Eisenhower: A Life

by Paul Johnson

Acclaimed historian Paul Johnson’s lively, succinct profile of Dwight D. Eisenhower explores his life and enduring legacy

In the rousing style he’s famous for, Paul Johnson offers a fascinating biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower, with particular focus on his years as a five-star general and his two terms as president of the United States. Johnson chronicles Ike’s modest childhood in Kansas, his West Point education, and his swift rise through the military ranks, culminating in his appointment as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces during World War II. Johnson then paints a rich portrait of Eisenhower’s presidency, many elements of which speak to American politics his ability to balance the budget, his mastery in managing an oppositional Congress, and his prescient warnings about the military-industrial complex. This brief yet satisfying portrait will appeal to biography lovers as well as enthusiasts of presidential and military history alike.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Presidents, Politics, American History, Biography Memoir

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2014

About the author

Paul Johnson works as a historian, journalist and author. He was educated at Stonyhurst School in Clitheroe, Lancashire and Magdalen College, Oxford, and first came to prominence in the 1950s as a journalist writing for, and later editing, the New Statesman magazine. He has also written for leading newspapers and magazines in Britain, the US and Europe.

Paul Johnson has published over 40 books including A History of Christianity (1979), A History of the English People (1987), Intellectuals (1988), The Birth of the Modern: World Society, 1815—1830 (1991), Modern Times: A History of the World from the 1920s to the Year 2000 (1999), A History of the American People (2000), A History of the Jews (2001) and Art: A New History (2003) as well as biographies of Elizabeth I (1974), Napoleon (2002), George Washington (2005) and Pope John Paul II (1982).

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely give a book a single star so I ought to explain. This is not a biography but a hagiography of the worst sort; one can only hope that the author stocked up on Chapstick beforehand with so much Presidential butt-kissing to do. It’s not history in the strictest sense, just a selected collection of Eisenhower highlights – 135 pages for a man intimately involved in US history for more than 60 years – which are carefully spun into a desired narrative, with a ton of unattributed quotes; this will not give you a better sense of history any more than a Readers’ Digest story, “I Am Joe’s Liver”, will bring you closer to being a doctor. (For those of you who don’t get the Readers’ Digest reference, sorry…)

So, let me begin with some of the bigger distortions. Any one reading this can easily believe that Ike won the Second World War singlehandedly, or at least was the mastermind; oh, sure, the Brits had a hand in it, but really Churchill, de Gaulle, Monty, Patton, McArthur et al should have been kissing the ground Ike walked on, and there were a selected number of quotes to support this – the Americans won the war for Europe, and I know this because my Hollywood told me so. However, as history fans know, Eisenhower had an earlier relationship with Douglas and George S. as they were all involved in the Bonus Army debacle during the Hoover administration; in fact, Eisenhower and Patton both served under MacArthur at that time. MacArthur commanded and sent Patton with his men with tanks supporting men on horseback to disperse the protesters, supposedly against Ike’s advice and Patton’s will. The author here claims that this episode has been completely misrepresented by historians (and there are still some doubts about who said or did what) by Eisenhower wrote the report validating the whole thing, even though he also thought that MacArthur’s orders were wrong. A good soldier with situational ethics.

Although Eisenhower as President has been upgraded by historians, his second term hasn’t; despite what the author claims, there is much to be said about the moral failures of Eisenhower in both terms. The author attempts to sort of cover Ike’s ass about McCarthyism in the first term, saying just that Ike found McCarthy an unpleasant man; obviously, since his Vice-President, Richard Nixon, was a fervent anti-Communist and Ike had enjoyed good relations with the Russians during WW2, including Stalin, Ike was in a tight spot so apparently just chose to stay out of the crusade that was ruining the lives of so many people, even if he may or may not have agreed. (The author doesn’t clarify this point.) Likewise, with civil rights, where Ike seems to have had his head where the sun don’t shine. The author spoke of how Ike was taken by surprise in 1957 by the “Little Rock Nine”; according to the author, Ike didn’t have much interest in these kinds of things. Apparently, Brown v. Board of Education the year before slipped right by him; this doesn’t give a very good impression of Ike’s domestic policy, which sounded like he was caught up in a post-WW2 baby-boom sitcom rather than what was happening all around him. The author doesn’t dispute claims of corruption in the Truman presidency before Ike nor the categorizing of the Kennedy administration as Mafioso taking over the White House but lauds Ike’s; objectively, it seems to me Ike just maintained a grandfatherly appearance of tranquility by staying out of anything that could involve taking a stand, but a lot can happen under your nose while you pretend it isn’t. For the claims of the superior judgement of Ike, the Russians did quite well with the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, Sputnik in 1957 and Gary Powers and the U2 in 1960 leaving the USA behind and him with egg on his face internationally.

Moving on to the real dirt, there’s Kay Summersby; while there was never any confirmation of an affair, there’s an awful lot of smoke even if no one can prove fire. As she was dying of cancer, she claimed a romance without sexual intercourse, such as stolen kisses and the like. Probably true but if you think the worst, it’s much more fun. So, towards the end of the War in 1945, when Ike and some generals took four WACs, including Kay, to Cannes for four days and Ike allegedly spent the first two days sleeping, it’s more fun to substitute “in bed”. However, I also like the idea of an unconsummated romance so I’ll let all that go; it really doesn’t matter in the grand scope of things.

So, before I denigrate this whole book, I ought to address to whom this book might be useful: Hey you, Mr. Student who hasn’t done anything all year and now has to hand in a report tomorrow on some dude from history, complete with a biblio…something – you didn’t catch what it was because you were checking out a TikTok video that was HILARIOUS – and really, who cares? When you explain, the teacher’s always looking at you sort of like the guy on the cover and, hey, this book doesn’t have a biblio…whatever either and it’s only 135 pages so you can just skim and put in a few “borrowed” paragraphs, this is for you! Or, Hey you, Mr. Businessman leaving on the same flight as that cute blonde who just happens to be sitting across the aisle from you and who you’d like to impress by showing her that while anyone can read John Grisham, you prefer HISTORY, which will probably remind her of her father and show that you’re SERIOUSLY intellectual. Short book, maybe even finish it (or read it) if you can’t start up a conversation on the plane – besides, there’s always baggage claim to see if she noticed how into it you were… So, my point is that for every book, there’s a public – in this case, it just wasn’t me.

[Scott Woody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book by Paul Johnson the master of biographies in a nut-shell. I read this book shortly after finishing Churchill also by Johnson. Like Churchill, this book was a quick read full of fast facts and a light amount of editorial by the author.

Johnson's picture of Eisenhower is very straightforward: Eisenhower is a man who was fated to lead a nation. His defining characteristics were an uncanny ability to get along with everyone and an ability to cut through the 1000's of decisions in front of him and find the one that actually matters at the moment. Eisenhower's role as Staff General meant that he was the quintessential Ops guy of the army. His ability to cut fat, focus on what matters and do it in a morally consistent way made him enormously popular for the republican party and earned him the respect of the pragmatic democrats.

Eisenhower was also a man of strong principles who did what was necessary for the US to succeed during WW2. The remarkable thing is that his actions reflected his core tenet that his soldiers' lives should be preserved if at all possible. This principle lead to a very cautious approach to the war that probably prolonged it, but ultimately ended with fewer dead Allied soldiers. He got a ton of flak about this practice, and it probably ended up making the cold war more difficult since Russia was able to secure a very firm stranglehold on Easter Europe.

As a president, he maintained his principled approach, and his record is virtually unblemished. Despite being a general, he routinely tried to reduce military spending (fearing it would lead to a collapse of the American economy), and he coined the term 'military-industrial complex.' Looking at his frugal spending policy, principled approach, and the business-like way he ran the country, it seems clear to me that Eisenhower would be the Silicon Valley candidate of choice.

All in all, Eisenhower is a fascinating character, and I'll probably end up reading another, more in depth biography focused on his presidential approach. His approach to leadership, management, and general optimistic/ambitious attitude make him extremely likable and I think would be a very useful lesson for any entrepreneur/manager.

[Tom Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book is a good starting point to understand Eisenhower. It's obvious that Johnson is a fan so you get the hero parts largely and then a defense of what is considered Ike's weaker ideas and decisions. Johnson wants you to know that Eisenhower was a brilliant man in strategy and in people. He didn't mind if you underestimated him as many of his contemporaries did. He knew how to be liked and he knew how to get things done. He could work 18 hours a day and then pretend to be lazy if it suited his goals. His lack of outward ambition served him well as did his hidden competitive streak.

Johnson does a good job of explaining how Ike the soldier did his best to limit casualties and how Ike the President worried about how the military industrial complex would create perpetual war. What he wanted to do is topple dictators through agencies like the CIA and keep the ground troops out of harm's way. Johnson believes that Eisenhower understood the dangers in Vietnam that his successors did not.

Going earlier in the story it's surprising how long Ike was an unknown major and staff officer in the army. His rise in a short time leading up to World War II was reminiscent of how war clears away the deadwood and makes way for the talent.

This concise book convinced me I should read a more in-depth biography of Dwight Eisenhower.

[Mercedes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let's start with the good parts: the book is well designed. The cover is attractive, the size is totally manageable (and in a busy world, also attractive).

But that's pretty much where it stops. One can tell with the first paragraph that this biography isn't very high caliber. It's poorly written, with a strange, bouncing scope. Quotes are thrown in willy-nilly, hardly integrated. But, you know, that's fine, ok ok, whatever, my plan was to trudge on; perhaps I can at least learn some history. But I couldn't once I realized how deeply biased this book is, I couldn't even do that. Naturally, this book covers some pretty controversial historical events, and in its presentation of those events (and other smaller themes), it's dreadfully one-sided, even diminutive of counterpoints. I realized that I couldn't even pick up history in a good way through this book.

If you're a die-hard Eisenhower fan, you probably know everything in this tiny, basic book already. If you're looking to learn more, this is definitely not the place to start, I'm sorry to say.

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad even by Paul Johnson standards, with outright errors and cherry-picking of a major nature.

Here's just the worst:

No, Churchill didn’t oppose unconditional surrender. He certainly didn’t oppose the idea.

No, Brits didn’t take part in Dragoon and land at Marseilles.

I’d never before heard it claimed that Marshall was so pessimistic about the chances for Overlord that this played any factor in him not being chosen to run it.

Gives a conservative sign-off to Ike’s CIA regime changes.

Ignores Ike leaving Hungary in the dust in 1956.

[Carlos Ribeiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent account of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the USA and architect of operation Overlord that would culminate with the fall of the nazi regime and pave the way for he’s future election as president of the USA.
The book is very well written but a bit biased, nevertheless is quite accurate.
Lots of important marks in world history are accounted here and all of them had Eisenhower’s finger on it: Suez crisis, Korean War, USSR relations and so much more.

Undoubtedly, Eisenhower was one of, if not, the most important leaders of the 20th century. He’s years in the presidency are still regarded as the golden years in the USA.

Good read.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some funny quotes for fans of funny historical quotes, but not enough signposting of what year it is for casuals. It is pretty one sided.

[J.D. Frailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads comments regarding this book and other books by Paul Johnson tend to be rated a little below four stars and say things like, “A short book, a good introduction to _______.” I agree, it was very short and cursory, especially after having just finished 900 page biographies on Napoleon and Philip Ross, but I enjoyed this one, I learned a lot about Eisenhower, including the fact he had never been in battle himself, say what!!? He was considered a thorough and brilliant staff officer, which I guess is what was needed to and organize the incredible amount of manpower and machines for the invasion of Europe and the final defeat of the Nazis. He served on the pentagon staff and was well connected with kingmakers and power brokers in DC, and was the right man for the right job at the right time. I knew very little about his presidency, but according to Johnson, appraisals of such have risen over the years so he is now ranked between third and sixth best president in some surveys. Churchill was the first person to use I like Ike. He eschewed the right wing of his party, didn’t much like Democrats either except for the conservative southern Dixiecrats who helped him pass some of his initiatives, but he believed the country needed to be led by progressive Republicans, and I would agree with that. It is, however, a term we don’t hear much anymore 😉
He reported to Douglas MacArthur For part of his military career, and later said his goal was to be as unlike MacArthur as possible, my view of MacArthur is being a pompous asshole who sacrificed a lot of American lives for personal aggrandizement, so I’m with you there, Ike. I need to read a biography of MacArthur to put him in a better light in my mind.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic biography about a remarkable American.

It covers his military career through the presidency to his retirement and death.

Did you know he grew up in a Mennonite household? News to me.

He reluctantly became US President — mostly to keep the levers of power from “idiots” — in both parties.

While he was President of Columbia University, he did observe that his academic colleagues needed more time to come to the point, than people in the Army ones.

Which produced my favorite quote about his definition of an intellectual:
“A man who takes more words than is necessary to tell more than he knows.”

[John Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got for a dollar. Beyond brief with not that much info. But first real time reading about Eisenhower.

[Cory Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction. The shortness of the book was really noticeable in regards to the the presidency.

[Benjamin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, it felt like an undergraduate thesis. Dismissing anything negative. Raraing anything positive. Just not what I hoped for.

[Tim Ohlert · Rating 3 out of 5]

And on the eighth day, God created Eisenhower

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For as short as this is, it’s a really great overview of his life.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Source: Free copy from Viking in exchange for a review.
Summary:
In the 20th Century, Dwight David Eisenhower, also known as Ike, is a person who stands "head-and-shoulders" above so many of the more talked about historical figures. It was remarked in the book, that Ike appeared to be taller than his erect 5'10 stature. He was a man who people were attracted to, they leaned in closer to listen to him, his famous grin charmed the most difficult of people. Eisenhower, covers his childhood in a small town in Kansas, to his studies and training at West Point, to the successful years in the army-including the battle at Normandy, to his stint as a college president, his years in the White House, and the few brief years of retirement.

My Thoughts:
My first thought when the book arrived by mail is "gosh this is a short biography!" I was shocked, floored, that a biography on Eisenhower would be 144 pages! How can a person of his magnitude in history be 144 pages? I never got over the shock.
The book itself is fine. It's interesting reading material. I read the book cover to cover in one sitting.
But, I came away wanting so much more.
If you are a reader who prefers short reads, Eisenhower is the book for you.
If you are a reader who loves to read thorough biographies, Eisenhower is not the book for you.
I do feel this edition is perfect for a student of public or homeschooling. For a student the book gives the concise history of Eisenhower, all the basics are covered from his life.
Because my dad was a World War II Veteran, and Veteran of D-Day Omaha Beach, and Veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, Eisenhower is a favorite historical figure for me. I admire him.
One of the points in the book I enjoyed reading was Eisenhower's relationship with Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur as we all know was not a easy to get a long with person, his ego sucked all the air out of the room, building, and continent. The precarious nature of working with MacArthur is explored, but in brief.
Another point is Eisenhower's gifted writing skills in a speech, and his oration. He also was astute at dealing with the press.
The current people in the White House needs to study Eisenhower. Maybe I should send them this copy?

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Eisenhower: A Life” is a concise, yet satisfying look at the life of the Supreme Allied Commander and 34TH President written by noted British historian Paul Johnson. In a brief 136 pages, the reader gets a better understanding of a man who until recently was pushed into the background of American history.

Given the shortness of the biography, Johnson doesn't waste words as he details Eisenhower’s early life and the beginning of his career. The path Eisenhower’s career took after the end of the First World War until the United States entry into the Second World War, was detailed enough to show how when the time came Eisenhower was able to keep the Allies on the same page until the end of the conflict. The years between the war and his presidency were covered sufficiently and angled to show Eisenhower’s increasing interest in deciding to run for high office. Eisenhower’s years in the White House were focused mostly on the international scene with only brief interruptions of domestic affairs. Johnson covers the last years of Eisenhower’s in a page to finish the book.

While Johnson doesn't skimp attention on anything detail of Eisenhower’s life, he doesn't really go into detail due to the brevity of his text. While this primer-like decision is fine, the occasions when Johnson used his own conclusions without detail proof to back it up hurts the overall effort. Johnson’s conservative bent is seen throughout Eisenhower’s tenure as president of Columbia University and his White House years, although it was not an overly negative aspect to the whole work it could have been made less blatant.

Overall, “Eisenhower: A Life” is not a book for those looking for a serious in-depth look at Dwight D. Eisenhower in both the military and politics. However, this book is good primer for those interested in the 34TH President of the United States for general knowledge of the man himself and of the time he lived in.

[Shannon McDermott · Rating 3 out of 5]

In contrast to Johnson's brilliant longer works, this brief volume does not distinguish itself. Even as a short biography, I found it disappointingly light fare. The analysis is solid but never incisive, and Johnson lacked his usual sharp eye in what anecdotes to share. The most poignant moment in the entire book is an aside regarding Joe McCarthy.

This book is a competent and lucid - pellucid, to borrow a word Johnson uses more than once - account of Eisenhower, but offers little meat. Recommended for those wanting an overview of Eisenhower's life, and not a full dive into it.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is slanted very favorably toward Ike. The author praises him throughout. It is a very shallow look at the man. The events in which he took part take center stage.

[Walt Lindberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had wanted to read a bio of Eisenhower for a little while, and while browsing my local library's shelves, I saw three bios of the man. Two were very thick, one was slender. I didn't feel like checking out one of the large ones, so I opted for this one. Big mistake.

Johnson's bio is incredibly shallow. I think I could have learned more about Ike just by reading Wikipedia articles on the various topics covered (Operation Overlord, presidential campaigns, Suez Crisis, etc.). This book reads like a hagiography -- Ike is always the hardest-working, most prepared, most congenial, and smartest person in the room. Those things may have been true, but there is such a lack of depth and investigation that it all just seems like lazy writing. Johnson points out that Ike kept a diary for decades and instituted meticulous record-keeping in the White House, yet he wrote a book that includes very little of interest from those sources.

I was hoping to learn more about Ike's responses to issues like the burgeoning civil rights era and the early space race. Instead of insightful details about those issues, we get a paragraph or two that paint Ike in rosy colors without going into any depth.

One aspect of Ike's career that I knew nothing about was his time as president of Columbia University. This was interesting, but again, I wish Johnson had spent a little more time there.

There are almost no details about Ike's family life. A few glossy sentences here and there about Mamie dressing nicely or organizing the White House or enjoying their home in Gettysburg, but that's all.

I suppose I should have known better, just judging by the size of this book. I guess I'll need to go back to the library and get one of those multi-hundred page bios if I really want to learn about Eisenhower's life and motivations.

[Misty Schoephoerster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:
Born in Dennison, TX. Moved to Abilene, Kansas at 1. Abilene Kansas: a former cow town where all its men were gainfully employed. Christian republican town
Ike planned to go to university of Michigan but his friend convinced him to go to West Point.
He loved the Robert E Lee quote Duty is the most beautiful word in the English language
Battle of Stalingrad
Some rumors that he cheated on his wife with Kay Summersby but Ike and his team felt she was a positive influence on the war
Ike to wife Mamie: I have never believed in revenge but I have the strongest possible belief in Justice and the need to impose it on evil doers. We are engaged in a crusade
Patron mentioned for slapping someone’s face
Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword
June 5th switched to June 6 th Churchill and wife.
June 20th attempted assassination on hitler
Biggest criticism came during the end of the war when he let the Russians reach Berlin before the us.
Ike saw to it that as many reported and British and American troops when into the concentration camps to witness the depravity of the Nazis
Backed the GI bill
Brother Milton was president of Kansas state university
Memoir called Crusade in Europe
American tradition of electing successful generals as presidents - a tradition formed by George Washington, Andrew Jackson, and Ulysses S. Grant.
I like Ike badges
Ike did not exactly choose to mislead ppl about his abilities but when they underrated him he certainly made no attempt to correct their impression. He seems to have found it convenient and useful for people to get him wrong.
Debate: executive privilege and withhold information
Sept 1955 had a heart attack
Largest interstate highwayprogram in American hx
Sputnik
Ike died March 28 1969 retired on Gettysburg farm

[Sully Syed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was able to start and finish Eisenhower: A Life in a single day - which in a way was refreshing, but also felt extremely hollow. Even then I'd be more appreciative if Johnson didn't seem hellbent on denying every single criticism ever levelled at Eisenhower and marks ever goal Eisenhower embarked on achieving as a massive success. Some of the lines Johnson writes are beyond belief:

"[His critics] were wrong on all these points. Ike was highly intellligent, knew exactly how to use the English language, was extremely hardworking and very craft indeed. In practice, he made all the key decisions, and everyone had to report to him on what they were doing and why."

"Of course, the really able knew that Ike was first class."

"[Eisenhower] duly went to Korea, spent three days there and came back with the elements of what turned out to be the longest truce in history. It was all Ike's doing and the most popular act of his entire administration. It also saved the United States countless billions and made possible low or balanced budgets."

"McCarthyism was another matter. Some people felt at the time, and since, that Ike mishandled this issue. I suspect that any president would have done so, in one way or another."

"It was characteristic of Ike that he was rich in the unheroic virtues, such as patience."

What... is this? Aside from being horrifyingly poor writing, the book morphs from a somewhat factual but very quick-moving retelling of a man's history into Johnson's personal defence and feelings on his subject. Give this one a pass.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slim, but insightful book on Eisenhower left me thinking he was the greatest of the 20th century presidents. Just a few quotes:

“He made the so-called Eisenhower doctrine, of friendliness toward the Arab states and the benevolence in the Middle East, the theme of his second inaugural .”

“'We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.’”

“He flatly refused demands to increase spending to prepare for ‘another Berlin crisis.’ He told a group of Republican leaders who came to the White House, ‘I am getting awfully sick of the lobbying of the munitions. You begin to see this thing isn’t wholly the defense of the country, but only more money for some who are already fat cats.’”

“(Eisenhower believed that) military strength, and imprudent leadership, could lead the country into interventions all over the world, encouraged by the arms lobby and the military chiefs who were its puppets, and the result would be an overextension of resources and economic ruin.”

“Ike decided his best, last service to the nation was to draw attention to the way in which even a rich country could undermine its economy by overspending on armaments.”

“'This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence – economic, political, even spiritual – is felt in every city, every State House, every office of government . . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.'”

[Mike McVey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost the complete opposite of McCullough’s book on Truman. This was the highest recommended book on Eisenhower and I was sure that I must have been reading the abridged copy, because it is relatively short. Whereas Truman was bloated, Eisenhower was missing the details that define his generalship and presidency. Johnson also seems to have a bias towards Ike, but at least he makes arguments for his bias and does take serious the criticisms levied against Eisenhower. Well, Johnson at least mentions them and then quickly dismisses them as Ike is probably one of the top 3 presidents ever…

The goal of this book was to be succinct - and it was successful in that endeavor. Johnson is an engaging writer and could have stayed so with double the pages. The bias is stronger than most of the other presidential biographers that I have read, but Ike still comes across as mostly unlikeable. There were also major parts of Ike’s legacy that got missed, mainly the development of the interstate system. Also, there is no mention of Ike’s distaste of Goldwater or Reagan.

Unfortunately, this book was not enough to satiate my hunger for Ike - not because I like him, but because too much is missing. This book is closer to 3.5 stars because Johnson is so engaging.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Neither hagiography nor pablum, Johnson does an excellent job of distilling Eisenhower down to his core values, enumerating why he was an exceptional staff officer, and even explaining why that played a central role in Eisenhower’s success in both World War II and the presidency. I better appreciated the Columbia University interlude after this book, seeing the application of budgetary, fundraising, and organizational skills as a further polishing of Eisenhower’s leadership, cloaked behind his grin and staffers. This is not characterized as a leadership study, but it does an excellent job explaining Eisenhower’s character, concerns and goals, and how they played a far greater role in our country’s prosperity than typically acknowledged. I am glad I read this, and I recommend it to fellow history and leadership students who are curious about great people and what makes them that way.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short book, about 125 pages, covering Eisenhower's service in the military and his years as president. I enjoy history, and the very public nature of Eisenhower's life means that a biography of his necessarily includes many of the important events of his time. This biography certainly does that.

After reading this book, I was impressed with Eisenhower's views on life and the way he handled many important situations. Between the end of WWII and his time as president, he served as the president of Columbia University and is quoted as saying that highest aim of university education should be to create good and responsible citizens. I very much agree with that, though I realize that today there is a wide gulf between what different groups in the world consider a good responsible citizen to be.

Eisenhower was able to negotiate the end of the Korean war and his diplomacy was able to keep tensions from rising too high in those earlier years of the cold war.

My only wish is that the book would have been longer and a little more detailed, but it serves as a good quick introduction to the man.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

One can easily tell from the size of this book that it is not intended to be a scholarly work of non-fiction. I purchased my copy at the Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, D.C. I was impressed by the memorial and realized that almost all I knew about the man is from my high school history book and a couple of classes in college that briefly touched on his presidency. As a primer for the general public, this is excellent. If you’re looking for anything more than a general review of his public life, you need to go elsewhere. Once I got down to reading it, this was a quick read—which is just what I wanted for the summertime.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it a hagiography? Yes. Is it the Reader's Digest version? Yes it is. Still, for all that, it does provide a fairly good overview of an incredible 20th century figure. The time or the man? Hard to really tell but a lot of what I've read previously / or portrayals I've seen on screen, can be fairly dismissive of Eisenhower. Hagiography or not, he had an amazing life and, while the author tends to overlook his faults - eg. civil rights, CIA activities - he was hardly unworthy of the roles he filled. One might even yearn for someone of his ilk occupying the office of President in 2018.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an extremely in-depth look at Eisenhower, but it was a good overview and an easy read.
(Possible spoilers right here ---->) I enjoyed learning more about his military career, his habit of writing in a daily journal, and that he didn't exactly have high aspirations to be president. It was also interesting to find out that he often didn't correct wrong assumptions made about him by others and that even though he is today regarded as the fifth best president, he and his supporters were maligned in his day.
I read this alongside a book on D-day so it added another dimension to that.

[Ellen Switzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middling impressions. Did manage us through WWII and D-Day. Typically Republican in most of the stereotypical senses. “Color blind” (aka racist). Concerned with lowering taxes and “fiscally conservative” (aka racist). But! He did increase social security and the minimum wage. Found it funny that women wanted equal rights. A President not taking women as humans serious?? Shocking. Hated JFK. Loved Nixon but still questioned his “fitness” for presidency. 🤨

Considered a moderate Republican at the time. I wonder what he’d be considered as now simply for the SS and wage increase (“government handouts”) and fighting Nazis 😅

[Suzy Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently finished Eisenhower, A Life by Paul Johnson. Going into it, I didn’t know much about Eisenhower, and unfortunately, I can’t say I learned much more after finishing. Listening to the book on Audible made it challenging to stay engaged and retain information. While I now have a general sense of Eisenhower’s historical significance, this biography didn’t quite deliver the depth and insight I’ve come to expect from other works in the genre. Overall, a decent read but not particularly memorable.