Book Review: The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
Earlier this summer, I re-read The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger. He mentioned that before every big meeting, he’d reread Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech. I also thought back to reading many of the Ryan Holiday’s work on Stoicism, and Roosevelt is often described as a devout stoic who would be seen carrying meditations on countless treks.
It dawned on me that I actually knew nothing about Roosevelt. It seems many of my favorite authors looked up to him for many reasons, and I was curious to dive into his life and learn why. This book, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, was the highest-rated biography of him and even won a Pulitzer, so it was an easy choice to start with.
The first half of the book completely hooked me. Roosevelt’s early life is fascinating, from his years as a young child catching and skinning wild animals, to his life at Harvard and beyond. Morris shows how curious and restless he was, constantly traveling the world, studying wildlife, and collecting specimens. The stories about him courting his first wife, Alice Lee, then losing both her and his mother, Mittie, on the same day are heartbreaking. His decision to escape to the Badlands afterward feels like a full rebirth, throwing himself into ranching and the frontier as a way to rebuild his identity. Later, when he reconnects with and marries his childhood friend Edith Carow, it feels like one of the few moments of calm in a life that rarely slowed down.
One of my favorite parts was reading about New York City during that time and how much it changed throughout his early life. Seeing the city evolve through Roosevelt’s eyes, from a rough, chaotic place into a more modern metropolis, was fascinating. Since I live here and love the city, it was incredible to picture the same streets and neighborhoods through that historical lens. It also made me appreciate how much Roosevelt cared about reform and how he tried to leave his mark on the city he grew up in.
It’s incredible how much life Roosevelt lived before even turning forty. Morris makes every chapter feel alive, from the Harvard halls and New York drawing rooms to the open plains of the Dakotas. But once Roosevelt’s political career starts to pick up, the pacing slows down. Some chapters drag while others feel too short, and the rhythm becomes uneven. The research is remarkable, and it’s clear Morris poured through endless diaries and letters, but sometimes that depth works against the storytelling. The cliffhanger ending also felt a little cheap, more like setup for the sequel than a true finish.
Still, I really enjoyed it overall. Roosevelt’s story is too good to get lost in a few slow patches. His energy, curiosity, and commitment to living fully are contagious. I’ve already started the next book in the series, and even if it’s not quite as strong, I’m invested enough to keep going.
That said, even after finishing this book, I’m not sure I fully understand the hype around Teddy yet. His story is fascinating and his personality larger than life, but outside of his speeches and charisma, he didn’t seem to accomplish as much as his legend suggests. I appreciated the story deeply, but I walked away more impressed by his character than his actual record. But maybe that is why people love him?