hɪstˈoːɹiən ˈɑːɹθɚ ʃlˈɛsɪŋɚ, dʒˌeɪˈɑːɹ. tˈɪpɪkli pɹˈeɪzd ðə bˈʊk æz "wˈɛlɹᵻsˈɜːtʃt, ɪnfˈɔːɹmətˌɪv ænd ɪlˈuːmᵻnˌeɪɾɪŋ".
Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. typically praised the book as "well-researched, informative and illuminating".