Almost President

The Men Who Lost the Race but Changed the Nation

By: Scott Farris

Narrated by: Scott Farris

As the 2012 presidential campaign begins: Profiles of 12 men who have run for the presidency and lost, but who, even in defeat, have had a greater impact on American history than many of those who have served as president - from Henry Clay to Stephen Douglas, William Jennings Bryan to Al Gore - Plus, mini-profiles on 22 "honorable mentions."

©2012 Scott Farris (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Countless insights, endlessly fascinating.

An absolute pleasure and gold mine of American history, full of small delightful facts and thought-provoking big picture analysis and insights. Full of charming stories and precise, excellent writing. The author narrates this himself and does a wonderful job. Highly recommended!

Fun trivia

Any additional comments?

By focusing on a few select figures, the author keeps things moving and avoids lapses into dry narrative. Lots of anecdotes and facts thrown in that highlight the colourful and sometimes great men who through bad luck or bad timing never did achieve the big one. As one of the men profiled said in his concession speech, "I love America, a place where anyone can grow up to be president, except me."

Entertaining, still relevant

Written in 2013, it seems prescient, with mentions of Trump and Ross Perot. Breezy and entertaining, Farris never gets bogged down in details, yet he hits the highlights. The narrator doesn't know how to pronounce such words as bon mots and realpolitik, but is good otherwise.