Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #399910 in Books
• Published on: 1999-07-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1024 pages

Customer Reviews

Ignore other reviews, this is a great biography!
I almost did not purchase this book because of a review that I had read saying that the author constantly juxtaposed incidents in time and spent an inordinate amount of time discussing D-Day (Patton was not directly involved). But because I have such a strong interest in Patton, I purchased anyway. It was simply the best single biography I have ever read. I currently hold a Masters Degree in History and am usually very critical of historical writings. But this account was rivieting and facinating. This is one of the few historical books I have read that I was sad to conclude. I am currently reading a biography of Eisenhower, but when completed, I intend to go back and re-read this biography again. I have also recently read a dual biography of Crazy Horse and George Custer by Stephen Ambrose and would very much like Mr. Ambrose to consider doing a dual biography about George Custer and Patton. It seems to me there are many similarities and differences and I would like to see a great historical writer compare and contrast these two fascinating American Generals! If you are at all interested in Patton and enjoyed the movie, this book is for you. If you also like biographies, regardless of the subject, this is a great biography. Buy this book now!

Excellent! Need I say more?
A Patton fan for as long as I can remember, I have longed for a book as detailed and interesting as this book about Patton's life. I've read Patton's memoirs, seen the movie several times, read several other books and I must say that this tops them all! (Although I do like Patton's Memoirs quite a bit). As a huge Patton fan I can't recommend this book enough, a MUST READ!

Great insight, time and time again.
Overall, the book is well worth the read, but, it does tend to repeat itself. The first half of the book is dominated by dyslexia and low math scores, not to mention self doubts, expressed in letters home to family. While this is important in understanding the drive behind Patton, must we rehash the same info over and over. In many places the author leads us wonderfully into a situation, only to cut short on the tactics and antics of one of America's most colorful figures. Personal feelings and bias towards many of the other great American generals bleed onto page after page. While WWII was dominated by larger than life figures with huge egos, to much time was spent talking about the these rivalaries and not enough time about the antics and strategies used by America's greatest General. Although satisfied and not feeling my time lost in the reading, I was still left hungry for more knowledge of good ole "Blood and Guts".