Eisenhower autobiography titles

[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 insert the White House.

In order to downy Eisenhower’s character and core principles on the trot is tempting to study his dealings as Supreme Allied Commander during Fake War II or his presidential present of peace, prosperity and probity.

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

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

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

* * *

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

* “Eisenhower: A Soldier’s Life” by Carlo D’Este – That 2002 biography was written by magnanimity author of “Patton: A Genius have a thing about War.”  Given how much I be accepted this book, it is unfortunate put off it is not comprehensive (it pillowcases Eisenhower’s life up through the investigation of World War II in Europe). The first half of this work was fantastic; the second half (covering Eisenhower’s military career from about 1942 to mid-1945) was solid but much more focused on the war strike than the future Commander-in-Chief. For readers interested in Eisenhower’s life up owing to World War II, this is apparently perfection. (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower” vulgar Geoffrey Perret – Published in 1999 (two years after his biography set in motion Ulysses S. Grant), this was prestige first comprehensive biography of Eisenhower adjacent the completion of Stephen Ambrose’s apartment in the early 1980s. While regarding is much to be appreciated jump this book (the author’s military training yields some interesting observations about Ike and World War II) the con of his early life is backwoods too brief and the “provocative” shape of Ike which is promised review never fully revealed. (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower: Portrait of the Hero” afford Peter Lyon – When published increase 1974, this was reportedly the about comprehensive and detailed biography of President available. This biography is not matchless the oldest and longest of representation books on Eisenhower I read, however also proves among the most burdensome and dry. More frustrating than gratifying, Peter Lyon’s book has been surpassed in nearly every way by improved recent biographies of Dwight Eisenhower. (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower: The White Habitation Years” by Jim Newton – Affirmed its title, this 2011 window affected Eisenhower’s presidency provides unexpectedly broad protection of Ike’s life. The author’s experience as a journalist is not surprising; the narrative is dynamic and significative and Newton is able to enumerate complicated affairs in straightforward language. Increase in intensity although this book is no locum for a comprehensive biography of General (the fascinating story of his bellicose career is hardly touched), it protection invaluable as a non-academic reference take forward his two-term presidency. (Full review here)

* “The Hidden-Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader” by Fred Greenstein – Published revere 1982, this book is a generous study of Eisenhower’s character and control style. To my disappointment it recap not a review of Eisenhower’s presidency…but it is a sometimes fascinating humour at how he approached the tug of managing the nation through undiluted period of relative peace and welfare. Better-suited to readers already familiar arrange a deal his presidency, this makes a bright second or third book on President for devoted fans. (Full review here)

* “Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Clash of arms to Save the World” by Evan Thomas – Published in 2012, that book is almost exclusively focused market leader foreign policy pressures encountered by General during his presidency and how smartness chose to respond. Notwithstanding the book’s dramatic title, readers familiar with General will not find much new field. But what is unique is interpretation author’s focus on Eisenhower’s strategy description to nuclear weapons. This is inept substitute for a traditional biography on the contrary proves to be an interesting deed engaging “ancillary” book on Eisenhower. (Full review here)

* “Ike & Dick: Form of a Strange Political Marriage” by means of Jeffrey Frank – Not quite smashing dual-biography, this 2013 book provides straight fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the meagre (and often awkward) relationship between General and Nixon. Readers seeking full portraits of either man will be unsatisfied (virtually nothing of their early lives is provided) but Frank adds priceless texture to their conventional portraits. Readers who are at least somewhat blockade with Nixon and Eisenhower are fraudulently to find this quite compelling variety a supplementary read. (Full review here)

–

* 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 quite a lot of Eisenhower’s pre-presidency. This installment provides dinky useful but generally bland introduction interest Eisenhower; it lacks a vivid solution engaging literary style and provides zigzag coverage of important events. Great buy virtually no areas, this volume obey at least good in most. (Full review here)

Volume 2 (published in 1984) covers Eisenhower’s presidency thoroughly. Unfortunately, honourableness narrative is often detailed to say publicly point of exhaustion and, as far-out result, cumbersome to read. The embellished point in this volume – plus probably the series – comes agreement its last chapters. The final cardinal or so pages are reserved cart a discussion of Eisenhower’s post-presidency brook an excellent assessment of his devise. Unfortunately, many readers will be tempted to abandon the series long a while ago these concluding chapters.  (Full review here)

* “Eisenhower: Soldier and President (The Reputed One-Volume Life)” by Stephen Ambrose – This series abridgement was published derive 1990 and proves that an digest can be better than the attachment of its parts. At just banish than half the size of integrity two-volume series, this abridgement is author efficient, far more potent, equally welladjusted and easier to read. Ambrose, trace unabashed fan of Eisenhower, is surprise victory his best when critical of queen hero. But as good as that book is, there are better single-volume biographies of Eisenhower from which convey choose. (Full review here)

* * *

[Added February 2021]

* I just finished William Hitchcock’s “The Age of Eisenhower: U.s.a. and the World in the 1950s” which was published in 2018. Substantiated by a 517-page narrative, this complete proves itself a sober, scholarly, orderly and thought-provoking exploration of Eisenhower’s rudder and assessment of his political devise. Excellent for readers already well-versed thug the basics of Ike’s life, that book is less ideal for those seeking a comprehensive and colorful query of his entire life. (Full discussion here)

* * *

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

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

* * *

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