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Title: Old Soldiers Never Die: The Life of Douglas Macarthur by Geoffrey Perret ISBN: 1-55850-723-X Publisher: Adams Media Corporation Pub. Date: May, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 (16 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Good, not great
Comment: I can't claim to be an expert on this subject, but the book seemed reasonably well balanced and researched.
Despite the author's assertion in the last chapter that MacArthur is the second greatest general in American history, I'm not convinced. The author does seem to make excuses for MacArthur's "emotional" behaviour and also seems to misrepresent the opposing point of view a few times, especially in the post-Korea chapters.
This books requires a bit of work to get through. The writing style isn't overly engaging. The author does quite a lot of "telling" and not enough "showing". We're presented with a fair amount of fact and opinion without the use of anecdotes and stories to illustrate them.
Overall however, an interesting book.
Rating: 5
Summary: Old heroes never die
Comment: If you want to read good history (not great) you need to pick this book up. I think you will absolutely find the book to be a good book, but I found the last chapter to be great. I love when the author chronicles the general giving his last speech at West Point. Talk about a dying man's last play on the stage! The way that the author details this speech leaves one with an exceptional feeling. MacArthur was a man dedicated to his principles and to the army. Still, I like the way he finishes that speech and turns to his wife to blow her a kiss. He could be an officer and a gentlemen even with all of his flaws. Stanley Weintraub's book, "MacArthur's War" is also a good piece of writing. I would recommend both of these books if you want to get a balanced picture of the man and his life. I think Peret is successful (as Weintraub is) in showing the contrasts and character flaws of this great man. Also, for other information on the general, check out the MacArthur center website.
Rating: 4
Summary: An interesting, well written book
Comment: I enjoyed this book very much. Although long and detailed, I found its style engaging and well organized. It's an easy read. Being able to turn dense historical material into such an interesting book is a triumph.
Writing a biography of a controversial personality like MacArthur is challenging and, overall, I think Perret has done a good job. It's too easy to fall in love with your subject and the author is able to resist the temptation to hurruh too much.
I think, however, that there are a few areas, where the author seems to accept behaviors that are questionable and problematic. Into his assertion of MacArthur's greatness he never really factors in MacArthur's overly emotional temperament nor his lack of veracity. There is space for further debate here that I think the author missed.
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Title: Reminiscences by Douglas MacArthur ISBN: 1557504830 Publisher: United States Naval Inst. Pub. Date: March, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964 by William Manchester ISBN: 0440304245 Publisher: Bantam Books Pub. Date: 01 February, 1983 List Price(USD): $8.99 |
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Title: Patton : Genius for War, A by Carlo D'Este ISBN: 0060927623 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 06 November, 1996 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
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Title: MacArthur's War : Korea and the Undoing of an American Hero by Stanley Weintraub ISBN: 0684834197 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 15 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
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Title: MacArthur and Defeat in the Philippines by Richard Connaughton ISBN: 1585671185 Publisher: Overlook Press Pub. Date: 19 March, 2001 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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