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The Generals
Pershing: Commander of the Great War
No other American military leader is so important and yet so little known as John J. Pershing.
He led an army of more than a million men in France, defeating the seemingly invincible German war machine with only six months of offensive action. He was an American hero, and yet, today, General Pershing has faded away to the second or third tier of America's historical consciousness. His accomplishments rightly place him in the company of great generals such as MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Patton, all of whom he commanded and inspired, and all of whom he outranked. He shaped world events in Europe as surely as Woodrow Wilson or David Lloyd George, so why has America forgotten him?
John Perry chronicles the life of a strong, inflexible leader who was an insufferable nit-picker on the job, but a faithful friend, tender husband, and devoted father. To the small group fortunate enough to know him, Pershing was a great and wonderful man. To the rest, he was stiff, cold, impersonal, and best avoided.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2011
19 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
John Perry
20 books21 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Perry has coauthored books with John MacArthur, Richard Land, Mike Huckabee, among others and written historical books about Charles Colson, the Scopes Monkey Trials, and more. He is a two-time Gold Medallion Award finalist and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
John Perry has coauthored books with John MacArthur, Richard Land, Mike Huckabee, among others and written historical books about Charles Colson, the Scopes Monkey Trials, and more. He is a two-time Gold Medallion Award finalist and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 4, 2015
Book Review: Pershing: Commander of the Great War by John Perry
“Winning wars [is] in the details.”
Today few people remember John J. Pershing, the first American to wear five star rank. A century ago (actually 97 years ago) he was a hero. Who was he? Where did he come from? What was he like? This biography explores all that without the hundreds of pages of trivia so many modern biographies include.
In 1917 American hadn’t fought a major war in over fifty years. (The Spanish-American War hardly qualifies, though we stumbled through that one, too.) We had few officers nor enlisted with combat experience. We had swell a thirty thousand man army to over two million: recruit or draft them; organize, train and equip them; deploy them to Europe, feed, move, supply them bullets and bandages; resist French and English insistence that they be “amalgamated” into their armies, and beat the Germans. Pershing is largely responsible of our success.
And most of our success and failure in World War Two stemmed from lessons Pershing taught subordinates like Marshall, Eisenhower and Patton, which unfortunately the politicians of both parties refused to learn. If we'd followed his advice, we would have been more prepared in 1941.
He was an authentic leader. Frankly, he wasn’t a likeable person. He hadn’t planned on an Army career; he suffered personal and profession loss; he cared more about winning than being liked. He wasn’t loved by everyone, until after he’d done the seeming impossible, then everyone acted as if they’d loved him all along.
Lesson for today: Pershing pacified the Moros of Mindanao (the Philippines) in 1905 by getting to know them, moving among them, treating them fairly, and only as a last resort using force. And when he used force it was overwhelming and total. He was the reason the Moros welcomed MacArthur back in 1944.
Quibble: How could Pershing have graduated 30th in the 26-man West Point class of 1886?
“If you have a fall—mental, moral or physical—pick yourself up and start over again immediately. If you do, in the long run life won’t beat you.”
“Winning wars [is] in the details.”
Today few people remember John J. Pershing, the first American to wear five star rank. A century ago (actually 97 years ago) he was a hero. Who was he? Where did he come from? What was he like? This biography explores all that without the hundreds of pages of trivia so many modern biographies include.
In 1917 American hadn’t fought a major war in over fifty years. (The Spanish-American War hardly qualifies, though we stumbled through that one, too.) We had few officers nor enlisted with combat experience. We had swell a thirty thousand man army to over two million: recruit or draft them; organize, train and equip them; deploy them to Europe, feed, move, supply them bullets and bandages; resist French and English insistence that they be “amalgamated” into their armies, and beat the Germans. Pershing is largely responsible of our success.
And most of our success and failure in World War Two stemmed from lessons Pershing taught subordinates like Marshall, Eisenhower and Patton, which unfortunately the politicians of both parties refused to learn. If we'd followed his advice, we would have been more prepared in 1941.
He was an authentic leader. Frankly, he wasn’t a likeable person. He hadn’t planned on an Army career; he suffered personal and profession loss; he cared more about winning than being liked. He wasn’t loved by everyone, until after he’d done the seeming impossible, then everyone acted as if they’d loved him all along.
Lesson for today: Pershing pacified the Moros of Mindanao (the Philippines) in 1905 by getting to know them, moving among them, treating them fairly, and only as a last resort using force. And when he used force it was overwhelming and total. He was the reason the Moros welcomed MacArthur back in 1944.
Quibble: How could Pershing have graduated 30th in the 26-man West Point class of 1886?
“If you have a fall—mental, moral or physical—pick yourself up and start over again immediately. If you do, in the long run life won’t beat you.”
February 24, 2020
A very interesting life. Starting from the civil war as a child to the end of the Second World War,and everything in between he was the man that was needed most and got the job done.
August 8, 2019
I know, I know, this book took me over a year to finish. In my defense, I put it on my “currently reading” shelf to motivate myself to finish it, something which clearly didn’t work. But we’re here now. We made it.
I once was standing beside a student who received some scholarship at Truman named after a person. A professor came up and asked them if they knew anything about the namesake for the scholarship, and they just really didn’t. The professor got a little ticked that they didn’t know anything, and walked off. Although I was not asked a similar question, it worried me, and if I was going to be a “Pershing Scholar” I figured I better read some biography of him. So here we are.
The further I got into this book, the more peeved I became that we didn’t name Truman “Pershing State University.” Like, what a great man to come from my little university. My only complaint is that I felt that this book was sometimes too biased toward making Pershing look good, like “There were claims that he had x affair, but it was never corroborated, so he probably didn’t!” I think it’s important to own the mistakes too in a biography. People don’t have to be perfect.
But otherwise, what a great man and a wonderful depiction of his service to America, despite the incredible obstacles.
I once was standing beside a student who received some scholarship at Truman named after a person. A professor came up and asked them if they knew anything about the namesake for the scholarship, and they just really didn’t. The professor got a little ticked that they didn’t know anything, and walked off. Although I was not asked a similar question, it worried me, and if I was going to be a “Pershing Scholar” I figured I better read some biography of him. So here we are.
The further I got into this book, the more peeved I became that we didn’t name Truman “Pershing State University.” Like, what a great man to come from my little university. My only complaint is that I felt that this book was sometimes too biased toward making Pershing look good, like “There were claims that he had x affair, but it was never corroborated, so he probably didn’t!” I think it’s important to own the mistakes too in a biography. People don’t have to be perfect.
But otherwise, what a great man and a wonderful depiction of his service to America, despite the incredible obstacles.
February 19, 2023
A Tough Man Of Honor
We shouldn’t forget our history or the ones who helped make it. But I think we do.
Fifty year ago, I was a university student in a city where one of its main streets was Pershing Avenue. I would say that better than one in five of my fellow students had a basic understanding of Gen. Pershing then, 50 years after the end of WWI. Today I’d bet it would be no better than one in 50.
That is why books like this are important. Pershing was ahead of his time in many ways. If history interests you, this book is informative and an easy read.
We shouldn’t forget our history or the ones who helped make it. But I think we do.
Fifty year ago, I was a university student in a city where one of its main streets was Pershing Avenue. I would say that better than one in five of my fellow students had a basic understanding of Gen. Pershing then, 50 years after the end of WWI. Today I’d bet it would be no better than one in 50.
That is why books like this are important. Pershing was ahead of his time in many ways. If history interests you, this book is informative and an easy read.
August 9, 2017
Good short bio of "Black Jack" Pershing.
This is a good introduction of the life and times of Pershing and his influence on the officer corps during and after the war. If one is looking for a work that concentrated on the strategic operational levels this is not the work
This is a good introduction of the life and times of Pershing and his influence on the officer corps during and after the war. If one is looking for a work that concentrated on the strategic operational levels this is not the work
March 9, 2019
Great intro to life of Pershing
Well suited to popular history lovers. Easy read covering the highlights of Pershing’s life and service in the Great War.
Well suited to popular history lovers. Easy read covering the highlights of Pershing’s life and service in the Great War.
June 23, 2019
Recently finished a book about Black Jack and the hunt for the bandit. This led me to this book for life details.
May 13, 2020
Easy and quick read history. Not a great deal of detail, but it does bring out Pershings skill as an organizer, warrior-diplomat, and teacher.
February 27, 2013
We all hear stories of great Generals of the U.S. Army, but we never read about General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing. The stories we hear about World War II Generals are exhausting and complete and fill many libraries in America. I would propose this book by John Perry right along with all the other great books on America’s great generals.
General John J. Pershing grew up in Laclede, Missouri and went to West Point. He was the only officer to be promoted to General of the Armies of the United States in his lifetime and he participated in many campaigns throughout the world and through a variety of roles, including commander and military attaché. He fought in the Indian insurrections in Western United States, and the Spanish – American wars in Cuba and the Philippines. Pershing led the heroic black American ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ and led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. He was also one of the first to ask for aid to the Allies to fight the Nazi’s. Pershing was also admired and worked with some of the great World War II General’s George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, and George S. Patton (one of Pershing’s aides in Mexico).
General John Pershing was an innovator in times when innovation did not really exist in the U.S. Army and he would make any U.S. Army Special Forces soldier glad with his skills in dealing for foreign armies. He was a Foreign Service Officer in every right and he preferred diplomacy and reasoning to war. Pershing treated outsiders the way he wanted to be treated – with passionate affection. He was promoted over 800 other officers, not just because he was a capable leader, but because he was stuck at the rank of Captain and he was more deserving of the rank of General. Pershing had friends in high places to ensure he was promoted to the appropriate rank. One of them was President Theodore Roosevelt, who was angered by the military establishments answer to promoting him. Roosevelt worked the system by assigning Pershing to diplomatic posting in Japan and on his return and with congressional approval promoted him to the rank of Brigadier General. Pershing definitely deserved this rank for all his accomplishments.
Although Pershing did not treat all his subordinates nice, he did treat the people he came in contact with respect. In the many conflicts he participated in Mexico, Cuba, and the Philippines, Pershing tried to reason and use diplomacy with the so-called savages and he learned the cultures, customs and courtesies. Most of the time his reasoning worked, especially after the people he came in contact with understood that American forces were there to help versus destroy. However, if diplomacy or reasoning failed, Pershing was not against the use of force. He instituted victory over the non-complying savages, and the young West Point cadets who failed to follow strict rules and regulations.
Pershing was a stickler for order and was a strict constitutionalist with Army regulations and policy. He was a ‘by the book’ type of General and the West Point Cadets hated him for that. Pershing wanted everyone to adhere to and respect the letter of the law, especially Army rules and regulations. But Pershing was also a great diplomat, warrior, and trend setter for the United States Army and the American fighting man. General John J. Pershing was a great American hero.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
General John J. Pershing grew up in Laclede, Missouri and went to West Point. He was the only officer to be promoted to General of the Armies of the United States in his lifetime and he participated in many campaigns throughout the world and through a variety of roles, including commander and military attaché. He fought in the Indian insurrections in Western United States, and the Spanish – American wars in Cuba and the Philippines. Pershing led the heroic black American ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ and led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. He was also one of the first to ask for aid to the Allies to fight the Nazi’s. Pershing was also admired and worked with some of the great World War II General’s George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, and George S. Patton (one of Pershing’s aides in Mexico).
General John Pershing was an innovator in times when innovation did not really exist in the U.S. Army and he would make any U.S. Army Special Forces soldier glad with his skills in dealing for foreign armies. He was a Foreign Service Officer in every right and he preferred diplomacy and reasoning to war. Pershing treated outsiders the way he wanted to be treated – with passionate affection. He was promoted over 800 other officers, not just because he was a capable leader, but because he was stuck at the rank of Captain and he was more deserving of the rank of General. Pershing had friends in high places to ensure he was promoted to the appropriate rank. One of them was President Theodore Roosevelt, who was angered by the military establishments answer to promoting him. Roosevelt worked the system by assigning Pershing to diplomatic posting in Japan and on his return and with congressional approval promoted him to the rank of Brigadier General. Pershing definitely deserved this rank for all his accomplishments.
Although Pershing did not treat all his subordinates nice, he did treat the people he came in contact with respect. In the many conflicts he participated in Mexico, Cuba, and the Philippines, Pershing tried to reason and use diplomacy with the so-called savages and he learned the cultures, customs and courtesies. Most of the time his reasoning worked, especially after the people he came in contact with understood that American forces were there to help versus destroy. However, if diplomacy or reasoning failed, Pershing was not against the use of force. He instituted victory over the non-complying savages, and the young West Point cadets who failed to follow strict rules and regulations.
Pershing was a stickler for order and was a strict constitutionalist with Army regulations and policy. He was a ‘by the book’ type of General and the West Point Cadets hated him for that. Pershing wanted everyone to adhere to and respect the letter of the law, especially Army rules and regulations. But Pershing was also a great diplomat, warrior, and trend setter for the United States Army and the American fighting man. General John J. Pershing was a great American hero.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 28, 2012
It’s been a little while since I read a biography and I had intended to keep a steady flow of them going as I continue my reading cycle. Be that as it may, I was happy to pick up with The Generals series as I’ve yet to be disappointed by any of these books. This one centers on one of the two SIX-star Generals in the history of our nation: General Pershing. Who? exactly. You don’t hear much about him, but in reading this biography, it’s hard not to respect and admire the man who lead the efforts to defeat the first German stranglehold on Europe and the world.
He clearly wasn’t a perfect man – he certainly had his flaws, but he also left behind a legacy (and blueprint) for effective leadership. A blueprint I’ll call the Fs of Leadership (because I gave into the allure of alliteration).
Faithful in Small Things. Gen. Pershing was meticulous in his inspection of uniforms and behavior. Apparently, he was a firm believer that being faithful in the little things – things that may seem insignificant – translates to bigger responsibilities and success in all you do.
Focused on the Task at Hand. Considered a hard, cold, and calculated leader by many, Pershing was gifted at focusing solely on what was most important at the time. When he needed to work, he worked. When he was able to enjoy his family and free time, he focused on that. He was fully “there,” wherever he needed to be, a character trait that is quite difficult to come by in this world of distractions and competing interests.
Feeling, but Frank. If Gen. Pershing was an American Idol judge, he’d be the Simon. Brutally honest with the intent of helping you in the long run. Pershing told it like it was and embraced the notion of speaking the truth in love – even when it hurts. And if ever there were doubts about his compassion for his troops (though he may have hid it well), he wept bitterly while reflecting on the casualties of war.
Fair, Regardless of Popular Opinion. Pershing celebrated the humanity he saw in everyone he dealt with, regardless of their race, position, or background. He embraced his role as commander of the “buffalo soldiers” at a time when racial tensions were high. He preferred to seek out peaceful unity with Native Americans when conventional wisdom leaned towards brutal domination. In each of his positions, he sought diplomacy as best he could, with a mature understanding of the value of human life.
Firm, Marked by Fortitude. I wouldn’t say he was fearless per se, but Pershing displayed courage (and a heavy dose of stubbornness) when his values, beliefs, and vision were challenged. He didn’t let other influence his identity or calling, but rather stood resolutely for what he understood to be the right course of action.
Forward-Thinking. Again, Pershing showed some flaws in this area – downplaying the mechanical advantage of airplanes and tanks, for example – but, the General displayed a great deal of innovative thought in his leadership and other aspects of life. He envisioned what the American forces could become long before it was widely considered possible and he found solutions to challenges his troops face – like waterproof boots to combat trenchfoot and military police to maintain order while in foreign lands.
There you have it. Six Fs of Leadership – one for each of Gen. Pershing’s stars. And another example of history being way more exciting than I remember from school.
-from trudatmusic[dot]com[slash]raw
He clearly wasn’t a perfect man – he certainly had his flaws, but he also left behind a legacy (and blueprint) for effective leadership. A blueprint I’ll call the Fs of Leadership (because I gave into the allure of alliteration).
Faithful in Small Things. Gen. Pershing was meticulous in his inspection of uniforms and behavior. Apparently, he was a firm believer that being faithful in the little things – things that may seem insignificant – translates to bigger responsibilities and success in all you do.
Focused on the Task at Hand. Considered a hard, cold, and calculated leader by many, Pershing was gifted at focusing solely on what was most important at the time. When he needed to work, he worked. When he was able to enjoy his family and free time, he focused on that. He was fully “there,” wherever he needed to be, a character trait that is quite difficult to come by in this world of distractions and competing interests.
Feeling, but Frank. If Gen. Pershing was an American Idol judge, he’d be the Simon. Brutally honest with the intent of helping you in the long run. Pershing told it like it was and embraced the notion of speaking the truth in love – even when it hurts. And if ever there were doubts about his compassion for his troops (though he may have hid it well), he wept bitterly while reflecting on the casualties of war.
Fair, Regardless of Popular Opinion. Pershing celebrated the humanity he saw in everyone he dealt with, regardless of their race, position, or background. He embraced his role as commander of the “buffalo soldiers” at a time when racial tensions were high. He preferred to seek out peaceful unity with Native Americans when conventional wisdom leaned towards brutal domination. In each of his positions, he sought diplomacy as best he could, with a mature understanding of the value of human life.
Firm, Marked by Fortitude. I wouldn’t say he was fearless per se, but Pershing displayed courage (and a heavy dose of stubbornness) when his values, beliefs, and vision were challenged. He didn’t let other influence his identity or calling, but rather stood resolutely for what he understood to be the right course of action.
Forward-Thinking. Again, Pershing showed some flaws in this area – downplaying the mechanical advantage of airplanes and tanks, for example – but, the General displayed a great deal of innovative thought in his leadership and other aspects of life. He envisioned what the American forces could become long before it was widely considered possible and he found solutions to challenges his troops face – like waterproof boots to combat trenchfoot and military police to maintain order while in foreign lands.
There you have it. Six Fs of Leadership – one for each of Gen. Pershing’s stars. And another example of history being way more exciting than I remember from school.
-from trudatmusic[dot]com[slash]raw
August 21, 2015
If you were asked to name important American generals of the 20th century who would you come up with? MacArthur? Eisenhower? Maybe Patton, or even Marshall for helping to rebuild Europe after WWII? I don't think Pershing would have come to my mind, which is a shame because he's arguably greater than any of them.
John J. Pershing led the American forces in WWI (and MacArthur, Patton, and Marshall all served under him). He resisted all pressures to integrate American soldiers as replacements for casualties in French and British units, insisting they fight instead as American units. He then refused to rush his new and untested soldiers into battle until they were prepared to fight, and once they joined the offensive his units defeated the Germans in only six months of action. But his military career began long before the first World War. Pershing also served in the Spanish American War in Cuba and in the Philippines where he managed to subdue the Moro tribes using minimal military force. Instead, he treated them with respect and turned enemies into friends.
In fact, one characteristic of Pershing I found particularly admirable was that he didn't allow racism to affect his judgment. He led units of black soldiers in Cuba and in the American West which was how he got his nickname - "Black Jack" Pershing - which was originally meant derogatorily. But he was much more than just a soldier and general. He originally planned to go into law and his early jobs were as a teacher - he only joined the military to pay his way through school. And even as a soldier he was a teacher to those around him, insisting on discipline and order and getting all the little things right before heading into battle. But his obsessive attention to detail earned him plenty of animosity from many of his charges who saw him as a nit-picker. Few but his closest friends ever saw his warm and tender side as a faithful and devoted husband and father.
John Perry has chronicled the life of one of the greatest generals America has ever produced. He presents both sides of the man - the inflexible and sometimes insufferable military leader as well as the kind and caring friend who loved his family (and was a surprisingly able dancer). He accomplished great things for his country and the world but was also devoted to those he loved. It's not an exhaustive biography but may be a good starting point for readers who want to see the person behind the legend. I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers Booksneeze blogger program.)
John J. Pershing led the American forces in WWI (and MacArthur, Patton, and Marshall all served under him). He resisted all pressures to integrate American soldiers as replacements for casualties in French and British units, insisting they fight instead as American units. He then refused to rush his new and untested soldiers into battle until they were prepared to fight, and once they joined the offensive his units defeated the Germans in only six months of action. But his military career began long before the first World War. Pershing also served in the Spanish American War in Cuba and in the Philippines where he managed to subdue the Moro tribes using minimal military force. Instead, he treated them with respect and turned enemies into friends.
In fact, one characteristic of Pershing I found particularly admirable was that he didn't allow racism to affect his judgment. He led units of black soldiers in Cuba and in the American West which was how he got his nickname - "Black Jack" Pershing - which was originally meant derogatorily. But he was much more than just a soldier and general. He originally planned to go into law and his early jobs were as a teacher - he only joined the military to pay his way through school. And even as a soldier he was a teacher to those around him, insisting on discipline and order and getting all the little things right before heading into battle. But his obsessive attention to detail earned him plenty of animosity from many of his charges who saw him as a nit-picker. Few but his closest friends ever saw his warm and tender side as a faithful and devoted husband and father.
John Perry has chronicled the life of one of the greatest generals America has ever produced. He presents both sides of the man - the inflexible and sometimes insufferable military leader as well as the kind and caring friend who loved his family (and was a surprisingly able dancer). He accomplished great things for his country and the world but was also devoted to those he loved. It's not an exhaustive biography but may be a good starting point for readers who want to see the person behind the legend. I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers Booksneeze blogger program.)
October 4, 2011
Perry's bio of Pershing is well-written and, so far as I know, fairly thorough given the length of the book. The narrative is roughly at the young adult level, so it's in an excellent tone for what is supposed to be a brief introduction to a complicated life.
There are three main points about Pershing's life the author tries to bring out:
1) Excellence in the details will bring success in the big things. Pershing was a firm believer that if his men had the discipline to maintain small things like their appearance, their posture when standing at attention, and the condition of their equipment, then they could handle larger affairs like winning wars. Neglecting these little things was a sign that the soldiers were not ready for combat.
2) Respect for all people was the foundation of cooperation, whether they were Americans, Mexican bandits, or Muslim Filipino tribesmen.
3) The military (and the nation as a whole) must be flexible enough to fit itself to the changing conditions of modern warfare. Methods that worked in the Civil War and even in the Spanish-American War had no place on the battlefields of World War I, given the existence of the airplane, tank, poison gas, and machine gun.
Strengths:
Perry is an excellent writer and tells in a clear and engaging way the life story of an almost forgotten hero. This book highlights Pershing's strengths without ignoring or glossing over his faults.
Weaknesses:
I can't speak to the historical accuracy of the book, as this is the first Pershing bio I've read. I can, however, say that Perry skims World War I far too much. This war was easily the worst of the 20th century for those involved in the actual fighting, to the point where those who went through the trenches almost universally refused to talk about it. Not that Perry should have spent an extra hundred pages talking about the horrors of war, just that a clearer picture of what the American army was stepping into would have helped highlighted Pershing's leadership ability (and his faults as well).
I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
There are three main points about Pershing's life the author tries to bring out:
1) Excellence in the details will bring success in the big things. Pershing was a firm believer that if his men had the discipline to maintain small things like their appearance, their posture when standing at attention, and the condition of their equipment, then they could handle larger affairs like winning wars. Neglecting these little things was a sign that the soldiers were not ready for combat.
2) Respect for all people was the foundation of cooperation, whether they were Americans, Mexican bandits, or Muslim Filipino tribesmen.
3) The military (and the nation as a whole) must be flexible enough to fit itself to the changing conditions of modern warfare. Methods that worked in the Civil War and even in the Spanish-American War had no place on the battlefields of World War I, given the existence of the airplane, tank, poison gas, and machine gun.
Strengths:
Perry is an excellent writer and tells in a clear and engaging way the life story of an almost forgotten hero. This book highlights Pershing's strengths without ignoring or glossing over his faults.
Weaknesses:
I can't speak to the historical accuracy of the book, as this is the first Pershing bio I've read. I can, however, say that Perry skims World War I far too much. This war was easily the worst of the 20th century for those involved in the actual fighting, to the point where those who went through the trenches almost universally refused to talk about it. Not that Perry should have spent an extra hundred pages talking about the horrors of war, just that a clearer picture of what the American army was stepping into would have helped highlighted Pershing's leadership ability (and his faults as well).
I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
March 28, 2012
Recommend for: Ages 13 and up, history buffs, WW I enthusiasts, those wishing a better understanding of history, those interested in military history
When I signed up for BookSneeze, I decided to go back to my first love and read a book about a great person is history. A General whose name I had only heard about, but not studied seemed like a great way to start. I enjoyed the book, and it made be hungry for more. So look for more book reviews coming on historical themes.
What I liked about this book:
The book was paced well. The author did an excellent job and not speeding through some of John J. Perishing’s life and dragging through other parts of it. It kept on at steady pace and kept me interested. It was one of the best paced biographies I have ever read.
I always like learning about people I don’t know about in history. This was no exception. John J. Perishing was a fascinating character, who lived in an intriguing time.
I loved that the author was honest and didn’t try to make Perishing into something he was not. Many Christian biographers try to find the Christianity in people who just didn’t have it. In this case, Perishing was very private about his beliefs and did some things that I shook my head at. However, if was authentic without over glorifying sin.
What I didn’t like about it:
There was some mild language, although most of the quotes they used that had language in them were edited.
Pershing was a ladies' man, and after his first wife died he didn’t commit to another woman until near the very end of his life. Although, he did have several long lasting affairs. John Perry did an excellent job of giving the facts, without going to into too much detail.
Over all, I recommend this to those interested in history, those learning about WW I, or looking for an easy historical read.
I received this book from Thomas Nelson (through BookSneeze.com) in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
When I signed up for BookSneeze, I decided to go back to my first love and read a book about a great person is history. A General whose name I had only heard about, but not studied seemed like a great way to start. I enjoyed the book, and it made be hungry for more. So look for more book reviews coming on historical themes.
What I liked about this book:
The book was paced well. The author did an excellent job and not speeding through some of John J. Perishing’s life and dragging through other parts of it. It kept on at steady pace and kept me interested. It was one of the best paced biographies I have ever read.
I always like learning about people I don’t know about in history. This was no exception. John J. Perishing was a fascinating character, who lived in an intriguing time.
I loved that the author was honest and didn’t try to make Perishing into something he was not. Many Christian biographers try to find the Christianity in people who just didn’t have it. In this case, Perishing was very private about his beliefs and did some things that I shook my head at. However, if was authentic without over glorifying sin.
What I didn’t like about it:
There was some mild language, although most of the quotes they used that had language in them were edited.
Pershing was a ladies' man, and after his first wife died he didn’t commit to another woman until near the very end of his life. Although, he did have several long lasting affairs. John Perry did an excellent job of giving the facts, without going to into too much detail.
Over all, I recommend this to those interested in history, those learning about WW I, or looking for an easy historical read.
I received this book from Thomas Nelson (through BookSneeze.com) in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
February 10, 2012
An interesting, well-written biography
Published: 2011 by Thomas Nelson
I've read several of the biographies in Thomas Nelson's "The Generals" series and found Pershing: Commander of the Great War to be the best of the bunch so far. The book is well-written, flows nicely and really gives the reader a feel for the bristly personality of "Black Jack" Pershing.
Perry introduces us to Pershing, a man who wanted to be a teacher, maybe a lawyer, but accepted an appointment to West Point because he could not afford to pay for school himself. Pershing was not particularly interesting in being a soldier, but...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
Published: 2011 by Thomas Nelson
I've read several of the biographies in Thomas Nelson's "The Generals" series and found Pershing: Commander of the Great War to be the best of the bunch so far. The book is well-written, flows nicely and really gives the reader a feel for the bristly personality of "Black Jack" Pershing.
Perry introduces us to Pershing, a man who wanted to be a teacher, maybe a lawyer, but accepted an appointment to West Point because he could not afford to pay for school himself. Pershing was not particularly interesting in being a soldier, but...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
June 27, 2023
It's odd that you don't hear anything about John Pershing. It's even odder that there's not much written about him. Especially considering he was one of the most famous people in the world at the time. Was thought to be the next president. He was the the only American to be promoted in his own lifetime to General of the Armies. Perhaps it's because his life post WWI wasn't as dynamic as those of MacArthur and Eisenhower. Still, I felt like I owed it to myself to read about him since he was known world-wide.
September 19, 2019
A good over view of one of the greatest generals in U.S. History. The Commander of all US & then Allied troops in WWI. The first General of the Armies. From the Spanish American war to WWI the man was the perfect example of military discipline.
If you know nothing of this man this book is a good introduction that could make you want to delve deeper into his life.
If you know nothing of this man this book is a good introduction that could make you want to delve deeper into his life.
October 17, 2011
Come read my full review of this book on my blog.
March 17, 2016
Everyone should read a biography of John Joseph Pershing.
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