Understanding West Point: What Cadets Must Do at West Point, and Why [Hardcover]

Norman Thomas Remick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2001 | ISBN-10: 0967487919 | ISBN-13: 978-0967487915

UNDERSTANDING WEST POINT is author Norman Thomas Remick's successor to his pioneering book, Mr. Jefferson's Academy: The Real Story Behind West Point, which is the one and only work that identifies and proves the heretofore secret Thomas Jefferson-West Point connection. This book, which also includes that pioneering information, gives the penetrating results of the ten year search by Norman Thomas Remick, four years at West Point that tells you the way it is inside those fabled gray granite walls, and six years inside the research halls of libraries to uncover and decipher the code of archival facts that have brought to light a special historic relationship between Thomas Jefferson and West Point. Remick also details how this historic college produces leaders, why it does so the way it does, why America has a West Point to produce Officers when there are easier and cheaper ways to do so, and why Thomas Jefferson founded West Point in the first place. The secret behind why Jefferson founded West Point informs the contemporary controversy over whether America still needs a West Point at a cost of hundreds of millions per year in taxpayer dollars.

The book is not only unique in breaking new historical ground but it is also unique in its innovative presentation of true and accurate history. By employing creative nonfiction and the choice of a dramatic dialogue as narrative vehicle, the author gives us something here that is quite different and refreshing as he takes us on a journey through history and philosophy that winds its way from Ancient times to post American Revolution times to show us how the great moral stories of the world shaped Thomas Jefferson, and in turn, shaped America and West Point.

The book is also an education, a special kind of education. Because the journey through history uses as its sources the same books Thomas Jefferson himself read that are in his famous library, when you read this book you are learning the same things that he learned. By cleverly converting the difficult history and philosophy contained in Jefferson's books into ordinary language and modern American vernacular, and weaving together hundreds of wonderful poems, anecdotes, and unusual scenarios, Remick has produced a timeless gem on West Point and Thomas Jefferson and leadership and character that will be an enjoyable and engaging and educational experience for years to come for people of all ages and educational levels, not just scholars.

As an added bonus: Those who cannot visit West Point will enjoy the sixteen pages that the author has nicely blended into the storyline, including 24 full color pictures, that takes you on a virtual tour of West Point, the place.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...The format is wonderful and made it easy to read, interesting, and understandable." -- Letter from Kansas

"Congratulations on accomplishing something that I have long thought about doing. You have done a brilliant job!" -- A retired member of West Point's teaching staff

"You were astute to spot the glaring need...and seem to have done a wonderful job filling that void." -- Letter from West Point's Director of Admissions, Col. M. Jones

"...The format is wonderful and made it easy to read, interesting, and understandable." -- Letter from Kansas

"Congratulations on accomplishing something that I have long thought about doing. You have done a brilliant job!" -- A retired member of West Point's teaching staff

"You were astute to spot the glaring need...and seem to have done a wonderful job filling that void." -- Letter from West Point's Director of Admissions, Col. M. Jones

The format is wonderful and made it easy to read, interesting, and understandable.Letter from Kansas

Congratulations on accomplishing something that I have long thought about doing. You have done a brilliant job! A retired member of West Point's teaching staff

You were astute to spot the glaring need...and seem to have done a wonderful job filling that void. Letter from West Point's Director of Admissions, Col. M. Jones

A FEW OF THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU
1. APPLICANTS, PARENTS, AND YOU. Helps you to decide if West Point is for you (or yours) by telling you, not only what cadets have to do, but most important, why .
2. HELPS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. Brings the real America and what it means to be an American into clear focus to support our fight against the enemy.
3. TEACH OUR CHILDREN WELL. Supplies you with a treasure trove of great moral stories to use in teaching young people character through moral imitation.
4. UNDERSTAND LIFE. Makes the philosophy needed to understand life easy and clear so you can use it in dealing with life's problems, in conversations, and in impressing people.
5. MAKES YOU SMARTER. Uses the books from Thomas Jefferson's own library that taught Thomas Jefferson himself, and thus, offers you a goldmine of information that you don't get in school.
6. MEET THE REAL THOMAS JEFFERSON.Breaks a new historical discovery about Thomas Jefferson that finally explains his mysterious personality.

If you are someone who is trying to decide whether to attend West Point, or someone who simply wants to understand West Point, this book is for you. It is the only book written on understanding the real West Point. It is the gold standard. It took the author ten years of original research to discover the true, still little-understood significance of West Point to America, to our culture, and to our way of life, far beyond what Americans realize. The author is the only one who has ever devoted ten years to a book on West Point, and the only author who writes about West Point, not for profit, but dedicates his work philanthropically. He is not a university professor who must publish or perish, nor is he earning a living from our tax money for teaching at West Point while writing a book at West Point. He does it to inform all Americans, even West Pointers and their families. --Rpr

From the Publisher

Norman Thomas Remick's book, "WEST POINT....", is the only book ever written on the founding of West Point. In proving the true facts of how and why it was Thomas Jefferson who ended up being the founder, Mr. Remick disproves all the old myths about Thomas Jefferson and the founding of West Point. As reasonable historians will agree, anyone who has labored several thousand hours researching all that is available on a subject and has uncovered new historical knowledge has earned the credentials to be listened to on that subject and the right of credits on that subject. Mr. Remick has done that. His book does nothing less than revolutionize thinking on West Point and shows that West Point is truly Thomas Jefferson's Military Academy.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Rpr (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967487919
• ISBN-13: 978-0967487915
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #746,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

248 of 257 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From A Retired West Point Professor, March 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding West Point: What Cadets Must Do at West Point, and Why (Hardcover)

Dear Mr. Remick: I read your book. At first skeptical of your choice of a dramatic dialogue as narrative vehicle, I soon saw the great value of your device --- ACCESSIBILITY! Accessibility to young readers and to non-academic minds of all ages. As a [course] designer, teacher, and supervisor of the First Class courses in philosophical readings in the seventies at West Point, I had the advantage of familiarty with many, if not most, of the philosophical ideas you present. Still, I found your necessarily simplified take on the history of ideas in general, and those pertinent to West Point in particular, to be understandable and compelling. Congratulations on accomplishing something I had long thought about doing. Thank goodness you have done it so I don't have to try it, but can merely give copies to those I want to UNDERSTAND ..... well, really to understand who we are! Of course, there will be those who will carp at your simplifications, and some will take exception to your interpretations [cartoons], ..... but you have done a BRILLIANT job.

133 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Virtue is it's own joyous reward, February 10, 2003

By 

hgwhite,jr (Winchester, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding West Point: What Cadets Must Do at West Point, and Why (Hardcover)

Any reasonable, truth seeking person will find this work outstanding, especially for the young and for those who influence young people. It offers a touchstone for success for all walks of life. Mr. Remick has put into understandable words the importance of virtue for a successful US military and a moral United States.

I agree with Mr. Remick that virtue can be tought. I also agree that humans striving to learn virtue require an arduous and prolonged experience similar to the West Point experience.

Civil society requires a "remnent" of virtuous, well educated
leaders with moral character. The West Point model is a remarkable and unreplaceable resource for the continuation of our free republic.

Some friendly editing would make this book even better.

198 of 207 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From A Nashville Minister To Every American, February 15, 2002

By 

"cardinal139" (Nashville, Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding West Point: What Cadets Must Do at West Point, and Why (Hardcover)

I wish to thank Amazon.com for making me aware of this book. Though I am a minister, I will not proselytize here on Amazon.com. I will simply say, this book is not just about West Point, it is a book, in my humble opinion, that every American should read. If you care about God, Country, and family, don't miss this book.