"Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind."

Give me anything Teddy Roosevelt and I am there.

Silver spoons may open the door to prosperity, but in Teddy's case, it was more likely filled with some kind of elixir to impart strength with the hope of a therapeutic effect. Born into a wealthy Manhattan family in 1858, Teddy suffered with debilitating bouts of asthma that robbed him of a healthy childhood. His father chose not to coddle the ailing Teddy but to build up a solid resistance through relentless exercise. "You must make your body." And so Teddy did. Boxing seemed to add a tough crust to the already crusty Teddy.

Intense stamina, developed from an early age, served Teddy well into his adult life. He fought crime and corruption as police chief in New York City and became a highly visual leader of the reform element making vast changes in the slums of Albany. But nothing compares to the personal battles that find their way to one's front door. Both his wife and his mother died on the very same day in 1884 after Alice Lee had just given birth to their daughter, Alice.

Grief turned to the dusty roads of the West and it found Teddy in a log cabin on Chimney Butte Ranch near Medora, North Dakota. The Dakota Badlands toughened Teddy even more. When a loud-mouthed fool called him "Four Eyes", Teddy picked himself up from his chair and knocked the fool out cold and gained the respect of the ranching community. One thing was for sure, Teddy never wanted to be labeled a fool nor a coward.

Teddy married Edith Kermit Carow in December of 1886 and went on to have six children. Edith seemed to have a great understanding of the fiesty Teddy. In 1898 Teddy went to San Antonio to recruit soldiers for the Rough Riders fighting Spain over Cuban independence. You can close your eyes and just see Teddy in uniform galloping up San Juan Hill.

Politics called once again to Teddy as he became Vice President under McKinley. McKinley's neutral stance compelled Teddy to describe McKinley as "no more backbone than a chocolate eclair." But all that would change after McKinley's assassination and Teddy becomes President.

John Garraty presents a well-written overview of Teddy's life within these 178 pages. It's a short, swift adventure into the highlights of a remarkable man who turned the corner into a modern presidency. Controversial in nature and success, Teddy did leave quite a mark.

I received a copy of Teddy Roosevelt through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and to John Garraty for the opportunity.

Great introduction to Teddy Roosevelt for young readers. A good book to get younger readers interested in history.

A great and important work that should be required reading from coast to coast.