An Autobiography

Theodore Roosevelt connects his account of personal development with arguments about the responsibilities of government. Recalling a sickly, awkward childhood and an uneasy start in adulthood, he credits his achievements to hard work, careful judgment and preparation. His discussion of courage draws on an early reading memory and his fears of bears, difficult horses and gunfighters. He describes confidence as a habit built through practice.

The political passages show him defending decisions and proposing reforms. He challenges inherited theories of socialism while allowing room for cooperation with practical social reformers. A proposed message to Congress lays out his position on the canal dispute with Colombia, and another section argues for stronger national oversight of large businesses. Readers interested in the relationship between personal discipline and public leadership can follow how Roosevelt explains his conduct and reasons through questions of power, commerce and reform.