Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt

Name: Mornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt
Price: 14.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (3409 reviews)
Author: David McCullough

by David McCullough

Historical Fiction Biography Memoir

4.5 (3,409)

4.5 stars from 3,409 reviews. Top 66% of Historical Fiction books we track.

445 pages~7.4 hr readPublished by Simon & SchusterPublished 1981-01-01

$14.99Near peak price

Last checked: May 25, 2026

Price history: $3.99 – $15.99

While not the biggest discount we've seen for this book, it's still a great deal and we recommend grabbing it before price returns to its normal range.

Price range: $3.99 – $15.99

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Perfect for you if...

You're fascinated by how childhood trauma and resilience shape leaders, especially the untold family stories behind famous figures.
You love meticulously researched historical biography that brings entire households and eras vividly to life, not just the famous person.
You appreciate McCullough's narrative gift for making 19th-century domestic life as gripping as any plot, complete with complex parents and siblings.

Maybe not for you if...

You want a straightforward account of TR's presidency and political achievements. This focuses almost entirely on his childhood and early adulthood.
You prefer shorter biographies or political histories. At 445 pages of deep family detail, this requires patience and genuine interest in the Roosevelt household.
You're looking for a quick read. McCullough's prose is beautiful but dense, and demands you engage with 1800s social customs and family dynamics.

About this book

This biography by David McCullough traces Theodore Roosevelt's transformation from a sickly boy plagued by severe asthma into a vigorous man who became a war hero and U.S. president. The book examines Roosevelt's upbringing within an uncommon household, exploring his relationships with his father Theodore Roosevelt Sr.—a figure of energy and selflessness—and his mother Mittie Bulloch Roosevelt, a Southern beauty. The narrative also includes his siblings Anna, Corinne, and Elliott (father of Eleanor Roosevelt), as well as his first love, Alice Lee. McCullough presents Roosevelt's story as both personal narrative and social history, offering fresh details and challenging established myths about his early life. The book addresses themes of family loyalty, grief, and courage, set against the backdrop of Roosevelt's time in the Badlands. Winner of the National Book Award for Biography and the Los Angeles Times 1981 Book Prize for Biography.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$3.99 – $15.99

Price has dropped 2 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 2071 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently #361 in the Kindle store — a top-1,000 bestseller.

Rating & Reviews

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Currently 4.5★ from 3,409 reviews

Gaining approximately 10 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.5 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book goes on sale roughly every 2071 days. Next drop estimated in about 295 weeks. Typical discount: 75% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.