COOLIDGE

Calvin Coolidge, the thirtieth president of the United States, is usually seen as a quiet, unspectacular politician who guided us through the Roaring Twenties but didn’t accomplish much else. This biography succeeds in redefining him as a forward-thinking and very competent chief executive. Narrator Terence Aselford does a fine job with the book, reading with Coolidge’s spirit in mind. His voice is spare, unadorned, sturdy, and durable, words we would associate with Silent Cal’s historical reputation. Aselford has a deep, resonant tone, and he varies his emphasis throughout the work. Coolidge’s story is interesting, and the book qualifies as good history, but Aselford doesn’t have more than that to work with and is reduced to being a factual guide rather than a compelling storyteller. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2013]