assassination

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President | Candice Millard

In an early-adopted eccentricity that would for him become a central “law of life,“ he refused to seek an appointment or promotion of any kind. “I suppose I am morbidly sensitive about any reference to my own achievements,“ he admitted. “I so much despise a man who blows his own horn, that I go to the other extreme.“

7 likes1 stack add

Amiable

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President | Candice Millard

Putting this out there for my fellow history nerds who may have watched the Netflix series that draws heavily from the tagged book (which is fabulous, by the way): I discovered a blog by a guy who has read and reviewed 260 presidential bios, from Washington to Obama. (He stopped where I would, too. 😖)

Some great stuff in here if you want to go down numerous rabbit holes: https://bestpresidentialbios.com/best-bios-summaries/

Susanita Tom and Lorenzo were talking about this. It sounds very interesting. https://overcast.fm/+AAEZglobxxc 2w

Mollyanna Thanks for putting this out there. This could be bad for my TBR. 😂 2w

Amiable @Mollyanna After watching the Netflix series my husband wanted to read about Chester Arthur. I told him I already have a bio of Arthur. But he saw this blog and wants the “definitive biography” on Arthur. So we bantered back and forth about whether to get the other one. I said this is the nerdiest argument ever in the history of arguments. 😄 (edited) 2w

See All 21 Comments

Amiable @Susanita The Netflix show? It‘s wonderful! A friend watched it too and said the producers should do a whole series on “Presidents we forgot existed.” You know, “James K. Polk: We Hardly Knew Ye!” and “William Henry Harrison: He Died in 30 Days!” I think that‘s GOLD. 😀 (edited) 2w

Mollyanna I love that argument 😂. Nerdy arguments are the best. I‘m slowly working my way through Presidential bios. I agreed with his choice for Washington, but read a different for Adams. Might have to go back and read his recommendation, so I get your argument. 2w

TEArificbooks I loved this book and the show was extremely well cast. As a us history teacher I love President bios. So much has already been lost in history. 2w

TEArificbooks And I‘m going down the rabbit hole. It would be fun to make a reading club where each month we read one biography about the presidents. 2w

Amiable @TEArificbooks I was literally contemplating throwing out that idea for 2026!! Let‘s do it ! What do you think: We can designate a president for a month and people can read what bio they want and then we can share our thoughts about him/what we learned? 2w

TEArificbooks @amiable that sounds awesome. I want to do them in order. So January is Washington, February is Adams etc. happy to co host with you. And people can read as many bios that they want. And bios come in many lengths so people can pick which is best for them. (edited) 2w

TEArificbooks And some of the presidents wrote autobiographies so those would also be acceptable. 2w

Amiable @TEArificbooks Yes! We are totally on the same page —I agree with all of this. Let‘s do it ! I‘d love to co-host with you. I‘ll make a post about it and we can share the invite. Should we wait a week or so — when do people start to think and plan their challenges for the new year? 2w

TEArificbooks @Amiable I think you can post whenever you want. I know other reading monthly challenges have been planning their prompts/books and will be announcing them soon 2w

dabbe I think I'm gonna wanna join this group! And yes, post soon. People are already planning for 2026. What fun! 🤩😍🤩

Thanks for the link, too, @Amiable. I think I'm going to be spending a lot of time at that web site! 😀 2w

Amiable @TEArificbooks Send me an email so we can chat in an easier way —I‘m at AmyBF45@gmail.com 2w

TEArificbooks @Amiable I sent an email check spam whenever no rush 2w

Amiable @TEArificbooks Got it ! Sorry, I fell asleep on the couch. My allergy meds are making me groggy. 😬😀 2w

TEArificbooks @amiable I took a nap too it is a rainy day here napping I a must and reading 2w

BkClubCare Fun idea 💡 2w

Suet624 Great idea!!! I‘d join! 1w

TheBookHippie I‘m so excited to do this. 1w

Kerrbearlib I didn‘t realize there was a Netflix series! Added to my watchlist! 6d

56 likes1 stack add21 comments

Christine

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President | Candice Millard

pick

While I would certainly not call myself a presidential history enthusiast 😆, I‘m so glad the new Netflix series put this book and author on my radar because I‘m a big fan of both now. This was very well-written and engaging and tied together so many historical events and figures that I didn‘t realize were connected. (Not to mention I knew nearly nothing about Garfield, who was impressive.) Now I can‘t wait to dive into Death by Lightning!

Librarybelle This is a favorite of mine. So well done, and a family member just told me about the Netflix documentary…so glad to see it‘s based on this book 3w

Christine @Librarybelle So good!! Have you read/do you recommend her other books? 2w

Librarybelle I‘ve read The River of Doubt which was good but not as strong as this one, in my opinion. I‘ve yet to read her book on Churchill though it‘s on my tbr! 2w

See All 6 Comments

Amiable This was a great book —and the Netflix series is fantastic, too! 2w

Christine @Librarybelle Okay, good to know (and I'll keep my eye out for your possible review of the Churchill book...someday :)! (edited) 2w

Christine @Amiable Ooh good, I haven't started the show yet but now I'm even more eager! 2w

40 likes2 stack adds6 comments

MallenNC

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President | Candice Millard

Now that the Netflix series is out, I‘m listening to this one again. It was one of my favorites when I read it several years ago.

Amiable I‘m so excited to watch the series! 3w

MallenNC @Amiable I am too! I‘m almost finished with my reread so I hope to start the show this weekend. 3w

CSeydel Oh I loved this book - had no idea they made it into a show. 3w

MallenNC @CSeydel It‘s called Death by Lightning on Netflix 3w

CSeydel Thanks! 3w

24 likes5 comments

CSeydel

Hellhound on His Trail: The Electrifying Account of the Largest Manhunt in American History | Hampton Sides

After finishing The Trees, how can I not dive directly into Hellhound On His Trail? The characters in The Trees even make a point of driving by the Lorraine Hotel when they are in Memphis.

Of course the other thing I feel compelled to do after finishing The Trees is research the names he mentions … spent the afternoon yesterday reading about the Rock Springs Riot in Wyoming, which I knew nothing of.

AmyG I‘m reading The Trees now. So good. 3w

SamAnne Loved The Trees. Love Percival Everett. Not surprised at all to find my hometown in his long list of,where lynchings happened. 3w

Amiable LOVE Hampton Sides —this book is so good! (edited) 3w

51 likes1 stack add3 comments

CSeydel

Hellhound on His Trail: The Electrifying Account of the Largest Manhunt in American History | Hampton Sides

Great spin this month! I‘ve been eyeing this Hampton Sides book about the MLK assassination for months, since I picked it up at a used bookstore. Looking forward to reading it for #NFNovember! And Our Missing Hearts is for my in-person book club this month. #bookspin

TheAromaofBooks

Amiable “Hellhound” is a fabulous book —one of my all-time favorite narrative nonfiction reads! 4w

CSeydel @Amiable Oh I‘m glad to hear it! I am looking forward to starting it 4w

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 4w

41 likes3 comments

wideeyedreader

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President | Candice Millard

pick

Finished listening to this one last night- and loved it!! I learned so much about President Garfield, who I really didn‘t know much about before. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

16 likes

Eggbeater

Bloody Times: The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis | James L. Swanson

#WDNCW #WeDoNotCareWednesday.
@dabbe

We do not care that when we complain about having our period for 19 days straight, you consider that too much information. If we have to live with it, you have to hear about it. 🩸

We're in #perimenopause , and we have no filters anymore. 🤣

TheBookHippie Oh I am sorry 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 so annoying.. 4mo

Karisa 19 days?! 😱 Peri sometimes feels like a continual line up of new betrayals of the body. Going to be so glad when the period part is done! 4mo

Prairiegirl_reading I thought once every two weeks was bad!! Peri is an asshole. I‘m sorry!!! 4mo

See All 10 Comments

CatLass007 Overshare away. May I tell you what my bowel habits have been since my surgery? 4mo

Eggbeater @CatLass007 But of course, my dear. If you have to live with it, the least I can do is listen. Doesn't bother me. 💩 4mo

Deblovestoread Ooof, I‘m sorry! When my periods changed from bad to worse I had an endometrial abalation which solved my problem. Not sure if it‘s a thing anymore but ask your doc. 4mo

AnnCrystal That's terrible 👸😶‍🌫️😵‍💫👌🏼💝. 4mo

Amiable I ended up having to have a surgical ablation to finally stop the persistent heavy bleeding when I was going through perimenopause — I feel your pain! 4mo

CatLass007 So sorry about your perimenopause p pain and troubles. Peri was a bear to endure but the relief of never having another period is priceless. You will get there. 4mo

CBee Dropping in to say that I can relate 💯 except, I also had an ablation and while it‘s tricky to figure out when my cycles will stop and I fully enter meno, not having periods has been bliss. Peri IS an asshole indeed @Prairiegirl_reading 4mo

45 likes10 comments

this_teacher_reads

Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot | Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard

15 likes

GinaKButler

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President | Candice Millard

Starting this today for my morning read!

#unreadbookshelf
#bookspinbingo

MallenNC This one is so good! I didn‘t know anything about this president before reading it. 8mo

GinaKButler @MallenNC This one was excellent! 8mo

MallenNC @GinaKButler It‘s one of my top nonfiction recommendations! Glad you enjoyed it. 8mo

See All 6 Comments

Amiable @GinaKButler Did you see the Netflix series based on this book? So good! 2w

GinaKButler @Amiable Oh, I didn‘t! I‘ll try to check it out…our TV is usually turned to baseball. 😂 2w

Amiable @GinaKButler it‘s called “Death by Lightning” and it‘s 4 parts. Episode 3 starts with a segment about the Oneida, NY, sex cult —just a heads up in case you have younger ones who want to watch, too. 2w

26 likes1 stack add6 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books