Mornings on HorsebackMornings on Horseback
Score Classic
What it's about
David McCullough tells the story of young Theodore Roosevelt: a sickly boy from a wealthy New York family who, despite asthma and weak eyesight, demanded a strenuous life. The book follows him and his remarkable family through his youth, the tragedies of his twenties and the transformation that made him who he became.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Award and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. It's an intimate portrait of a family and the making of a president.
You'll love it if you liked
The Wright Brothers
John Adams
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham LincolnGood to know
It ends before his presidency, so it's about who he was, not what he did. Edmund Morris's trilogy covers the rest.
By the numbers
- Readers66 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics73 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller4 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #116 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #208 of the 762 classics we rank
- #659 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by David McCullough
TrumanJohn Adams
The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914The Wright BrothersIf you like this, read next
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Quick answers
Is Mornings on Horseback worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Award and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. It ranks #659 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Mornings on Horseback about?
David McCullough tells the story of young Theodore Roosevelt: a sickly boy from a wealthy New York family who, despite asthma and weak eyesight, demanded a strenuous life. The book follows him and his remarkable family through his youth, the tragedies of his twenties and the transformation that made him who he became.
How long does it take to read Mornings on Horseback?
About 11 hours (445 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Mornings on Horseback won?
National Book Award (Nonfiction) winner (1982).
What should I read after Mornings on Horseback?
If you liked it, try The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, John Adams by David McCullough or Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin.