Warning: session_start(): open(/var/cpanel/php/sessions/ea-php74/sess_09e376ea9242a4d97fd1a55a3943af8d308d2f4342442918, O_RDWR) failed: No space left on device (28) in /home/devwehrmacht/public_html/forums/includes/vb5/frontend/controller/page.php on line 71 Warning: session_start(): Failed to read session data: files (path: /var/cpanel/php/sessions/ea-php74) in /home/devwehrmacht/public_html/forums/includes/vb5/frontend/controller/page.php on line 71 A Genius for War - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums
CEJ Books

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

A Genius for War

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    A Genius for War

    I've had D'Este's Patton: A Genius for War on my shelf for the past decade. Finally got to it in the rotation and I am about half way through it and just wanted to see if others were as blown away not only by Patton, the man, but also by the quality of the book.

    Patton is almost an unbeliavble character...made up for the sake of a Hollywood movie. His dyslexia lead to a lifetime of unhappiness and chronic self-doubt. Yet he was narcisitic beyond belief. He seemed to have a knack for avoiding death and/or grave injury. He had a sincere belief in reincarnation. And he truly was a lifelong student of war...a true genius. He was so confident that he would one day realize his destiny in leading men in a hopeless battle, that during WWI, as a young offficer in Europe, he took notes and studied the countryside in his spare time so that "when" he returned again in the future he would be prepared. Who does that?

    I know none of this is new. I'm just really blown away by the level of insight D'Este reveals in his book. If you've never read it...I highly recommend it! You'll learn thinsg about Patton you never knew. And many myths and rumors about Patton will be dispelled. Just a great read.

    Blair
    Tags: None
    #2
    Big Schuss, you are dead on. Have you read Patton's "War as I Know it"?

    Comment

      #3
      D'Este´s book is superb. And frankly it greatly diminished my respect of Patton.

      Comment

        #4
        The best of his biographies but not in the same league as his analysis of (especially) Normandy or even Sicily and Anzio. I am struck by how often an author's best work is his first publication.

        Mike

        Comment

          #5
          Sigma, I have not read War As I Knew It. Perhaps I should!

          Pasoleati, I know what you mean. He was undoubtedly a loyal son and brother. I definitely come away with more of an unflattering view of the man in regards to his traits as a father and husband. Yet, at the same time, I learned things about him that made me respect him even more as a professional soldier.

          A very complicated man, which is what I think makes him so fascinating.

          Blair

          Comment

            #6
            Just bringing this one back up. I am just about through with War As I knew It and would enjoy hearing any opinions about it. I think the one thing that I learned about Patton from having read this book is his subtle and dry sense of humor. I never know this about him. He offers these little deadpan comments throughout that are just hilarious.

            Comment

              #7
              Regarding Patton, the British C.I.G.S. Lord Alanbrooke did not hold him in particularly high regard. Alanbrooke's war diary is quite scathing on Patton.

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by pasoleati View Post
                Regarding Patton, the British C.I.G.S. Lord Alanbrooke did not hold him in particularly high regard. Alanbrooke's war diary is quite scathing on Patton.
                Many did not hold Patton in high regard. And a Genius For War definitely reveals a side of Patton that is most unflattering.

                Comment

                  #9
                  I thought this was an awesome book. A grade scholarship, and insightful analysis .
                  He was a remarkable man, that's for sure.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Originally posted by kiwitedferny View Post
                    I thought this was an awesome book. A grade scholarship, and insightful analysis .
                    He was a remarkable man, that's for sure.
                    I agree. His analysis and quality of writing is pure genius.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by bigschuss View Post
                      I agree. His analysis and quality of writing is pure genius.
                      Thank God for West Point. Patton, McArthur, Eisenhower, Bradley and the rest....astonishing talent, nurtured by that academy, dormant...waiting for the 'ballon to go up'. And when it did - cometh the hour, cometh the man.

                      D'Este's book on Anzio was a cracker too.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by kiwitedferny View Post
                        D'Este's book on Anzio was a cracker too.
                        I'll be sure to pick that one up and add it to the queu. I've got "A Foot Soldier for Patton: The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army" and "The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945" ready to go next.

                        Thanks for the tip

                        Comment

                          #13
                          There is also another book by the same title which is quite good "A Genius for War: The German army and general staff, 1807-1945" by Dupuy.
                          An interesting look at Germany's aggressions from every neighbour and the development of tactical doctrine.

                          Allan

                          Comment

                          Previous template Next

                          Users Viewing this Thread

                          Collapse

                          There is currently 0 user online. 0 members and 0 guests.

                          Most users ever online was 10,032 at 08:13 PM on 09-28-2024.

                          Working...
                          X