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Eisenhower in War and Peace Audiobook
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(4.02) - 393 listener ratings
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Author of the best-seller FDR, Jean Edward Smith is a master of the presidential biography. Setting his sights on Dwight D. Eisenhower, Smith delivers a rich account of Eisenhower's life using previously untapped primary sources. From the military service in WWII that launched his career to the shrewd political decisions that kept America out of wars with the Soviet Union and China, Smith reveals a man who never faltered in his dedication to serving America, whether in times of war or peace.
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"One of the few biographies I ever read that didn't require me to 'plow thru it'. Maybe it was because I am nearly a contemporary with Ike and have fond memories of the era in which he was our leader. I also happened to march in his Inaugural Parade 1957. 700 man battalion from 82nd Airborne. We practiced for weeks (meaning we avoided MUCH chickenshit during this time!) marched with fixed bayonets on M1 Garand rifles. Close order drill with fixed bayonets was a bit dicey, but who worried when you're 20?). Some of our tail-end charlies got lost swinging around those corners and walked back thru the crowd with their fixed bayonets. (I love my Army stories where the Army f***ed up!) Ike knew enough about war to NOT commit American kids to bullshit wars. But he stood ready to go nuclear should the occasion arise."
— Earl (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Magisterial.”
— New York Times -
“Always engrossing…Smith describes a man who commanded the largest coalition army in history without grandiloquent posturing…leaving office more popular than any successor…Smith portrays a genuinely admirable Eisenhower: smart, congenial, unpretentious, and no ideologue. Despite competing biographies from Ambrose, Perret, and D’Este, this is the best.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Smith, America’s greatest living biographer, demonstrates why, now more than ever, Americans should like Ike.”
— George F. Will -
“Jean Smith, indubitably America’s most distinguished biographer, has now produced the classic life of Dwight Eisenhower. Ike, who rose from an anti-military and non-elite background, resides in the ranks of the greatest war heroes of history, not to speak of his place as a leader of post–Second World War peace. Here he comes alive on every page—the beneficiary of the exhausting fresh research this handsomely written book is based upon. When the General died, Mamie, his lifelong wife, allowed that she never fully knew her famous husband. No reader of Smith’s work will render the same complaint.”
— Henry F. Graff, professor emeritus of history, Columbia University
Eisenhower in War and Peace Listener Reviews
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" This is a magisterial biography of one of America's finest men. It transformed me. "
— Richard, 2/11/2014 -
" I'm about 2/3 of the way through this, and although it's taking me a long time to finish, I'm enjoying it very much. Eisenhower is perhaps one of the more under-rated presidents, and I really like how Smith handles his presidency. Also gives good insight into how Eisenhower managed the European war. "
— Roseanne, 1/22/2014 -
" The first President I remember. I saw a chart in high school (1965) that rated his presidency as below average when rated against the other presidents. I dismissed Ike at that point and never looked at him again until I was in Abilene KS (2006). Went to the Eisenhower Presidential Library. Since then I have found a great deal to admire about the man and his Presidency. If you are a Eisenhower novice or admirer or just want to read about one of the most important men in the 20th century. Check it out. Warning... If you want to preserve your myths about JFK you may want to stay away. "
— William, 1/21/2014 -
" World War II portion terrific! The rest: fair. "
— Stanley, 1/21/2014 -
" A wonderful account of the era as well as the man. He asked to have his title of General back after he finished his second presidential term. That epitomizes him. "
— Dr., 1/11/2014 -
" This is an outstanding book. I read this book 5 times so far. Every time I read it I am more impressed with what he did. He tells us how to solve the countries problems today. No one listens. Please read this book. "
— Steve, 1/6/2014 -
" Outstanding. I have a new respect for a man who was truly an American hero. "
— Leo, 1/5/2014 -
" Really good insightful book about Ike who is really one of the good guys. Didn't shy away from using connections for advancement. Wasn't top of his class but great leadership akills "
— Welles, 12/8/2013 -
" As the dust jacket blurb asserts, Smith is "indubitably America's most distinguished biographer." "Eisenhower in War and Peace" is detailed and erudite, but also exceedingly well written. It is a masterpiece of the biographer's art. Highly recommended! "
— Manray9, 7/3/2013 -
" Excellent account of the life of a good man who was a far better president than many of us realize. "
— Tom, 2/3/2013 -
" Supurb biography and one of the few to concentrate on Ike's presidency as much as his military career. "
— Ken, 1/4/2013 -
" I hated to close this one. A wonderful telling of Ike's life, wisdom, and human qualities.. Wish we had more like him in the power corridors of this country now. "
— Cinda, 11/15/2012 -
" Very good in general. One completely unfounded reference to Adlai Stevenson being a homosexual comes ot of the blue in reference to Mamie's drinking! "
— John, 10/15/2012 -
" The more things change the more they remain the same. Bio of a great general and one of our best and most underrated presidents. Ike had the most amazing, even uncanny political insight. He would be amazed himself at how things have gone, and are going today "
— Joel, 8/1/2012 -
" A great biography of a distinguished if flawed general and president of the USA. "
— Bob, 4/14/2012 -
" Long and detailed. Well referenced and thorough. Jean Edward Smith does an excellent job of teaching me who Dwight D. Eisenhower really is. A history book that any WWII enthusiast could learn something from. "
— Steve, 3/21/2012
About Jean Edward Smith
Jean Edward Smith is an acclaimed biographer and university professor. Named “Today’s foremost biographer of formidable figures in American history” by George Will, he has written biographies on a number of prominent figures in US history. His work has earned him many awards and accolades; his biography of Ulysses S. Grant was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, and his biography on President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower in War and Peace, was a New York Times bestseller. Currently, Smith is the John Marshall Professor of Political Science at Marshall University; he also taught previously at the University of Toronto as a professor of political economy for 35 years.
About Paul Hecht
Paul Hecht’s long career in audiobooks spans dozens of titles and authors as varied as Ray Bradbury and Gore Vidal, Jack Finney and Thomas Mann. He has recorded such books as Bob Dole’s One Soldier’s Story and Alexander McCall Smith’s Portuguese Irregular Verbs and At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances. Hecht’s theater career in New York includes many Broadway and television credits. He has won nine AudioFile Earphones Awards for his audiobook narrations.