Status
Available
Call number
Description
Biography of one of the most controversial American generals.
Publication
Dell Books (1979), 960 pages
Pages
960
Subjects
ISBN
0440104130 / 9780440104131
Collection
Awards
National Book Award (Finalist — 1980)
Notable Books List (1978)
Language
Original publication date
1978
Physical description
960 p.
Media reviews
American Caesar, no less: from the title onward, Manchester has produced a biography of MacArthur so grandiose and so singleminded as to satisfy even the giant ego of its subject. But this "great thundering paradox," "the best of men and the worst of men," is not without his manifold, if more
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life-size, fascinations. He was, ineluctably, his father's son: at 18, Arthur MacArthur dashed up Missionary Ridge to plant the Union flag and win the battle--and later, his insubordination as military governor of the Philippines cost him his pest and his career. Young MacArthur learned everything from his father, it appears ("It's the orders you disobey that make you famous," he said in World War I), except what his paranoia perhaps did not permit him to learn; how to escape his father's fate. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bill_Masom
This was a very fascinating book, very detailed, and very well researched. Only about the last 6 paragraphs of the book did not have end notes associated with them.
MacArthur was, as a Japanese statesman said to John Gunther in 1950, “Not a simple man”. And this book could not have been a simple
It feels like Manchester truly tried to understand a man that is very hard to understand. And what a man to try and understand! Perhaps one of the most brilliant strategic offensive Generals in the history of the United States (if not the world), but it could be argued, he wasn't too good at defensive fighting. The inexcusable lack of judgment leading up the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, for example, is outweighed by the brilliancy of the strategic fight he lead in the Pacific after that. And by all arguments, the amphibious landing at Inchon was a master stroke of military leadership.
Where I think he will (and should) go down in history as a great leader is by the people of the Philippines, and Japan. His proconsul-ship of the defeated Japan, the very same Japan he defeated on the battlefield, is what will always cement his reputation, both there, and here at home.
The book spent almost a full chapter on the public fight between the General and Truman. And pretty much lays the blame for it in both corners. Both men made drastic mistakes, both men did the right things, in the wrong manner, and neither man would surrender. It is my opinion, after having read several Truman biographies, and now this book, that neither man could get through to the other. Neither made an effort to see things from the others point of view, and both were pig-headed enough to never back down.
All and all, a very good book, well written, and enjoyable to read.
On a side note: In this book, Manchester debunks Merle Miller's claims in “Plain Speaking” that MacArthur slighted Truman at Wake Island. The only documented source of this slight is Miller himself, all other sources do not concur with that. Ref page 588 of Manchester's book for that discussion.
MacArthur was, as a Japanese statesman said to John Gunther in 1950, “Not a simple man”. And this book could not have been a simple
Show More
book to write. Neither completely sympathetic to the General, nor a trashing of the General, I felt this book took a very good “middle-of-the-road” approach to the subject. Manchester treads a fine line in praising the General when it is richly deserved, and knocking him justly when that to is deserved. It feels like Manchester truly tried to understand a man that is very hard to understand. And what a man to try and understand! Perhaps one of the most brilliant strategic offensive Generals in the history of the United States (if not the world), but it could be argued, he wasn't too good at defensive fighting. The inexcusable lack of judgment leading up the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, for example, is outweighed by the brilliancy of the strategic fight he lead in the Pacific after that. And by all arguments, the amphibious landing at Inchon was a master stroke of military leadership.
Where I think he will (and should) go down in history as a great leader is by the people of the Philippines, and Japan. His proconsul-ship of the defeated Japan, the very same Japan he defeated on the battlefield, is what will always cement his reputation, both there, and here at home.
The book spent almost a full chapter on the public fight between the General and Truman. And pretty much lays the blame for it in both corners. Both men made drastic mistakes, both men did the right things, in the wrong manner, and neither man would surrender. It is my opinion, after having read several Truman biographies, and now this book, that neither man could get through to the other. Neither made an effort to see things from the others point of view, and both were pig-headed enough to never back down.
All and all, a very good book, well written, and enjoyable to read.
On a side note: In this book, Manchester debunks Merle Miller's claims in “Plain Speaking” that MacArthur slighted Truman at Wake Island. The only documented source of this slight is Miller himself, all other sources do not concur with that. Ref page 588 of Manchester's book for that discussion.
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LibraryThing member meegeekai
My wife got this for me for Christmas, 2005, it is a used hardback edition. I am not a big fan of the original Big Mac, but his strategy to bypass the Japanese and leap frog north to the Phillipines won the war in the Pacific. What is especially interesting in this book is the story of his
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administration of Japan after the war and his leadership in Korea. Great book. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookcoll
Manchester started off to excoriate MacArthur but did manage to do an extremely well-balanced biography. The POWs who returned from the Philippines had no use for MacArthur and neither did the wives of those who never came home.
LibraryThing member antiquary
Much of this, esp. in the early part, is very thinly adapted from
MacArthur's autobiography, and sometimes even inaccurate
in its copying
MacArthur's autobiography, and sometimes even inaccurate
in its copying
LibraryThing member antiquary
I was rather disappointed to find that the early parts of this
were closely but inaccurately based on MacArthur's memoirs. Of the two, I prefer MacArthur, though of course he sgows personal bias.
were closely but inaccurately based on MacArthur's memoirs. Of the two, I prefer MacArthur, though of course he sgows personal bias.
LibraryThing member M109Rider
I absolutely love this biography of Douglas MacArthur. It is very well written and it feels like a novel, when all is factual.
LibraryThing member jerrybookguy
I first read this as a young man. At that time I had no idea MacArthur was such a pain in the ass for his superiors such as George Marshall and President Truman. I did enjoy visiting the MacArthur exhibit in nearby Norfolk, Virginia. With my later reading in Roman history, it does appear he was
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quite like a Roman proconsul when he ruled Japan after the War. Show Less
LibraryThing member seoulful
William Manchester, noted historian, brings us an even-handed picture of a very complex, gifted man. As with most men of genius, there are accompanying problems of temperament, ego and psychological stability. No one doubts MacArthur's military daring, his ability to confound the enemy, or his own
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personal courage, but along with these attributes emerges a man of vanity, paranoia and arrogance. Manchester gives us glimpses of the close-knit family--wife,Jean, young son, Arthur and MacArthur who together survive the bombardment of Corregidor, a frantic trip by PT boat and bomber to Australia, life there, back to Manila, Tokyo and finally home to the Waldorf Towers in New York City. He was a private man, shunning society as much as possible and his wife and son provided all that he needed in the way of emotional support. It is to his credit that in the midst of an adoring public and great access, he remained faithful to his wife and was a good, though indulgent, father to his son. One of the greatest surprises in his life is the way in which he "ruled" Japan after its defeat, fashioning a constitution that liberated Japan from its feudal past, released political prisoners and elevated women to be equal members of society. One of the great ironies of the aftermath of WWII is how the proud, fanatic, defeated nation of Japan, came to respect and appreciate the man most responsible for its downfall. I was one of those who as a young girl was at National Airport at 1 am to welcome him back to the US after his firing by President Truman in 1951. After one final brilliant maneuver in the landing at Inchon in Korea, MacArthur was stripped of all command for what his livid commander in chief called insubordination in the policy of pursuing the Communist Chinese who had entered the battle in the Korean War. MacArthur was a patriot and a warrior and could not adjust to the new world of limited engagement and political timidity. He returned to popular acclaim and was honored by succeeding presidents. Show Less
LibraryThing member cblaker
Excellent biography. The scope of his life was truly epic, leadership in three major wars and reshaping Japanese society after WWII. MacArthur led a dramatic life and Manchester crafted the raw material of that life into an informative and entertaining read. My only criticism of the book is the
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lack a guide to the figures in MacArthur's life, a guide to at least the staff officers he had in the Pacific would have been useful considering they're introduced once and then most referred to by their last names for the rest of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member gmicksmith
A book in the old mold of what kids read in high school: voluminous, weighty, and at least demonstrating some admirable qualities.
LibraryThing member Bill_Masom
This was a very fascinating book, very detailed, and very well researched. Only about the last 6 paragraphs of the book did not have end notes associated with them.
MacArthur was, as a Japanese statesman said to John Gunther in 1950, “Not a simple man”. And this book could not have been a simple
It feels like Manchester truly tried to understand a man that is very hard to understand. And what a man to try and understand! Perhaps one of the most brilliant strategic offensive Generals in the history of the United States (if not the world), but it could be argued, he wasn't too good at defensive fighting. The inexcusable lack of judgment leading up the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, for example, is outweighed by the brilliancy of the strategic fight he lead in the Pacific after that. And by all arguments, the amphibious landing at Inchon was a master stroke of military leadership.
Where I think he will (and should) go down in history as a great leader is by the people of the Philippines, and Japan. His proconsul-ship of the defeated Japan, the very same Japan he defeated on the battlefield, is what will always cement his reputation, both there, and here at home.
The book spent almost a full chapter on the public fight between the General and Truman. And pretty much lays the blame for it in both corners. Both men made drastic mistakes, both men did the right things, in the wrong manner, and neither man would surrender. It is my opinion, after having read several Truman biographies, and now this book, that neither man could get through to the other. Neither made an effort to see things from the others point of view, and both were pig-headed enough to never back down.
All and all, a very good book, well written, and enjoyable to read.
On a side note: In this book, Manchester debunks Merle Miller's claims in “Plain Speaking” that MacArthur slighted Truman at Wake Island. The only documented source of this slight is Miller himself, all other sources do not concur with that. Ref page 588 of Manchester's book for that discussion.
MacArthur was, as a Japanese statesman said to John Gunther in 1950, “Not a simple man”. And this book could not have been a simple
Show More
book to write. Neither completely sympathetic to the General, nor a trashing of the General, I felt this book took a very good “middle-of-the-road” approach to the subject. Manchester treads a fine line in praising the General when it is richly deserved, and knocking him justly when that to is deserved. It feels like Manchester truly tried to understand a man that is very hard to understand. And what a man to try and understand! Perhaps one of the most brilliant strategic offensive Generals in the history of the United States (if not the world), but it could be argued, he wasn't too good at defensive fighting. The inexcusable lack of judgment leading up the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, for example, is outweighed by the brilliancy of the strategic fight he lead in the Pacific after that. And by all arguments, the amphibious landing at Inchon was a master stroke of military leadership.
Where I think he will (and should) go down in history as a great leader is by the people of the Philippines, and Japan. His proconsul-ship of the defeated Japan, the very same Japan he defeated on the battlefield, is what will always cement his reputation, both there, and here at home.
The book spent almost a full chapter on the public fight between the General and Truman. And pretty much lays the blame for it in both corners. Both men made drastic mistakes, both men did the right things, in the wrong manner, and neither man would surrender. It is my opinion, after having read several Truman biographies, and now this book, that neither man could get through to the other. Neither made an effort to see things from the others point of view, and both were pig-headed enough to never back down.
All and all, a very good book, well written, and enjoyable to read.
On a side note: In this book, Manchester debunks Merle Miller's claims in “Plain Speaking” that MacArthur slighted Truman at Wake Island. The only documented source of this slight is Miller himself, all other sources do not concur with that. Ref page 588 of Manchester's book for that discussion.
Show Less
LibraryThing member busterrll
A well written book about a great American - Definitely a complex man. I wish that William Manchester had been less apologetic about the negatives in MacArthur's. life. I found it irritating when the author would insert phrases like "we can understand his failure" or some such wording as he starts
Definitely a good read about a complex leader.
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to explain MacArthur's behavior. Manchester's glossing over his receipt of the Medal of Honor in World War I was disappointing at best.Definitely a good read about a complex leader.
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LibraryThing member MLJLibrary
MacArthur, the public figure, the private man, the soldier-hero whose mystery and appeal created a uniquely American legend, portrayed in a brilliant biography that will challenge the cherished myths of admirers and critics alike.
LCC
E745.M3 M27