Eleanor
- Downloads：9540
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-10-25 17:21:18
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：David Michaelis
- ISBN：1439192049
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Rita
，
I am a great admirer of Eleanor Roosevelt and have read several biographies of her life。 While this book was the most thorough， it was also the most challenging to read。 I felt like the author tried so hard to use as many authentic quotes from historical documents as possible that the narrative had a poor flow。 Distracting details made it seemed like the author was just trying to fit the random information in somewhere。 Sometimes， paragraphs started with pronouns and it took until mid-paragraph I am a great admirer of Eleanor Roosevelt and have read several biographies of her life。 While this book was the most thorough， it was also the most challenging to read。 I felt like the author tried so hard to use as many authentic quotes from historical documents as possible that the narrative had a poor flow。 Distracting details made it seemed like the author was just trying to fit the random information in somewhere。 Sometimes， paragraphs started with pronouns and it took until mid-paragraph to find out who was being referenced。 This resulted in a lot of re-reading and/or skimming of irrelevant material。 。。。more
Joy
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At times this biography was interesting but sadly， it kept putting me to sleep。 I learned a ton about Eleanor。 Here are a few of the parts that I want to remember:Pg。 272“One must conclude that the well-run home and the well-brought-up children are more important even than a well-run business。 More people are affected by the occupation of a housewife and mother than are ever touched by any single business， no matter how large it may be。”Pg 333“I hope I get put in the ground in the least expensiv At times this biography was interesting but sadly， it kept putting me to sleep。 I learned a ton about Eleanor。 Here are a few of the parts that I want to remember:Pg。 272“One must conclude that the well-run home and the well-brought-up children are more important even than a well-run business。 More people are affected by the occupation of a housewife and mother than are ever touched by any single business， no matter how large it may be。”Pg 333“I hope I get put in the ground in the least expensive of coffins。 It all seems so unimportant when you no longer exist。”Pg 424On the hospital wards， she took the hand of each soldier， looking him in the face， asked his name and where he was from。 “May I phone your mother when I get home？ She would ask。 “With permission， I will write and tell your parents that you’re all right。” 。。。more
Jana
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Michaelis does a good job writing this even though he is a man。 FDR would have been nothing without Eleanor。 Their marriage was a good one。 They respected each other and knew what expectations to have of one another。 Instead of trying to have their spouse fill every compartment of need， they let others fill the void with acceptance and no guilt。 FDR needed Eleanor's brains， grit， and integrity。 Eleanor loved being FDR's legs to bring about astounding changes to the fabric of our democracy。 There Michaelis does a good job writing this even though he is a man。 FDR would have been nothing without Eleanor。 Their marriage was a good one。 They respected each other and knew what expectations to have of one another。 Instead of trying to have their spouse fill every compartment of need， they let others fill the void with acceptance and no guilt。 FDR needed Eleanor's brains， grit， and integrity。 Eleanor loved being FDR's legs to bring about astounding changes to the fabric of our democracy。 There is no one that even approaches the human being that she is。 。。。more
Sarah
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Not as comprehensive as the 3-volume bio， and there were things that weren't in the extensive bio， but overall a good read。 Not as comprehensive as the 3-volume bio， and there were things that weren't in the extensive bio， but overall a good read。 。。。more
James Carmichael
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I want to explain， even justify， my three-star rating。 First of all， I’m following some wise fellow Goodreads-users in taking its star system at its word， meaning that “three stars” does not mean something…basically negative， as it does in general in our ratings-inflated Internet world， but， “I liked it。”I liked it。 Here’s why “only” three stars:The book didn’t， for me， surmount what would appear to the towering challenge of any biography， but especially this one: acquainting the reader with the I want to explain， even justify， my three-star rating。 First of all， I’m following some wise fellow Goodreads-users in taking its star system at its word， meaning that “three stars” does not mean something…basically negative， as it does in general in our ratings-inflated Internet world， but， “I liked it。”I liked it。 Here’s why “only” three stars:The book didn’t， for me， surmount what would appear to the towering challenge of any biography， but especially this one: acquainting the reader with the internal life of the subject。 It has a tremendous amount of well-told information about Eleanor Roosevelt’s “life” and her “times” — it’s a entirely successful biography in that sense， and I learned a lot reading it and am grateful for its comprehensivity。 But I never felt that I quite got inside her head。 This may be in part to Michaelis’s credit; he doesn’t just make stuff up， or do a whole lot of theorizing （about， for example， Roosevelt’s awakening as a not just sexually engaged human， but a bisexual human in 1930s America）。I’m writing this out because it’s a challenge of biography in general， of course， and seems to be—based on the records we have about and of Roosevelt， and even those from Roosevelt herself—a particular challenge in this subject。I learned a great deal。 I’m glad to have read it。 I still feel stuck on the surface of this person’s self。 。。。more
Andrea
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An incredibly well-written description of an incredible woman。 I learned so much， and was so inspired。
Nancy Lane
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wow what a read。 Her disfunctional family somehow raised an amazing， bright， forward thinking adult。 Her concern for women and society （not as in New York society） cause waves that are still being dealt with。 The brazen entitlement of the rich old white men around her continues to be an issue today。 My only complaint was that the timeline was difficult to follow。 This is a must read again。
Midge
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An inspiring and informative biography of Eleanor Roosevelt， the wife of Theodore Roosevelt， a four-term President of the United States。 I was a youngster during the "Roosevelt years，" so all of the revelations in this book were new to me。 She was indeed an extraordinary lady！ There is so much historical information in this book that it reads almost like a textbook。 And it is so long！ There were many times that I was tempted to close the book and move on。 But I didn't。 And I'm happy to have been An inspiring and informative biography of Eleanor Roosevelt， the wife of Theodore Roosevelt， a four-term President of the United States。 I was a youngster during the "Roosevelt years，" so all of the revelations in this book were new to me。 She was indeed an extraordinary lady！ There is so much historical information in this book that it reads almost like a textbook。 And it is so long！ There were many times that I was tempted to close the book and move on。 But I didn't。 And I'm happy to have been able to know more about ELEANOR and her life and times。 She was an extraordinary woman doing extraordinary things during some very difficult times！ 。。。more
Susan
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Such a fascinating women， as I learned from this biography。 Just wish it had given me more direct help in going beyond all the people and events in her life to better understanding how she came to be who she was in the end。
Annie
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We’ll researched and really brought Eleanor to life！
Meg Vanek
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OMG！ This book is way too long for the average reader。 536 pages， 698 pages including acknowledgments and footnotes。 That being said， note that I have rated it 4 stars。 The author did an excellent job of researching this fascinating woman who was way ahead of her time。 It is a true cradle to grave saga with so many details and people to absorb you really cannot rush through it。 If you've got the time， read it！ OMG！ This book is way too long for the average reader。 536 pages， 698 pages including acknowledgments and footnotes。 That being said， note that I have rated it 4 stars。 The author did an excellent job of researching this fascinating woman who was way ahead of her time。 It is a true cradle to grave saga with so many details and people to absorb you really cannot rush through it。 If you've got the time， read it！ 。。。more
Barb
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3。5 stars。 I would not be true to me if I gave this book 4 stars。 There was information about Eleanor that was interesting and that I did not know。 However， I felt this book needed a better editor。 There was miscellaneous information that had nothing to do with Eleanor or affected her life。 At times one paragraph in 1939 and the next 1941 or there is no year at all。 Michaelis introduced so many characters but then did not wrap up their relationship with Eleanor， what happened or how one ended。 H 3。5 stars。 I would not be true to me if I gave this book 4 stars。 There was information about Eleanor that was interesting and that I did not know。 However， I felt this book needed a better editor。 There was miscellaneous information that had nothing to do with Eleanor or affected her life。 At times one paragraph in 1939 and the next 1941 or there is no year at all。 Michaelis introduced so many characters but then did not wrap up their relationship with Eleanor， what happened or how one ended。 He tried to tell too much。 Doris Kearns Goodwin's No Ordinary Time about the WWII years is excellent。 There is a book on Eleanor's home and time in Greenwich Village which is only mentioned in a sentence。 Eleanor's own memoir is good。 This book does not compel me to read anything else he has written。 。。。more
Andrea
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3 1/2 stars
Cromaine Library
，
The non-fiction book club discussed this title at their September 2021 meeting。
John Wood
，
An exciting story of a rich girl who overcomes a dysfunctional childhood marries her cousin （OK， her 5th cousin， so no problem） and ultimately becomes famous。 Seriously， Eleanor Roosevelt had a lot to overcome， including her doting father， who drank himself to death when she was young， her unloving mother， a fear of public speaking， a voice that tended to squeak。 So who'd guess she would become one of the most admired and influential women ever。 I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written， wonderfull An exciting story of a rich girl who overcomes a dysfunctional childhood marries her cousin （OK， her 5th cousin， so no problem） and ultimately becomes famous。 Seriously， Eleanor Roosevelt had a lot to overcome， including her doting father， who drank himself to death when she was young， her unloving mother， a fear of public speaking， a voice that tended to squeak。 So who'd guess she would become one of the most admired and influential women ever。 I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written， wonderfully presented account。 。。。more
Lisa Rogers
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When I started reading this book， it had been a long time since I had read a biography of the great American Lady Eleanor Roosevelt。 I knew， with a glance at the hefty 500+ tome， that I was wading into a ton of history， packed with complex political machinations and players， given that “Anna Eleanor” was born in the Victorian Era and died in the Swinging Sixties， after having been First Lady during WWII and as a delegate to the United Nations， playing a leading role in the drafting of the Univer When I started reading this book， it had been a long time since I had read a biography of the great American Lady Eleanor Roosevelt。 I knew， with a glance at the hefty 500+ tome， that I was wading into a ton of history， packed with complex political machinations and players， given that “Anna Eleanor” was born in the Victorian Era and died in the Swinging Sixties， after having been First Lady during WWII and as a delegate to the United Nations， playing a leading role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights。Author David Michaelis did a stellar job of weaving together the personal and political moments of Eleanor’s life。 Michaelis has done his research， using primary source letters， memoirs， and diaries to shed light on some of the mysteries of both Eleanor and Franklin’s romantic relationships。 We see them as adults， products， both， of dysfunctional parenting。 He deftly guided us through tryingly-complex political events， and delivered us whole to the other side。 This is the first time I have understood the events of the Bay of Pigs！ Enjoy this book。 。。。more
Leslie Rusch
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Interesting woman， pedestrian book。
Mike
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I really enjoyed this one volume biography of one of my favorites Eleanor Roosevelt。 The author does a great job of mixing the personal with the public life and fully explores Eleanor's relationships with family and friends。 There were a few times where a bit more context of the history would have been helpful in telling her story， but overall highly recommended。 I really enjoyed this one volume biography of one of my favorites Eleanor Roosevelt。 The author does a great job of mixing the personal with the public life and fully explores Eleanor's relationships with family and friends。 There were a few times where a bit more context of the history would have been helpful in telling her story， but overall highly recommended。 。。。more
Tina
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Excellent coverage of her life。 The author took 10 years to write this exhaustive examination of her upbringing， experiences and achievements over the decades， and controversial aspects of her life。 At first the book felt bogged down in unnecessary detail， but it turned into an examination of Eleanor's development as a person over her life。 Highly recommend to anyone who wants to really understand her life and times。 Does include her emotional and sexual relationships apart from her husband， as Excellent coverage of her life。 The author took 10 years to write this exhaustive examination of her upbringing， experiences and achievements over the decades， and controversial aspects of her life。 At first the book felt bogged down in unnecessary detail， but it turned into an examination of Eleanor's development as a person over her life。 Highly recommend to anyone who wants to really understand her life and times。 Does include her emotional and sexual relationships apart from her husband， as well as his emotional unavailability and unfaithfulness。 。。。more
Corine
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An interesting read。 It is strange to feel so bad for such an inspirational figure， her loneliness， and feel so angry at the mistreatment of her by many close to her and their seeming failure to appreciate her， or recognize her need。 And yet， I was left with so much admiration for her strength， humanity and ability to notice the needs of others and respond individually。 Her ability to transform herself into an articulate， cool， hard-working leader who was in the game for everyone but herself。 I An interesting read。 It is strange to feel so bad for such an inspirational figure， her loneliness， and feel so angry at the mistreatment of her by many close to her and their seeming failure to appreciate her， or recognize her need。 And yet， I was left with so much admiration for her strength， humanity and ability to notice the needs of others and respond individually。 Her ability to transform herself into an articulate， cool， hard-working leader who was in the game for everyone but herself。 I appreciated how this book was written to try and give a glimpse of her interior world。 I have no sense of it’s accuracy， however。 It was well-written and did do a good job managing the volume of details about people， historic events， politics and policy。 。。。more
Julie
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What a thorough telling about Eleanor Roosevelt’s life。 Amazing details about the times she lived in， the people in her life， and how she grew， learned and transformed to become the strong， independent， intelligent， liberal， involved woman we think of today。 She is truly an inspiration。 Remarkable in all that she came to do in her life。
Noa Ronen
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Oh！！！ that was a book I listened to and probably would not be able to read。 The beginning of the book was hard to get in， but the more you read the more you ask yourself: how come everything I read here is still happening in the US？If you ask yourself why I am not able to achieve things because of anxiety you should definitely read Eleanor Roosvelet's bio and see how by taking so many little steps she became this inspiring， compassionate， and woman of change in time that most very challenging fo Oh！！！ that was a book I listened to and probably would not be able to read。 The beginning of the book was hard to get in， but the more you read the more you ask yourself: how come everything I read here is still happening in the US？If you ask yourself why I am not able to achieve things because of anxiety you should definitely read Eleanor Roosvelet's bio and see how by taking so many little steps she became this inspiring， compassionate， and woman of change in time that most very challenging for women。It is fascinating to read about her love life and partnership with FDR。 For years a lady I knew shared with me about her and urged me to read it， when I finished reading this book this lady， Veronica passed away。 I was on my way to email her my gratitude， but that same day while working on the email draft I heard she passed away and was already in another place， so I want to share this review to honor her。 Thank you， Veronica。 。。。more
Carol Glanville
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Fascinating！ History I never knew。 ER was one of the most influential people of the 20th c。
NuevoRain
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Very fast review of Eleanor’s life。 Not too much time spent on anyone aspect， so probably a good first read about her amazing life。
Jess M
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I did not learn enough about this woman in school。 This book goes deep into Eleanor's personal life， drawing from her own writings。 The book starts with her rough childhood and continues after the death of her husband， when she still has political prominence until her own death。 I listened to this audiobook and really enjoyed it。 I did not learn enough about this woman in school。 This book goes deep into Eleanor's personal life， drawing from her own writings。 The book starts with her rough childhood and continues after the death of her husband， when she still has political prominence until her own death。 I listened to this audiobook and really enjoyed it。 。。。more
Teri
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I like to have highlighter and pen in hand when I read nonfiction biographies given there is so much for me to learn and remember。 This was no exception， however when I found myself on a road trip I converted to audible。 At first the book was slow go， but following FDR’s gubernatorial election I felt the pace quickened and it held my interest。 Reminded of the old wealth and powerful families and how women viewed their roles amidst it all， along with Eleanor’s independent drive to contribute to i I like to have highlighter and pen in hand when I read nonfiction biographies given there is so much for me to learn and remember。 This was no exception， however when I found myself on a road trip I converted to audible。 At first the book was slow go， but following FDR’s gubernatorial election I felt the pace quickened and it held my interest。 Reminded of the old wealth and powerful families and how women viewed their roles amidst it all， along with Eleanor’s independent drive to contribute to improving the lives of others was impacting。 Her ability to be pragmatic and carry on the post presidency demonstrated her strength。 Insights abound in her story that help one understand her relationships and her desire to make a difference。 She overcame societal pressure and did what she wanted most often， and often the results were positive contributions to others and the political structure。 。。。more
Angela Davis
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I gave up before the end。
Melanie
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I loved reading about Eleanor Roosevelt。 I had often heard her quoted， but knew little of her life。 She had much reason to feel sad and abandoned， but she rose up and was a great leader， as well as champion of the disadvantaged。
Patricia
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Thoroughly researched and readable， I learned a lot about this remarkable woman and I thought I already knew quite a bit。 The biographer did an excellent job chronicling the events of her life that shaped her world view and career。 In some ways， she had a sad life， but what a legacy she has left。 "Keep calm and carry on" - that British cliche - is exactly how Eleanor lived。 Thoroughly researched and readable， I learned a lot about this remarkable woman and I thought I already knew quite a bit。 The biographer did an excellent job chronicling the events of her life that shaped her world view and career。 In some ways， she had a sad life， but what a legacy she has left。 "Keep calm and carry on" - that British cliche - is exactly how Eleanor lived。 。。。more
Greg
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