Eisenhower
by Stephen E. Ambrose
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 157)
Much like the Tom Hanks movie 'saving private Ryan' but much more graphic.
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Read in March, 2008
As with all Presidents, he had his strengths and weaknesses but he presided over the most peaceful 8 years in the 20th century. He was also prophetic: "The congjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence - economic, political, even spiritual - is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted...more
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Read in December, 2007
This book left me wanting more regarding the childhood history of Dwight Eisenhower, but this was the only complaint I had for the book. The narrative pacing was good in that the reader gets a good sense for the different considerations and personalities that were forces in shaping Eisenhower and his behavior. The thinking that went into Ike's relationships were communicated well without dwelling on things too strongly. Overall this book read better than the Theodore Roosevelt biographies tha...more
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Read in July, 2007
Just got this book at a Friends of the Library book sale. Might be the best presidential biography I've ever read, simply because it didn't fall quite as badly into the hero-worship trap as others. While it is obvious that Ambrose had a fondness for Ike, he quite significantly scorches him in the conclusions - that even by Ike's own goals, he wasn't particularly successful. It was a fairly balanced bio, and I appreciate that after reading a lot of garbage.
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Read in January, 2007
Having trouble finishing this one. Childhood through WWII were very interesting. Presidential section not so much.
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Excellent book about Eisenhower! Stephen Ambrose writes an amazing biography about an amazing person- Eisenhower. While many people focus on Eisenhower’s time as the leader of the Allies in western Europe, Ambrose spends time with Eisenhower growing up, in grade school, then West Point. All this leads you to the man who designed and executed the D-day invasion in all his complexity.
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Read in January, 2008
Pretty good.
I have to admit I knew squat about him before I read this book.
I think he made many bad choices, but at the same time he kept the US out of war.
It confirms my belief that those leaders who know the most about war do their best to keep out of them and those who know the least get into them to prove they can be tough.
W is a perfect example of the latter.
I have to admit I knew squat about him before I read this book.
I think he made many bad choices, but at the same time he kept the US out of war.
It confirms my belief that those leaders who know the most about war do their best to keep out of them and those who know the least get into them to prove they can be tough.
W is a perfect example of the latter.
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Read in March, 2008
This book started out really well and I breezed through the first half. I really enjoyed the depiction of Ike prior to WWI as well as his experiences between the wars. In my opinion, the chapters on WWII are the strongest and most interesting. I felt the subsequent chapters to be weak and I struggled a bit to finish the book.
Still and all, a good book.
Still and all, a good book.
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
People who wish there were still real Republicans around.
No President is perfect. But one or two have streaks of visionary love for their country, and try to warn us of something despite what it does to their image and legacy. Eisenhower is worth reading about, even to those of us who became liberals when we realized there were no real conservatives left.
NC
NC
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Read in June, 2007
Kind of a cheat, since I only made it through not much more than the first half. I enjoyed it, particularly the pre-WW2 material of which I previously knew very little. His childhood in Kansas made me think of what my own grandfather's childhood in Nebraska must have been like.
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Read in January, 2007
Great book. I have new respect for what it took to do D-Day. Ike was awesome!
I was also very impressed how much Ike's family background is similar to my family's.
I was also very impressed how much Ike's family background is similar to my family's.
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