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My Story
Peter Cosgrove, the former 'Australian of the Year', looks back over his respected and decorated military career and his personal life with wit and warmth on top of the steel that made him one of Australia's most popular and widely recognised military leaders.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 12, 2020
Peter Cosgrove is no Xenophon, and ‘My Story’ is certainly no ‘Anabasis’.
But I’m not one starring it for what it isn’t, not all military men have the prose of a Homer. I’m giving it a low rating because of the lightweight tedium of “...and then I was posted here and we made some wonderful friends...”. Smacked of false modesty, skirted around any dicey incidents without getting to the crux, any personal family controversies were redirected with finger pointing and a “How Dare They” counterattack. Sorry General, that’s what an interesting autobiography includes. Should’ve taken a leaf out of Errol Flynn’s “My Wicked Wicked Ways”. Great Australian (both of you), competent commander, deserve all your accolades, this just left me with a disappointing ennui.
Stay Frosty Sir.
But I’m not one starring it for what it isn’t, not all military men have the prose of a Homer. I’m giving it a low rating because of the lightweight tedium of “...and then I was posted here and we made some wonderful friends...”. Smacked of false modesty, skirted around any dicey incidents without getting to the crux, any personal family controversies were redirected with finger pointing and a “How Dare They” counterattack. Sorry General, that’s what an interesting autobiography includes. Should’ve taken a leaf out of Errol Flynn’s “My Wicked Wicked Ways”. Great Australian (both of you), competent commander, deserve all your accolades, this just left me with a disappointing ennui.
Stay Frosty Sir.
September 6, 2020
My Story by General Peter Cosgrove was published in 2006, after he had retired as Australia's Chief of the Defence Force, but before he was knighted and became Australia's Governor General. As such his autobiography may have been premature or, at the very least, he may be able to write a second edition one day.
Cosgrove, who came from a family with military traditions, enjoyed an illustrious career from relatively humble beginnings.
Serving in Vietnam as a youngster more or less straight from Duntroon, he seemed to excel from the outset and came under notice for promotion and plum positions in the army.
However, his prominent public reputation emerged from his time commanding the INTERFET forces in East Timor (Timor L'Este) during its transition to independence from Indonesian rule.
This highlight of his career quite rightly warrants most of the print space in this autobiography.
He also touches on service in Afghanistan, his role in the relief for major tsunami of 2004-5 in Aceh and his support for the victims of the Bali bombings in 2002.
While Cosgrove has had a fascinating and illustrious career, and he has documented his role with a proportionate mix of pride, humility and respect, it wasn't perhaps the most riveting autobiography I have read, but it certainly wasn't dull either.
I had the feeling that he was holding back a fair bit on his views of certain political events, erring on the side of discretion as opposed to forthright honesty. Perhaps if he'd said what he really thought, he would never have got the GG gig.
I have seen him speak at a public function, and he knows how to spin a yarn and I suspect that in private, over a frothy ale or two, some of his yarns might just be a lot more colorful again.
Cosgrove, who came from a family with military traditions, enjoyed an illustrious career from relatively humble beginnings.
Serving in Vietnam as a youngster more or less straight from Duntroon, he seemed to excel from the outset and came under notice for promotion and plum positions in the army.
However, his prominent public reputation emerged from his time commanding the INTERFET forces in East Timor (Timor L'Este) during its transition to independence from Indonesian rule.
This highlight of his career quite rightly warrants most of the print space in this autobiography.
He also touches on service in Afghanistan, his role in the relief for major tsunami of 2004-5 in Aceh and his support for the victims of the Bali bombings in 2002.
While Cosgrove has had a fascinating and illustrious career, and he has documented his role with a proportionate mix of pride, humility and respect, it wasn't perhaps the most riveting autobiography I have read, but it certainly wasn't dull either.
I had the feeling that he was holding back a fair bit on his views of certain political events, erring on the side of discretion as opposed to forthright honesty. Perhaps if he'd said what he really thought, he would never have got the GG gig.
I have seen him speak at a public function, and he knows how to spin a yarn and I suspect that in private, over a frothy ale or two, some of his yarns might just be a lot more colorful again.
June 30, 2021
This is a must read of an everyday man who was seen so great in the public eye. Yes he was a real rebel as a boy and has proved he was fit for any spot he took up.
May 27, 2014
Wow what an honest humble account from an extraordinary man. During this book you made me laugh out loud, have a tear in my eye and often a never ending smile in your effusive love for your wife Lyn, 3 boys and your family.
You took us on your adventures as a boy, a young cadet, a young officer at war in Vietnam and the various career opportunities that were presented. None of which you shied away from, tackling all the challenges head on with the support of your troops.
Your story teaches us that leadership is often not something you are born with, but learn, often the hard way, but most importantly taking on feedback when it is given honestly from those both junior and senior to us.
I especially enjoyed how you didn't skew this story around sensitive issues such as the "children overboard" issue, political and war arenas in which the armed servicemen and women of Australia played a very important role alongside their allies.
Australia is extremely lucky to have had such a person as a leader in the Defence Force, and especially more so that you are now the Governor General of Australia.
What a wonderful way to end your armed service career by being able to honestly say "I did my best mate".....
You took us on your adventures as a boy, a young cadet, a young officer at war in Vietnam and the various career opportunities that were presented. None of which you shied away from, tackling all the challenges head on with the support of your troops.
Your story teaches us that leadership is often not something you are born with, but learn, often the hard way, but most importantly taking on feedback when it is given honestly from those both junior and senior to us.
I especially enjoyed how you didn't skew this story around sensitive issues such as the "children overboard" issue, political and war arenas in which the armed servicemen and women of Australia played a very important role alongside their allies.
Australia is extremely lucky to have had such a person as a leader in the Defence Force, and especially more so that you are now the Governor General of Australia.
What a wonderful way to end your armed service career by being able to honestly say "I did my best mate".....
August 8, 2016
When the name Peter Cosgrove is mentioned, Australians experience a rush of pride. He is a person who cares for the country and his fellow man. A person with his unfaltering eye on the target.
The book covers the life of Peter Cosgrove from his very early years, into the military and on to retirement. This is not a head in the clouds account of Cosgrove's life, it is the life of a basic down to earth Aussie who rolled up his sleeves,did well and moved from promotion through honest involvement onto the next promotion until he was head of the Australian military.
So why only three stars for this much admired gentleman?
You need to isolate the man from the author. There was no lead up to or finishing off of each exercise he was involved in. The book covered little more than Cosgrove's involvement. To a young person or a non-Australian that would make the book very difficult to understand, at the same time denying the reader of a good story. The writing appeared very basic with enhancements from a thesaurus.
The book covers the life of Peter Cosgrove from his very early years, into the military and on to retirement. This is not a head in the clouds account of Cosgrove's life, it is the life of a basic down to earth Aussie who rolled up his sleeves,did well and moved from promotion through honest involvement onto the next promotion until he was head of the Australian military.
So why only three stars for this much admired gentleman?
You need to isolate the man from the author. There was no lead up to or finishing off of each exercise he was involved in. The book covered little more than Cosgrove's involvement. To a young person or a non-Australian that would make the book very difficult to understand, at the same time denying the reader of a good story. The writing appeared very basic with enhancements from a thesaurus.
August 5, 2014
Very fascinating book, especially for anyone in the ADF or joining. Shows the story of an everyday Australian doing great things for our country. There are a few areas that people with no ADF interest may drop off but it is worth the read to the end
January 12, 2013
Good
read
read
December 13, 2014
Enlightening and educational.
August 26, 2015
Honest, humble and very interesting account of life as General Cosgrove.
January 24, 2016
Biography of Australian Army major general who worked in INTERFET in East TImor.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews