Book Log 2021 #21: Grant by Ron Chernow

I don't read many biographies, but read Alexander Hamilton when the musical first became a thing, and liked it quite a bit. Which is what led me, eventually, to this book about our drinkiest president. Or at least our most rumored to be drinkiest president.

That's one of the main takeaways I took from this book, that the stories about Grant's familiarity with the bottle were embellished quite a bit. The stories aren't totally false - Grant clearly had a problematic relationship with alcohol - but they tended to fill in the gaps for any lapse or problem he encountered (or created). 

The story the book tells is of a man whose political inexperience, loyalty to those close to him, and general trusting nature all played significant roles in whatever troubles arose during his fighting days, presidency, and later life. I felt much more sympathetic towards Grant after reading this, and saw a little more clearly the facile nature of the characterizations of Grant as a corrupt drunk. It's not that he was blameless in the ill that befell him, but that the reasons for those ills run deeper than generally presented.

Even though this book (and Hamitlon) are pretty weighty, Chernow does a great job of balancing detail and thoroughness with readability. Both books require investing time and effort in reading, but pay off handsomely for that investment.