It Doesn't Take a Hero

by General H. Norman With Petre Schwarzkopf, Peter

1993

Status

Checked out

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Collection

Standard Shelves

Publication

Bantam Books (1993), Edition: 1st Printing

Description

"In this candid, eagerly awaited autobiography General H. Norman Schwarzkopf reveals the story of his remarkable life and career. Here is the story of his boyhood years during World War II and a unique adolescence spent in the Middle East and Europe that would later prove invaluable to his understanding of the Gulf. Here, too, is a frank account of the West Point graduate's early disillusionment with the "real" Army - a disappointment that nearly prompted him to leave the military." "General Schwarzkopf speaks openly about his two tours of duty in Vietnam. He recounts the "dark years" that followed, and his own role in the struggle to reform the military." "For the first time ever General Schwarzkopf provides his personal, behind-the-scenes account of Desert Shield/Desert Storm, including candid portraits of such major figures as Colin Powell, Richard Cheney and President George Bush. From the general's unique perspective we experience firsthand the complexities of coordinating the campaign in a country deeply suspicious of foreigners; of maintaining strategic secrecy during America's first internationally televised war; and of ensuring that this war would not be another Vietnam." "Thoughtful and provocative, It Doesn't Take a Hero is an intensely personal portrait of an American life, the triumphant journey of a soldier who set his star by a simple but timeless motto: duty, honor, and country."--Jacket.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member JBD1

A rather conventional Gulf War memoir, but interesting if you're into the subject.

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LibraryThing member ZoharLaor

I liked this book much more than Collin Powell's book. It just seems more honest and less self serving, General Schwartzkopf admits mistakes, and positions he has taken for political reasons. It makes a very interesting read about decision making in the higher ranks of the military. If you've read

Powell's book, you'd like this one, and if you haven't, read it after this as a great supplement.

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LibraryThing member jepley38

First person account of the commander of Coalition forces that liberated Kuwait in the first Gulf War. Storming Normal Swarzkopf became a household word with his daily live press briefings that were carried around the world. Provides understanding of the diverse cultural allied forces and the how

political decisions stopped the victorious army under Swarzkopf were kept from completely destroying the Iraqi army and Hussein's rule.

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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C

I liked this a lot. I know that a lot of people felt that the Gulf War had broke the curse of the "Vietnam Syndrome" and for that reason embraced Norman Schwarzkopf as a hero. Not his evaluation of himself though. The title comes from an interview he gave to Barbara Walters: It Doesn’t Take a

Hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle. I found it fascinating to hear his account of his career in the military. His experience in Vietnam and the lessons he drew from it was interesting--but what made this account particularly valuable was his story of building the coalition to successfully prosecute the Gulf War. Given his long experience with the Middle East, I think the story and his insights into the region are still important today.

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