• Under This Roof

  • The White House and the Presidency - 21 Presidents, 21 Rooms, 21 Inside Stories
  • By: Paul Brandus
  • Narrated by: Tom Zingarelli
  • Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (182 ratings)

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Under This Roof  By  cover art

Under This Roof

By: Paul Brandus
Narrated by: Tom Zingarelli
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Publisher's summary

In Under This Roof, award-winning White House journalist Paul Brandus weaves together stories of the presidents, their families, the events of their time, and an oft-ignored major character, the White House itself. From George Washington to the current occupant, Barack Obama - the story of the White House is the story of America itself, Brandus writes. You'll:

  • Walk with John Adams through the still-unfinished mansion and watch Thomas Jefferson plot to buy the Louisiana Territory.
  • Feel the fear and panic as British invaders approach the mansion in 1814 - and Dolley Madison frantically saves a painting of Washington.
  • Be in the room as one president is secretly sworn in and another gambles away the White House china in a card game.
  • Stand by the presidential bed as one First Lady - covering up her husband's illness from the nation-secretly makes decisions on his behalf.
  • Learn how telephones, movies, radio, and TV changed the presidency - and the nation itself.

Through triumph and tragedy, boom and bust, secrets and scandals, Brandus brings history to life in this riveting, highly entertaining inside look at the presidency and White House.

©2015 Paul Brandus (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"[A] fast-moving and well-written history of the presidency." (Del Quentin Wilber, author of Rawhide Down)

What listeners say about Under This Roof

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting but Glaring Omission

Learned some great things but extremely disappointed to not have Lyndon Johnson. If you think his administration had nothing to do with White House preservation and restoration you need to recheck your facts and start over.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good stuff for presidential buffs

Good book. Well researched. Definitely kept my interest. This book is best when it focuses on the White House itself, not on the history of the various administrations. Reading it made me want to visit the White House again.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Could be better

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes and no. The narrator was not very good at all. The story had potential that wasnt followed up on.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Kind of anticlimactic. It is about past presidents so not much to add,

What didn’t you like about Tom Zingarelli’s performance?

Flat and boring.

Was Under This Roof worth the listening time?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The book is about the White House but got the impression the author is a Reagan fan. That is so boring! He went on and on about Reagan which had nothing to do with the White House itself. Carter got short shrift among others. There is no need to talk about policies and politics - the house itself and the stories contained in the walls so to speak - the personal side. No mention about the staff quarters and other details.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this!

I love this book! So much history is in this book. I learned about presidents whose names I didn't know before. I'm even more enchanted with the White House! The narrator did a wonderful job and was easy to understand and follow along with.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

More history on the White House.

Would you consider the audio edition of Under This Roof to be better than the print version?

I would.

What did you like best about this story?

The information that I had never heard about before.

Which character – as performed by Tom Zingarelli – was your favorite?

Most of them, though he can't do any accents.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Afraid I can't think of one.

Any additional comments?

None.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting insights

I learned some things I didn't know and got to hear expansions of things I did. It was a very interesting book highlighting the goings-on in the White House - and sometimes out of it. It did irritate me a bit when things were repeated or when the author/narrator told a side story that was about a different president than the chapter was about, but overall, it was great.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brief history of our Presidents

I confess to not knowing much about past Presidents. This book allowed me a glimpse of most of them and a starting point to get to know those that inspire or interest me more. It was well presented and the narrator was perfect for the story. I undoubtedly will listen again and again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

GREAT BOOK

I loved it! Easy and very historical. Recommend to any reader who loves Presidental facts.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Narration

This is a very good read. Well written. The narrator was easy to follow. I recommend this book.



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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Read

I liked this very much. I am not too political, but this book give much info about each president and their families plus very interesting information about the development of the White House, additions, decorations etc. Very enjoyable but informative book

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