The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
Amazon; Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
US presidents have had a substantial impact on the world that we live in. They've been placed at the helm of some of the most significant decisions humans have made in their history.
And yet, their personalities, philosophies, flaws, and the inner workings of their administrations remain generally unknown to the public during their service. These disproportionately powerful figures - later hailed as icons or denounced as villains - primarily exist as enigmas until their term ends.
Fortunately for history buffs or anyone after a behind-the-scenes look at some of the nation's most consequential events, plenty of US presidents have left the White House and written personal accounts of their years in office. Though certainly not free from personal defenses or valid external critiques, they do provide a rare, close look into how the nation's greatest triumphs and mistakes came to be - and into the minds of those in charge when they did.
Below are the 18 autobiographies written by former US presidents covering their presidency:
Captions provided by Amazon and edited for length.
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Find all the best offers at our Coupons page.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.