What dead American presidents reveal "about ourselves, our history, and how we imagine our past and future." In his spirited debut book, Carlson, host of NPR's Weekend Edition for New Hampshire Public Radio, looks at the curious ways that presidents have been commemoratedby buildings and tombs, statues and libraries, and even bars and gift shops. Some presidents (George Washington and Calvin Coolidge, for example) resisted being celebrated. "It is a great advantage to a President," Coolidge wrote in his autobiography, "and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know he is not a great man." Not all were so modest. John Tyler was "the first presidential pariahand the first president the House considered impeaching"; yet he longed to be remembered as a great man, appointing a literary executor to review and eventually publish his papers. Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to establish his own library, setting a model for every successor. Besides millions of documents, letters, and government papers, the library contains his stamp collection and a papier-mch Sphinx made to lampoon him when he refused to reveal if he would run for a third term. In the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, a life-size robotic version of Johnson "stands behind a podiumand cracks jokes." Along his exuberant journey, Carlson found whole cities devoted to presidential celebration: in Buffalo, which claims connections to Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and Teddy Roosevelt, a downtown pub is called Founding Fathers, where patrons can order a "Hail to the Chef!" sandwich. Rapid City, South Dakota, near Mount Rushmore, calling itself "the most patriotic city in America," features a complete set of life-size presidential statues. Mount Rushmore itself, the enthusiastic author learned, "was designed not to be an icon of American identity buta tourist trap" meant to draw visitors to the Black Hills. A brisk, lighthearted travelogue with an exuberant guide. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

When it comes to final wishes, even presidents don't always get their way. Take George Washington, who wanted a private funeral held at Mount Vernon, but cities across the country also held mock funerals of their own. The first president was not alone in having his wishes ignored, as NPR reporter Carlson notes in this thoroughly enjoyable account of presidential gravesites and memorials. From unusual deaths to unique monuments to lingering questions about causes of death (Did William Henry Harrison really die of a cold?), our nation's presidents made some of their most peculiar contributions to history after their terms on earth expired. With both the reverence of a pilgrim and the impudence of a comedian, Carlson tours the presidents' homes and graves, demonstrating in the process how the manner in which we remember these men reveals as much about us as it does about them for however much they accomplished in life, the presidents are also remarkable for the legacy they pass on after passing away.--Thoreson, Bridget Copyright 2015 Booklist

Inspired by a lifelong fascination with America's chief executives, Carlson, a reporter and NPR host, adopts a novel perspective on American history by exploring the ways in which past presidents have been remembered and memorialized. It's hard to imagine a better narrator for this audio book. Zingarelli's deep and gravelly voice naturally contains the right amount of gravitas for the subject, especially during the more somber moments when the author visits the tombstones of the deceased American leaders. Zingarelli just as aptly captures the humor and curiosity that arises from quirky and morbid approach to American history. He uses a fittingly regal voice for the quotes and passages from the presidents themselves. With good pacing and emphasis, and a congenial tone, he keeps listeners' interest long enough for readers to discover the fascinating ways that Carlson connects the different presidential deaths. A Norton hardcover. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Carlson, a New Hampshire public radio host, provides listeners with an unusual take on the story of the American presidents. In this humorous audiobook, he examines the lives after they left office of 40 of the 44 men who held the post, the circumstances of their deaths, and the gravesites, memorials, and libraries constructed to honor them. Some of the stories are tragic, such as the eight leaders who died in office through assassination or illness. Others, such as Millard Fillmore, William Howard Taft, and Herbert Hoover, show that a difficult presidency is only one chapter of an otherwise productive life. Carlson also provides a brief account of the lives of the descendants of the presidents. He closes the work with the story of Mt. Rushmore. Reader Tom Zingarelli presents the story in a light and funny manner. VERDICT This entertaining audiobook is recommended to listeners with an interest in American history. ["Readers who enjoyed Sarah Vowell's Assassination Vacation will enjoy Carlson's similar book": LJ 11/15/15 review of the Norton hc.]--Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Parkersburg Lib. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.