Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
This is, I believe, the best historical biography I have ever read...and I've read some great ones. Part of that may be due to the subject at hand, Douglas MacArthur, one of the more complicated personalities of history out there. A brilliant man, but flawed in several respects, he was such a major figure of American history and, indeed, world history. He was at once, a genius, a great leader of men, a supreme strategist, as well as an incredible egoist capable of monumental mistakes in judgement. I have heard numerous anecdotes throughout my life about this man but had never developed a complete picture of him or his life. William Manchester certainly satisfied that for me.
The book itself is delightful to read, packed not only with the facts of MacArthur's life and times, but also making a compelling case for MacArthur being one of history's greatest generals. We get a close-up look at his development of brilliant warfare strategies and how they came about. We see his tactics in war and we see how he reacts to his superiors, subordinates, and family. We see his entire life, starting, actually before his birth with a good look at his father, a great general in his own right and we progress through his childhood and then his amazing career at West Point. We see how the major women in his life have affected him, from his mother to his two wives. We see his success in WWI and then spend a lot of time with him in the Pacific during WWII, and his ultimate shining moments as the near-emporer of Japan after the surrender. MacArthur seems to be mostly remembered for his time in the Korean War and his ultimate firing by Truman and that is truly unfortunate given his numerous remarkable accomplishments for so many decades prior.
But this book is far more than historical facts. The author gets behind the public personna and shows us the man himself. While reading the book, I felt like I knew MacArthur personally and was able to understand how and why he reacted to the great and tragic events of the 20th century. The book's title says it all...MacArthur was, indeed, the American Caesar. The author does a superb job of showing us all aspects of his character, making the reading of this book a truly great experience. Highly recommended.
The book itself is delightful to read, packed not only with the facts of MacArthur's life and times, but also making a compelling case for MacArthur being one of history's greatest generals. We get a close-up look at his development of brilliant warfare strategies and how they came about. We see his tactics in war and we see how he reacts to his superiors, subordinates, and family. We see his entire life, starting, actually before his birth with a good look at his father, a great general in his own right and we progress through his childhood and then his amazing career at West Point. We see how the major women in his life have affected him, from his mother to his two wives. We see his success in WWI and then spend a lot of time with him in the Pacific during WWII, and his ultimate shining moments as the near-emporer of Japan after the surrender. MacArthur seems to be mostly remembered for his time in the Korean War and his ultimate firing by Truman and that is truly unfortunate given his numerous remarkable accomplishments for so many decades prior.
But this book is far more than historical facts. The author gets behind the public personna and shows us the man himself. While reading the book, I felt like I knew MacArthur personally and was able to understand how and why he reacted to the great and tragic events of the 20th century. The book's title says it all...MacArthur was, indeed, the American Caesar. The author does a superb job of showing us all aspects of his character, making the reading of this book a truly great experience. Highly recommended.
In 2014 I attended a MacArthur Memorial Week event at Marquette University. The event was in recognition of 50 years since the passing of the great, but very controversial, General. I was broadsided by 2 facts while attending the event. The first was that MacArthur claimed Milwaukee as his home. It's tough for military professionals to claim a home so the term is used loosely but it's still an honor. Second was the large presence of Philippine participants in the ceremony. In my 15+ years in Milwaukee I can't recall meeting a single person with ancestry tied to the Philippines, but here in one room were dozens. They were all extremely grateful as if the man assisted with purchasing them a car yesterday.
I was pleased to see that the most popular biography on the General was from William Manchester. I was familiar with Manchester as a result of his Last Lion series which is an amazing series on Winston Churchhill. The book was amazing. I have mixed feelings on Gen MacArthur. He was a brilliant milirary man, but the criticism directed at his lack of respect for miliary control of the armed forces has merit.
America, Japan, Korea and the world is better off for him even though at times he was more politician and Hollywoord than classic Army Officer. A complicated man, complicated times and a fascinating biography.
I was pleased to see that the most popular biography on the General was from William Manchester. I was familiar with Manchester as a result of his Last Lion series which is an amazing series on Winston Churchhill. The book was amazing. I have mixed feelings on Gen MacArthur. He was a brilliant milirary man, but the criticism directed at his lack of respect for miliary control of the armed forces has merit.
America, Japan, Korea and the world is better off for him even though at times he was more politician and Hollywoord than classic Army Officer. A complicated man, complicated times and a fascinating biography.
informative
slow-paced
challenging
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
At times the prose in this book can be magnificent. But the narrative stretches when it should contract and vice versa. Of course the ultimate strength of the book is its larger than life subject: MacArthur.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
It's just so so so long, it goes by so slowly
A splendid bio of a unique figure. MacArthur exemplified all of the romantic gestures of Patton, but seem to be a far superior individual to Patton. An effective commander, a genuine gentleman, and a patriot, he was eventually undone by the loneliness of his position and the paranoia that came with it. Time moved past him. Eisenhower was the general for America in the 20th century, MacArthur was simply a man out of time. That didn’t stop his ascent or his ability, but it does make him difficult to discern in hindsight.
If I measure a book by how much of what it tells me something new (thank you Amero/Eurocentric educational system), this book would score a great number of points. I really enjoyed learning so much about the General, the war in the Pacific, the reconstruction of Japan, and the Korean War.
What impressed me most was how well he understood peace as well as war. I think MacArthur understood the Japanese better than anyone else in the American government (and probably all America as well!) And he used this to help rebuild the nation. On top of that, he gets a clause in their constitution that renounces war! Amazing.
Of course, MacArthur has his flaws which ultimately undo him. He doesn't like it when people have plans contradictory to his. After reading Truman's side of the MacArthur Story in McCullough's Truman, it was really eye-opening to get MacArthur's side. I may go back and look at those sections of these two books side-by-side at a later date. It would be interesting to find a more objective version of the story.
I heartily recommend!
What impressed me most was how well he understood peace as well as war. I think MacArthur understood the Japanese better than anyone else in the American government (and probably all America as well!) And he used this to help rebuild the nation. On top of that, he gets a clause in their constitution that renounces war! Amazing.
Of course, MacArthur has his flaws which ultimately undo him. He doesn't like it when people have plans contradictory to his. After reading Truman's side of the MacArthur Story in McCullough's Truman, it was really eye-opening to get MacArthur's side. I may go back and look at those sections of these two books side-by-side at a later date. It would be interesting to find a more objective version of the story.
I heartily recommend!