Eisenhower: Soldier, General of the Army, President-Elect, 1890-1952 (Hardcover)

~ Stephen E. Ambrose (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Dwight Eisenhower was not exactly born into poverty, but the family's circumstances were at least austere. He was one of seven children; his father, a railway worker. But the family was strong and unified, the youngsters energetic and ambitious.

Ike made it to West Point, where he excelled in sports. He was a natural leader. But it was at Leavenworth years later, as a student at the war college, that his intellectual talent showed itself. He graduated first in his class.

The author draws in a wealth of previously unpublished information to give us this beautiful portrait. As a result Eisenhower emerges as complex, one who as the author states, ". . .was a good and great man." --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From the Publisher

15 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 637 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First edition first printing. edition (September 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671440691
• ISBN-13: 978-0671440695
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #444,509 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding historical work on the 34th President, July 31, 1998

By	Michael Bussio [e-mail] (Scotts Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Stephen Ambrose, America's most dynamic, truthful and objective historian, has given us the clearest picture of one of the most incredible personalities of the 20th Century. From General Eisenhower's birth to the the election of 1952, Ambrose covers the life of this man in such detail, and with such clear objectivity, that one can hardly put it down. As a former teacher, I believe it, along with Volumne II, should be required reading of all students, from the 12th grade on into the college ranks.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A first-rate biography, February 11, 2002

By	mrliteral - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

After reading Ambrose's so-so history of the transcontinental railroad, I was admittedly looking at reading this book with low expectations. Fortunately, this book is far superior to Ambrose's more recent work.

Ambrose does a great job at showing what Eisenhower was like prior to his election as President. Although a generally affectionate work, Ambrose also points out the flaws in the man. The book shows the value of hard work and intelligence, as Ike was essentially a self-made man who got where he was without any special family or friend connections.

This book also depicts the dangers of politics. As Eisenhower gets more involved in the political arena, he becomes a less admirable person, succumbing to the hypocrisy that seems inherent in that field.

This is a well-written portrait of one of the more significant people of the last century. I look forward to reading the second volume and learning more about Eisenhower the President.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dull bio of an interesting man, October 25, 1998

By A Customer

Ambrose doesn't manage to totally bore me to death, but I find him highly overrated, judging from this work. He manages to turn the life of a great man into your typical boring biography. It really doesn't compare with the biographies written by Remini or the other top historians. Still, it does a fairly good job of covering Eisenhower's life and times, based very much on Ike's own writings. Moderately recommended.