Erik Larson really is masterful—he takes a single year and turns it into an epic of storytelling, and a vivid picture of one of the most famous leaders of all time. One of the things I appreciate most about Larson's style is his inclusion of seemingly random and fascinating small details, which really flesh out the larger picture and immerse the reader more wholly into the account and the time period. Here, for instance, Larson relies on John Colville's diary as one source of insight about life at 10 Downing Street, but also includes tidbits about his romantic life that, according to Larson, go elsewhere unpublished. But it's these very insights that, thought maybe inconsequential to the political life of the time, give us a glimpse of what is was really *like* to be alive at the time. And that history is equally important as a log of battles and war strategies in terms of reaching true understanding.

My favorite Larson so far, and it'll be hard to beat.