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Title: EISENHOWER by Stephen E. Ambrose ISBN: 0-671-74758-4 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 15 October, 1991 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.95 (21 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A nice condensed edition of a remarkable life
Comment: Dwight Eisenhower is one of the great American historical figures of the 20th century. Stephen Ambrose - one of Ike's primary biographers - is one of the great American historians of the 20th century. Put the two together, and the expected result is a great book. Mostly, this expectation was fulfilled.
I must admit to being somewhat partial to Mr. Ambrose's work. I read a tremendous amount of historical pieces, and his always rates very high with me for sheer readability, quality presentation, and non-revisionist sense of writing. I try very hard to not let this "bias" affect my reviews; however, when you write so well time and time again, it is hard not to become a big fan of any author.
I noted some earlier reviews where people wanted more "meat" out of this book. These people failed to note in the introduction that the book was a condensed edition of the multi-volume work Mr. Ambrose wrote several years before this. It is impossible to not be "lean" in some areas - as one reviewer put it - when there is so much material to draw from and only one book to put it in. I will concede that a few of the "lean" portions are a drawback in this book, but given the nature of the beast, it is a minor nuisance.
Eisenhower's life in the military and the presidency are remarkable in that both facets affect government and the military to this day. From a political standpoint, it is almost amusing to read of the strong similarity of the issues (and solutions to them) from his time and now. Issues like the balanced budget, defense spending, etc, were all things Ike coped with then. The arguments on both sides in the '50's are so much like today's that if it were possible to transport Ike to the year 2000, he wouldn't miss a beat!
Having read large portions of Mr. Ambrose's multi-volume set in the course of study for research papers, I commend him for being able to condense it all down into this one book. Mr. Ambrose's prose usually flows so smoothly, but this book is an exception. However, it's choppiness in places is really to be expected in the process that spawned this book. It is still highly readable for virtually all audiences, and is a worthwhile read to gain some knowledge of the remarkable man that Dwight Eisenhower was.
Rating: 5
Summary: Ambrose's labor of love
Comment: Dwight Eisenhower helped make Stephen Ambrose's career as a historian after reading the author's biography of the obscure Henry Halleck. Ambrose repays the debt in spades with this well written authoritative account of Eisenhower's life. This is history writing at its most readable. Ambrose portrays Ike as a genuine American hero, but does not ignore the negative, such as his suspected affair during World War. Most importantly, this is a book for readers who do not want to get bogged down in the minutia surrounding every event in Eisenhower's life. What you get is a good overview, detailed enough to give a good portrait of the man behind the legend.
Rating: 4
Summary: The definitive work on Eisenhower
Comment: If you are only going to read one biography about Eisenhower, this one-volume version by Stephen Ambrose is the one to choose. Ambrose exhibits his deep and comprehensive knowledge of his subject and in the process provides the reader with with a real sense of Eisenhower.
While Ambrose does highlight Ike's shortcomings where appropriate, there is no doubt that he had a deep admiration for his subject. This admiration leads him to write the book from a certain perspective - not necessarily biased, but certainly favorably disposed. If you are looking for a different take on Ike (albeit narrowly focused on his relationship with Truman) read David McCullough's Truman.
Overall, this a solid book from a great author.
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Title: The Supreme Commander: The War Years of General Dwight D. Eisenhower by Stephen E. Ambrose ISBN: 1578062063 Publisher: University Press of Mississippi Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $17.88 |
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Title: D Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose ISBN: 068480137X Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 01 June, 1995 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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Title: Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors by Stephen E. Ambrose ISBN: 0385479662 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 01 June, 1996 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Truman by David McCullough ISBN: 0671869205 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 14 June, 1993 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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Title: CITIZEN SOLDIERS : THE U S ARMY FROM THE NORMANDY BEACHES TO THE BULGE TO THE SURRENDER OF GERMANY by Stephen E. Ambrose ISBN: 0684848015 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 24 September, 1998 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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