Mornings on Horseback, by David McCullough was a treat from start to finish. It's about Teddy Roosevelt's childhood, and ends just as his political life was taking off. In the preface, McCullough writes how he liked stopping where everyone else starts, because it freed him up to go somewhere new.
What a life Roosevelt had! His family was extremely wealthy, didn't feel the depression, began social reform in the nation, and sailed down the Nile in a house boat for a few months. Teddy was plagued with very dramatic asthma as a child, and coddled by this mother to the extreme. He lost his wife after the birth of their first child. He had to find his own way out from under his father's shadow, a man so loved they called him Greatheart. Teddy's family was almost more interesting to read about that his own story.
Looking for solace after the deaths of his wife and mother, he went west to raise cattle. It was there he became popular for himself, and was asked to give a speech at the local Fourth of July celebration. The text was partially reprinted towards the end of this great book, and I recommend reading it. We also owe our national parks to his great vision, something our family thinks of when visiting the birds at our many national parks.
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