Best Biographies of Ulysses S. Grant: 5 Picks

A reader who wants to know the general who won the Civil War and then wrestled with the presidency needs the right starting point, and the best biographies of Ulysses S. Grant range from his own memoirs to modern narrative history. We compared five books by depth, page count, edition and perspective, using only what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Memoirs by Grant	9.7/10	Buy
2	To Rescue the Republic by Baier	9.7/10	Buy
3	Annotated Memoirs by Grant	9.7/10	Buy
4	Grant Unleashed by Aeon History	9.6/10	Buy
5	Grant and Twain by Perry	9.6/10	Buy

1

Memoirs by Grant

Ulysses S. Grant·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The Complete Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant; a 552-page two-volume firsthand account of the Civil War, for readers who want Grant in his own words.

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Pros

• Firsthand account written by Grant himself
• Covers Shiloh to Appomattox in two volumes
• 552 pages of military detail

Cons

• Terminal illness frames the writing
• 2012 edition
• 552 pages, a long commitment

2

To Rescue the Republic by Baier

Bret Baier·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

To Rescue the Republic by Bret Baier; 400 pages on Grant's presidency, Reconstruction and the 1876 election crisis, for readers of narrative history.

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Pros

• Covers the presidency and Reconstruction, not just the war
• 400 pages, a mid-length read
• 2021 edition

Cons

• Narrative history, not a primary source
• Political focus over battlefield detail
• Mainly the presidency and the 1876 crisis

3

Annotated Memoirs by Grant

Ulysses S. Grant·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The Annotated Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant; an 1152-page annotated edition with 83 illustrations, for readers who want context with the memoir.

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Pros

• 83 illustrations with extensive annotations
• Annotated by a professor specializing in Grant
• Expands the Civil War backdrop of the memoir

Cons

• 1152 pages, the heaviest read here
• 2018 edition
• Annotation-heavy format for casual readers

4

Grant Unleashed by Aeon History

Aeon History·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Grant Unleashed by Aeon History; a 174-page accessible biography covering Grant's battles, presidency and legacy, for newer readers.

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Pros

• 174 pages, the shortest main read
• Covers battles, presidency and legacy
• 2024 edition, newest here

Cons

• Broad survey rather than deep research
• 174 pages limit the detail
• Accessible style over archival depth

5

Grant and Twain by Perry

Mark Perry·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Grant and Twain by Mark Perry; 352 pages on the friendship behind Grant's memoirs, for readers who like literary history.

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Pros

• Friendship story behind the memoirs
• Covers both Grant and Twain
• 2005 reprint edition, widely available

Cons

• Not a Grant biography as such
• Illness and debt frame the story
• 2005 edition, older print

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More picks to compare

• Grant Memoirs and LettersSuits readers wanting the Library of America edition with 174 letters.Check on Amazon
• Ulysses S. Grant: The Unlikely HeroSuits readers wanting a short 161-page life of Grant.Check on Amazon
• Who Was Ulysses S. Grant?Suits young readers ages 8 to 12 with 112 pages.Check on Amazon
• Complete Memoirs 2017 EditionSuits readers wanting a 315-page modern edition of the memoirs.Check on Amazon
• Ulysses's OdysseySuits readers curious about Grant's three-year world tour.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Page counts and editions are as listed, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a Grant biography reader, contents and edition, and value. No listing here states a reading age or grade level, so that part scores zero, and books carry no warranty. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best biographies of Ulysses S. Grant

Memoir or biography

Grant’s own Personal Memoirs give a firsthand account of the Civil War in 552 pages across two volumes, while the annotated edition adds 83 illustrations and scholarly notes in 1152 pages. Narrative biographies like To Rescue the Republic and Grant Unleashed cover the presidency and legacy instead. Start with the memoir for Grant in his own words, or a biography for modern perspective. See every history and biography list for more options.

Length and depth

Page counts run from 174 to 1152 pages here, so match the book to the time you have. Grant Unleashed at 174 pages is the quickest route through Grant’s life, while the annotated memoirs are a reference-sized deep dive. The 400-page To Rescue the Republic sits in the middle with a focus on the presidency and the 1876 crisis. Compare more lives in our best biographies US history guide.

Edition and format

Editions run from 2005 to 2024, and the formats differ: a two-volume memoir set, a lavishly annotated edition, and single-volume narratives. The 2024 Grant Unleashed is the newest print, while Grant and Twain is a 2005 reprint of an earlier story. Check the format on the listing so the edition you want is the one that arrives.

Before you buy

• Check the perspective: firsthand memoir, annotated memoir, or narrative biography.
• Check the page count: 174 to 1152 pages across the five.
• Check the edition: prints range from 2005 to 2024.
• Check the focus: Civil War campaigns, the presidency, or the man himself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which biography is the shortest?

Grant Unleashed at 174 pages, an accessible survey of Grant’s battles, presidency and legacy.

Which book is in Grant’s own words?

The Complete Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant: 552 pages in two volumes, written in the final months of his life.

Which is the longest?

The Annotated Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant at 1152 pages, with 83 illustrations and extensive notes.

Still deciding? Our top pickMemoirs by Grant

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Related lists

See every history and biography list and all nonfiction lists. Also see our best biographies US history. Also see our best biographies under 400 pages.

More picks: browse self improvement and book guides.