The Strenuous Life: Essays and Addresses of Theodore Roosevelt

I read all the 2009 reviews about "repeated paragraphs" and "bad transcript" before buying 2012 Dover Thrift Editions copy, and I found maybe two transcriptions problems in the entire edition, both of them being an extra space inserted in the middle of the word. If you think there's "repeated paragraphs" in here it's only because all the collected speeches come from 1900 and 1901 and TR is hammering away at the same issues over and over and over again. Yes, elements of one speech appear again elsewhere, but I don't think it's transcription problems. Aside from that, this is a worthy read. Many of the issues TR speaks about are still with us today: individual initiative vs. state regulation; the meaning of citizenship; the responsibilities of citizenship; class relations; assimilating new arrivals; and TR lays out his opinions on each without offering much in the way of policy or dogma. Mixed with that you'll also find in here the "White Man's Burden" view of the civilized world vs the barbarous world regarding Cuba, the Phillipines, China which offers a glimpse into the culture TR was steeped in. This the raw data, not edited nor sanitized for modern sensibilities; TR speaks the language of "men", not "people". So if you're really interested in looking into the world, the language and the characters of one of our most popular presidents, this might be worth your time.

I first listened to this on Audible and was so impressed I bought the book to find quotes more easily. I can't believe I'm only now getting to realize what an amazing person Theodore Roosevelt was. For those who at some point (based on reviews) were getting something different from what they expected, the book I got was the entire speech/article content that's on the Audible version, in chapters, as expected, didn't seem like anything was abridged. I also bought River of Doubt by Candice Millard, which is one of the best books I've read in the last 20 years, and was glad I had read this first because it gave me much greater insight into the person Teddy Roosevelt was when he went through that incredible river journey - I don't think I would have appreciated it quite as much if I hadn't gotten a feel for his character through 'The Strenuous Life' first.

While interesting at times, and historically important, what Theodore Roosevelt says in these speeches and articles is often astonishingly ignorant, racist, and/or aggressive (particularly concerning Native Americans). He defends and promotes some of the most ruthless imperial policies, using the now tired contrast-principle repeatedly to disguise himself as a moderate. Another common imperial ruse employed in the work includes the American classic "we're gonna prevent anybody from taking over this area, by basically taking control of this area". I wouldn't be surprised if Hitler read and studied these works as a teenager.Here's a delightful sample cheering a genocide successfully accomplished:"Save only the preservation of the Union itself, no other task has been so important as the conquest and settlement of the West. This conquest and settlement has been the stupendous feat of our race for the century that has just closed." Teddy was proud that Americans had "guided their white-topped wagons across the endless leagues of Indian-haunted desolation", and he urged future generations to "preserve the iron quality which made our forefathers and predecessors fit to do the deeds they did."Wow, I guess we haven't let him down.

$3.50 with free shipping is a great deal for this collection of the bull moose's essays and addresses - but if I were to buy it again, I'd seek out a nice hardcover version, or even a collectible historic copy. This is the type of book you'll want to chew on and refer back to again, and this cheap paperback version with relatively small/crammed print might not hold up as well or properly convey the nobility of its contents.As I read the book, I kept thinking "there is nothing new under the sun". I can't say I agree with everything he says, but I can't help but deeply respect the man. It is definitely worth reading and thinking about how far we have/haven't come in 110 years.

The text is a bit small. It was a great read. Great set of speeches and essays of the president. I was genuinely surprised at some of the philosophy the president held. Highly recommended

Still, a relevant essay on the life one should strive toward even today.

The kindle essay collection was a few dollars and I decided to give it a try. As a history buff it was nice to get a better look at one of my favorite figures of the 20th century in his own words.

A good read, fine example of a man

I wondered originally how The Strenuous Life could be a complete book since it is a relatively short address the most of which can be found online in a search but there are other essays in which volume too. It remains a short but a good book providing a good overview to the opinions of Theodore Roosevelt.Included are:- The Strenuous Life; Expansion and Peace; Latitude and Longitude among Reformers; Fellowing-feeling as a Political Factor; Civic Helpfulness; Character and Success; The Eighth and Ninth Commandments in Politics; The Best and the Good; Promise and Performance; The American Boy; Military Preparedness and Unpreparedness; Admiral Dewey; Grant; The Two Americas; Manhood and Statehood; Brotherhood and Heroic Virtues; National Duties; The Labor Question; Christian Citizenship.The character of much of the essays is one of patriotism and how exceptional Americans and America is or could be, however, there are more strains of hope than utopianism or perfectionism. Its clear that Roosevelt felt that the early character of American life and politics should be preserved some how, even that which was a reflection of struggle or hardship, this begins with the first essay but crops up again and again.There is also a lot of unashamed musing about manliness and its bearing on a good life, obligations etc. I really liked reading this and I dont know of any other, certainly not any recent, national leader who could inspire admiration with writing like this. The final essays move from homage to the life of struggle to a greater concern with matters which could be broadly speaking labelled as concerning social conscience. It was interesting to read these because it is something which does not feature as strongly in US culture or politics in the same shape now.A good read, especially if you are interested in history, politics, semi-biographical philosophy or American history. Recommended.

Fantastic reading. Absolutely fantastic. However, there are frequent spelling mistakes that can be very distracting.