Culture | The Economist Reads

Want to spend time with a different American president?

Five presidential biographies to distract you from the news

An illustration of a stack of books that make up the American flag.
Illustration: Ben Hickey

Whatever you think of Donald Trump, his inauguration on January 20th is the capstone of the greatest ever comeback in American politics. Whether you seek succour in history or are ready to escape the news cycle, books can help. All 45 presidents have been the subject of at least two biographies, but these are five of the best.

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This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Presidential biographies”

From the January 18th 2025 edition

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