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Patton: Blood, Guts, and Prayer
Patton: Blood, Guts, and Prayer
“There is no question of personal courage in this war,” Colonel Patton’s commanding officer told him on the eve of battle in 1918. “It is a business proposition where every man must be in his place and performing his part.”No one in the history of warfare was less likely to follow that advice than George S. Patton Jr. His place was in front of his men, and he paid the price, when he lay bleeding to death in a bomb crater in France.
Patton’s survival that day at the end of World War I was nothing short of miraculous. It confirmed the powerful sense of destiny that guided him through three decades of war and made him a military legend—“Old Blood and Guts,” an impossible mixture of irascibility and courage, profanity and profound religious faith, tactical impulsiveness and strategic genius.
Blood and guts were indeed a large part of what made Patton Patton. Descended from an illustrious line of warriors, he was acutely conscious of the martial heritage in his blood. He met every challenge of his life with determination and guts. He demanded the same from his men, and he usually got it.But as Michael Keane shows in this masterly portrait, the foundation of Patton’s character was his vivid awareness of the presence and providence of God. Patton’s Christian faith was idiosyncratic, even unorthodox, but his habit of prayer was as simple, trusting, and constant as a monk’s.
A singular combination of virtues and flaws, Patton has been venerated and despised but rarely understood. In Patton: Blood, Guts, and Prayer, Michael Keane penetrates the fog of legend and reveals as compelling a human character as any in American history.
“There is no question of personal courage in this war,” Colonel Patton’s commanding officer told him on the eve of battle in 1918. “It is a business proposition where every man must be in his place and performing his part.”No one in the history of warfare was less likely to follow that advice than George S. Patton Jr. His place was in front of his men, and he paid the price, when he lay bleeding to death in a bomb crater in France.
Patton’s survival that day at the end of World War I was nothing short of miraculous. It confirmed the powerful sense of destiny that guided him through three decades of war and made him a military legend—“Old Blood and Guts,” an impossible mixture of irascibility and courage, profanity and profound religious faith, tactical impulsiveness and strategic genius.
Blood and guts were indeed a large part of what made Patton Patton. Descended from an illustrious line of warriors, he was acutely conscious of the martial heritage in his blood. He met every challenge of his life with determination and guts. He demanded the same from his men, and he usually got it.But as Michael Keane shows in this masterly portrait, the foundation of Patton’s character was his vivid awareness of the presence and providence of God. Patton’s Christian faith was idiosyncratic, even unorthodox, but his habit of prayer was as simple, trusting, and constant as a monk’s.
A singular combination of virtues and flaws, Patton has been venerated and despised but rarely understood. In Patton: Blood, Guts, and Prayer, Michael Keane penetrates the fog of legend and reveals as compelling a human character as any in American history.
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First published October 15, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 12, 2017
Outstanding book of one of the most magnificent generals in US history!
January 28, 2024
Excellent mini biography of one of America’s greatest generals.
April 28, 2020
I have always been intrigued by Patton. He was such a confluence of different philosophies mixed with strong passions. He seemed to never be lacking for an answer, but on occasion could clearly be very wrong in his judgments and conclusions. He was respected but not liked by his peers, and respected and feared by his enemies on the battlefield. His faults were ignored or forgiven so that the value might be gained from his strengths. Despite my interest in the subject at hand, I was disappointed in this biography. It was not organized chronologically or around periods in Patton’s life or around the different aspects of his life, all of which would have made more sense to me. Instead it was organized around aspects of his character, Blood, Guts and Prayer, which I thought was a stretch to begin with and resulted in a very confusing presentation of the major events in Patton’s life. While I realize the author was attempting a unique presentation of the material, I thought it an unsuccessful experiment.
August 6, 2016
I really liked this book. This book does a solid job outlining Patton's life but is really focussed on his faith and asks some pretty interesting questions in regards to whether you can be a "Godly" man and still promote violence, killing, and frankly use consistent public profanity as a hallmark.
Clear Patton was a complex, fascinating individual. I have to also admit, I am a huge fan.
Whether you are a WW2 or Patton buff, or the casual reader of the genre, I think there are nuggets in this book for you.
Clear Patton was a complex, fascinating individual. I have to also admit, I am a huge fan.
Whether you are a WW2 or Patton buff, or the casual reader of the genre, I think there are nuggets in this book for you.
February 12, 2017
Definitely not intended to be a comprehensive sketch of George S. Patton's life. Instead, Mr. Keane focuses on the complex interplay between Patton's faith-life and his gruff, overbearing military persona. Patton was not easily defined, and his faith followed suit. While not orthodox, Patton's unique personal intermingling of warrior-tinged mysticism and Christianity produced a singular outlook at the world which affected his relationships with others, his military strategy, and family life. I enjoyed this book.
May 1, 2019
I enjoyed this book.
It was not comprehensive, yet it was comprehensive enough give life to the subject of Patton's character.
It was not totally unbiased, but unbiased enough to suggest a portrait of the man, with the necessary darker and unflattering nuances, required for the feeling of a good sketch of the man.
It wasn't a deep biographical treatment, but that might have made it tedious. It was deep enough.
It was not comprehensive, yet it was comprehensive enough give life to the subject of Patton's character.
It was not totally unbiased, but unbiased enough to suggest a portrait of the man, with the necessary darker and unflattering nuances, required for the feeling of a good sketch of the man.
It wasn't a deep biographical treatment, but that might have made it tedious. It was deep enough.
June 3, 2020
Great book! I've read a lot on Patton and I learned several things I never knew before.
August 25, 2025
I was hesitant about reading another book about George Patton but my interest in General George Patton likely stems from his complex and contradictory personality, his flamboyant persona, and his role as a brilliant, yet deeply flawed, battlefield commander. He was a man of action and extremes, eliciting strong opinions from those around him—both then and now. His ruthless, fearless, and relentless approach made him the perfect (and terrifying) general for confronting the Nazi military machine. One of the greatest generals in American military history.
Michael Keane' s book revitalizes the great General's legacy. Less a biography than a character study, arranged by themes rather than chronologically, Keane' s work might confuse a reader entirely unfamiliar with Patton. Patton was a complex man of many contradictions, faith and prayer were very much at the heart of who he was and why he was so successful. Patton was a general who led his men into battle, who took care of his men, and who cared deeply about what they were facing. He had a good strategic eye, and he planned and thought ahead.
When you read this book, you probably going to say that there is nothing new that I haven't read before on Patton. I big to differ Keane presents a different view of Patton rather than the battles he fought in more of what was going on in his head and the decisions that he made. The only problem he had was his inability to be tactful, therefore his mouth got him into a lot of trouble.
The book reveals dimensions of Patton that have not been explored before. This book really illuminated insights into the man's core character that I had never understood. An easy read, both well written and informative. I highly recommend it.
Michael Keane' s book revitalizes the great General's legacy. Less a biography than a character study, arranged by themes rather than chronologically, Keane' s work might confuse a reader entirely unfamiliar with Patton. Patton was a complex man of many contradictions, faith and prayer were very much at the heart of who he was and why he was so successful. Patton was a general who led his men into battle, who took care of his men, and who cared deeply about what they were facing. He had a good strategic eye, and he planned and thought ahead.
When you read this book, you probably going to say that there is nothing new that I haven't read before on Patton. I big to differ Keane presents a different view of Patton rather than the battles he fought in more of what was going on in his head and the decisions that he made. The only problem he had was his inability to be tactful, therefore his mouth got him into a lot of trouble.
The book reveals dimensions of Patton that have not been explored before. This book really illuminated insights into the man's core character that I had never understood. An easy read, both well written and informative. I highly recommend it.
May 2, 2022
Having served in the military and having seen the movie "Patton" several times, I was quite familiar with who this unusual General Officer was. Having just recently having read "Task Force Baum" by James Shipman (also about Patton) gave me a renewed interest into learning more about this iconic General. Keane's treatment of Patton in this biography was very fair and objective. The good, the bad, and everything else in between. Well done!
May 8, 2021
Good insights into the personal development and workings of a complex American military leader. All men/women in public life and service have strengths and weaknesses. His were better known and documented than those of his predecessors as well as most of his contemporaries. This is worth the read if the reader is already familiar with the biography of The General.
October 2, 2020
This is a great book if you want to understand General Patton contextually. I think the book was very well researched and I highly recommend it to military history readers, as well as general interest readers.
October 19, 2020
Good Damn Good
What more can you say it write about our best General. His uncouth methods of mixing vulgarity with pray and guidance are historic.
The book adds to my enjoyment of reading WWII books.
JM
What more can you say it write about our best General. His uncouth methods of mixing vulgarity with pray and guidance are historic.
The book adds to my enjoyment of reading WWII books.
JM
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July 24, 2022Good book about a very controversial hero.
July 23, 2024
Great read!!
December 31, 2014
A great book, a simple and light read. An easy way to get to know one the greatest generals of the 20th century. It's not long nor under detailed, but descriptive enough to have an extended knowledge of Patton. It's great for anyone wanting to know a little more about Patton and his life and military career.
October 16, 2013
Great, easy read. I'm not much of a military historian, but I found this book extremely fascinating. This is a very readable book on George Patton. I am very glad I read this book and strongly recommend it.
April 19, 2014
Nice collection of tales of one of America's most colorful generals... Having grown up in Hamilton-Wenham, Massachusetts, I was already privy to the stories of his profanity-laced morale speeches. It's a quick read and great for any military history or non-fiction fan!
January 2, 2013
See my upcoming review in February issue of Historical Novels Review
May 28, 2013
Good primer but I would have preferred a little more depth!
March 9, 2017
fascinating story of an American military legend.
February 23, 2015
Comical history of Patton with a juxtaposition between his vulgarity in language and his faith. Interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews