[travmatt]

That book was invalualable for exactly those two reasons: the evenhanded portrait of a very complex individual, and a detailed portrait of the world in which he lived and knew. That book started me on a long tear of other biographies of large individuals in American history, specifically from Reconstruction through the Vietnam War. I'm currently working through Robert Caro's multipart series on Lyndon Johnson, another awesome biographer.

[AndrewKemendo]

In that case it might be worth reading Factory Man, which is a somewhat biography of John D. Bassett III, third generation owner of Bassett furniture.

Completely fascinating history of the home furnishings industry and how globalization completely upended it.

[rpgmaker]

I wonder if I will ever get to read Caro's LBJ books. They've been on my to-reads for ages.

[Nicholas_C]

They were incredible, especially the first book, The Path to Power. It's a fascinating story of a man from humble beginnings who just wouldn't quit and had an unrelenting desire to be somebody powerful.