I grew up in Wisconsin, but my mother was originally from Oklahoma and we would go there most summers to visit my grandmother. One of the highlights of our trips was more than once visiting the Will Rogers memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma. He was one of my mother's favorite celebrities from when she was a young girl. We shared a bit of Cherokee blood through my mother's great grandmother; thus spurring my interest in Will and the heritage of the Cherokee Nation. So, in addition to Claremore we also visited Talequah, the home of the Cherokee Nation, more than once.
This book has a wealth of photos from Will's life which was quite eventful, both as a humorist and a movie star in the early days of the "talkies". Unfortunately, his life was cut short when his plane crashed in Alaska. This is a great book for anyone interested in the sayings and events of one of America's greatest humorists. ( )

Outstanding biography of humorist Will Rogers, whose homespun humor and sly honesty entertained and uplifted the spirits of millions of Americans through the depths of the Depression.

Ketchum has been faithful to his subtitle, as the work describes Rogers' America as much as it does his life. From the Cherokee Removal of the 1840s to the diaspora of the tribe, cam Rogers' strong identification with a people deprived of their birthright. From the brawling cattle towns and ranches of a rapidly-disappearing frontier, a restless and high-spirited young man emerged. off to see the bright lights but never forgetting his roots.

Rogers' career surfed the crest of American entertainment -- moving from the glory days of vaudeville to the novelty of moving pictures, from silents to talkies to radio to newspaper columns, the pithy observations and good-natured jabs at pomposity. Will Rogers said (and wrote) the things the common man was thinking; or perhaps what he said was so indicative of their opinions that they only thought the ideas had originated within themselves.

Liberally illustrated and with Rogers' quotes scattered throughout, the book is a fine tribute to the man who chided presidents, amused the public, and never let go of his own essential values. ( )

With photographs, quotes, and a rather good Index.

Awesome Political humor, Timely ( )

A sentimental but engagin gbiography.