Chris DeRose Books In Order

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Chris DeRose
Chris DeRose is a best-selling author known for his detailed, well-researched history stories. The talented author also worked as a law professor, attorney, and Clerk of the superior court. Thanks to his love for politics, DeRose is now a political analyst. He first volunteered in a political campaign at the age of 15, and he has continued to do this over the years. Some of his most outstanding history books include Founding Rivals, The President’s War, and Congressman Lincoln. After leaving his position as Clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County, DeRose focused all his efforts on his writing. The Illinois author currently lives in Arizona.

Founding Rivals
Founding Rivals is an American history book that contains details on the election that shaped the United States. In 1789, two friends, James Monroe and James Madison, ran for Congress but against each other. This happens to be the only time that they contested a congressional seat. In this election, a lot was at stake, and the race went beyond personal ambition. The election would determine what happened to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For the first time in history, these two political allies differed on their decisions, with Madison supporting the Constitution while Monroe strongly opposed it.
Madison was involved in drawing up the constitution, and he featured prominently among its principal authors. He was convinced that without this very important document, the country would not survive. Monroe did not share Madison’s enthusiasm for the document he thought gave the government excess power. To Monroe, it seemed like the constitution failed to ensure that the people’s fundamental rights were protected. So how did Madison win this historic election? How did he appeal to the people who ensured his narrow win? What would have happened to the United States had Monroe been the winner? Read this book for these answers and more.

If you are curious about the historic 1789 election, there is no doubt that you will love this book. The story flows naturally, and the writing is engaging and easy to understand. There are several conversations between Monroe and Madison, each arguing their point of view. These conversations sometimes follow each other, yet the author fits them so well you instantly know what each man stood for. You can’t help but imagine how the united states would have turned out if the Bills of Rights did not go through. Through Madison’s efforts, democracy won, and America became a good shining example to other countries looking for a change in leadership.

Founding Rivals is an amazing story that covers the election that supported the constitution and paved the way for democracy throughout the world. While there is not much written about this election, it played a key role in shaping America as we know it today. Throughout this book, the author, also a political analyst by profession, recounts the candidates’ footsteps, campaigns, and the events that led to the historic election. There is a lot to learn about America’s founding fathers in this book. The author did his homework in creating a detailed and accurate account of the campaigns and the people who made this historic moment. Since the book is engaging and relatively short, you can enjoy it in one or two sittings.

The President’s War
The President’s War is a history book that looks at six American Presidents and highlights the gravest crisis they all had to deal with. It all started with the shuttle diplomacy between President Buchanan, John Tyler, and the Confederate Government. John Tyler was the Peace Convention chair in 1861, and he was the only hope the political crisis would be resolved, and the Civil War could be prevented. When his efforts did not bear any fruits, Tyler moved to the Virginia Secession Convention, left the union, and won to join the Confederate Congress. Next, you get to meet Van Buren; the man determined to ensure that Lincoln doesn’t get the presidency. However, after Fort Sumter, he supported Lincoln and stopped Franklin from calling a meeting of ex-Presidents that was supposed to undermine him.

Next, the author takes you to a meeting between Millard Fillmore, Lincoln, and Mary Todd. Millard, who hosted Lincoln and Mary, supported the war and even offered some critical advice but later changed his mind and chose emancipation. The other notable character is Franklin Pierce, who was the Democratic candidate in the 1860 and 1866 elections. Franklin did not shy from expressing his disdain for Lincoln while criticizing him on civil liberties. Shortly after the Vicksburg and after the raid at Jefferson Davis’s home, the correspondence between him and Pierce was revealed. Perhaps the highlight of this book is Abraham Lincoln’s battle to preserve the union and end slavery. He had enough enemies to deal with, and it is admirable how he dealt with it all.
The Civil war is among the major events that shaped America, and this book takes you back to that era but with a unique twist. DeRose looks at this period from the eyes of five living ex-Presidents who either supported or opposed Abraham Lincoln’s decision. Even for scholars who have studied the Civil War, there are still some new things to learn from this book. It is also refreshing how the author backs his arguments with evidence, and everything reads so well it feels like you are having a conversation with a good friend. Considering what all these leaders had to deal with, it is understandable that they were so conflicted. Either way, there would be losses, and it was hard to choose which way was better.

The President’s War is a well-researched story of America’s biggest crisis and how the major players influenced its outcome. DeRose chronicles this Royal Rumble highlighting the events that led to numerous efforts opposing Lincoln’s reelection. In his characteristic style, the author takes you down memory lane, highlighting what is known about the civil war and the stand of different ex-Presidents. This book will appeal to history lovers, especially those interested in the Civil War and its associated complications.