Excellent book written with feeling about a great and underrated President. One of the few that said what he meant and meant what he said. The book was also refreshingly written in plain English. That's rare for a political science and/or history book. ( )

A big seller in its day, the 1970's. The Truman revealed here is of course the man the former president wishes he had been, and overall the book suffers from lack of perspective on the real historical meaning of HST. But it is a very readable set of anecdotes, and some of the man's depths are revealed in them. I'm not calling it a great biography, but it is an excellent extended interview, and a pretty good starting place for future study by the serious student. ( )

Miller freely admits that he didn't ask some questions, and that Harry may well have mis-remembered some incidents ("a privilege of old men"). But it's rare that we get an interview with someone who was a candid as Harry about his life and career, about what he did and why he did it. And although Harry was as guilty of anyone at putting the best face on his actions, he doesn't deny them, or place the blame on unsupervised subordinates. President Truman comes across as someone who fully understood that the office of President was important, but kept a sense of humility about his service. ( )

My favourite book. I read it once a year - and I am an Australian.If I had a fantasy dinner party Harry Truman would be first on my list ( apart from my husband!!) ( )

1268. Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman, by Merle Miller (28 Mar 1974) This book had its moments, especially in its earlier parts. But it is rambling, disorganized, and showed Harry as awfully cantankerous and opinionated. David McCullough's biography of Truman is a far superior effort. ( )