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Ike: An American Hero
"Ike" is acclaimed author Michael Korda's sweeping and enthralling biography of Dwight David Eisenhower, arguably America's greatest general and one of her best presidents--a remarkable man in an extraordinary time, the hero who won the war and thereafter kept the peace.
Paperback, 800 pages
Published
May 6th 2008
by Harper Perennial
(first published 2007)
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I really wanted to love this book. It was absolutely facinating and full of great information and wonderful details. I had 2 major hangups though.
First, Korda kept interjecting information about his family and/or career or something of that sort into the book. They were mostly footnotes similar to "The author's brother once met a neighbor of the aforementioned general and had a plesant discussion about the bombing in London." They added nothing to the book and quickl...more
First, Korda kept interjecting information about his family and/or career or something of that sort into the book. They were mostly footnotes similar to "The author's brother once met a neighbor of the aforementioned general and had a plesant discussion about the bombing in London." They added nothing to the book and quickl...more
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As someone who loves historical biographies, this book was a treat. Korda employs a readable style with enough detail to delight, but not too much so as to overwhelm.
Without question, Korda is sympathetic towards Eisenhower. Countless places throughout the book he will state others’ criticism towards Eisenhower (i.e., not pressing to Berlin in WWII), and immediately follow with “but…” and defend the general’s decisions and character. In particular, Eisenhower’s relationship with K...more
Without question, Korda is sympathetic towards Eisenhower. Countless places throughout the book he will state others’ criticism towards Eisenhower (i.e., not pressing to Berlin in WWII), and immediately follow with “but…” and defend the general’s decisions and character. In particular, Eisenhower’s relationship with K...more
Citing David McCullough's biographies of Truman and MacArthur, Michael Korda claims that "a reputation can be revised by a single great book," and he seeks to do just that in Ike. Korda treads no new ground; instead, he gathers his information from previously published sources. In place of originality, reviewers commended his engaging, accessible style. Some were annoyed by Korda's lack of objectivity and the short shrift he gives to Eisenhower's presidential years (fewer than 100 page
...more
This is a complete biography of Eisenhower. I like the author's writing style while telling Ike's story from his humble begining, thru his West Point days, his disappointments in WWI, his years with Mac Arthur and how he quickly rose thru the ranks in WWII and finally to his Presidency. Korda treats Ike with respect and does not hestiate to examine some of Eisenhower's battles with his staff, the British and French. Did not think the Presidency years were fully explored and would have liked t...more
Michael Korda has to be the most arrogant biographer ever to be published. Not only does he insert himself into just about every interesting story about Dwight Eisenhower that he tells in the book, but even the book itself - underneath the jacket - doesn't feature the name of the book, but does feature the initials of the biographer. Seriously, this guy is painful to read, and it's a shame because his subject is so interesting and he managed to ruin it by drawing you out of the story and into hi...more
Quite a good read. Does not spend a lot of time with the military decision making; some; more of Ike's personal march through life. Gives great respect to Ike's intellectual abilities, which Ike's mannerisms - at least as we hear of them nowadays - tended to hide. Tells the story of a man of duty to his country. The book generally always takes Ike's side in the controversies of his life. Defends his record on several such matters. Probably minimizes some of his bad decisions, but then mayb...more
I've read a lot of presidential biographies. This one was, by far, the most disappointing. There were a lot of facts, but very little insight into Eisenhower as a human being. And I have to mention this because it bothered me as I was reading -- at times it was self-indulgent. He clearly likes to put events into context, but he puts them into the context of his own life - not the reader's. (At one point, we learn how his grandparents met which, by the way, had nothing whatsoever to do with ...more
This is the first time I've read Korda and I must say I was skeptical at first considering the fact that he was a British writer. I thought that perhaps Korda would be biased towards Ike considering past British authors that have revised history in favor of Montgomery (Monty) the British general that was often at odds with Ike. I was more than pleasantly suprised by Korda's research, detail, fairness while not idolizing Ike. This was the best book on Ike that I've read since Ambrose's take on th...more
Rachel
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
history fans, world events, military history
Recommended to Rachel by:
Dr. Marshall Gollub
This was an excellent biography of Eisenhower. I enjoyed all 700 pages, which is saying something -- Korda is an experienced author with a good sense of what makes a story.
While several reviews of this book complain that Korda was too sympathetic to Ike, and not nearly critical enough, I felt that being critical was not the point of the work. He certainly pointed out Ike's mistakes and missteps, but his thesis was that Ike demonstrated courage, military skill, hard work, integrity,...more
While several reviews of this book complain that Korda was too sympathetic to Ike, and not nearly critical enough, I felt that being critical was not the point of the work. He certainly pointed out Ike's mistakes and missteps, but his thesis was that Ike demonstrated courage, military skill, hard work, integrity,...more
Korda's 700 page biography of Dwight Eisenhower. Smart move in starting the story with the D-Day invasion of Europe in 1944. Ike's great strengths were that he was a superb staff officer, superb at logistics, and superb at gaining the recognition of senior officers without being a suck-up.
The book appears to have been dictated by Korda, since it's written in a conversational style. It would have been better with more editing, leaving a 500 page book. As an example, Korda repeats some...more
The book appears to have been dictated by Korda, since it's written in a conversational style. It would have been better with more editing, leaving a 500 page book. As an example, Korda repeats some...more
“I like Ike” as his campaign buttons proclaimed, I’ve always liked Ike, and I liked this Ike.
Michael Korda did not have the benefit of the “hundreds and hundreds of hours” of conversation with Eisenhower that Stephen Ambrose, the elite of Eisenhower biographers, enjoyed but this is a valid and very decent addition to the memory of a great man.
While writing this I remembered that when Ambrose wrote his three volume biography of Nixon, which stretched over a ten year period, Nixon nev...more
Michael Korda did not have the benefit of the “hundreds and hundreds of hours” of conversation with Eisenhower that Stephen Ambrose, the elite of Eisenhower biographers, enjoyed but this is a valid and very decent addition to the memory of a great man.
While writing this I remembered that when Ambrose wrote his three volume biography of Nixon, which stretched over a ten year period, Nixon nev...more
One of the best biographies i have ever read. This is a remarkably well written biography about a remarkable man. Eisenhower and his life are living proof that "many are called but few are chosen". Eisenhower was chosen and had rare foresight, intelligence not only to make war but to keep the peace, both of which he did with extraordinary vision and patience, often dealing with people like Monty and Patton, who would have tested a saint.
A book with lessons for living and for...more
A book with lessons for living and for...more
New York Times bestselling author Michael Korda's books include Horse People, Country Matters, Ulysses S. Grant, and Charmed Lives. Korda's newest book Ike, is a big, ambitious, and enthralling new biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower is full of fascinating details and anecdotes, which place particular emphasis on his brilliant generalship and leadership in World War Two. It also provides, with the advantage of hindsight, a far more acute analysis of Ike's character and personality than any that ha...more
If you like military history this book is for you. It depicts the life and struggles of one of the greatest American generals who ever lived. The book covers all the American involved theaters of WWII and shows how an ambitious person like Ike ended up going to West Point, being one of the few five star generals of the United States, and eventually, a twice elected U.S. President.
A breezy, easy read of the life of a much-admired man. Most of this will be familar to regular history readers. But Korda has a good eye for the telling anecdote, and I can just picture scenes he's painted carefully, like when a young Ike and Patton literally took apart a tank together and rebuilt it to fully understand how it worked.
Alvin
added it
Very well written and Eisenhower has a very compelling story. The bulk of the book is spent on his upbringing/childhood and his tenure as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces. Very little of the book is spent on his Presidency and for a fuller biograhical account, I suggest Stephen Ambrose's biography. Alvin
So much time spent on the war and little time on the presidency. I guess that says either where the author's interests lie or that Ike was a much greater military man than president. Also, time spent on his childhood, but little to nothing about his child and his family?????
A very balanced accounting of Dwight David Eisenhower's life from childhood to the Presidency. The interfaces with men such as Patton, Montgomery, Churchill and others make the accounting even more interesting. Ike was the right man at the right time in our country's history.
The background on Ike's life prior to D-Day made me feel he was being trained to meet his destiny at D-Day. America owes so much to this great man. His attention to detail, planning,discipline,and diplomatic skills came together in a truly great person.
Great story about one of history's greatest military diplomats. Even MacArthur liked Ike. Don't bother reading it beyond WWII, Korda does not say much after that point. Minor hero worship by Korda, but it's a good enough read to make it tolerable.
This was a well written book about a president I really didn't know much about. I'm not a reader of military history, but Korda made the battles of World War II interesting and understandable. His description of D-Day is easily the best part of the book. Ike's military career overshadows the rest of his life in this book -- I would have liked more than 80 pages about Eisenhower's two terms as president -- and Korda has an obvious case of hero worship that I think at times colors his analysis ...more
I learned of Ike's calm and cautious leadership through such a horrible and chaotic period of our history. Made me re-evaluate how I approach crisis and egotistic personalities.
Great book - I was amazed how much he did and how little he cared for getting credit for his accomplishments. Well written and entertaining for a historical book.
This is an excellent biography of Dwight Eisenhower, particularly his time as supreme commander of the Allied Forces during World War II. I have never particularly been an Eisnehower fan (being a staunch Democrat) but in reading this book I have come to appreciate his skills in dealing with super egos such as Generals Montgomery, Patton, and Prime Minister Churchill and accomplish what needed to be done in order to win the war. This book makes me wish we had an Eisenhower now because he always...more
Very good biography of Dwight Eisenhower... I was very impressed with how the author helped clarify the "big picture" decisions of WW2 in text that helped me see the scope of the decisions.
THIS BOOK WAS REALLY GOOD AND GAVE ME LIKE 11 BONERS.
A very readable bio.
A very good, and very easy read. Just enough military history to keep folks like me happy, and not too much time spent on traditional biographic subjects (hometown, childhood, etc.) -- just the right amount. I wish he had spent a bit more time on the presidency, but I suppose the main point of the book was his time during WWII, so that makes sense. Puts Ike in a light I hadn't thought of before... very ambitious, but willing to let the accolades and promotion come to him vs. someone like McArthu...more
This is the second president I've read a biography on, the first being Richard M. Nixon. Michael Korda's biography of commander-turned-president is interesting from beginning to end. I enjoyed reading about Ike's leadership skills during both WWI and WWII. Ike's presidency is that of impressive work and dedication and a determination to save America from the Korean War, segregation, etc. This is truly a good read for history majors, especially those studying in the area of U.S. history.
A very readable biography of someone I didn't know I wanted to know more about. Too easily dismissed as a hands-off President (which he wasn't) during the complacent 1950's (which actually had much turmoil seething under the surface), Eisenhower's story turns out to offer much drama, both in his personal and professional endeavors. I wonder if they make generals like him any more?
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