Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President Audiobook

" I really enjoyed this! Read like a historical fiction - althrough it is NONFICTION! My cup of tea - very educating! Make me want to read a biography of Alexander Graham Bell as well (I feel like I've already got a good insight after reading this book)! Worth the read! I've referred it to many. I checked it out at the library or I'd lend it out. "

" Very interesting book about President Garfield's assassination. Author did a great job jumping back and forth between chapters about him and about his assassin. Liked her writing and thought she did a great job with background and history of both men. "

" Cinematic storytelling opens up a period of our history that is often overlooked. "

" A great must read about a little known President, James Garfield. What a renowned President he would have been if not for a deranged man. It is a profound read on the famous inventors involved in inventions that would have saved Garfield's life had Dr. Bliss not been his own designated surgeon of Garfield. "

" Good pop history. But way too much on Alexander Graham Bell and not enough on weirdo Charles Guiteau. "

" I enjoyed Millard's River of Doubt and also really liked this book. I knew nothing about President Garfield so it was amazing to learn what a dynamic figure he was and what an advocate of social equality he was. It was a shame he didn't get a chance to put his mark on the presidency. The medical side of the story got a little tiresome toward the end but all in all a great book. "

" Very interesting history around the assassination of Garfield. Had the view of all the players involved in both the direct murder and the people who tried to save his life. Recommended read. "

" It was an wonderful read. I almost felt like I was reading a novel! I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in presidential biographical books as well as anyone interested in the historical aspects of medicine. "

" I can't remember how this book was recommended to me but I am certainly glad it was. The subject matter didn't particularly appeal to me when I read the synopsis. But if you like history and biographies, I think you will really like this book. I loved it. Fascinating and very well written. "

" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It covered an event and a president I knew next to nothing about. Almost identical in style to Eric Larson, it reads like a Ken Burns script. "

" Great book. Tell the fascinating and tragic story of the assassination of James Garfield. A must read for any history buff. "

" This book was fascinating! There were so many interesting things that I didn't know. President Garfield was an amazing man who was shot down in the prime of his life. It was interesting how Alexander Graham Bell created an instrument to find the bullet that was inside Garfield. "

" Surprisingly touching and inspiring biography of a great man. Even his death gave back to our nation. If only we could have a presidential candidate like him today. "

" Just started this and can't put it down. "

" I highly recommend this book, It does not read like a typical non fiction. The interweaving of the interesting characters is truly remarkable and interesting, books seldom make me tear but the author makes you connect with the characters in such an intimate way that you can not help yourself. "

" Outstanding book, very engaging and well written. Loved it! "

" Very, very good. The medical info was appealing to me and a shame that the medical profession basically killed him. Did not know anything about this president before reading the book. "

" Interesting account of American medical views in Garfield's era but book is marred by overwriting and many stretches of purple writing . Author tries too hard to let us know that it's too bad Garfield and his presidency are all but forgotten. "

" Excellent short history of Garfield; book is well written, interesting and enjoyable; parallel plot with Alexander Bell OK but a bit contrived. "

" Absolutely loved it!!! Great recommendation from a friend and the One Book One Lincoln program. "

" When I started listening to this book I didn't know too much about any of the subjects. But, I found it to be very interesting and now I want to more about James Garfield. I loved this book. "

" A compelling read about a president I knew nothing about--what an amazing man and what a horrible loss. So so difficult to read the last 1/3 of the book as I was seething at the ironically named doctor, Bliss, who unintentionally killed Garfield. What an incredibly prideful idiot. "

" Good read. Very well researched and the story well-told. Found some of the medical stuff heartbreaking. Very interesting history. "

" I really knew nothing about Garfield. This is well-written and weaves together the story of Garfield with the medical field, Lister, and Alexander Graham Bell. Good read! "

" I really enjoyed this book. I was fascinated by the events that occurred during this time period. "

" A fasinating insight into President Garfield. "

" Poor man!!!! Such a sad story! "

" Really interesting. I learned a lot about this President and this time period that I didn't know. "

" A delightful and well-researched history book about the brief presidency of Garfield. Well-written and extremely interesting to read of the events of his assassination and of related events of the time (early 1880s). "

" Fascinating look at an overlooked president, the assassination he could have survived had the medical practices of the time not interfered, and the legacy of unity between North and South that his death left behind. "