Second Acts

Winner of Foreword Magazine's 2006 Silver Award for Political Science Book of the Year! "Mark K. Updegrove's Second Acts is a smart and provocative look at the most exclusive club in America ex-presidents. Highly recommended!" Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History and Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Tulane University "Former presidents have been likened to Cinderella after the ball. In this intimate, often surprising group portrait, Mark Updegrove reveals how our ex-presidents since Truman have dealt with the loss of power that is their pumpkin. From Ike struggling to master the intricacies of the dial tone, to LBJ raging like Lear on the Perdenales [River], to Jimmy Carter, the Extra President--Updegrove gives us riveting history by twilight. His evening stars cast a memorable glow."--Richard Norton Smith, president historian, Scholar in Residence, George Mason University "Mark Updegrove's Second Acts is a fascinating read about a subject that has been neglected for too long. It is history at its best; a well researched and well told narrative that illuminates the recent past in surprisingly unexpected ways. Filled with wit as well as wisdom, Second Acts is a delight."--Don Carleton, Director, University of Texas Center for American History " Highly recommended."--Library Journal "For those interested in the former presidents, this popular history will do the trick."--Publishers Weekly "Revealing in detail and context."--Kirkus ReviewsUpdegrove, Mark K. is the author of 'Second Acts ', published 2006 under ISBN 9781592289424 and ISBN 1592289428.