Disclaimer: I don’t watch Fox News (or any cable); Bret Baier’s role there had no bearing on my choice to read this book. Regardless of your political persuasion, this book has something for any reader interested in history, politics, conservation, fighting corruption, or just doing the right thing.

I really enjoyed this well-written biography! It is heartbreaking to read of the challenges and tragedies in Roosevelt’s life - and inspiring to see how he overcame them to become a great leader. Baier and Whitney are celebratory of Roosevelt’s many accomplishments while remaining clear-eyed about his (and his family’s) faults. Brash yet thoughtful, wealthy yet compassionate, Republican yet progressive, devoted to preserving America and eager to fight on behalf of the oppressed worldwide, Roosevelt was a complex man. This biography does an excellent job capturing his essence: a man of integrity and boldness who practiced what he preached. He lived by his morals, not a political party’s dictates. This book is not naive, but nonetheless refreshingly hopeful, and much needed today. Pretty much my only complaint is that I wish it had been longer!

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

This review is cross-posted to Goodreads. It will be posted to Amazon and Instagram within one week of the book’s publication.

To Rescue the American Spirit is a "mini" or abbreviated biography of Theodore Roosevelt by Fox News anchor and historian Bret Baier. Teddy Roosevelt is my favorite President, and I've read several biographies of this remarkable man. The gold standard is Edmund Morris' three volume biography of TR., hence why I referred to this one as a "mini" biography with no disrespect intended. Baier is fast becoming a favorite author, and I enjoyed all of his "three day" series.

Baier hits all the highlights of TR's amazing life. It is incredible what this man packed into 60 years of life. Truly one of the most popular Presidents in history, read this book and you will begin to understand why TR is enshrined on Mount Rushmore along with Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. TRs story is both tragic and triumphant. Sickly as a child, raised in an upper-class family that he adored. He lost his father who he revered at a young age, and years later lost his mother and first wife within hours of each other.

TR overcame his grief by heading West and becoming a cowboy, before eventually returning to enter a life of service through politics. TR was elected to many different roles serving his home state of New York and later the country in the McKinley administration. And an assassin's bullet brought TR to the White House at the time as America's youngest President.

The author presents the highlights of the seven years of TRs Presidency, followed by his nearly fatal trip on an uncharted Amazon river in South American that almost cost him his life. That experience is detailed briefly. A full version is in Candace Millard's book The River of No Return which is highly recommended.

The author sums up TRs final years and his efforts to keep "America First." Trump was not the first to push such an agenda.

If you have not read a biography of TR this is a great book to begin your journey. I give it 5/5 stars. I want to thank the author, publisher Mariner Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC. I attest this is my own unbiased review.

I'll start by saying I'm fascinated with Teddy Roosevelt and would love to have met him. This book is very well written with a nice variety of recollections of the Colonel some of which were new to me. This was a very detailed account of Colonel Roosevelt's life, the tragedies and triumphs that made him the man he was and how his force of personality helped to guide the entire nation onto the world stage in the American way. Colonel Roosevelt took the reins of the nation and tamed the wild just enough to put us to the forefront of the world stage. One of the most famous Americans in the US or abroad we get to know the power of his personality, and how when he got an idea in his head he wouldn't stop until he accomplished what he set out to do, regardless of the opposition. He always loved a good fight, and he took a fledgling nation and brought it into its rightful place on the world stage. This serves as a good reminder of how terrible politics have been even 125 years ago as well as now. This book is well done and makes it's points in a natural flowing narrative, very easily read. Definitely recommend whether you're a Teddy Roosevelt fan or not, you'll learn something you didn't know and will find an appreciation of our 26th president.