Book notes: Stories of adversity and perseverance
The February selection for the UMRA Book Club was Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin, a well-known historian who has written previous books on the four presidents presented in this book: Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson.
The format of Leadership is different from her previous books in that she compares how each of these four presidents dealt with three different aspects of their lives: ambition and early recognition of leadership ability, adversity and growth, and leadership during crises. Goodwin’s writing style is academic but at the same time makes for enjoyable reading.
The first and second sections of the book tell how each president persevered through early life adversities with strong determination to succeed. The third section details the difficult parts of their presidencies: Lincoln with the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation; Theodore Roosevelt with the coal strike of 1902; Franklin Roosevelt with the Great Depression and the New Deal; and Johnson with civil rights and voter rights, Medicare, and other legislation that President Kennedy initiated.
Presidents who got things done
The UMRA Book Club members liked the book and many voiced the opinion that these presidents got things done quickly and were able to convince Congress to act to correct the disabling factors affecting the country. The group also noted that these presidents worked with their staffs to accomplish the changes needed to propel the country forward in times of turbulence.
Some in the book group who had read previous biographies of these presidents by Goodwin felt that this book, by dealing with specific qualities, elicited emotional responses regarding personal lives, adversity, depression, and the perseverance needed to push forward for the good of the country.
In the book’s epilogue, Goodwin focuses on the final days before each president dies and offers a beautiful description of each man’s accomplishments.
—Stephanie Daily, UMRA Book Club
Book Club to meet January 17
Fri, Jan 17 2020, 2pm
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin when the UMRA Book Club meets at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 17, at 1666 Coffman in Falcon Heights. In February, Pat Tolleson will lead a discussion of Italian Shoes by Henning Mankell. Discussion of our March book, A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of an American Spy who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell, will be led by Judy Helgen. Our April book is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens; Beth Bedell will lead the discussion. In May, Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. Contact Pat Tollefson at [email protected] for more information.
Upcoming Events
We are fortunate to have UMRA member and former Minnesota Landscape Arboretum director Peter Moe to lead this approximately 3.7-mile hike at the Arboretum on Monday, May 6. Plan to have lunch together after the hike at the Eatery café inside the Oswald Visitor Center.
This session will continue the discussion begun in the May 8, 2023 session. See that article for details.
If you currently live in your own home or apartment, have you looked ahead to when you might want to consider a senior living option? Do you have any idea what those options might be? How much they cost? What they provide? UMRA’s May 14 workshop will provide an overview of the world of senior living and the basic information you need.
You’re invited to join the final Family History Interest Group meeting for 2023–24. This will be an opportunity to ask questions related to family history, share insights, talk about recent projects, and suggest topics for next year.
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by best-selling author Mary Roach when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
The May 20 hike will start at the Historic Lift Bridge in Stillwater and go along the river to the new bridge, cross over and then back on the Wisconsin side, a total of approximately 5 miles. Most of the route is paved. We will eat lunch after at Brian's Bar and Grill in Stillwater. Car pooling will be available.
Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club welcomes back, for the second time, author Julie Schumacher, U of M Regents professor of creative writing and English, for a conversation about her novel The Shakespeare Requirement.
We are in for a treat on June 3! Lynn Anderson, will lead us on trails at two parks near her Monticello home. Bring a bag lunch and we will gather in Lynn's yard along the Mississippi River for eating and socializing after the hike.
Get out to the ballpark with fellow UMRA members for the annual U of M Day at Target Field as the Minnesota Twins take on the Oakland Athletics on June 14 at 7:10 p.m.
Please join us at 9:30 on June 17, 2024 for a walk around Lake Como in St. Paul before attending the UMRA Summer Social and Picnic starting at 11 at the Como Pavilion. A perfect opportunity to get in a walk before we gather to celebrate summer.
Picnic under the covered, open-air Como pavilion, gaze at the water, spy some birds, catch up with friends and former colleagues, and meet new members. We’ll have lunch with plenty of time for visiting and then compete in teams as we are challenged by our Quiz master(s)!
Healthy aging, mindfulness, fighting ageism, and more will be the focus of the third annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus.