The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency

John Dickerson describes the American presidency under a unique lens: he examines the history of the presidency from the inception (I am impressed by his citation of the Federalist Papers), to the place where it starts growing (out of bound), to the day where the job becomes just impossible. His treatment of every president (yes, even Donald Trump) is "fair and square," something most books about political science could not do (or even attempt to do). The structure of the book is clear: the first part about the office of the presidency spans 19 chapters and more than 300 pages, which proves that the presidency is just too much. The second part, which discusses campaigns and elections, offers a glimpse into the desired qualities of the president and how they have changed from the Constitutional Convention to the current day. The third part, "The Way We Live Now," analyzes the presidency of Donald Trump--how it deviates from the traditional presidency, and how it could have gone in a more positive sense.Also, the book is very much up-to-date: it covers up to the Trump impeachment trial in the Senate (please keep in mind that Dickerson finished the book before the COVID-19 pandemic). It is a great work from an impartial journalist, and I recommend anyone interested in American politics to pick up this book! Great work, John!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by John Dickerson. I've long had a fascination with the United States Presidency and those that have held the office. I've read biographies of Washington, Jefferson, Grant, GHWB, and others by the likes of Chernow and Meacham. I've read The President's Club by Nancy Gibbs. I've enjoyed all to different extents. However, Dickerson's framework adds something unique to the library. Here, Dickerson doesn't simply tell us about a single person nor does he focus on the relationships between those who have held the office. Rather, Dickerson's book is a bit more akin to The Gatekeepers, by Chris Whipple, who detailed what it is like to be Chief of Staff to the President of the United States by weaving a tapestry of anecdotes that illustrated common themes for how a CoS could help a President's Administration succeed. Here Dickerson does something similar, but focuses instead on the men (so far) who have been elected to the highest office.Dickerson meanders across eras to show both changes in the demands of the office and how the process for selecting/electing our presidents may not be an effective approach for selecting people with traits necessary to be an effective president. Without being so blunt, after having taught the reader about the demands of the job, Dickerson asks the reader, at least in the case of American citizens, to reflect on how we choose who we vote for in the Presidency.Beyond the main themes, Dickerson largely let's previous inhabitants of the Office of the Presidency do the talking. His colorful deployment of quotes and anecdotes made it a fun and engaging read.Finally, I hope the lessons conveyed in this book might help me to be a better manager and leader...and far more humble about the challenges that I face in my own day-to-day work.

Still reading this book about what it is like historically to be the President of the United States. Everyone should read it to understand the importance of this high office. Everyone means voters as well as those who will campaign for this office. The leadership capabilities of the President is paramount because of the enormous responsibilities which can change at any moment. It is and never has been an emptyntitle.

First off, loooove the front cover, it couldn't have been better if it was posed & beamed to JD years later, an iconic choice! John Dickerson takes us through the history and evolution of the Executive Branch from the original blueprint to current day complexities and how it's morphed thru the decades. Excellent and thought provoking analysis, kudos to John for all the hard work that went into researching and writing this book. Know the feeling when you're into a book and it brings you back into remembering decades growing up, recalling memories of the events of the era, eventually you know you're going to finish it, and want more? This is it, so smart and insightful and non-partisan of course, which is very refreshing these days. Highly recommended and a welcome read. Anecdotes from former White House staff and historians shed light on events you knew about but didn't know the real backstory on, it's a trip. If you love history this is a great addition to your bookshelf. If you're a fan of John's other superb books, Whistlestop, and On Her Trail, or an aficionado of historical biographies, American History and current events, you will definitely enjoy it. I'd like to give it seven stars.

John Dickerson has delivered a real gem that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. "The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency" paints a wonderful and insightful overview with respect to the human elements of many American Presidents as Mr. Dickerson guides us through the evolution of the responsibilities of the office. The quality of the writing is excellent and the content is well researched. The USA is embroiled in what many describe as one of the most important election cycles in many decades. This eloquent book offers a clear backstop to the relevance and responsibilities associated with the office of the American President. Knowledge can be liberating and during these critical times, Mr. Dickerson's book offers us a satisfying opportunity to broaden our perceptions.

Listeners to The Political Gabfest will already be aware of John Dickerson's extensive knowledge of the presidency and ability to communicate the historical context of the presidency in an accessible and very human way.This excellent read has given me a far better understanding of the Presidency and the evolution of the office, as well as highlighting the human challenges in having the most difficult job in the world.I cannot recommend this book enough, especially during an election year and a time when the US Presidency has such a clear impact on our lives and news in Europe.

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