About the Book

The President of the United States is the most powerful leader in the world. He is called upon to make the nation’s most impactful decisions while maintaining the support of the multitudes. Though many have failed at the job, a select few have led America to new heights, and how they did it is worthy of study.

How the Best Did It takes the leadership lessons gained from our greatest presidents and makes them instructive today for all leaders who seek to enhance their performance.

• Want to get promoted without being seen as a self-promoter? Do what Washington did.
• Want to reduce conflict among your group’s factions? Do what Jefferson did.
• Want to know how to take the high road when major problems arise? Do what Lincoln did.
• Want to expand your power into entirely new areas of influence? Do what Theodore Roosevelt did.
• Want to move the needle steadily until ultimate goals are achieved? Do what Franklin Roosevelt did.
• Want to have your team work like a well-oiled machine? Do what Eisenhower did.
• Want to grow in expertise while leading? Do what Kennedy did.
• Want to inspire optimism throughout your enterprise? Do what Reagan did.

Based on Talmage Boston’s sound evaluations, every chapter ends with a self-examination questionnaire that allows the reader to evaluate his or her own leadership skills.

“A discerning examination of what all of us can learn from some of our most effective leaders who have held—and wielded—ultimate power at the highest level.” —Jon Meacham

About the Author

Talmage Boston is an historian, author, speaker, and onstage interviewer. His work has been endorsed by David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jon Meacham, Douglas Brinkley, Annette-Gordon-Reed, Evan Thomas, and H.W. Brands, as well as many other esteemed presidential biographers. He is the author of Cross-Examining History; Raising the Bar; Baseball and the Baby Boomer; and 1939: Baseball’s Tipping Point. Boston is also a leading Texas attorney, having been chosen for three major statewide awards in the last five years by the Texas Bar Foundation and the State Bar of Texas’ Litigation Section. He has been named a “Texas Super Lawyer” by Thompson Reuters every year since 2003, and among the “Best Lawyers in America” every year since 2013. He is the only lawyer to receive a “Presidential Citation” from eight different presidents of the State Bar of Texas for outstanding service to the State Bar.

In November 2023, Boston was recognized by the Dallas Historical Society as “The History Maker of the Year” in the field of promoting history in North Texas.