POTUS-Worthy Prose: 100 Favorite Books of Our Presidents

If you're looking for something new to read, why not pick up a book that has been recommended by some of the most highly educated and capable leaders of our nation? These 100 books are some of the favorites of presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama and cover topics that range from the serious to the childlike, so no matter what you're in the mood to read you can find president-approved material to match.

Politics

These books touch on political topics from the role of government to wartime strategies.

1. Politics as a Vocation by Max Weber: Bill Clinton found this Weber work on the nature and status of political claims to be particularly enlightening.
2. A Treatise on Government by Aristotle: Founding father John Adams made numerous notes in this classic book on the ideal role of government and its legislators–maintaining order without encroaching on personal liberties.
3. Essai Général de Tactique by Herve Guibert: While you might need to find a translation from the French, George Washington made due with this copy, filled with military and tactical advice that likely served him well as a leader.
4. Influence of Sea Power Upon History by Alfred Thayer Mahan: This history of naval warfare exposes what a large role the navies of nations around the world played in their success of failure–a book beloved by consummate bibliophile Theodore Roosevelt.
5. Statesmen And Nations by Paul Johnson: This book collects the essays and articles of conservative journalist Paul Johnson, a read recommended by Richard Nixon.
6. The Art of War by Chevalier de la Valiere: While you may not be able to get your hands on it today, in years past Andrew Jackson found this book to be an invigorating and educational read on the strategy of war.

Philosophy

Expand your mind with the religious and philosophical ideas presented in these presidential favorites.

7. A Discourse Upon the Origin and Foundation of the Inequality Among Mankind by Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Second president John Adams read and reread this book by deep thinker Rousseau that inspired the leaders of the French Revolution.
8. The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith: While best known for his work in pure economics, in this favorite of Barack Obama, Smith endeavors to explain the drive of mankind to be kind even when engaged in self-interested pursuits.
9. Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson: This essay by Transcendentalist philosopher Emerson can be a great read for those who are looking for advice on following their own instincts and ideas rather than conforming to the majority–a book held in high regard by current president Barack Obama.
10. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: While not in the strictest sense a philosophy book, Bill Clinton loved this text that shares some of the lessons Aurelius learned during his life that he thought could help to guide others.
11. The Bible: A highly religious man, John Quincy Adams felt that reading the Bible offered him the moral guidance he needed to be a good leader.
12. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis: Recommended by Bill Clinton, this book highlights some of the lessons presented in the Bible.
13. The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker: This serious work takes a look at man's unwillingness to confront his own mortality and the issues it creates during life–a favorite of Bill Clinton.
14. Tusculan Disputations by Cicero: Jefferson loved this classical work on the nature of the gods and the nature of government.

Biographies

Learn more about the people who have inspired presidents past and present in these books.

15. The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston by Marquis James: George W. Bush was fascinated by this book on the life and times of Southerner and statesman Sam Houston.
16. The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro: This book recommended by Barack Obama tells the story of the exploitation and history of New York City by a corrupted public servant, Robert Moses.
17. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin: Abraham Lincoln found this autobiographical work to be of great interest.
18. Robert E. Lee: The Biography by Robert S. Freeman: Learn more about the renowned general and leader of the Confederate armies in this book beloved by Harry S. Truman.
19. Great Men and Famous Women by Charles F. Horne: Truman also found great inspiration in this book as a child, giving the biographies and some illustrations of men and women who were important figures in his age and the past.
20. Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell: This book is a favorite of Bill Clinton and tells the story of the time Orwell spent volunteering for the Republican army in Spain during their civil war.
21. John C. Calhoun: An American Portrait by Margaret L. Coit: Kennedy was a great lover of biographies and this book about the life of the seventh vice president and one of the inspirations of the secession of the south was one of his favorites.
22. Talleyrand by Alfred Duff Cooper: This book tells the story of French diplomat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord as he worked and negotiated his way through the rule of Kings, the French Revolution and the empire of Napoleon, making it an entertaining read and a favorite of Kennedy's.
23. Life of Henry Clay by Carl Schurz: Follow the life of powerful senator and inspiration for presidents Lincoln and Kennedy in this biography.
24. Pilgrim's Way: An Autobiography by John Buchan: Learn more about 19th century British politics in this autobiographical novel by Buchan, later known as Lord Tweedsmuir.
25. Marlborough: His Life and Times by Sir Winston Churchill: This book, a favorite of John F. Kennedy, not only tells the story of the Duke of Marlborough but was written by a great leader and descendant of the Duke, Winston Churchill.
26. Living History by Hilary Rodham Clinton: It makes sense that husband Bill Clinton would name his wife's biographical novel about her time as first lady one of his favorite reads.

Presidential Biographies

Presidents have a lot to learn from those who've lead before them and so can you with these presidential biographies.

27. The Emergence of Lincoln by Allan Nevins: This multi-volume series read by JFK details the life of Lincoln from his battle to become president through the Civil War.
28. Andrew Jackson: The Border Captain by Marquis James: Truman's friends often joked about his obsession with President Andrew Jackson, something he furthered with biographies on the leader like these.
29. The Life of George Washington by David Ramsay: Abraham Lincoln found this book to be a great inspiration when he read it as a boy. Today you can read it for free online and get a free education in the life of our first president.
30. FDR by Jean Edward Smith: When Barack Obama mentioned this book in an interview it became an overnight success, detailing the presidency of one of our nation's most beloved leaders.
31. Andrew Johnson: A Study in Courage by Lloyd P. Stryker: Truman enjoyed this biography that tells the tale of the man who had to assume the presidency after the assassination of President Lincoln.
32. Grover Cleveland: The Man and the Statesman: An Authorized Biography by Robert McNutt McElroy: Through this biography you can learn all about a perhaps lesser known president today, Grover Cleveland–a book Harry Truman found especially interesting.
33. Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years by Carl Sandberg: These iconic novels are a must read for anyone interested in the life of Lincoln, something President Truman would have agreed with.
34. Thomas Jefferson in Three Volumes by Claude Bowers: Find out how much your really know about the life and times of Jefferson by reading the biography on him recommended by Harry Truman.

History

Check out these history picks to better understand the history of the United States and the world.

35. The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois: Barack Obama recommends this classic collection of essays from Du Bois, chronicling the state of racism and black culture at the turn of the century.
36. The Good Life and Its Discontents: The American Dream in the Age of Entitlement, 1945-1995 by Robert J. Samuelson: George W. Bush named this book of essays on the quality of life in America as one of this favorites.
37. The Dream and the Nightmare: The Sixties Legacy to the Underclass by Myron Magnet: If you want a conservative viewpoint on the history of the United States, you'll like this book recommended by George W. Bush on the negative effects of the sixties on present day society.
38. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon: Brush up on your classical history with this selection from JFK.
39. Battles and Leaders of the Civil War by Robert Underwood Johnson, Clarence Clough Buel, and Roy F Nichols: If you don't know nearly enough about the Civil War then you may want to check out this Kennedy favorite.
40. The History of the American Revolution by David Ramsay: Andrew Jackson reviewed his American history by reading through this book written in 1789.
41. The Confessions of Nat Turner by Nat Turner: This book collects the writings of Nat Turner as well as other contemporary information to tell the story of his life and the events that surrounded it–a favorite of former president Bill Clinton.
42. King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild: Bill Clinton recommends readers pick up this book about the terrors inflicted on the Congo by King Leopold of Belgium.
43. The History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment, of the Independence of the United States of America by William Gordon: John Adams named this book about the establishment of the United States as one of this favorites.
44. De l'état de la France, à la fin de l'an VIII by Alexandre Maurice Blanc: You'll need to know a bit of French to get through this book on French history much read and studied by John Adams.
45. An Historical and Moral View of the Origin and Progress of the French Revolution by Mary Wollstonecraft: Read this essay by feminist and socialist activist Wollstonecraft that was a staple in the library of John Adams for free online.
46. The Price of Union by Herbert Agar: JFK loved this historical account of the establishment of the United States from the Revolution to the 1900's.
47. Caesar's Commentaries by Julius Caesar: Andrew Jackson was intrigued by what Caesar, a leading writer in his time, had to say about the Gallic and Civil wars in which Rome was engaged in this book.

Non-Fiction

Presidents are big fans of the non-fiction genre and these favorites cover a wide range of material from mineral studies to proper behavior.

48. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln by Abraham Lincoln: Barack Obama recommends this collection of Lincoln's best writing to those who want to learn about more about the man.
49. Lessons in Elocution by William Scott: Abraham Lincoln found this guidebook on proper etiquette and speak useful in his political life.
50. The Way of the World: From the Dawn of Civilizations to the Eve of the Twenty-First Century by David Fromki: This favorite of Clinton takes the reader through human history to explore whether or not history ever truly progresses or just takes the same paths in different shoes.
51. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee and Walker Evans: Carter loved this book which documents through photos and writing the struggles many faced during the Great Depression.
52. De Re Metallica by Georgius Agricola: Hoover liked this book on metallurgy so much that he translated a version of it into English himself.
53. The Hunting Trips of a Ranchman by Theodore Roosevelt: Never one to be shy, legend has it that Teddy Roosevelt often read this book of his own because he wanted to relive his experiences through it.
54. Birds of America by John James Audubon: Known for his love of nature and his work on establishing national parks, Roosevelt's love of this classic book should be no surprise.
55. Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny by Robert Wright: This recommendation by Bill Clinton asserts that evolution isn't just random and is moving in a particular direction.
56. The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lasch: Jimmy Carter used this book as the inspiration for his famous "crisis of confidence" speech.
57. Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation: a Book of Etiquette by George Washington: George Washington wrote this book on proper behavior and considered it a manual to live by.
58. American Spelling Book by Noah Webster: James Madison often used this book when growing up and referenced it as an adult to make sure he was always using and spelling words properly.
59. Four Books on Architecture by Andrea Palladio: Thomas Jefferson was an architect himself and drew great inspiration from these collected works by Italian architect Palladio.

Poetry and Drama

Explore these favorite books of presidents found in verse or play form.

60. American Sublime by Elizabeth Alexander: Barack Obama chose this poet, one of this favorites, to speak at his inaugural address.
61. Macbeth by William Shakespeare: Abraham Lincoln loved the work of Shakespeare, highlighting this play in particular as one of his favorites.
62. The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats by William Butler Yeats: If you've never read the work of this Irish poet, consider this collection recommended by Bill Clinton.
63. The Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot: Clinton is a fan of poetry, and names this work by famous ex-pat Eliot as one of his favorites.
64. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou: It's only logical that Clinton would name this poet as one of his favorites as he asked her to speak at his inauguration.
65. Barrack-Room Ballads by Rudyard Kipling: Both Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt loved the poems of this Indian born Brit.
66. A Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear: FDR and Churchill were said to have quoted lines from this book of silly limericks to one another during WWII.
67. The Cure at Troy: A Version of Sophocles' Philoctetes by Seamus Heaney: Bill Clinton thinks this work by Irish playwright Heaney is well worth reading or seeing in person.

Classics

These novels are favorites of presidents and people around the world: classics you shouldn't miss.

68. The Odyssey by Homer: Thomas Jefferson was a big fan of this classic tale of a man on a journey to find his way back home.
69. Don Quixote by Cervantes: Despite loving some pretty serious literature, Jefferson was a big fan of this often silly tale of a knight and his squire.
70. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: Thomas Jefferson loved his bawdy and humorous multi-volume novel about the life of a gentleman.
71. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway: Both Barack Obama and Senator John McCain have named this tale of a volunteer in the Spanish Republican army one of their all-time favorites.
72. Moby Dick by Herman Melville: Barack Obama has sung the praises of this classic about a man on a quest to tame the elusive white whale.
73. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: Abraham Lincoln was said to have loved this work about a man stranded on an island.
74. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan: This religious allegory was most beloved by Abe Lincoln.
75. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison: Often cited as one of the best works of African-American literature, this book is a favorite of former president Bill Clinton.
76. You Can't Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe: While this novel is a sequel to one of Wolfe's earlier autobiographically inspired stories, it stands alone as a work worth reading and Clinton has named it one of his favorites.
77. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: Both George H.W. Bush and Richard Nixon have named this lengthy tale as one of their favorite reads.

Politically Charged Fiction

These novels focus on fictionalized political issues, a perfect mix for presidents and discerning readers alike.

78. In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck: Barack Obama loved this novel that tells the tales of workers striking out against their capitalist bosses, but often being exploited by the group claiming to help them as well.
79. The Quiet American by Graham Greene: This book details the involvement of two Americans in the events of the Vietnam war, a recommended read by President Obama.
80. Gentleman's Agreement by Laura Z. Hobson: George H.W. Bush stated that this book about rampant anti-Semetism changed his thinking and was incredibly inspiring.
81. The Adventures Of Telemachus, The Son Of Ulysses by Francois Fenelon: Jackson loved this piece of political satire from France.
82. The Scottish Chiefs by Jane Porter: A fictionalized account of the lives of William Wallace and other Scotsmen who rebelled against British oppression, this novel was one of Andrew Jackson's favorites and set the stage for future historical fiction.
83. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren: This book won the Pulitzer in 1947 for its depiction of a corrupt southern politician and Obama ranks it as one of his favorite reads.

Fiction

Read these great novels to find out why presidents found them so inspiring and entertaining.

84. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson: Barack Obama recommends this recent publication, a meditation on the relationships between fathers and sons and faith.
85. The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing: While not her intention, Lessing's novel about the frustrations of a women abroad became a seminal text of the feminist movement and is a recommended read from Obama.
86. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison: Barack Obama names this Nobel Prize winning book, complex book about family, race and life as one of his favorites.
87. Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: Eisenhower was a big fan of Zane Grey and this novel in particular was one of his favorites in the Western genre.
88. A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: A young Reagan grew up reading these novels and never lost his enthusiasm for the sci-fi genre.
89. From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming: JFK met Ian Fleming at a party and was engaged by his charm both in person and in writing, becoming a big fan of the James Bond series.
90. That Printer of Udell's by Harold Bell Wright: Ronald Reagan said this religious novel changed his life and drove him to become a more devout Christian.
91. The Red and the Black by M. de Stendhal: Take a look at this novel for a tale of love, betrayal, and ambition set in 1830's France, a favorite of JFK.

Children's Literature

Here you'll find books that presidents read while growing up, many of which are still great reads for adults.

92. Arabian Nights translated by Richard Burton: Young Abe found these tales from ancient Arabian lands to be enchanting as a child.
93. Aesop's Fables by Aesop: These classic moralistic tales were a favorite of Lincoln when he was growing up.
94. Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling: These stories, suggested by George W. Bush, will transport readers a world away.
95. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame: George W. recommends kids and parents read this book about the adventures of Mole, Water Rat, Badger, and the mischievous Toad.
96. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt: This fantasy children's novel addresses serious issues like mortality and life and is recommended by the younger Bush.
97. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl: In this story, a young boy escapes his cruel aunts with the help of a few bugs and one truly giant peach–a book George W. Bush says is a great read for adults and children alike.
98. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain: Eisenhower named this humorous Twain classic as one of his favorites, even as an adult.
99. The Young Bank Messenger by Horatio Alger: Ford was a big fan of this writer as a child, and with hundred's of texts to choose from he certainly never ran out of reading material.
100. The McGuffey Readers by William Holmes McGuffey: James Madison used this series of children's texts in his early years.