  Sorry, We failed to report this review. Please try again
• 

  G. Elliot

  4 out of 5 stars

  Old history, but explains a lot

  Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2014

  Format: Paperback

  Verified Purchase

  Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

  Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

  Since I live in the city "they call Houston", and the state that owes its existence in a large part to Sam Houston, I was interested to read about him. This book did a good job of trying to bring out some of his distinguishing traits, such as being 6'4" at a time when not too many were that tall, having an excellent memory and being an avid reader of the Iliad, and being a drunk. (A lot of contemporary comment from those days indicates the whole country was nearly all alcoholic, though).

  Another item that amazes me is how much traveling around people like Sam Houston had to do back then, when not only were there no cars, there were few bridges or roads even. You slept out in the open quite often; a lot of people now having never done that, have no idea how that way of living affects your day-to-day existence. Try bushwacking through Texas countryside even today, particularly in the eastern part, to get a better appreciation for this. For one thing, Texas has a really hot climate.

  And of course with practically everyone of the ruling groups back in those days, the overriding racism and feeling of inherent superiority over any other culture. (Has that actually changed in the present?) One could see Houston was able to break through this to some degree, although remaining a slaveholder. His mentor (and the likely mastermind behind the whole US expansion) is another amazing character of the times, Andrew Jackson, another slaveholder. There was some explanation of their "special" relationship, but how sometimes it faltered. Undoubtedly the whole scheme of populating the area of Texas (supported by Jackson and others in the US government early on) with Anglos while it was still Spanish (and then Mexican) territory set up well the eventual pretext for intervention, both in the fight for Texan independence and later the Mexican-American war, which solidified the dreams of both Jefferson (another slaveholder) and Jackson to have a coast-to-coast nation. One is forced to ponder this with the current Ukrainian situation with Russia, where ethnic Russians are the majority in parts of Ukraine (but the history there goes back many more years).

  It's always interesting to consider that so many of the influential people from those days (including Houston, Jackson, and Polk.) came from Kentucky and Tennessee, as were so many of the Anglos that moved to Texas at the time.

  Finally, the book was no hagiography, but a well-done explanation of an interesting and complex character, far removed from the cardboard hero that's usually portrayed. Also well to remember he voted against secession in 1861, and was run out of office for doing so; he stood up for what he believed in to the last, which is explained in detail.

  Read moreRead less

  8 people found this helpful

  Helpful

  Sending feedback...

  Thank you for your feedback.

  Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

  Report

  Sending feedback...

  Thanks, we'll investigate in the next few days.

  Sorry, We failed to report this review. Please try again
• 

  Mimi Coffey

  5 out of 5 stars

  A Giant of a Man in Every Way

  Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2016

  Format: Paperback

  Verified Purchase

  Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

  Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

  Well researched read as a result of tremendous research by academician James Haley. The book is very throrough and yet captivating. Sam Houston is a hero of giant proportions. Physical strength: he willed himself alive when he was left for dead on the battlefield. Mental strength: he was so in tune with politics and people he predicted outcomes and actions (including Great Britain's behavior during the Civil War). Social strength: twice President of the Republic of Texas, Governor of Texas and U.S. Senator, many of his political adversaries were close personal friends. Family: was a dedicated husband to Margaret and extremely supportive father to their 8 children. Morals: overcame a drinking problem, was never a hypocrite, treated others how he wished to be treated included the Indians and his own slaves (freeing them before the law did at a time when slavery was the accepted way of life). No matter what negative consequences faced him, he always opted for the right thing to do even when that meant stepping down as Governor of Texas because he did not believe in secession. This giant of a man came close to becoming President of the United States and would have had he chose to actively campaign. A man of George Washington's caliber- one of the country's most elite for all time.

  Read moreRead less

  14 people found this helpful

  Helpful

  Sending feedback...

  Thank you for your feedback.

  Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

  Report

  Sending feedback...

  Thanks, we'll investigate in the next few days.

  Sorry, We failed to report this review. Please try again
• 

  Greg

  5 out of 5 stars

  The book is full of facts and information about Sam Houston

  Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024

  Format: Hardcover

  Verified Purchase

  Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

  Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

  I have only read about half of the book but it has so much information about Sam Houston that I feel as if I knew him.

  Read moreRead less

  Helpful

  Sending feedback...

  Thank you for your feedback.

  Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

  Report

  Sending feedback...

  Thanks, we'll investigate in the next few days.

  Sorry, We failed to report this review. Please try again
• 

  Patrick Leas

  5 out of 5 stars

  The author is great storyteller, I really like the episode where Sam ...

  Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2015

  Format: Hardcover

  Verified Purchase

  Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

  Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

  Absolutely enthralling ! I could not put the book down. Hollywood doesn't have enough imagination to create a story, that Sam Houston actually lived. It paints a vivid picture of the struggles and perils encountered in this country just trying to survive.. Inspite of all his own personal imperfections, addictions and demons, to accomplish what he did, while being true to his own moral compass is a lesson we could learn from. The author is great storyteller, I really like the episode where Sam Houston a US Army officer is escorting some Indian chiefs to Washington D.C. to meet with the President, instead of wearing the appropriate dress uniform, ole Sam is wearing a loin cloth and Indian blanket. What military officer would do that in today's world. He was different. Great read !!

  Read moreRead less

  One person found this helpful

  Helpful

  Sending feedback...

  Thank you for your feedback.

  Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

  Report

  Sending feedback...

  Thanks, we'll investigate in the next few days.

  Sorry, We failed to report this review. Please try again
• 

  Mark C.

  5 out of 5 stars

  A fascinating human being, warts and all

  Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2013

  Format: Paperback

  Verified Purchase

  Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

  Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

  This is a well-documented, balanced, accessible and highly enjoyable bio of Houston. Haley avoids either putting Houston on a pedestal or engaging in the PC founding father hero-bashing so popular in academia these days. This is not Houston as a caricatured creation of effete snobs who would fault him for lacking the sensibilities of a 21st century leftist; rather, this Houston as a full-orbed man of his age. He was real character, a significant actor in so many of the major dramas of American history that it boggles the mind. Also, the stories Haley relates about him are at times laugh out loud funny. This book has deepened my admiration of Houston and of his place in Texan and American history.

  Read moreRead less

  2 people found this helpful

  Helpful

  Sending feedback...

  Thank you for your feedback.

  Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

  Report

  Sending feedback...

  Thanks, we'll investigate in the next few days.

  Sorry, We failed to report this review. Please try again
• 

  Henry Price (Hard Fried History)

  4 out of 5 stars

  Great Book

  Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2020

  Format: Kindle

  Verified Purchase

  Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

  Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

  I really enjoyed this book, the author takes you through the beginning and end of Houston's career and gets in all the nooks and crannies. My only complaint is that sometimes the author goes into sometimes oppressive amounts of detail and some of the chapters can feel long, however I would rather read a longer scholastic work that gives too much rather than a shorter piece that misses something important/entertaining.

  I wouldn't read this if you expect an introduction to Antebellum America through the eyes of Sam Houston. The author tells Houston's story and gives a light refresher of the major events of the period but focuses primarily on Houston's journey. All in all a great read. I laughed and I cried at some parts. Only reason I didn't give it five stars is because again, I felt some stuff could have been left out. Read for an episode of my podcast, Hard Fried History.

  Read moreRead less

  5 people found this helpful

  Helpful

  Sending feedback...

  Thank you for your feedback.

  Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again

  Report

  Sending feedback...

  Thanks, we'll investigate in the next few days.

  Sorry, We failed to report this review. Please try again