Jerome Tuccille

Jerome Tuccille (1937-2017) was an American author and libertarian activist known for writing over thirty books spanning politics, biography, and memoir. His most notable work, "It Usually Begins With Ayn Rand," became a significant text in libertarian circles, chronicling his journey into libertarian philosophy and political thought. As a political figure, Tuccille made headlines as the Free Libertarian Party's candidate for Governor of New York in 1974. His campaign garnered attention for its unconventional tactics, including a publicity stunt referencing Lady Godiva that involved a woman riding through Central Park on a horse named "Taxpayer." Beyond political writing, Tuccille established himself as a skilled biographer, producing the first published biography of Donald Trump and chronicling the lives of influential figures like Rupert Murdoch and Alan Greenspan. His later works included "The Roughest Riders," a critical examination of Theodore Roosevelt and black soldiers in the Spanish-American War, and "Heretic: Confessions of an ex-Catholic Rebel," a personal memoir. Throughout his professional life, Tuccille balanced his writing career with work as an investment manager, bringing financial expertise to his various publications and political activities. He continued writing until his death in 2017 in Severna Park, Maryland.

Readers respect Tuccille's thorough research and engaging writing style across his biographies and political works. On Goodreads, "It Usually Begins with Ayn Rand" receives particular attention for its humorous take on libertarian politics and personal journey. What readers liked: - Clear, accessible writing on complex political and financial topics - Ability to blend historical facts with narrative storytelling - Balanced perspective in biographical works - Humor and self-deprecation in political writing What readers disliked: - Some biographical works seen as overly sympathetic to subjects - Political views occasionally overshadow objective analysis - Later works perceived as less rigorous than earlier publications Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: Average 3.8/5 across titles - Amazon: 4.1/5 average customer rating - Notable reader quote: "Tuccille manages to make libertarian philosophy accessible without sacrificing depth" - Goodreads review of "It Usually Begins with Ayn Rand" - "His Trump biography reads more like a business thriller than dry history" - Amazon reviewer

It Usually Begins with Ayn Rand (1971) A first-hand account of the early libertarian movement in America and the author's personal journey through various political philosophies.

Trump (1985) The first published biography of Donald Trump, documenting his early real estate career and rise in New York City business circles.

Rupert Murdoch (1989) A biographical examination of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's life and his building of a global media empire.

Alan Shrugged: Alan Greenspan, the World's Most Powerful Banker (2002) A biography of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, tracking his career from jazz musician to global financial leader.

The Roughest Riders: The Untold Story of the Black Soldiers in the Spanish-American War (2015) A historical account of African American soldiers who fought alongside Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War.

Heretic: Confessions of an ex-Catholic Rebel (2016) A memoir detailing the author's departure from Catholicism and subsequent spiritual journey.

Kingdom: The Story of the Hunt Family of Texas (1984) A biographical account of the Hunt family dynasty and their influence in Texas oil and business.

Hemingway and Gellhorn (2011) An examination of the relationship between Ernest Hemingway and war correspondent Martha Gellhorn.

Ayn Rand wrote philosophical fiction and non-fiction that influenced libertarian thought and individualist philosophy. Her books "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead" explore themes of individual rights and free market capitalism that align with Tuccille's political perspectives.

Murray Rothbard developed foundational texts in libertarian political theory and Austrian economics. His works "For a New Liberty" and "The Ethics of Liberty" cover similar ground to Tuccille's explorations of libertarian philosophy.

Justin Raimondo authored biographical works and political commentary from a libertarian perspective. His biography of Murray Rothbard and regular political writings for Antiwar.com parallel Tuccille's approach to political biography and commentary.

Thomas Szasz wrote extensively about individual rights and criticized government intervention in personal choices. His works "The Myth of Mental Illness" and "The Ethics of Psychoanalysis" examine liberty themes from a psychiatric perspective that complement Tuccille's political philosophy.

Karl Hess chronicled his personal journey from mainstream conservatism to libertarianism through autobiographical works. His memoir "Mostly on the Edge" shares similarities with Tuccille's "It Usually Begins with Ayn Rand" in documenting political evolution.