Grant, in the author’s eyes, was an ordinary man, exceptional by no means other than the single gift of having the ability to apply his talents to something that actually drew his attention and interest. While being considerably unsucc

essful as a businessman prior to serving as a military leader and ranked amongst the bottom of the American presidents through the years, his interest that had filled him with the inspiration to act as a leader and major contributor to American history is the Civil War. Grant longed for approval and to be revered, and going to war allowed him to do just this. He possessed a common sense about him having no patience for extravagant theories of authority figures while at WestPoint or politically speaking. This, along with his fluctuating yet substantial self-confidence is what allowed him to make himself into such a prominent figure of the time. Many lived though him and this praise he had won as a general was enough to vote him into office.

While I extracted favorable qualities of Grant from this book, it is thought by several reviewers that McFeely is concentrating on Grant as being ordinarily plain with no evidence of outstanding talent. Richard N. Current, a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro states how the biography shies away from the Civil War general and presidential shortcomings, and looks into “a great deal about the personal vicissitudes of a nondescript nineteenth century American.” Despite this difference in opinion, I did find the book interesting, discussing Grant on a personal level. Current calls it the “most fascinating account of its subjects personal and family life.” It is a valued addition on the personal level of one of the major contributors to Amer

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