Tuesday, January 13, 2026

TO RESCUE THE AMERICAN SPIRIT (Review)

To Rescue the American Spirit, Teddy Roosevelt and The Birth of a Superpower by Brett Baier with Catherine Whitney succeeds in its intention of rescue.

If the story of the asthmatic child who became American president is not enough to get the armchair politician up off his seat to pensively pace the room, surely the tales of Teddy the American ‘Rough Rider’, the African safari hunter, the Amazon jungle explorer, and the many other ‘Boys’ Own’ testosterone fuelled adventures described in the book will get the reader to saddle up and go west young man.  

Books aplenty have been written about President Teddy Roosevelt. But in an age when young men face taunts of 'toxic masculinity’ simply just for being born male, this book is a must read.

Teddy Roosevelt exemplifies the spirit of that which made America great: Loving husband and doting father, family man, loyal and forgiving friend, overcomer of flaws and failures, fearless defender of freedom at home and abroad, lover of God and country, a true patriot indeed!

Baier quotes from the eulogy Henry Cabot Lodge delivered upon the death of his friend:

“This is not the place to speak of his private life, but within that sacred circle no man was ever more blessed in the utter devotion of a noble wife and the passionate love of his children. The absolute purity and beauty of his family life tell us why the pride and interest which his fellow countrymen felt in him were always touched with the warm light of love. In the home so dear to him, in his sleep, death came to him, and – So Valiant-for-Truth passed over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.”

Valiant-for-Truth was the courageous hero in The Pilgrim’s Progress, a literary reference loved by Roosevelt. Pgs. 351-2 (hardback).

Well done Teddy Roosevelt and well done Brett Baier and Catherine Witney for providing such a readable account of this remarkable man’s inspiring life and legacy.

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