The Strenuous Life, Theodore Roosevelt
The Strenuous Life, Theodore Roosevelt
List: $4.99 | Sale: $3.50
Club: $2.49

The Strenuous Life

Author: Theodore Roosevelt

Narrator: Adriel Brandt

Unabridged: 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/13/2018


Synopsis

Theodore Roosevelt began this 1899 speech with his thesis: “I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life.” He discusses how the many hardships of his life shaped him for the better. Roosevelt believed that if Americans wished to succeed in the world, they would need to embrace the virtue of hard work. He applied this same belief to foreign affairs, stating that America must establish itself as a powerful military force and exert this power when necessary.  

About Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was the twenty-sixth president of the United States. He was a leader of the Republican Party and founder of the short-lived Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party of 1912. Before becoming president in 1901, he held offices at the city, state, and federal levels. Roosevelt was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal, sent the Great White Fleet on a world tour to demonstrate American power, and negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the first American to win the Nobel Prize in any field. Roosevelt is also known for his achievements as a naturalist, explorer, hunter, soldier, and author. His published works include Rough Riders, The Strenuous Life, Hunting Trips of a Ranchman and Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mark on March 06, 2020

Theodore Roosevelt needs no introduction. However, much of his writings do. This collection of essays, including the Strenuous Life, is a good starting point for getting to know the Roosevelt that stated: "speak softly and carry a big stick". His essays here do not speak so softly, but they do carry......more

Goodreads review by Tim on February 02, 2015

Unfortunately, this speech was somewhat weak in articulating the virtues of "virility" and "the strenuous life" and was also weak in clear-headed, unsuperstitious reasoning; instead, it preached quite intolerably the collectivism and typically modern superstition of nationhood, complete with such tr......more

Goodreads review by Stephen on January 07, 2020

Roosevelt must be taken as a man of his time and — by virtue of his accomplishments and sheer willpower — one of the greatest men of his time. His energy, discipline, and zeal were admirable, even though their ends were not always wise or right. He is at his best when applying the philosophy of the......more

Goodreads review by Ross on December 25, 2024

A historical and courageous book that any young man should read. It highlights the importance of pressing on even admits the toil that life brings. “There is no effort, without error or shortcomings.” So press on, be courageous, and always move forward in this life.......more