I went into the book with only a vague understanding of Buchanan’s role in the lead up to the civil war, but Larson brought the political dysfunction and indecision of those years into sharp focus…. I learned so much about the early days of this divide. 

Buchanan’s inability (or unwillingness) to take decisive action as the nation edged toward civil war was both frustrating and illuminating to read about. I had no idea just how paralyzed his administration was, or how his inaction contributed to the growing divide. Larson has a gift for making complex historical events feel vivid and immediate, and this book really helped connect the dots for me between the end of one presidency and the explosive beginning of Lincoln’s.

The pacing dragged a bit in parts, and at times the detail felt overwhelming, which is why this isn’t a full five-star read for me. But overall, it’s an incredibly informative and well-crafted book that gave me a much deeper understanding of a moment in American history I didn’t know enough about.