A Book Review of "Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography"

Date Published: September 8, 2025

 A Review of Teddy Roosevelt’s “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography”

• Reviews of the Day: 1913–14
• Selected Insights from “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography”
• This Author’s Thoughts on “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography”

Reviews of the Day: 1913–14

Front dust cover of “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography.”

On December 7, 1913, The Los Angeles Times published one of the first reviews of Theodore Roosevelt’s, “An Autobiography.” Using the title, “Admissions of Greatness” the editors wrote that “Almost anything that Mr. Roosevelt writes is interesting. … His autobiography does not fall short of expectations—that is, as a piece of literature. There are many things, though, that he hurriedly brushes over like the recent campaign with the Progressive party. … Mr. Roosevelt has very frankly admitted that he was a wonderful and great man in each of the many activities that he identified himself with since leaving the cradle. …

“Out of respect for the intelligence of his readers he should at least have admitted once or twice that he was in the wrong on some one of the innumerable matters that came to his attention, and on which he expressed positive opinions and took decided actions. But not so. …

“The book is interesting. It is well written and profusely illustrated, but there never was a human being who could be so utterly good, righteous, accurate and godlike as Theodore Roosevelt has represented himself.

On December 20, 1913, The Cleveland Plain Dealer published a review of “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography” under its “Book of the Week” column. The review stated that the book “is equally valuable in two ways: (1) it gives Roosevelt’s real opinions regarding the great public acts and measures with which he has been associated, and (2) it gives the real daily life and beliefs and affections of Roosevelt—the man. … It is written with a lucidity which makes it far more convincing than are most autobiographies.”

On January 24, 1914, The Boston Globe published its review of “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography” under the title “Book of Value.” The editors wrote that “To the phases of public questions, which agitated the country during Roosevelt’s term as Chief Executive and which are still issues, much allowance must be made. …

​"Mr. Roosevelt explains himself in a satisfactory way, but he is telling only one side of the story.
​
“The book is somewhat disappointing because it is not as rich in sidelights as it might be.

Advertisement from The Boston Evening Transcript, November 19, 1913.

 Selected Insights from “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography”

-     Theodore Roosevelt’s Approach to “Socialism” and “Socialists”​

“Because of things I have done on behalf of justice to the workingman, I have often been called ‘A Socialist.’ Usually I have not taken the trouble even to notice the epithet. I am not afraid of names, and I am not one of those who fear to do what is right because someone else will confound me with partisans with whose principles I am not in accord.

“Moreover, I know that many American Socialists are high minded and honorable citizens, who in reality are merely radical social reformers. They are troubled by the brutalities and industrial injustices which we see everywhere about us.

​"When I recall how often I have seen Socialists and ardent non-Socialists working side by side for some specific measure of social or industrial reform, and how I have found opposed to them on the side of privilege many shrill reactionaries who insist on calling all reformers … “Socialists,” I refuse to be panic-stricken by having this title mistakenly applied to me.

“None the less, without impugning their motives, I do disagree most emphatically with both the fundamental philosophy and the proposed remedies of the Marxian Socialists. These Socialists are unalterably opposed to our whole industrial system.”

A high-quality, black-and-white portrait of a sitting President Theodore Roosevelt in his riding costume.​

-     Theodore Roosevelt’s Thoughts on True Success in Life

“It is impossible to win the great prizes of life without running risks, and the greatest of all prizes are those connected with the home. … There are many forms of success, many forms of triumph. But there is no other success that in any shape or way approaches that which is open to most of the many, many men and women who have the right ideals.
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“These are the men and the women who see that it is the intimate and homely things that count most. They are the men and women who have the courage to strive for the happiness which comes only with labor and effort and self-sacrifice, and only to those whose joy in life springs in part from power of work and sense of duty.”

A high-quality, black-and-white picture of Governor Theodore Roosevelt with the children of a New York City Tenement.

-     Theodore Roosevelt’s Thoughts on the “Equality of the Sexes”​

“I always favored woman’s suffrage, but only tepidly, until my association with women like Jane Addams and Frances Kellor, who desired it as one means of enabling them to render better and more efficient service. … A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user. … This is as true of women as of men—and no more true.

“Much can be done by law towards putting women on a footing of complete and entire equal rights with man—including the right to vote, the right to hold and use property, and the right to enter any profession she desires on the same terms as the man. …
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“Women should have free access to every field of labor which they care to enter, and when their work is as valuable as that of a man it should be paid as highly. … On the other hand, the woman must realize that she has no more right to shirk the business of wifehood and motherhood than the man has to shirk his business as breadwinner for the household."

This Author’s Thoughts on “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography”

The first review above from the Los Angeles Times really hit “the nail—Teddy, on the head” for me.

​As I was reading the book, I kept thinking of Dale Carnegie’s advice in “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Mr. Carnegie advises to forget using the words “I” and “me.”

​Although it is an autobiography, Teddy Roosevelt proves all too full of himself. I, too, could not find anywhere in the book where he “came up short” in a situation.

​On one occasion, the former President goes into great detail how his staff did all the work, gathered all the data, and offered the advised solution to which President Roosevelt said, “Go for it.” After that he writes “ ‘I’ accomplished a lot with this action.” “We” sure seemed more appropriate.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel Price scroll in its case.

Picture of  Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize Medallion.

Having written this, though, there are several chapters that make wonderful historical reading and offer amazing insights into the balanced approach this former President tried to take when considering problems in front of him. Three chapters I would recommend starting with are: Applied Idealism, The Big Stick and the Square Deal, and Social and Industrial Justice.

In “The Big Stick and the Square Deal,” Mr. Roosevelt discusses how he sought to manage the “big businesses” of his day. He summarizes the chapter with this insight into his actions:
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“Where a company is found seeking its profits through serving the community by stimulating production, lowering prices or improving service, while scrupulously respecting the rights of others (including its rivals, its employees, its customers, and the general public), and strictly obeying the law, then no matter how large its capital, or how great the volume of its business it would be encouraged to still more abundant production, or better service, by the fullest protection that the Government could afford it.

“On the other hand, if a corporation were found seeking profit through injury or oppression of the community, by restricting production through trick or device, by plot or conspiracy against competitors, or by oppression of wage-workers, and then extorting high prices for the commodity it had made artificially scarce, it would be prevented from organizing if its nefarious purpose could be discovered in time, or pursued and suppressed by all the power of Government whenever found in actual operation.

“The Government would draw the line on conduct and not on size; it would destroy monopoly, and make the biggest business man in the country conform squarely to the principles laid down by the American people, while at the same time giving fair play to the little man and certainty of knowledge as to what was wrong and what was right both to big man and little man.”

​It is this author’s opinion this approach to “big business” would have not been a problem for Ida M. Tarbell, recognized as one of the leading muckrakers of her day. In fact I would position Roosevelt and Tarbell as the two leading muckrakers during this timeframe: respectively, one in politics and the other in print—journalism.

Select the image to read Theodore Roosevelt's "The Man with the Muckrake" Speech.

Select this image to read Theodore Roosevelt’s speech entitled “The Man With the Muck Rake.”​

This autobiography offers some wonderful insights into how Theodore Roosevelt tried to find the balance between any two opposing forces—such a business and labor, while also keeping within sight: service to mankind, right makes might, and always try to leave a better world for our children.

A recommended read … Ignore Theodore Roosevelt's ego and read for the insight this works gives into our former President's character, practices, and concern for all of mankind.

I guess, some really good and great men were not born meek!

I believe that Teddy is one example.

Cheers,
​
- Peter E.

Roosevelt's Speech: "The Man With the Muckrake"

Book Review of "Roosevelt: a Story of Friendship"