What makes a great president? Certainly leadership, accomplishments, crisis management, political skill, character, and integrity are part of the equation, but the great presidents have something more. They not only govern well, but are part of something lasting; their presidencies influence the thoughts and beliefs of generations. These powerful men are not flawless leaders, they have made mistakes and miscalculations, but in the end their decisions have changed the nation and often the world. In Destiny’s Consul: America’s Greatest Presidents, presidential scholar Michael P. Riccards provides a concise introduction to the lives, presidencies, and personal qualities of ten great individuals whom Riccards argues are our greatest presidents. Organized chronologically, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Ronald Reagan are shown to truly be great. It will be of interest to anyone interested in the presidency of American history.

"Presidential greatness is impossible to quantify, but most Americans believe they know it when they see it—if only, in some cases, in retrospect. Having immersed himself in presidential studies for many years, the author offers this ‘ten best’ account. . . . Demonstrating an admirable familiarity with pertinent secondary literature, Riccards provides breezy narratives on each of his top ten. . . . This book will best serve as a handy reference for anyone interested in knowing more about ten of the best men who held the nation's highest office. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers/public libraries." - CHOICE