Biographies that struck me as interesting:
Man of the Century, the Life and Times of Pope John Paul II, by Jonathan Kwitny (HC, 1997, 754 pages, $2.50 as it has some staining of the end papers)
Learn how the "Polish Pope" came to be elected pope, as well as his role in the fall of the Soviet Empire. Included here is a partial reprinting of the pope's first book. 250 copies of this underground book "were hand-printed in Poland at mortal risk to the author , publishers, and readers."
Time and Chance: Gerald Ford's Appointment with History, by James Cannon (TPB, 1998, 496 pages, $2.50)
Did you know that Ford was the only president not to be elected? I had forgotten that Vice President Agnew had been forced to resign. At the time, 1973, Ford was feeling disappointed that he would never be Speaker of the House. He was tired of traveling, and tired of politics, and planned to soon go into private practice. Instead Ford was nominated to be VP, voted in by the Senate, and confirmed by the House. As he and his wife Betty were getting ready to move into the VP residence, Alexander Haig warned him to expect to go to the White House. Even after all this, historians treat Ford poorly for his decision to pardon Nixon. Read this book and make up your own mind.
Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman, by Merle Miller (HC, 1974, $1)
The classic biography of Truman, written from months of interviews with Truman, 20 years after he left the White House. Truman's presidency has been re-evaluated in the last twenty years. Do you think Ford's reputation ever will be?
On a lighter note-
Sean Connery, by John Parker (HC, 1993, $2.50)
When he became 007, he informed the producers how the part should be played. When he was 60 he was voted "the sexiest man alive". He is both a complex human and a complex actor. Read his life's story here.
These books can be found in the biography section.
