LeMay (Great Generals)

Book Description

LeMay was a terrifying, complex, and brilliant general. In World War II, he ordered the firebombing of Tokyo and was in charge when were Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was responsible for tens of thousands of civilian deaths a fact he liked to celebrate by smoking Cuban cigars. But LeMay was also the man who single-handedly transformed the American air force from a ramshackle team of poorly-trained and badly equipped pilots into one of the fiercest and most efficient weapons of the war. Over the last decades, most U.S. military missions were carried out entirely through the employment of the air force--this is LeMay's legacy. Packed with breathtaking battles in the air and inspiring leadership tactics on the ground, LeMay will keep readers on their edge of their seats.

Customer Reviews:

Concise, objective, overdue biography of controversial, influential figure.......2007-07-07

Considering Curtis LeMay's long-term influence on air power (from before WW II into the early Vietnam era), it is astonishing that there has only been one prior biography: Thomas Coffey's Iron Eagle (1986). This entry in the Great Generals series therefore is the first biography since LeMay's death in 1990.

The author clearly knows his subject. He has produced a concise, objective study of one of the most controversial military figures of the 20th century, and one of the most significant. Tillman examines LeMay's early life and career, then traces his evolution from the young commander whose decisions helped speed the end of the Pacific War into the "caveman in a bomber", excoriated by the Left even while he kept the Cold War "frosty" rather than "hot."

Readers looking for the story behind the impassive face will have to wait for a more comprehensive treatment. The author's charter apparently was to describe LeMay's leadership philosophy and draw comparisons useful to current managers, as do the other installments in the series. In that regard, Tillman has accomplished his mission: a feat of which LeMay himself would have approved.

A Quick and Dirty Overview .......2007-06-30

This book is a quick and dirty overview of the life and career of Curtis E. LeMay. The biography is rather thin and it hits only the highlights of the general's life. All the books in this series are on the short side and serve more as brief introductions to their subjects than authoritative accounts. There is only so much Tillman can do in the space that he has available and given the constraints he faces, he does a good job. Tillman is a sympathetic biographer and does an exceptional job of explaining LeMay's involvement in the Berlin Airlift. Previous biographers have given this topic little attention. This approach, though, leads Tillman astray when he reaches LeMay's tenure as Chief-of-Staff of the USAF during the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. Like previous LeMay biographers, Tillman is as dismissive of the national strategies and foreign policies of these administrations as was LeMay. His explanation of these different ideas and approaches is simplistic at best. He is particularly rough on Secretary of Defense Robert S. MacNamara, making the former executive at the Ford Motor Company look at various times as either an incompetent or as a black-and-white villain.

It is clear that Tillman likes his subject, and there is much to admire in Curtis E. LeMay as a professional, a leader, and as a man. Tillman, however, has a difficult time developing the general's complex personality. There was good deal more to him than his gruff exterior. Despite his "bomb `em back into the stone age" reputation, LeMay had a powerful understanding of the bleak realities of what war really was. He was fully aware he was sending off men to kill and be killed, and he was alert to the real damage that they would suffer one way or another. He rarely got romantic about the business of war, which made him all the more human and determined to get results. Despite the caliber of Tillman's biography, the best book on LeMay remains the general's own memoirs. If you can get to a library, it is a good read. Otherwise, this book is pretty good too.

I wanted more than this book could give me.......2007-05-28

If the Cold War could be wrapped up into one person it would be Curtis LeMay. The U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) was LeMay and LeMay was SAC. I knew the History Channel facts about Lemay, but I wanted to know more. Unfortunately this book left me wanting. At only 191 small pages, it was tough to really get into deep historical research or analysis for a figure as large and important as LeMay.

I got the feeling the author was just cranking the book out. It did have the feel of a cliff notes or a term paper. There was noting really wrong with the book, but there was nothing that great about it either. LeMay comes across flat and the book lacks the tactile feel that makes great biographies.

The author is very pro-airpower and never really dives into the great political/military dissent around LeMay and his views. I thought that maybe 15 years after the Cold War ended, enough time had past for someone to give LeMay a fresh look, but this book never got there. I will keep searching for a better LeMay bio.

A Solidly Researched Account by a Masterful Historian.......2007-02-14

Barrett Tillman's LeMay is a welcome addition to military aviation literature. Rooted in extensive research, gracefully written, and cogently argued, it places LeMay in a far richer and thoughtful context than the one-dimensional cigar-chomping, firestrom-triggering, finger-on-the-nuclear-trigger caricature of post-Dr. Strangelove, post-Vietnam sensibility. Tillman ranges widely across LeMay's life, relating it to key developments in military aviation, technology, world events, national strategy, and the political and social environment of the times. Nuanced, polished, and engrossing, it is must-read for anyone interested in the development of American air power and the role of this complex and fascinating man, one of the "Great Captains" of air warfare.

A Term Paper Biography.......2007-01-25

This is a kind of Cliff Notes biography, almost like a term paper. The dry compression of the story may be that Tillman had little raw material to work with beyond bare facts, or dry compression may be the aim of the editors of the Great Generals series. Either way, there's precious little to give reader a sense of what LeMay was truly like as a human being. His greatness as an Air Force leader does not appear to be at all in question, but his cited opinions about the Cuban missile crisis and the Vietnam war demonstrate vividly the wisdom of keeping control of the military in civilian hands, even when they make a hash of things. Individuals such as LeMay with little or no use for nuance and shades of opinion and behavior are dangerous if they have fingers on a nuclear trigger. The book would have been improved if an editor had read it critically with a copy of "The Elements of Style" at hand and an eye for such distinctions as the difference between "prejudice" and "bias," which apparently escape Mr. Tillman.

A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country

Average customer rating:

A great leader writes about caring deeply and accepting responsibility
A life led, and a life of leading.
Lessons from a hero
Wonderful Book
Stories from the life of Wesley Clark and the lessons they teach

A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country
Wesley K. Clark
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1403984743
Release Date: 2007-09-04

Book Description

Four-star General Wesley K. Clark became a major figure on the political scene when he was drafted by popular demand to run for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 2003. But this was just one of many exceptional accomplishments of a long and extraordinary career. Here, for the first time, General Clark uses his unique life experience-from his difficult youth in segregated Arkansas where he was raised by his poor, widowed mother; through the horror of Vietnam where he was wounded; the post-war rebuilding of national securityand the struggles surrounding the new world order after the Cold War-as a springboard to reveal his vision for America, at home and in the world. General Clark will address issues such as foreign policy, the economy, the environment, education and health care, family, faith, and the American dream.Rich with breathtaking battle scenes, poignant personal anecdote and eye-opening recommendations on the best way forward, General Clark's new book is a tour de force of gripping storytelling and inspiring vision.

Customer Reviews:

A great leader writes about caring deeply and accepting responsibility.......2007-09-29

General Clark has written a book about his own life, about America and about leadership. Presumably, the project had begun as a presidential campaign biography but then was redirected somewhat when the decision was taken not to run for president this year. Predictably, then, the book is a bit of a hodgepodge, but, in the end, it works.

Especially interesting for me were the insights into General Clark's own sometimes conflicting thoughts about the military that is so central to his life. I was struck by similarities to people who despite their deep religious convictions nevertheless must sometimes struggle with their spirituality. While Clark's overriding faith in and support for the U.S. military are unwavering, he has faced times in his life when he has agonized over whether or not American military power and soldiers are being used and treated properly (and if not what, if anything, can be done about it). It would be difficult for a thinking and feeling soldier to have come through the Vietnam experience as he did without having to work through questions of that sort. In reading these and other reflections, the reader observes Clark's humanity, caring, multidimensionality and depth. Leadership, we learn, is a lot about caring, and it means taking responsibility (and sometimes truly huge responsibility) for other people. General Clark takes that caring and that responsibility very seriously. There is nothing cavalier in this soldier's personality.

As an admirer of General Clark, I enjoyed learning more about the man through his book. As an entrepreneur striving through inexhaustible challenges to build a strong and cohesive team and direct it to a collective goal, I found both leadership lessons and inspiration. As an American who is deeply concerned about the tragic direction in which our country has been led thus far into the new millennium, General Clark's book gives me reason to believe that America can do better and be much better led. It also offers substantial elements of a strategy for making both America and the world at large a more prosperous, peaceful and safer place.

A life led, and a life of leading........2007-09-22

Wes Clark has lead a life that could only be described as extraordinary. From growing up in Arkansas, to West point, to Oxford, The bloody fields of Vietnam to the halls of Washington and everywhere in between. This book gives an inspiring account of how one man from humble origins and a will to achieve went from a poor, small town boy to one of the most decorated Military leaders in modern history. This book is practically a manual on leadership. Whether you are in to politics or not, you should get this book. You cannot read this without being inspired, and hopeful for the future of this country.

Lessons from a hero.......2007-09-09

"A Time To Lead" is a must read for anyone who cares about our government and is interested in the future. The stories that Wes Clark tells will make you laugh, tremble, and hope. This is a man who has truly lived a life of sacrifice and service and it is a breath of fresh air to read the memoirs of someone who has actually walked the walk. Clark's voice has brought reason to our national dialog and I hope that his message of reason over rage continues to spread in this nation and throughout the world.

Wonderful Book.......2007-09-07

I read this book in only two sittings because I was anxious to see how a man who faced some severe challenges as a child and almost died in Vietnam could go on to become a great leader and American hero. It is a wonderful story of commitment and love of country as well as the lifetime love of one woman.

I TOTALLY DISAGREE with the snarky last sentence of the Publisher Weekly review (at the top). In fact, I am giving copies of this book to my younger friends and family members who truly want to do something with their lives, but don't exactly know what that might be or how to go about it. This isn't to say that the book is a recipe for how to become a 4 Star General or something as spectacular, but rather how to experiement with one's strengths (and weaknesses) and the focus on the goals that emerge from such a journey. Perhaps without being fully aware of it, Clark gives hints for all of us about how to be the best we can be, and reveals more about himself than I was expecting. The road isn't always easy. There will be setbacks. But one just keeps at it, and success can be the outcome.

I loved this inspiring book.

Stories from the life of Wesley Clark and the lessons they teach.......2007-09-04

The book could easily be subtitled, "Stories from my life and the lessons they teach," for that is the basic structure of the book. In chronological order, except for the Preface, in which he relates the incident in which he was wounded in Viet Nam, Gen. Clark tells stories of his life and then completes each chapter with the lessons those stories have taught him--lessons for life and lessons on leadership. The final chapter applies those lessons to articulate a vision for America, for governance, and a path to follow for the 21st century.

Most of the stories he tells will be familiar to the avid Clark supporter community, but we've never heard them in his own words before, and in some cases in as much detail. The personal touch and the insights he provides bring the stories alive in his straightforward--dare I say simple?--language. It's an easy read, but the message is deep, but not complex.

If there was any disappointment in my reading of the book is that he downplays his own achievements, accomplishments, and uniqueness as a public servant, soldier, scholar, and leader. While his brilliance shines through the prose, he goes out of his way to avoid making him the star of the narrative. For example, his account of the Mt. Igman tragedy in Bosnia leaves out the danger and personal risk he undertook in making his rescue attempt. And there are almost too-casual mentions of his being number one in his class at West Point and his selection as a Rhodes Scholar. He omits altogether the praise that has been lavished on him in his formal Army evaluations and in other, less formal ways.

His mission in writing the book was to teach. The stories are necessary to understand the significant events in his life that have shaped who he is, led him to his beliefs, developed his character, and instilled the principles that guide him still. Extracting the leadership lessons from the stories and putting them all in one place could be used as the basis for a day-long seminar on principled leadership.

I didn't get the impression that he was touting his own leadership traits or promoting himself for his own purposes. Rather, I think he was hoping that others would internalize the lessons he teaches and adopt the same principles. He seems to think that the country has a dearth of such leaders and would like to develop more of them in all walks of life.

Readers of Clark's third book should enjoy it at at least two levels: the stories themselves as a compelling and often poignant narrative, and the points to ponder in developing leaders to take America to the places she should go in the future.

Average customer rating:

Pretty good
Great Read on Patton
Great Intro
excellent introduction
GREAT SHORT OVERVIEW - WELL DONE - A GOOD READ

Patton: A Biography (Great Generals)
Alan Axelrod
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1403971390
Release Date: 2006-02-02

Book Description

This distinguished new series will feature the lives of eminent military leaders who changed history in the United States and abroad. Top military historians will write concise but comprehensive biographies including the personal lives, battles, strategies, and legacies of these great generals, aiming to provide background and insight into todays armies and wars. These books will be of interest to the military history buff, and, thanks to fast-paced narratives and references to current affairs, they will be accessible to the general reader. Palgrave is delighted to launch this new series with a terrific title from the bestselling author of Patton on Leadership. Alan Axelrod succeeds in looking beyond the contextualization and analysis of Pattons military innovations and leadership strategies to reveal his legacy and influence on warfare today. Patton was a great tactician who single-handedly created Americas first generation of desert warriors, but he was also the most controversial general in U.S. history. Pattons life and methods still evoke passionate debate and in this concise volume, Alan Axelrod provides a new perspective on this great mans legacy.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good.......2007-08-12

I generally thought that this book was not particularly well written, I spotted a typo in the first of the book that could have been corrected with some editing. The writing was certainly not complex: more like a middle school text. However, I found the facts of Patton's life extrodinary.

Great Read on Patton.......2007-02-10

In my humble opinion, this title is one of the best biographies I've read in a long time. While the book contains only about 180 pages, the account is thorough and does not get bogged down in a dry summary of war strategy and tactics that afflicts other books.

Axelrod is able to describe in appropriate detail many aspects of Patton's life:

1. His early childhood in California, time at Virginia Military Institute, and ultimately graduating from West Point.
2. Involvement in the expedition against Pancho Villa and World War 1.
3. Rise to fame in World War 2.
4. Relationship with Eisenhower, Bradley, Montgomery, and other WW2 officers.
5. Relationship with enlisted men (including the 2 slapping incidents).
6. Tempestuous marriage to his wife Beatrice and his supposed reputation as a ladies' man.
7. The automobile wreck that led to his untimely death.

The part I enjoyed reading the most was probably the author's description of this highly effective general and most complex individual's personality. On the one hand, there is no doubt that while Patton played a significant role in WW2, many people disliked him. However, no one can argue with his point that Russia should have been dealt with much more firmly at the conclusion of WW2. Events from the 1940s - 1980s proved him to be correct.

A highly recommended read. Read and enjoy learning about one of our nation's greatest generals.

Great Intro.......2006-10-25

Axelrod has written a great intro. to Patton's life and career. Axelrod does a wonderful job portraying Patton the man- his leadership stlye, his sense of purpose, and most interestingly his willingness and desire to pass on glory and accolades to others in the armed service. Patton read heavily, wrote on militaty affairs and worked hard to create new tank doctrine.

This book is a must for those who are interested in learning more about Patton. Axeolrond had written a great intro.

excellent introduction.......2006-07-27

To echo the other reviewers: this crisp, easy-to-read biography is an excellent introduction to one of the most legendary commanders in all of military history.

After briefly covering Patton's youth, Axelrod jumps right into his military career, covering Patton's participation in the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in 1916, his combat experiences with early armor in World War I, and his interwar role in developing American tank doctrine before launching into Patton's famous exploits during World War II, which constitute the bulk of the book. From North Africa to Sicily, from England to Northwest Europe, from the slapping incident to his bold northward dash during the Battle of the Bulge, it's all here.

I can't imagine this book would be very useful to someone who has already read D'Este's or Hirshson's books, but for the newcomer, Axelrod has condensed the essentials of Patton's life, battles, and generalship into a summary that's well worth the couple hours it takes to read.

GREAT SHORT OVERVIEW - WELL DONE - A GOOD READ.......2006-05-16

As other reviewers have pointed out, there are a number of excellent biographies out there covering the life of General Patton. This short work though, does a wonderful job of compacting a very large amount of informaton into a short, readable biography. The author is quite concise and the material very well organized. For those readers not wanting to delve into a 1000 plus page work, yet are interested in this great generals life, this quite fills the bill. The technical aspect of war is kept to a minimum, yet the author is able to convey the complexities of war quite well as well as the complexities of George S. Patton. I do hope the rest of the books in this series are as well done. Overall, recommend this one highly.

Eisenhower: A Biography (Great Generals)

Average customer rating:

Keep Today's Politics Out Of It
Drop the forward.
Concise and Clear
Brief, but quite good
Good Introduction

Eisenhower: A Biography (Great Generals)
John Wukovits
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1403971374
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Book Description

In the third installment of the Great Generals series, WWII expert John Wukovits explores Dwight D. Eisenhower's contributions to American warfare. American general and 34th president of the United States, Eisenhower led the assault on the French coast at Normandy and held together the Allied units through the European campaign that followed. The book reveals Eisenhower's advocacy in the pre-war years of the tank, his friendships with George Patton and Fox Conner, his service in the Philippines with Douglas MacArthur, and his culminating role as supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe. Wukovits skillfully demonstrates how Eisenhower's evolution as a commander, his military doctrine, and his diplomatic skills are of extreme importance in understanding modern warfare.

Customer Reviews:

Keep Today's Politics Out Of It.......2007-09-24

Though a nice and mostly complete overview of Ike's life until assuming the Presidency, the author does not hesitate to inject his own personal bias in a work that should be a review of historical records. When discussing military preparedness, he adds a comment about the supposedly underarmored HUMVEEs in Iraq. When discussing the identity of the enemy, he says that Eisenhower's job was somewhat easier than today, for the enemy was clearly identified, as opposed to today's "insurgents fighting for their country" and "religious zealots fighting for their freedom." He even manages to take a swipe at todays military, commenting on Abu Ghraib. In fact, by the time of the description of the Normandy invasion, there are at least 5 references to Iraq and Afghanistan. This type of editorializing in what should be a historic work goes far to undermine the objectivity of the author. One feels that he has an agenda, and is using this book to promote it.

Tell us the story of Ike, leave your opinions on US policy today outside the dustjacket. Commentaries such as the ones I mentioned reduce the credibility of the author and make one question the rest of his work.

Drop the forward........2007-05-07

Interesting book. But Wesley Clarke -- who wrote the forward --is an airhead and a sychophant par excellence.

Concise and Clear.......2007-01-19

This should especially be a must read for students. The book is concise and to the point without a lot of extraneous words. Having just recently rented a film about Eisenhower at a local store, I'm shocked that the student-age employee neither knew who Eisenhower was or how to spell his name. Do we call this a dumbed-down nation?
A good combination with this book would be to first have the students read it and then show the film Ike: A Countdown to D-Day which was a made-for-TV film starring Tom Selleck.
More books of this ilk would help EDUCATE!

Brief, but quite good.......2006-11-23

I just finished this book, and found it a very enjoyable read. I learned a number things about Eisenhower's earlier years that were new to me--for instance, I never knew he had served in Panama, or been offered more lucrative business opportunities, but had elected to stay in the army. or that because of his abilities as a staff officer he had been denied the chance to have his own command except for a very brief period.

In terms of Eisenhower's WWII experiences, the focus is on getting into Eisenhower's thoughts and feelings and his relationships with other generals, particularly Patton and Montgomery, though the author also points out that Eisenhower tried to meet with all ranks of soldiers when time allowed. I was somewhat surprised that Eisenhower's alleged relationship with Kay Summersby is completely unmentioned, though the author does quote four times from her book.

Also, this is not the book to go to if you want an operational description of the battles Eisenhower oversaw--even the situation on Omaha is covered in only a couple of sentences. Similarly for Market-Garden, but here the author states this operation should never have happened, one of his few (though here only implied) negative statements about Eisenhower.

Eisenhower's life after the army and his presidency are briefly covered, with all the major events highlighted, but not discussed in detail.

I strongly recommend this book for an introduction to Eisenhower.

Good Introduction.......2006-11-02

This book is a good introduction for someone who has always wanted to read a biography of IKE the General but never could find the time for the heftier 500 page treatments of the General. The book is well-written, fast paced and interesting.

Wukovits' doesn't offer anything new to people already familiar with IKE the General. Much of what Wukovits writes has been hashed over in hundreds of books. This does not mean, however, that the book is not a contribution. In a brief bio of the general, Wukovits has no choice but to include much that many already know. The contribution comes in the analysis of IKE's leadership style- and his honesty, integrity, empathy all figure largely in Wukovits story. At times Wukovits appears to be writing an idealizing hagiographic biography and skims over the IKE's poor decisions. IKE dreaded sending men to battle and in many instances poor decisions by IKE made under political influence got men killed. (Omaha Beach, Market Garden, etc)- Certainly, we can criticise IKE for these decisions (Wukovits is very light on criticism) while also realizing no man could have done better.

It's hard for me to think of IKE as anything other than the greatest wartime leader this country has ever had. Wukovits has written a nice book. So far all three of THE GREAT GENERALS volumes have been quite good. See my reviews.

Average customer rating:

Grant, the greatest general
Valuable Addition to Grant Knowledge
An Okay Book on Grant, But There Are Better Ones Out There
Save your money.
Mistakes detract from good conclusions

Grant (Great Generals)
John Mosier
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1403971366
Release Date: 2006-05-25

Book Description

In this newest addition to the Palgrave Great Generals series, John Mosier brings to life the brilliant military strategist Ulysses S. Grant. A modest and unassuming man, Grant never lost a battle, leading the Union to victory over the Confederacy during the Civil War, ultimately becoming President of the reunited states. Grant revolutionized military warfare by creating new leadership tactics and by integrating new technologies in classical military strategy. In this compelling biography, Mosier reveals the man behind the military legend, showing how Grants creativity and genius off the battlefield shaped him into one of our nations greatest military leaders.

Customer Reviews:

Grant, the greatest general.......2007-06-03

I admire Washington, Lincoln and Grant. While the former two have garnered numerous accolades, Grant has been unjustifiably denigrated personally (alcoholic, fool, depressed) and professionally (butcher). His presidency has been unappreciated. Mosier makes a persuasive case that General Grant was probably a genius. In the final chapter, he briefly discusses Grant's undervalued presidency. I would highly recommend two other brief succinct biographies one by Korda and another by Bunting both of which explore Grant's presidency.

Mosier dispels many Grant myths. He was not an alcoholic in a medical sense. He was self-taught in algebra. He entered West Point which was one of the best educational institutions in the world. West Point entrance examination had a 50% failure rate. He graduated 21st in a class of 39 but 40 of them failed to graduate so he was in the top 25%. He was a good artist with a great 3-D vision which was essential for a commander during battle. He was a great horseman.
In the Mexican war, Grant was a quartermaster who demonstrated tremendous skill in logistics. This experience was vital when he commanded the Union armies and he made sure his men got enough ammunition, food etc. He displayed tremendous personal courage during the Mexican war (riding away to get ammunition) and ingenuity (dragging cannon to a church steeple).

Mosier compares U.S. Grant favorably with other great generals, namely Wellington, Napoleon and Foch. He finds Grant to be superior all of them. Without him, the North would have lost the war. Grant never lost a battle. Mosier defends Grant against charges of butchery by comparing Civil War casualties with those suffered by the British and French in World War I. Robert E. Lee said, "I have carefully searched the military records of ancient and modern history, and have never found Grant's superior as a general". Grant's magnanimity in victory is still an American tradition.

The book contains some historical errors which other reviewers have pointed out and I will not belabor here. This prevents me from awarding 5 stars. I am happy to find a book that appreciates this good, decent, honest everyman, great general and undervalued president.

Valuable Addition to Grant Knowledge.......2007-04-24

In GRANT by John Mosier, the accomplished military historian and author of The Myth of the Great War: A New Military History of World War I, the author posits that Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) is "one of history's greatest captains" (xi). This volume of Palgrave Macmillan's Great Generals Series, effectively validates this claim. The limber prose is illuminating, succinct, and decisive; plus, the presentation of facts is exact and thorough. Being a historian, ROTC cadet, and espoused Grant admirer; I must note that this is the best study of Grant since Flood's Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won the Civil War, and one of the most hagiographical on Grant (a positive since the rise of Revisionist History). I was surprised and delighted by the level of intellectual thought, study, and research that was compiled in only 199 pages.

This book is a valuable addition to the study of such an illusive and grossly misunderstood man. Mosier captures the inalienable quality of Grant that many biographers have missed: true genius. I do not understand why men like McFeely in Grant: A Biography, who won an undeserved Pulitzer for his bilge about Grant, and many other biographers have interpreted Grant as an inebriate, ignoramus, depressed fool and butcher. The proof against these fallacies are within Mosier's text. Mosier convinces the reader, and supports my long held hypothesis, that Grant was not an alcoholic in the medical sense of the term and that he possessed inherent genius. I have always admired Grant and considered him my foremost hero but this text radically altered my opinion to the highest degree. I have nothing but the utmost esteem and veneration for this great captain.

Mosier says of Grant that he was "a world class strategist whose achievements left a lasting imprint on the American military, and his unbroken string of victories make him unique" (1). In supporting this claim Mosier refrains from "conjecture and inference" and instead finds support from fact (10). One such poignant quote from the text was, "The most important part of Grant's significance as a military leader...is his attitude, his calm steadiness, together with his unwavering confidence in his men...has become what we might call the signature of the American commander" (166). Indeed, one might infer that this is also an American quality: the everyman quietly and diligently working for himself and posterity. It is the legacy of Grant that Robert E. Lee summed up best, "I have carefully searched the military records of ancient and modern history, and have never found Grant's superior as a general" (164). Grant the man is an enigma, for he is often described as "taciturn and imperturbable" but I feel Mosier reveals more details on this illusive subject (10).

Overall I would give this book 5 stars for high quality prose, superior insight, hagiography, and excellent readability. The general reader will also delight in this study of Grant for Mosier provides essential information for any laymen not familiar with the military world about campaigns, theory and Grant's peers. While nothing will compare to Grant's own Ulysses S. Grant : Memoirs and Selected Letters : Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant / Selected Letters, 1839-1865 (Library of America), a masterpiece of American prose, Mosier's book provides rich detail to the spectacular life of the man. A companion piece would be Josiah Bunting's Ulysses S. Grant (The American Presidents), another equally readable and great addition to Grant knowledge. Let me be brief: I recommend this book for anyone interested in Grant, military history, and the American Civil War.

An Okay Book on Grant, But There Are Better Ones Out There.......2007-03-29

In my humble opinion, while Mosier has written a book with interesting insights and conclusions about Grant's ability as a general, I feel that he got too much into analysis of his personality and why he did what he did. I say this because at the beginning of the book, Mosier admits that he does not have much information on Grant the man. So why draw all of these conclusions if you do not know much of the man's personality? Why not just instead analyze his successes and failures?

Another point of contention I have are the lack of good maps. While Mosier does have some good descriptions of Grant's campaigns, there are not nearly enough maps to detail his Civil War movements.

Granted, while I am a lifelong Civil War buff, I am by no means and expert on the period. However, I do believe readers will get more out of reading other titles on Grant, specficially: "Grant" by Jean Smith, "Grant and Lee" by JFC Fuller, or the titles by Bruce Catton (Grant Moves South, Grant Takes Command).

Complaints aside, I do believe that Mosier has written a book that will challenge the reader to further assess Grant's ability as a general and president.

Save your money........2007-03-08

I wish that I read these reviews before purchasing this book and hope that a few will save their dough by reading this. Not only is the book filled with basic factual errors it paints such a saintly figure of General Grant that one would suspect Mosier is related. From the author's perspective, Grant is not only a genius but his alchoholism and depression were actually assets! U.S. Grant was an excellent commander, far better on the offense than on the defense but Mosier's treatment would lead one to believe that he won the war single handedly. Again, I urge you to save your time and money, and find a good copy of Grant's Memoirs.

Mistakes detract from good conclusions.......2006-11-10

Have to concur that the book abounds in factual errors and this is a shame because the overall approach and observations about Grant's genius are sound. Mosier dispels the myth that Grant was a dullard at West Point (not challenged enough) or a chronic alcoholic-- more likely an "episodic alcohol abuser" who had it under control by war. Other points: Casualties were as great, and often greater, in the Napoleonic Wars but armies were made up of the dregs of society and most of the dead weren't missed--harsh but probably some truth in that. So Grant wasn't a "butcher" but all strata of society was now represented even in the lower ranks and, coupled with a literate society and a lively press, deaths shook the nation, especially starting with Shiloh. Halleck comes off even worse than in most works: he set Grant up for Shiloh. Anyway, the novice really needs to get his facts elsewhere--and some decent maps--elsewhere but should eventually read this book.

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Very basic, but good as a thumbnail review
Awesome primer on Clark
A Good Introduction to Gen. Clark
Too Thin: Clark Deserves a Better Treatment
Solid narrative with little insight

Wesley K. Clark: A Biography
Antonia Felix
Manufacturer: Newmarket Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1557046255

Book Description

The first biography on General Wesley K. Clark, Democratic presidential candidate and former NATO Commander, covering his prestigious military career and the personal history that shaped his character—from the author of Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story.

Four-star Gen. Wesley K. Clark (Ret.) made headline news upon announcing his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, and instantly became one of the frontrunners in the heated race. Now, biographer Antonia Felix paints a fascinating portrait of the man behind the medals.

Clark entered the world stage in 1997 as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, leading Operation Allied Force, which successfully ended the conflict in Kosovo. He set his course for achievement at West Point, graduating at the top of his class, and went on to receive a Master's Degree at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. Clark did two tours of duty in Vietnam, leading an infantry division and earning the Silver Star and Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.

In this comprehensive biography, drawn from dozens of interviews and independent research, readers will discover a personal story that is as compelling as Clark's highly decorated military career. Son of a Jewish father and Southern Baptist mother, Clark later converted to his wife's Catholic faith while fighting in Vietnam. The Wesley Clark Story covers Clark's life from his early days in Little Rock, Arkansas, and his time at Oxford (he is widely regarded as a savvy intellectual who speaks four languages), to his distinguished military career and recent role as CNN military analyst on the war in Iraq.

A general against the war in Iraq, Clark has been considered by some too political for the military and too military for the political arena. To others, his is the perfect combination for American leadership at this moment in history. 16 b/w photos.

Customer Reviews:

Very basic, but good as a thumbnail review.......2005-11-21

For folks interested in the prestigious and impressive history of Wes Clark, this book presents the basics. While not the in-depth biography I hoped for, I found it - coupled with Clark's own "Winning Modern War" to provide a fairly fleshed out picture of one of our history's greatest Generals.

Worth a read.

Awesome primer on Clark.......2005-11-21

This is a great primer on the life of Gen. Wesley Clark. I think this would make a great pairing with Clark's own book "Winning Modern Wars." Both books gives the reader thought to how the military and the White House work together. In Felix's book she paints a picture of an American who not only worked towards his American dream he gives back to his country.

A Good Introduction to Gen. Clark.......2005-11-21

It's a good read, but didn't add much to what I already knew. But I doubt that it was written for avid Clakies.

I'ts breezy, easy to read, and a good primer or introduction to Gen. Clark who don't know much about him.

Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO

Too Thin: Clark Deserves a Better Treatment.......2005-10-27

This book is very thin as a biography; it appears as something produced in haste to take advantage of the national political scene. My interest was on General Clark's military career with an emphasis on the early years. The writing appears as a collection of comments from past officer efficiency reports and some of the narrative from awards and decorations General Clark received over his long career. It was obvious that the author doesn't know much about the military as an organization and it shows. General Clark deserves a better biography written some someone who understands the military culture as well as national politics; Ms Felix did the basic job of putting the facts together; she didn't take the time to do an interpretation of the facts. Over the past few years as more is know about General Clark, the critics both in and out of the military, are providing many valid questions for the next biographers.

Full disclosure: I served as the brigade operations sergeant for then Major Wesley Clark in Bamberg Germany in 1977. Of the five operations officers over three years plus clearly Clark was the most brilliant, intelligent and complex of the five and two of them, still friends today, were really intelligent officers and worked well with the Noncommissioned Officers Corp. I was disappointed that his time as a battalion and brigade operations officer was skipped over. Besides, the biography misspelled the name of his rater Lt Col Dick Schonberger. All that not withstanding, I bought several copies of the book to give to others who were in Bamberg at the time.

Solid narrative with little insight.......2005-02-19

Felix has written a very positive, but not especially deep, biography of former and probably future presidential candidate Wesley Clark. This looks like something of a political leap for her, since she has written bios, apparently equally uncritical, of Laura Bush and Condi Rice. But it's less of a leap than it seems; there is nothing in this book to offend the strongest Clark supporter, but also nothing to offend partisan conservatives. For instance, Felix mentions that Clark's decision to run for President in 2003 was motivated partly by his disapproval of the direction of Bush's policies, but goes into little detail about what he disliked or why.

What she has focussed on is a list of the many highlights of Clark's life and career, from his early successes in High school swimming and forensics competitions to the numerous companies that invited him to become a director from 2000 - 2003. She particularly highlights the impressive list of awards and honors Clark has won, from "Boy of the Year" as a Little Rock teen and the oddly named Peruvian Army plaque (for 1st in his class at West Point) to the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his retirement from active duty.

Most of the book is necessarily about Clark's career in the military. There's an important and potentially fascinating story here of how the US military rose from its disastrous post-Vietnam condition to become the efficient powerhouse of the first Gulf War and the Kosovo campaign. The generation of young officers who served as junior field commanders in Vietnam and then rose through the ranks, such as Clark and Colin Powell, played a big role in this story. Felix does show Clark's focus throughout his career on training and the welfare of his troops, but her account of Clark's rise is too much a listing of positions held, units commanded, and honors awarded to adequately tell this broader story.

Certainly those unfamiliar with Clark and his background will learn a lot from this book; those already aware of the general story from the coverage of the 2004 campaign will be disappointed by the relative lack of new information. The book reads almost like one aimed at children due to its short length, simple vocabulary, and generally superficial treatments.

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Eisenhower
John Wukovits
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786294183

MacArthur: The Great Generals Series (Great General)

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MacArthur: The Great Generals Series (Great General)
Richard B. Frank
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audio Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

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Product Description

Douglas MacArthur is best remembered for his adaptability that hoisted him to his greatest accomplishments. Adaptability now reigns as the most indispensable trait for high military leadership in an era of technological leaps that guarantee the nature of war will radically change during the span of an ordinary career. No American figure better exemplifies this trait than the man who was commissioned before the Wright Brothers' first flight but became a keen exponent of an entirely new dimension in warfare. He was also in charge of the U.S. occupation of Japan, the most successful occupation in history.

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Bradley (Great Generals)
Alan Axelrod
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0230600182
Release Date: 2007-12-26

Book Description

Dubbed by the World War II press as "The GI General" because of his close identification with his men, Omar Bradley rose to command the U. S. 12th Army Group in the European Campaign. By the spring of 1945, this group contained 1,300,000 men--the largest exclusively American field command in U.S. history. Mild mannered, General Bradley was a dedicated mentor, the creator of the Officer Candidate School system, and a methodical tactician who served through World War II. Then, as a five-star general, he lifted the Veterans Administration from corruption and inefficiency to a model government agency, served as U.S. Army chief of staff, first chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and head of NATO. Alan Axelrod applies his signature insight and compelling prose to the life, strategy and legacy of the general who remains the model for all commanders today as the man who revolutionized the National Guard, shaped the US army's focus on the individual soldier, and emphasized cooperation and coordination among the military services--a cornerstone of modern U.S. military doctrine.

MacArthur: The Great Generals Series (Great Generals)

Average customer rating:

Five star review for a five-star general

MacArthur: The Great Generals Series (Great Generals)
Richard B. Frank
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audio Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1433200481
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Product Description

Customer Reviews:

Five star review for a five-star general.......2007-07-24

When there are multi-volume biographies running 800 to 900 pages each, what can be said about Douglas MacArthur in 198 pages?

Read Richard Frank's excellent book and find out. He's crammed at least 12 pounds into a 10-pound bag, providing a taut, concise examination of one of the dominant military figures of the 20th century. Frank's forte' is objectivity: at the end of the book you don't know what he personally thinks of Douglas MacArthur--and that's the mark of an impartial historian.

Some reviewers have complained that other Palgrave Great Generals bios address the subject's likely attitude toward current events, as does Frank. But those critics should "read the manual" and recognize that contemporary comparisons are part of the series format.

Frank's incisive bio addresses MacArthur's origins (his father was a general with the Medal of Honor), his motivations, his strengths and failings. Arguably his greatest accomplishments were before and after WW II: his spectacular heroism and leadership in WW I, his intelligent if controversial handling of postwar Japan, and his exceptional fortitude in reversing the Korean debacle with the Inchon landings in 1950. Ironically, soon thereafter his talents failed him and he brought dismissal upon himself.

Frank stresses a telling point: MacArthur's powerful aura and presence prevented nearly all his superiors from managing his colossal ego throughout his life. That trend apparently was not seen by anyone above him in the chain of command until the massive Chinese intervention in Korea. That he continually bulldozed his way from one success to another, often "improving" the facts to suit his needs, says much about the nature of geopolitical gatekeeping.

Ultimately, MacArthur was, as Frank demonstrates, straight out of a Greek tragedy: a magnificently flawed hero. Aeschylus and Sophocles would immediately understand Douglas MacArthur, and recognize the worth of this book.

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