Okay, let me start by saying I devour presidential history books like candy. This one? Surprisingly addictive.

First off, the chapter openings are *chef's kiss*. 'George Washington is mad at his mother'? I was hooked by page 3. The British burning down the White House? More dramatic than my last breakup.

The objectivity is refreshing - until the Afterword where the authors finally show their cards. Plot twist: Dugard's a liberal! Who saw that coming after years of O'Reilly collaborations?

My favorite nugget? Lincoln and Robert E. Lee working together on an inauguration before becoming mortal enemies. History's irony never fails to deliver.

Only gripe: Where are the citations? I'm not doubting the facts (most checked out with my own knowledge), but footnotes would've been nice for deep dives.

The real value? Humanizing our marble-statue presidents. Washington skipping mom's funeral? Pierce needing a drink (or five)? Suddenly modern presidents don't seem so uniquely flawed.

400 pages flew by - accessible enough for casual readers but meaty enough for us history nerds. Just don't read it in the bathtub unless you want a Taft situation.