The Great Courses on hoopla
Several of The Great Courses videos in hoopla’s collection focus on American history, including prominent political figures. Delivered by real professors, the lectures cover many eras of U.S. history.
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You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe
This unique biography of America’s first president is both funny and deeply researched. Alexis Coe paints a refreshingly human portrait of George Washington, revealing the complicated man behind the myths.
The Three Lives of James Madison by Noah Feldman
This portrait of James Madison chronicles each of his political lives. Meet Madison as a revolutionary thinker who designed the Constitution. Then he became a partisan political strategist and finally America’s first wartime president.
Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times by David S. Reynolds
There are thousands of books about President Lincoln, but this one stands apart. It’s written by cultural historian David S. Reynolds, who explains how the culture of Lincoln’s era influenced the way he navigated the Civil War.
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
This is the second book in Edmund Morris’s popular trilogy about Theodore Roosevelt. The book details Roosevelt’s two terms as president, including his handling of the Panama Canal, race and labor relations, and the effort to preserve millions of acres of land.
The Accidental President by A. J. Baime
Few presidents faced as much pressure as Harry S. Truman. In his first four months in office – the final months of World War II – he dealt with numerous wartime crises. His administration saw the fall of Berlin, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the liberation of concentration camps, the creation of the United Nations, and more.
Kennedy and King by Steven Levingston
A dual biography! This book traces the rise of both John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. The two men from different worlds shaped each other, as King inspired Kennedy to make a moral commitment to racial equality.
Richard Nixon: The Life by John A. Farrell
This meticulously researched book is often considered the definitive biography of Nixon. While Nixon opened the doors to a relationship with China and proposed reforms in health care, poverty, civil rights and environmental protection, much of his legacy is tied up in the McCarthy era and the Watergate scandal. This book covers Nixon’s full life and presidency, not just the Watergate scandal and his resignation.
Long, Tall Lincoln by Jennifer Dussling
Reading age: 4 to 8
Young readers meet Abraham Lincoln in this page-turning biography. It contains an illustrated narrative of Lincoln’s life, plus historical photos at the back of the book.
I Am George Washington by Brad Meltzer
Reading age: 5 to 8
This friendly biography with comic book-style illustrations introduces George Washington. The book chronicles Washington’s whole life, from his days exploring the woods around his house to the Revolutionary War and the presidency.
Take a Hike, Teddy Roosevelt by Frank Murphy
Reading age: 5 to 8
Say hello to America’s 26th president! This book shares Roosevelt’s enthusiasm and commitment to doing everything he was told was impossible.
The House that George Built by Suzanne Slade
Reading age: 6 to 9
A unique snapshot of American history. This warmly illustrated book tells the story of the creation of the White House. From George Washington’s process for choosing the design all the way to John Adams’s move into the new building, your young reader will see how the White House came to be.
Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare by Gene Barretta
Reading age: 6 to 10
At first, it seems like Lincoln and Kennedy couldn’t be more different. They’re separated by a hundred years, political parties, and two different classes. But they had many things in common, too. This book is a thoughtful look at two of our country’s most influential presidents.
