Mornings On Horseback Summary

Mornings on Horseback Book Review Mornings on Horseback is a book by David McCullough based on the life of Theodore Roosevelt. McCullough is well known for his numerous historical non-fiction books, and has won multiple awards for his writings. Within the book McCullough conveys Roosevelt’s early life within his family, the influences from his family, his connection with nature, his personal well-being, and his entrance into politics. Throughout the book, McCullough describes in detail the life of Theodore Roosevelt, while stressing the impact of family in building Roosevelt, thus creating a well-rounded yet complex piece of literature. The book Mornings on Horseback covers the life of Theodore Roosevelt through a third person angle, in the …show more content…
One key element that is stressed in the book is the influence of family on Roosevelt. Throughout the book, Roosevelt’s family pushed him to be a good man. For example it says, “They knew themselves to be aristocrats… “people of good family” was preferred. They had little patience with bad manners, no use for social climbers…” It specifically states that his family did not like bad manners and that they wanted to be “good.” Within this family, Theodore Roosevelt was able to grow up in the mindset of being superior. He would not be tolerated to be rude or obnoxious based on the family around him, because they would frown upon him for doing so. Roosevelt looked up to his father as well, and in his father’s image, Roosevelt followed. Within the Kirkus online book review of Mornings on Horseback, it states, “Here is Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.--"a great bearded figure of a man. . . readily touched by the sufferings of others."” Even other articles such as the one above note the role model that Theodore Roosevelt had, and since he looked up to his father so much, his character is built strong, in the shape of a “man.” The key trait of family is also noted within the New York Times book review, titled The Making of Theodore Roosevelt, stating, “Mr. McCullough believes that T.R.'s transformation could never have taken place without the extraordinary Roosevelt family.” The article above even directly credits the Roosevelt family for the success of Theodore Roosevelt, while at the same time telling the opinion of McCullough. Furthermore with family background, the book states that, “They were Roosevelts, but, being Roosevelts, that in itself could never be thought of as enough. Duty and family name demanded more.” Based on this line, not only was Roosevelt influenced to become great by his family, the name also mean that others would expect great things from him. Others associated the family name with greatness