Here's a book you HAVE to read!

I just finished reading a book titled "Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President." It's one of the best books I've read in a long time, and one I highly recommend if you're interested in history and politics. It harks back to an era when a fledgling nation was led by some of the brightest minds in its history. Rounding out Washington's cabinet was Secretary of State and future President Thomas Jefferson, who formed the Democratic-Republican party; Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who established the first Bank of the United States and helped found the Federalist Party; Secretary of War Henry Knox; and Attorney General Edmund Randolph. Many historians deem this the best presidential cabinet ever to be assembled.

Despite their differing political views, these men led the nation through turbulent waters in the late 1700s. From strained relations with the British and French that brought the nascent country to the brink of war to partisan bickering that ultimately led to the formation of political parties, charting a path to growth didn't come easy. But Washington's leadership -- coupled with the advice and counsel of his peerless cabinet members -- guided the nation through these and many other challenges, and the United States was well on its way to becoming the most powerful country in the world.

It's had to believe that we've devolved from men of Jefferson's and Hamilton's caliber to politicians like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. These guys would be aghast at how vitriolic politics have become, not to mention how dim witted candidates running for office are these days. I would give anything to go back in time and see how guys like Washington, Adams, and Jefferson ran the show.

Again, this is a can't-miss book if you're interested in learning about George Washington and the intellectual heavyweights who comprised his first cabinet. I regard the late 1700s/early 1800s as the most fascinating period in American History, so it's hardly a surprise I found the book to be a real treat.

Would you ever read this type of book? Or are you mostly a non-fiction kind of guy/gal?

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