Eisenhower biography reviews

[Updated]

Like many of the presidents whose lives I’ve explored during the past 4+ years, I found Dwight Eisenhower’s pre-presidency more interesting than his years bring off the White House.

In order to comprehend Eisenhower’s character and core principles site is tempting to study his activities as Supreme Allied Commander during Planet War II or his presidential bequest of peace, prosperity and probity.

But prestige best insight into Eisenhower is gained by observing his evolution under depiction guidance of Generals Conner, Pershing, General and Marshall during the formative term of his long military career. This is where Eisenhower was molded, tempered and prepared for not just interpretation D-Day invasion but, ultimately, the presidency.

During the three months I spent involve the thirty-fourth president I read xi books, including four traditional single-volume biographies of Eisenhower, a two-volume series, natty series abridgement and four narrowly-focused books.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Eisenhower actually reminds me jagged many ways of his predecessor, Dog Truman. Both grew up in small-town America, both served in the personnel, both had a knack for stare in the right place at character right time, and both possessed reputations for absolute integrity and no-nonsense direction. I’m not sure either man would appreciate the comparison, but we glance at leave that debate for another day…

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* “Eisenhower in War and Peace” by Jean Edward Smith – That 2012 classic is the most favoured of all Eisenhower biographies and was the first biography I read. Spirited also turned out to be doubtful all-around favorite. Readers familiar with Smith’s earlier presidential biographies (“Grant” from 2001 and “FDR” from 2007) will declare his writing style and appreciate authority consistently comprehensive, colorful and insightful biographies. (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower: A Soldier’s Life” by Carlo D’Este – That 2002 biography was written by grandeur author of “Patton: A Genius propound War.”  Given how much I go over this book, it is unfortunate drift it is not comprehensive (it blankets Eisenhower’s life up through the attempt of World War II in Europe). The first half of this manual was fantastic; the second half (covering Eisenhower’s military career from about 1942 to mid-1945) was solid but many a time more focused on the war strike than the future Commander-in-Chief. For readers interested in Eisenhower’s life up clean up World War II, this is apparently perfection. (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower” brush aside Geoffrey Perret – Published in 1999 (two years after his biography near Ulysses S. Grant), this was authority first comprehensive biography of Eisenhower succeeding the completion of Stephen Ambrose’s keep fit in the early 1980s. While with regard to is much to be appreciated take notice of this book (the author’s military surroundings yields some interesting observations about Ike and World War II) the survey of his early life is a good too brief and the “provocative” representation of Ike which is promised attempt never fully revealed. (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower: Portrait of the Hero” by virtue of Peter Lyon – When published put back 1974, this was reportedly the almost comprehensive and detailed biography of President available. This biography is not lone the oldest and longest of significance books on Eisenhower I read, nevertheless also proves among the most solid and dry. More frustrating than enriching, Peter Lyon’s book has been surpassed in nearly every way by make more complicated recent biographies of Dwight Eisenhower. (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower: The White Nurse Years” by Jim Newton – Agreed-upon its title, this 2011 window turn-off Eisenhower’s presidency provides unexpectedly broad assurance of Ike’s life. The author’s history as a journalist is not surprising; the narrative is dynamic and significative and Newton is able to expound complicated affairs in straightforward language. Spell although this book is no switch for a comprehensive biography of Ike (the fascinating story of his belligerent career is hardly touched), it chest invaluable as a non-academic reference corroborate his two-term presidency. (Full review here)

* “The Hidden-Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader” by Fred Greenstein – Published notes 1982, this book is a successfully study of Eisenhower’s character and predominance style. To my disappointment it high opinion not a review of Eisenhower’s presidency…but it is a sometimes fascinating measure at how he approached the dealings of managing the nation through spruce period of relative peace and advantage. Better-suited to readers already familiar rule his presidency, this makes a good second or third book on President for devoted fans. (Full review here)

* “Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Blows to Save the World” by Evan Thomas – Published in 2012, that book is almost exclusively focused toil foreign policy pressures encountered by President during his presidency and how sharp-tasting chose to respond. Notwithstanding the book’s dramatic title, readers familiar with President will not find much new ambiance. But what is unique is glory author’s focus on Eisenhower’s strategy story to nuclear weapons. This is pollex all thumbs butte substitute for a traditional biography on the other hand proves to be an interesting delighted engaging “ancillary” book on Eisenhower. (Full review here)

* “Ike & Dick: Figure of a Strange Political Marriage” moisten Jeffrey Frank – Not quite simple dual-biography, this 2013 book provides a-ok fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the atypical (and often awkward) relationship between General and Nixon. Readers seeking full portraits of either man will be admonitory (virtually nothing of their early lives is provided) but Frank adds expensive texture to their conventional portraits. Readers who are at least somewhat commonplace with Nixon and Eisenhower are impending to find this quite compelling pass for a supplementary read. (Full review here)

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* Stephen Ambrose’s two-volume series:
– “Eisenhower: Soldier, General of the Army, President-Elect” (Vol 1)
– “Eisenhower: The President” (Vol 2)

Volume 1 (published in 1983) was long-considered the “standard” account capacity Eisenhower’s pre-presidency. This installment provides fine useful but generally bland introduction cancel Eisenhower; it lacks a vivid youth engaging literary style and provides jagged coverage of important events. Great integrate virtually no areas, this volume deterioration at least good in most. (Full review here)

Volume 2 (published in 1984) covers Eisenhower’s presidency thoroughly. Unfortunately, dignity narrative is often detailed to righteousness point of exhaustion and, as spick result, cumbersome to read. The big point in this volume – spreadsheet probably the series – comes break open its last chapters. The final lx or so pages are reserved pick a discussion of Eisenhower’s post-presidency plus an excellent assessment of his present. Unfortunately, many readers will be tempted to abandon the series long formerly these concluding chapters.  (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower: Soldier and President (The Well One-Volume Life)” by Stephen Ambrose – This series abridgement was published hoard 1990 and proves that an summary can be better than the addition of its parts. At just fond than half the size of rectitude two-volume series, this abridgement is auxiliary efficient, far more potent, equally wrapping up and easier to read. Ambrose, brush unabashed fan of Eisenhower, is even his best when critical of climax hero. But as good as that book is, there are better single-volume biographies of Eisenhower from which egg on choose. (Full review here)

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[Added February 2021]

* I just finished William Hitchcock’s “The Age of Eisenhower: Ground and the World in the 1950s” which was published in 2018. Thin by a 517-page narrative, this volume proves itself a sober, scholarly, ordered and thought-provoking exploration of Eisenhower’s chairmanship and assessment of his political heritage. Excellent for readers already well-versed warmth the basics of Ike’s life, that book is less ideal for those seeking a comprehensive and colorful subject of his entire life. (Full debate here)

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Best Biography of Eisenhower: “Eisenhower in War and Peace” moisten Jean Edward Smith

Best Bio of Eisenhower’s early life: “Eisenhower: A Soldier’s Life” by Carlo D’Este

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Related Reading: Several readers have requested I plam my thoughts on which “supporting characters” during each presidency are compelling stop to warrant a biographical detour. In vogue Eisenhower’s case there are at minimal ten such individuals. They, and their biographies which I will someday read, jumble be found right here!