It's a delight -- and usually a surprising one -- to revisit a much-covered subject and still find fresh insights. Farrell achieves this in his highly readable, unflinching and yet ultimately humane biography of Nixon.

I actually wanted to give John Farrell's latest oeuvre 5 stars, but I couldn't bring myself to do it because this book was so long and such a project to work through. Of course, I'm conflicted because had it been shorter and less detailed, it wouldn't have been quite as amazing as it is--at least I doubt it. Rachel Maddow introduced this book on her show back in December and I was going to ask someone to buy it for me for Christmas, but I realized it wouldn't be out by then, and with all the insanity happening around the 2016 election, I needed to get my hands on it ASAP. Lucky for me, Doubleday came through on NetGalley and I was able to snag an ARC. I'm glad I did because it took me months to finally get through this.

Since most of us at least think we know the story of Richard Nixon's life, I'm not going to get into a lot of the details here. Let's face it: we know how the story ends--he got impeached. Farrell does manage to cover a lot of the details that are less well understood like Nixon's bizarre relationship with his family in part because of the strange circumstances surrounding his childhood and early adulthood. Both of his brothers died young due to diseases that were thought to be well under control at the time. Nixon idolized his mother and never seemed to feel like he was good enough for her. Perhaps when he engaged the help of "The Plumbers" at the White House, he was trying to prove any negative thoughts she had about him right. I don't know.

Even though Nixon developed a love for politics that stuck with him after his run for Congress against Jerry Voorhees, he remained extremely sensitive to the press's critiques of him and much like the current administration, tried to silence and discredit the press at every opportunity. That ended badly for him when he was taken down by strong investigative reporting conducted by Woodward and Bernstein of The Washington Post.

Nixon's presidency was much more complicated than I was ever led to believe by my parents who lived through his presidency and demonized him. He wasn't a great president, but he did do a lot of good things that often go unacknowledged. He opened relations with China even though doing so was a bit controversial and sent him and Kissinger into mini-breakdowns in the process. He also established the EPA because he really did care about reducing emissions and pollution. Of course, it's worth noting that the Democratic and Republican parties were different in Nixon's time. Republicans were a bit more like Teddy Roosevelt in that they cherished open spaces and wanted to protect them for future generations. Meanwhile, Democrats were mainly from the south and in many cases, much more openly racist than Republicans. Nixon actually was friends with Martin Luther King, Jr. And Jackie Robinson. Those relationships were strained when he failed to come through on supporting them during some key moments in the fight against segregation and for equal rights, but a lot of that had more to do with Nixon's insecurities about losing elections over being perceived as too liberal than basic beliefs about his ideal future for race relations in the United States. At the time, both parties were filled with privileged white men who just wanted votes however they could get them. There were probably some notable exceptions because there always are, but even Jack Kennedy overall took a less enlightened view than Nixon when it came to the rights and treatment of African Americans.

Richard Nixon: The Life is a must-read given the current political climate. When you get to the part about the Watergate scandal, the parallels between that and the current investigation into Russia hacking the U.S. Election are eerie. In many ways, this is one of the most frightening books I've ever read, but I'm glad I did it. Just be prepared to be reading it for a while because it is really long.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and Doubleday, the publisher. It was with the expectation that I would write a review and post it to Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my history book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus pages.

I requested this book because I have an avid interest in United States history and in particular presidential biographies. This is the first biography of Richard Nixon that I have read and the first book by John A. Farrell that I have read.

This book is well researched, documented and written. The author's style makes the biography come to life and easy to read. It deals deeply into the mind of Nixon and the potential causes for his deep seeded insencurity and depression. He was a brilliant man who was haunted by demons that at times existed only in his mind and at other times were very real.

My only complaint about this biography is that his time after his resignation is given a once over lightly treatment in comparison to the rest of the book that left me feeling that the author felt that there was very little in value.

I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in presidential biographies and Richard Nixon in particular. But be prepared to be somewhat disappointed in the final chapters.

History buffs rejoice; the definitive Nixon biography is here. John A. Farrell is the renowned biographer of Clarence Darrow. Now he gives us a comprehensive, compelling look at the only US president ever to resign from office under the cloud of imminent impeachment. This is the only Nixon biography that answers the many questions that left Americans—and those around the world that were watching—scratching our heads. Why, why, and why would he do these things? Farrell tells us. I read this book free and in advance, thanks to Net Galley and Doubleday, but it would have been worth paying the full retail price if I’d had to. It’s available to the public now.

Anytime I read nonfiction, I start with the sources. If the author hasn’t verified his information using primary sources, I go no further. Nonfiction is only fact if the author can prove that what he says is true—and I have never seen more meticulous, more thorough source work than what I see here. Every tape in the Nixon library; every memoir, from Nixon’s own, to those of the men that advised him as president, to those written by his family members, to those that opposed him are referenced, and that’s not all. Every set of presidential papers from Eisenhower on forward; the memoirs of LBJ, the president that served before Nixon took office; reminiscences of Brezhnev, leader of Russia ( which at the time was part of the USSR); reminiscences of Chinese leaders that hosted him; every single relevant source has been scoured and referenced in methodical, careful, painstaking detail. Farrell backs up every single fact in his book with multiple, sometimes a dozen excellent sources.

Because he has been so diligent, he’s also been able to take down some myths that were starting to gain a foothold in our national narrative. An example is the assertion that before the Kennedys unleashed their bag of dirty tricks on Nixon’s campaign in 1960, Nixon was a man of sound principle and strong ethics. A good hard look at his political campaigns in California knocks the legs out from under that fledgling bit of lore and knock it outs it out of the nest, and out of the atmosphere. Gone!

Lest I lend the impression that this is a biography useful only to the most careful students of history, folks willing to slog endlessly through excruciating detail, let me be perfectly clear: the man writes in a way that is hugely engaging and at times funny enough to leave me gasping for air. Although I taught American history and government for a long time, I also learned a great deal, not just about Nixon and those around him, but bits and pieces of American history that are relevant to the story but that don’t pop up anywhere else.

For those that have wondered why such a clearly intelligent politician, one that would win by a landslide, would hoist his own petard by authoring and authorizing plans to break into the offices of opponents—and their physicians—this is your book. For those that want to know what Nixon knew and when he knew it, this is for you, too.

I find myself mesmerized by the mental snapshots Farrell evokes: a tormented Nixon, still determined not to yield, pounding on the piano late into the night. I hear the clink of ice cubes in the background as Nixon, talking about Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India, suggests that “The Indians need—what they really need—is a mass famine.”

I can see Kissinger and the Pentagon making last minute arrangements to deal with a possible 11th hour military coup before Nixon leaves office. Don’t leave him with the button during those last 24 hours, they figure.

And I picture poor Pat, his long-suffering wife to whom he told nothing, nothing, nothing, packing all through the night before they are to leave the White House…because of course he didn’t tell her they were going home in time to let her pack during normal hours.

The most damning and enlightening facts have to do with Vietnam and particularly, Cambodia. Farrell makes a case that the entire horrific Holocaust there with the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot could have been avoided had Nixon not contacted the Vietnamese ambassador and suggested that he not make a deal with Johnson to end the war.

Whether you are like I am, a person that reads every Watergate memoir that you can obtain free or cheaply, or whether you are a younger person that has never gone into that dark tunnel, this is the book to read. It’s thorough and it’s fair, and what’s more, it’s entertaining.

Get it. Read it. You won’t be sorry!

This didn't hold my attention so I didn't finish it.