Ian
Randal Strock has compiled an entertaining and pertinent collection of
presidential trivia in The
Presidential Book of Lists. In the book, Strock looks at all aspects
of Presidents’ lives and boils them down to entertaining and
informative lists. Unlike make books in this election year, Strock’s
does not come with a political agenda, merely the idea that the
forty-two men who have held the presidency can provide interesting
trivia, similarities and differences.
The
first list in the book (after the table of contents) is the most basic
list. A chart showing all
the Presidents, their birth and death dates, party affiliation, term in
office, burial place, and Vice Presidents. From this basic list, Strock
derives all of the details that form the basis of the rest of the book.
Rather
than simply provide lists, in each list, Strock offers commentary.
Unlike so many of the talking heads on television during this election
season, however, Strock’s commentary all has a basis in fact rather
than merely offering the individual’s opinion. Actually, reading
through The Presidential Book of Lists, the reader would be hard pressed to
make a case regarding Strock’s political opinions, aside from noting
his fascination with the office of the Presidency.
In
Strock’s hands, these lists do become entertainment. Although he makes many references to the current election,
although without naming either candidate, and President Bush, Strock’s
book does so in a way to tie them to the historical context he is more
interested in exploring. In
the final chapters, he describes the average President, at least in
terms of the measurable averages of the forty-two men who have held the
position, and notes how the next President could fit into those averages
(born before X date to be oldest, born after X date to be youngest).
At the end of a lengthy election, which always adds political
tension, Strock’s book is refreshingly apartisan.
One
rather strange list is near the end of the book, “The Most Uncommon
Presidents (Those Appearing in the Fewest Lists in this Book).” In
this list, Strock notes Jimmy Carter (for example) “appears on only
one list.” However, this is demonstrably false.
While Carter does appear on “The Five Presidents Who Lived
Longest After Leaving Office,” as noted in the entry, he also appears
on the list “Presidents Who Served in the Military” and
“Presidents Who Won the Nobel Prize.” It is confusing, then, on what
Strock is basing this list.
The Presidential Book
of Lists is a fun and educational book.
Its format lends itself to quickly dipping in and looking over a
couple of lists, but also allows the reader to spend more time comparing
the lists Strock has created. Despite the brief examinations, many of
the Presidents come out of the book with a personality rather than
simply as stock figures. Strock
has presented a fun and interesting book that can benefit many who are
interested in the Presidency. So,
when does he do a similar book on Vice-Presidents?
