What the Presidents Read

Perhaps nothing more profoundly influences an individual than the books read in childhood. America has been blessed with readers who became our leaders. Goodenough and Olson have done a great service. Their remarkable book ambitiously sets out to prove how deeply children’s literature has helped shape the minds and souls of those who have guided our nation through war and peace. And I for one am grateful for it. -- Michael Patrick Hearn, author of The Annotated Wizard of Oz
Brilliantly conceived, comprehensive in its contents, and fun to read, What the Presidents Read is a rich blend of biography, history, literature, and psychology that explores the idea that -- even for presidents -- we are what we read. The sheer human interest of this book is irresistible, while students of history may gain new insights into the presidents they admire. Highly recommended! -- James G. Basker, Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History, Barnard College, Columbia University
This volume invites us to consider what reading is for, as well as who has access to its offerings and who does not. It is instructive to learn what the presidents read in their childhood and what books they still treasure as adults. With a reach both wide and deep, this literary and pictorial quilt stitches many connections among presidents, books, children, and the people who came to define a nation. -- Pamela Reynolds, Anthropology of Childhood, Professor Emerita Johns Hopkins University, Presidential Professor University of Michigan
In their insightful book, What the Presidents Read, Elizabeth Goodenough and Marilynn Olson investigate how children’s tales are a key part of the story of leadership and values for our American presidents. The originality of their concept is both powerful and enchanting. -- Chris Loker, author of One Hundred Books Famous in Children’s Literature
What the Presidents Read: Childhood Stories and Family Favorites is a must-read for anyone interested in how literature shaped American presidents as people and as leaders. -- Catherine Sommervold, Professor of Education, Doane University
What the Presidents Read is a well-researched and engaging text that provides insight into the reading habits of U.S. presidents and their families. -- James Conroy, author of Lincoln’s White House