Bøger af Michael Edward Donovan

This is a 16,000 word basic, short history of the USA in Tom's time. Segments include the Leopard and the Chesapeake; the Louisiana Purchase, the naval war in the Mediterranean; the Anas; the Clermont; The Sacajawea Expedition; and the "Dumbargo." Most historians take a side in the Hamilton-Jefferson feud. The author is not a Tomophile but is not a Hambone either. This book has a balanced opinion on that one, overall, but is highly critical of Jefferson's drastic reduction of US military power.

This is one Boston Irishman writing about another. Volume one ends with a few pages on trouble brewing in Cuba, and the James Meredith controversy in September of 1962. The SOURCES segment for both volumes is at the end of volume II. This book concentrates on foreign policy issues such as Laos, Berlin, Vietnam, and Cuba, more than on the Kennedy family or his personal life "off the field."

This is the 18-font version of Mike Donovan's book: Early American History

This is the story of the USA on the eve of the War of the Southern Secession.

This is a 39,000 word history of the USA from 1901 to 1909, the era of Teddy Roosevelt. Mike's history books are easy to read, are highly opinionated, and include a joke or two along the way. This is part of Mike Donovan's total history of the United States from the Vikings to Obama. It is as basic as a school textbook, but it is written in the key of fun. Read about the Panama Canal, the Russo-Japanese War, the Coal Strike of 1902, the Alaska Boundary Dispute, and Teddy propensity to box people who came to visit him at the White House. The author doesn't love Teddy Roosevelt, but tries to be fair. He feels that Teddy's love of war was unhealthy and that President Roosevelt dragged the USA into foreign policy entanglements that could have, and probably should have, been avoided. This book is in a noce 14-font (calibri) which is very easy on the eye while not being a technically 'large-font' book.

This is volume one of the Civil War story. (The bibliography is at the end of Vol, 2)

This is a short (10,300 wd) history of the USA in the time of James Monroe, the last of the Virginia Dynasty. Segments include Denmark Vescey, The First Seminole War, the Panic of 1819, the Missouri Compromise and the Era of Good Feelings.

This is a short history of the Gerald Ford years with the usual Mike Donovan emphasis on foreign policy and political events, rather than social and cultural trends. There is a three-page section on Angola, and Ford's attempt to provide assistance there to anti-Communist forces, and nothing on disco or cocaine. Mike Donovan's books provide clarity, information and a touch of entertainment. The fall of Indochina is discussed with passion. There are not enough books about this forgotten era. This book is a Cadillac, not a Ford, and can liven up any discussion about the Ford presidency.

This is volume two of Mike's history of the Kennedy years. The last 25% of the book is about the assassination. There is a lot of material about the coup against South Vietnamese President Diem, and his deranged brother.

This is part 2 of Mike Donovan's history of the American Revolution. There is a copy of the Constitution, with comments, in the Appendix. This book is lively, opinionated, and clear.

This book is a collection of the sections on the Vietnam War in my Kindle-published books on Truman. Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford. This book was created by public demand. Dozens of people have said to me, almost word for word "You really should write a book about the Vietnam War." After completing my books on the presidencies, it occurred to me that I already have. So here it is, from the end of World War II to the 'Last Helicopter Out of Vietnam.'

John Adams might be the most underrated president of them all. The nation clamored for war with France in his time, and he said no. In 1803, Napoleon sold Louisiana to the USA. That almost certainly would never have happened if Adams had chosen war. They don't build too many statues to men of peace, but you can put Adams on a pedestal for what he did not do. This is a short (14,000 wds) book and it covers the basics like a schoolbook, but without the stupid quiz at the end.

This is an easy to read, opinionated, and occasionally humorous account of the American Revolution from 1765 to the end of 1777. It is set in 14-font, and the segments are all short and self-contained. Segments include The Stamp Act Congress of NYC; the Green Dragons; the Hutchinson Letters; the Quebec Act of 1774; John Brown from Pittsfield; Izzy Gordon Took an Axe; Arnold's March to Quebec; the Battle of Widow Moore's Creek; Kip's Bay; Nathan Hale; the Battle of Princeton; the Republic of Vermont; Brandywine Creek; Saratoga; and Von Steuben.

The Vietnam War was Johnson's War. There were 16,000 American soldiers in Vietnam when Johnson took the oath of office in Dallas on 11.22.63. When Johnson left office there were 605,000 American soldiers in Vietnam. This is a short and opinionated history of the Johnson years by someone who lived through them as a boy. There is a lot in here about the Election of 1964 and the decision-making process that went into escalating the war from 16,000 to 605,000. The author does not like Lyndon, but who ever did?

This is the story of the greatest of them all: Warren G. Harding. All right, maybe Harding wasn't the greatest, but maybe he had a few good qualities. Mike Donovan tells the story in a fair-minded fashion. The USA rejected the League of Nations in Harding's time. History has condemned the Republicans for this, but is there more to this story than you know? Mike offers some interesting arguments on that one. Most of the book is basic information, and there is a bit of a focus on foreign affairs. Read about the Teapot Dome, the Washington Naval Treaties, the first woman in the Senate and the always exciting Fordney-McCumber Tariff.

This is volume four in Mike Donovan's complete history of World War I.

This is the story of the New England Yankee who was sworn in as President by his father. Calvin Coolidge was the man who knew how to get ahead and when to get out. He could have run in 1928 but Coolidge wisely declined. He would have been the goat of the Great Depression if he had stayed on. Instead he handed the bomb off to his Secretary of Commerce, Herbert Hoover. This is a short basic history of the USA in the years of Mister Cool.

This is the story of the USA in the time of President Bill Clinton. The author is not a fan of Bill Clinton, but he tries to be fair and give credit where it is due. This is not to say fair and balanced; only fair. In addition to being highly opinionated, this book is a survey of the events of the era, from Somalia in 1993 to the attack on the USS Cole on October 12, 2000.

This is the story of the years of the USA under Dwight David Eisenhower. It is largely focused on American foreign policy. The Korean War and the Vietnam War get more coverage than the hula-hoop and the changing roles in American society. The author is a stand-up comedian and is apt to make a wise crack now and then, but this is a highly informative little book.

These are the brave men who earned the Medal of Honor in the First World War. They are listed in chronological order, by deed, but alphabetically by name. The story of their action is described below their photo.

This is the story of the Great War in the year 1916. It is a basic outline textbook history book with some opinion and a little touch of humor now and then. Read about the Somme, Verdun, the Brusilov Offensive, Air Combat, the Fall of Joffre and the rise of David Lloyd George. This book is 20,000 words, 102 pages and is set in a very easy on the eye 14-font.

This is the story of the man who got stuck with the blame for the Great Depression, Mister Herbert H. Hoover. Mostly it is the story of the events of his time, from the Crash; to the Bogus Army; the Lindbergh Kidnapping, and the so-called Bank Holiday.

The is a big-font book. The format is loose so that's why I call this a 'Reader' and not a comprehensive 'History of Boston.' No one less than two or over the age of 130 should read this book.

This is a collection of the sections on Presidential Elections from my previous books on the Presidencies. It gets livelier near the back end. This is a book for political junkies to devour from cover to cover. It's thorough.

The man who succeeded Teddy Roosevelt was the largest person ever to inhabit the Oval Office. Taft was a Republican President who went on to become a Supreme Court Justice. This is written with clarity and a touch of humor now and then. Read about the Ballinger Problem, Shoshone Mike, the Wobblies, and Taft's feud with his old pal, Teddy.

Segments include the Shoe Bomber; the Chinese April Fool's air accident; Gary Condit; Stem Cell Research; 911; the hunt for Bin Laden; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; the Election of 2004 (the Year of John Kerry); and miscellaneous domestic affairs. The last quarter of the book is a running account of the Election of 2008, and has little to do with W. The author voted for George W. Bush twice.

This is the story of the USA in the Time of the late George H. W. Bush. The author is an admirer of Mr. Bush, especially his performance in the Kuwaiti Crisis of 1990-1991. It is 40,000 words long.

This is a short, 11,000 word survey of the events of the John Quincy Adams Administration. Segments include the Opening of the Erie Canal, the Anti-Mason Party, The Greek Revolution and the Tariff of Abominations. John Quincy Adams is the only president who knew he would not be reelected on the day he was elected. Jackson was the most popular man in 1824 but Adams had more political clout. That would not hold out for the next election and everyone pretty much knew it. Jax waited four years for what he knew was rightfully waiting for him in 28.

The author is biased in favor of President Reagan. This is a general history for the general reader, with an emphasis on foreign affairs like the Gulf of Sidra incident, the Achille Lauro, nuclear arms, Bitburg, KAL 007, SDI, Grenada, and the Stark.

The War of 1812 was Mister Madison's War. How did it start? What were the major battles and the results of the conflict? This short book (20,000 wds) tries to answer these questions. This is a general history of the USA in Madison's time and includes a short biography at the beginning. This books is suitable for all readers and is set in a nice 14-font, very easy on the eye.