John and Claire Whitcomb
**** 446 pages
Brimming with anecdote, Real Life at the White House conveys a sense of the Presidents' personality and character in a way that political histories can't. Since each chapter is about an individual president, the reader can pick the book up and put it down with long pauses between sessions and not lose the thread of a story. As one would expect, there tends to be more information about the modern presidents, though some of the earlier presidents' stays are surprisingly well documented. Real Life is well documented and footnoted as any good history should be. The style is engaging and light without being "fluffy." A good read for those with an interest in biography.
