A celebration of the principles that guided Theodore Roosevelt’s life, as seen through his most famous speech, from award-winning journalist and former CNN anchor John Avlon

Theodore Roosevelt’s famous words “It is not the critic who counts” have been a source of inspiration for voices as varied as LeBron James, Elon Musk, Brené Brown, and Barack Obama. But the real meaning of this famous speech has been forgotten: Roosevelt was talking about the responsibility of citizens in a democracy.

The speech was the product of an epic postpresidential midlife crisis, delivered after a yearlong reflection during an African hunting adventure. Drawing on the lessons from his wild and strenuous life, it was an inspirational distillation of Theodore Roosevelt’s practical wisdom: Dare greatly, care deeply, take responsibility, and fight for what’s right.

In front of a packed auditorium at the centuries-old Sorbonne University in the spring of 1910, with an overflow crowd of twenty-five thousand people standing in the streets outside, Roosevelt declared, “Government by, of, and for the people represents the most gigantic of all possible social experiments, the one fraught with great responsibilities alike for good and evil.” He called for a commonsense balance between rugged individualism and the common good of the community. In the world according to Theodore Roosevelt, character is key to the success of individuals and nations alike.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Guide to Life tells the full story of this enduring speech for the first time and tracks the impact of his words in the energetic final chapter of his life. Applying Roosevelt’s practical idealism to our times, this is a presidential self-help guide for strengthening our democracy while living your best life right now.