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Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson’s election in 1828 ushered in a new and lasting era in which the people, not distant elites, were the guiding force in American politics. Democracy made its stand in the Jackson years, and he gave voice to the hopes and the fears of a restless, changing nation facing challenging times at home and threats abroad. To tell the saga of Jackson’s presidency, acclaimed author Jon Meacham goes inside the Jackson White House. Drawing on newly discovered family letters and papers, he details the human drama–the family, the women, and the inner circle of advisers–that shaped Jackson’s private world through years of storm and victory.

One of our most significant yet dimly recalled presidents, Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, the founder of the Democratic Party, and the architect of the presidency as we know it. His story is one of violence, sex, courage, and tragedy. With his powerful persona, his evident bravery, and his mystical connection to the people, Jackson moved the White House from the periphery of government to the center of national action, articulating a vision of change that challenged entrenched interests to heed the popular will–or face his formidable wrath. The greatest of the presidents who have followed Jackson in the White House–from Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt to FDR to Truman–have found inspiration in his example, and virtue in his vision.

Jackson was the most contradictory of men. The architect of the removal of Indians from their native lands, he was warmly sentimental and risked everything to give more power to ordinary citizens. He was, in short, a lot like his country: alternately kind and vicious, brilliant and blind; and a man who fought a lifelong war to keep the republic safe–no matter what it took.

Jon Meacham in American Lion has delivered the definitive human portrait of a pivotal president who forever changed the American presidency–and America itself.

Exclusive Amazon.com Q&A with Jon Meacham and H.W. Brands

On the eve of the historic 2008 presidential election, we were fortunate to chat with historians Jon Meacham and H.W. Brands (author of Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) on the similarities of their presidential subjects and how the legacies of FDR and Jackson continue to shape the political world we see today.

Amazon.com: One of Andrew Jackson's childhood friends once remarked that when they wrestled, "I could throw him three times out of four, but he never stayed throwed." How emblematic is this of Jackson's career?

Meacham: Utterly emblematic. Jackson was resilient, tough, and wily, rising from nothing to become the dominant political figure of the age. He was crushed by his loss in 1824, when, despite carrying the popular vote, he was defeated in the House of Representatives. But, tellingly, he began his campaign for 1828 almost immediately, on the way home to Tennessee. And he won the next time.

Amazon.com: What would Jackson think of Franklin Delano Roosevelt?

Meacham: I think they would have gotten along famously. It is difficult to imagine men from more starkly different backgrounds—to take just one example, Jackson lost his mother early, and FDR was long shaped by his mother—but they both viewed the presidency the same way: they both believed they should be in it, wielding power on behalf of the masses against entrenched interests.

Amazon.com: How important was Jackson's legacy to FDR's Presidency?

Brands: Jackson was FDR’s favorite president, and Jackson’s presidency was the one Roosevelt initially modeled his own after. FDR saw Jackson as the champion of the ordinary people of America; he saw himself the same way. He compared Jackson’s battle with the Bank of the United States to his own battle with entrenched economic interests. And just as Jackson had reveled in the enmity of the rich, so did Roosevelt.

Amazon.com: Although both were regarded as champions of the people, their backgrounds were drastically different. FDR hailed from a wealthy and politically-connected family, while Jackson was an orphaned son of immigrants. How did each manage to endear themselves to the voters of their day?

Meacham: Jackson was in many ways the first great popular candidate. He had “Hickory Clubs,” and there were torchlit parades and barbecues—lots and lots of barbecues. Jackson helped mastermind the means of campaigning that would become commonplace. He also intuitively understood the power of image, and kept a portrait painter, Ralph Earl, near to hand in the White House.

Brands: FDR combined noblesse oblige with felt concern for the plight of the poor. His polio had something to do with this—it introduced him to personal suffering, and it also introduced him, in Georgia, where he went for rehabilitation, to poor farmers unlike any he had spent time with before. He came to know them and to feel the problems they faced. He took people in trouble seriously and communicated that seriousness to them.

Continue reading this Q&A

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Wally practices work avoidance as if it's some New Age religion, Alice resorts to violent measures to relieve stress, and Dilbert remains cluelessly above it all. Throw in a boss who manages via buzzwords, and you have the main players in the favorite strip among office dwellers everywhere: Dilbert. It's a cast of characters all too familiar to most, which accounts for no small part of its amazing success. It seems that everyone knows, has worked with, or unknowingly is a Dilbert type.

This Dilbert day-to-day takes on a new look for 2009 with every one of the strips in full color..
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Great cooking goes beyond following a recipe--it's knowing how to season ingredients to coax the greatest possible flavor from them. Drawing on dozens of leading chefs' combined experience in top restaurants across the country, Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg present the definitive guide to creating "deliciousness" in any dish. Thousands of ingredient entries, organized alphabetically and cross-referenced, provide a treasure trove of spectacular flavor combinations. Readers will learn to work more intuitively and effectively with ingredients; experiment with temperature and texture; excite the nose and palate with herbs, spices, and other seasonings; and balance the sensual, emotional, and spiritual elements of an extraordinary meal.
Seasoned with tips, anecdotes, and signature dishes from America's most imaginative chefs, THE FLAVOR BIBLEis an essential reference for every kitchen..
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New York Times best-seller!

Watterson's imaginative approach to his material and his inventive graphics have made Calvin and Hobbes one of the few universally admired by other cartoonists " --Charles Solomon, Los Angeles Times Book Review

Calvin and Hobbes is unquestionably one of the most popular comic strips of all time. The imaginative world of a boy and his real-only-to-him tiger was first syndicated in 1985 and appeared in more than 2,400 newspapers when Bill Watterson retired on January 1, 1996. The entire body of Calvin and Hobbes cartoons published in a truly noteworthy tribute to this singular cartoon in The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Composed of three hardcover, four-color volumes in a sturdy slipcase, this edition includes all Calvin and Hobbes cartoons that ever appeared in syndication. This is the treasure that all Calvin and Hobbes fans seek..
Price: $94.50 [Notify me when price goes down.]

There's something for everyone in Darby Conley's popular comic strip Get Fuzzy. Dog people can praise Satchel's sweetness and point out Bucky's generally irascible disposition, while cat defenders can cite Bucky's independence and deride Satchel's overriding cluelessness. Those with even a shred of empathy can pity poor Rob as he tries to manage the interspecies household. All can agree, though, that the 2009 Get Fuzzy calendar is a hilarious way to spend the year, regardless of which side of the invisible fence you're on.* Get Fuzzy was named Best Comic Strip of 2002 by the National Cartoonists Society.

Though Satchel--who sees in only black and white--won't be much impressed, this Get Fuzzy format just got an upgrade. For the first time, each page's cartoon is presented in full color..
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Anyone who works in an office could use a little stress-reducing laughter. The Office: Jokes, Quotes and Anecdotes 2009 Calendar fills that need. With ample amounts of silly office terminology, humorous quotes, funny one-liners, plus resume "don'ts," this calendar is just what every office employee needs. Tear off each self-adhesive page you'd like to keep and stick it anywhere, or add a message and stick it in a coworker's office to add a little humor to the workday.

* This calendar is a perfect fit for any employee's desk and is guaranteed to provide hours of laughter.

* You Know You Are the Office Dork If . . . You wear the company logo attire on non-mandatory days.

* This calendar's adhesive-backed pages allow anyone to keep a joke or funny office quip simply by sticking the page to any surface..
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People magazine has dubbed Mary Engelbreit a Norman Rockwell for our times. For 2009, let Mary Engelbreit's calendar brighten your day, every day.

Each day is a gift; all we have to do is untie the ribbons. Whether it's watching a sunset, spending time with family, catching up with a friend, or simply enjoying quiet time at home, Mary Engelbreit's calendar, Each Day Is a Gift, helps us realize that even the simplest moments should be cherished. This new, family-friendly version offers plenty of planning space and weekly calendar grids to keep busy schedules organized. Flip to the back, and you'll find space for recording birthdays and anniversaries, names and numbers, babysitters, children's friends, services, restaurants, notes, even emergency contacts. The pocket in the back allows you to store appointment cards, invitations, photos, or whatever you wish..
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People magazine has dubbed Mary Engelbreit a Norman Rockwell for our times. For 2009, let Mary Engelbreit's calendar brighten your day, every day.

In Mary Engelbreit's 2009 wall calendar On the Edge, Mary reveals her unique take on life, but in her own humorous way. Whether encouraging you to relax more often, change your attitude, be a positive person, or have a better outlook on life, Mary's artwork serves as a cheerful reminder of how best to live a charmed life. This calendar, which features twelve new images from Mary and the quotes that inspired her, also contains plenty of space to jot down special days and important events..
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