American Caesar
by William Manchester · first published 1978
75% recommend25% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Engrossing, thoroughly researched biography of Douglas MacArthur that covers his career and his role in rebuilding Japan; praised for vivid writing and suited to readers who enjoy long narrative history.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Inspiring, outrageous... A thundering paradox of a man. Douglas MacArthur, one of only five men in history to have achieved the rank of General of the United States Army. He served in World Wars I, II, and the Korean War, and is famous for stating that "in war, there is no substitute for victory." AMERICAN CAESAR exaines the exemplary army career, the stunning successes (and lapses) on the battlefield, and the turbulent private life of the soldier-hero whose mystery and appeal created a uniquely American legend.
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The Masks of God series by Joseph Campbell - http://www.amazon.com/The-Masks-God-Vol-Primitive/dp/0140194... Various myths and themes persist across religions, history and geography. American Caesar - http://www.amazon.com/American-Caesar-Douglas-MacArthur-1880... Biography of MacArthur. Interesting for its disclosure of relationships between politics, the media and the military in the absence of…
on “Ask HN: What is HN reading?” ↗…from 2000 should turn-up on HN. Recently read Manchester's brilliant biography on MacArthur, his wife was a prominent force in his life. Highly recommend it >http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20949.American_Caesar
on “Her life stretched 3 centuries” ↗I just finished reading American Caesar[0], a great biography of Douglas MacArthur. I highly recommend it as the story of a fascinating and brilliant man who is too little remembered today. I especially enjoyed and respected MacArthur's place…
on “Hiroshima (1946)” ↗William Manchester is about the only writer who comes near Robert Caro. If you liked The Power Broker, you may want to read his American Caesar, or The Arms of Krupp. The Private Life of Chairman Mao is another tremendous account of the excesses of power.
on “Robert A. Caro on the means and ends of power” ↗William Manchester's American Caesar, a biography of Douglas MacArthur. Probably a bit too sympathetic to him, but fantastic writing.
on “Ask HN: Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2019?” ↗…for historical biographies of similar quality. While I haven't found any that match up completely, here are a few that come close in my opinion: * Truman by David McCullough * Grant by Ron Chernow * American Caesar by William Manchester I've also read the three-part Churchill series by Manchester, but it didn’t quite measure up to the LBJ series for me. If you have any other suggestions, please share them! My…
on “An Interview with Robert Caro and Kurt Vonnegut (1999)” ↗American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20949.American_Caesar Received this book as a gift from an elderly relative and felt obliged to give it a cursory read. Quickly became…
on “Ask HN: What are some good books you have recently read?” ↗…Trotsky.(The Prophet). -Duff Cooper's Talleyrand. -Tom Cliffs 3 volume biography of Lenin. - William Taubman biographies of Khrushchev and Gorbachev. -William Manchester biography of General MacArthur.(American Caesar) -Barbara Tuchman biography of General Stilwell. (Stillwell and the American Experience in China.) -Anthony Burgess, Biography of Shakespeare.
on “Robert Caro and Kurt Vonnegut interview each other (1999)” ↗…condition was a continuation of the imperial reign. Had the General’s advice been followed, the resort to atomic weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki might have been unnecessary. Source: https://www.amazon.com/American-Caesar-Douglas-MacArthur-188... The "unconditional surrender" wording was an official statement, but not a 100% accurate depiction of reality. >by the way, you are peddling historical revisionism What I've…
on “Thucydides Roundtable, Book IV: History Is Written by the Losers” ↗