Lara M. Brown, author of Amateur Hour: Presidential Character and the Question of Leadership:
Genovese masterfully distills the six scholarly debates that animate the presidency field, as he investigates what a president must do to be a successful leader. Well-organized and thought-provoking, Genovese’s elegantly parsimonious prose makes this book the perfect introduction to the presidency.

Meena Bose, coauthor of American Government: Institutions and Policies:
These six foundational debates are essential reading for understanding the challenges of presidential leadership in the twenty-first century. Concise and engaging, this book is ideal for classroom instruction as well as for guiding new scholarship on the chief executive.

Douglas Brinkley, author of Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America:
Michael A. Genovese's The Modern Presidency is a brilliant, and at times quirky, deep dive into what makes the executive branch so frustratingly great. Every page is an illumination. Great thinking by an amazing historian. Highly recommended!