What do you think?
Rate this book
Great Commanders
Examines the lives and achievements of six commanders who changed world history, considering their personal qualities as well as their tactical skill and strategy
- GenresHistory
Hardcover
First published May 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Phil Grabsky
14 booksPhil Grabsky is an award-winning documentary film-maker and writer. With a career spanning over 30 years, Phil and his company Seventh Art Productions make films for cinema, television and DVD. His latest project is the creation of a hugely successful and unique new arts brand: EXHIBITION ON SCREEN.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 26, 2020
A fun appetizer, which for me as someone with not even a toe in the water of this subject, was satisfying.
That being said, there's a lot of rote timelines of events and not a lot of personal investigation
You get an overview of what Caeser, Alexander, and Napoleon did, but how exactly did they become the people of ambition the were? And how do their personality types contrast with Grant and Zhukov's described stoicism? How did such differences produce such similar success? Or was their success all that similar? When you read off a list of battles won over contextually impressive scales, it feels like it.
Anyway, I enjoyed it.
That being said, there's a lot of rote timelines of events and not a lot of personal investigation
You get an overview of what Caeser, Alexander, and Napoleon did, but how exactly did they become the people of ambition the were? And how do their personality types contrast with Grant and Zhukov's described stoicism? How did such differences produce such similar success? Or was their success all that similar? When you read off a list of battles won over contextually impressive scales, it feels like it.
Anyway, I enjoyed it.
December 4, 2019
Firstly - on the audiobook version the guy is RUBBISH at narrating. The stupid voices he puts on when reading quotes can really irk.
Also, the hour long readings are interesting, but hardly go into much detail. You find yourself wondering if reading more detailed accounts of each individual would make more sense.
In short, interesting overviews of some of these guys, but nothing to really sink your teeth into.
Also, the hour long readings are interesting, but hardly go into much detail. You find yourself wondering if reading more detailed accounts of each individual would make more sense.
In short, interesting overviews of some of these guys, but nothing to really sink your teeth into.
Read
January 27, 2025This is a book we are reading for the Ambassadors training program. Its about five great commanders: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Horatio Nelson, Napoleon, Ulysses S. Grant, and Georgi Zhukov. Very educational and interesting. These guys were ambitious and driven. Good read.
April 6, 2018
I enjoyed the inclusion of Zhukov which most people often ignore, and the excellent chapter on Alexander.
August 24, 2022
A very cursory overview of 6 great commanders. Ok, but lacking in detail and containing some questionable conclusions and analysis.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews