Recently I decided that it would be a seriously good time to read through the Presidents--mostly because deep down I am a total nerd... maybe it isn't all that deep down.  But I digress.

Here are the guidelines for this little project.  

1. I am reading a biography or autobiography for every U.S. President, in order.
2. I am only reading books written by respected historians--no Kitty Kelley allowed.
3. I probably want you to read with me.

For those of you who want to go on this little adventure with me, the first book is His Excellency by Joseph Ellis. 

The first thing I noticed about this book was that it takes the image we all have of the saintly George Washington and smashes it against the wall.  Of course, I come away from that liking Washington that much more... I have a bit of a weakness for jerks.  There is much to be said for someone who was handed a crown and flatly refused to take it, nevertheless, George Washington was no saint. 

The second thing is that through the 20/20 lens of hindsight it is extremely difficult to see the life of George Washington without seriously considering the possibility of divine providence.  Washington's life seems to go beyond coincidence and well into that gray area where philosophy and religion live. I come to that conclusion based on how many times during the French and Indian War alone that Washington should have been dead but walked away--often the only one to do so--without even a scratch.  What would have happened to the revolution had Washington died? It is of course arguable that the Continental Army would have defeated the British without Washington at it's helm, but with the long list of decisions that no one but Washington would have made, and with hindsight telling us that going the way of popular opinion would have lost the war, it is hard to imagine that George Washington wasn't guided by an invisible hand through the war of his youth to that place at that time in order to fight the British and become the father of a nation.

I can be counted amongst the cynical who are not so quick to lay reality on the alter of the supernatural, yet there have been many times during the reading of this book when I have been taken aback with sheer amazement at the truly unexplainability of it all. 

All that, and I'm only halfway through.  I'm sure there is much, much more to come.

The next book will be John Adams by David McCullough.  I hope you will join me soon.