Book Description
He set his star by a simple motto: duty, honor, country. Only rarely does history grant a single individual the ability, personal charisma, moral force, and intelligence to command the respect, admiration, and affection of an entire nation. But such a man is General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the Allied Forces in the Gulf War. Now, in this refreshingly candid and typically outspoken autobiography, General Schwarzkopf reviews his remarkable life and career: the events, the adventures, and the emotions that molded the character and shaped the beliefs of this uniquely distinguished American leader.
Customer Reviews:
The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-19
This book was surprisingly good. It was straight forward. He said a lot of things that I hadn't expected to hear from a man in his position. My guess is that he received a lot of "poop" for it also.
He has a lot of heart and a lot of good emotions.
I have read some negative stuff about him also but all in all he seems to be a pretty good man - and a pretty good story teller.
I haven't checked yet but if he has written something else, I would probably buy it. I think he has brains and insight and I don't think that he would be a paen to the established order - He would be loyal to his country of course - but I feel that he would tell it as he saw it without being afraid to be critical - if he felt criticism was necessary.
I would like to see him write something on military history - past wars or battles or something like that.
An honest account from an honest man........2007-06-14
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man" is an adage that was penned for men such as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
It is very easy for Englishman to prefer British heroes over those from other countries. Some might say it is even easier for United States citizens to acknowledge the achievements of their own citizens whilst deprecating those of any other nation. Eisenhower, for example, was a great man - but so was Montgomery!
This book, however, is about a man who is not in open comparison to any. He tells an account of his own life which, as others have already stated, is so honest as to be brutally so. How odd that the fickle finger of fate is able to steer any man towards his ultimate destiny. What if Eisenhower (or even Montgomery) had joined the Navy?, what if Norman Schwarzkopf had railed against his father's wishes and "not" joined the US Army?
But they did and I am unable to avoid that cliché which demands that "the rest is history." Having said that, I would suggest General Schwarzkopf's contribution to that history is as great as any man's.
Other reviewers have sought to express their views in their own ways and quite rightly so! Some of those reviews give the reader a quick impression - "it's a great book" and all that, whereas others seek to paraphrase the book and, is so doing give the reader a better impression of what is found within it's pages.
Me, well, for the very first time in a long time, I feel as though I have read a book. Just think about that. Take a moment to look at any of my book reviews, then click on that button which says "see all my reviews" and you will see what I mean. Some of those books are on subjects I feel very passionate about. Some are great books and well worth the 5 star rating given. Others are less than ordinary and not even worth the single star one is required to donate to the charitable cause that best describes that particular offering in print.
Then I find a biography from a retired general who came to prominence during the first Gulf War, the biography of a man who recognised it does not take a hero to order men into battle, the biography of an ordinary bloke who did good, served his country and the cause of freedom well and expects nothing in return.
Buy it. Read it. Only then will you also appreciate what I mean by having "read" a book. There will come a time when you will read it again.
NM
Retired British Army major.
A vanishing breed; The soldier/general as historian and gentleman........2006-12-17
I went into this read thinking that this would be another in a long line of self-serving autobiographies from officer blow-hards that are so full of themselves it is disgusting. I expected, like I have read in so many other memoirs, a tale where the main character is bigger than the times he served in.
Not so with General Schwarzkopf. He is truly an American hero who was given an impossible mission during the first Gulf War and he pulled it off partly due to a sense of history, in part due to political accument, and in no large part because this took a lot of balls.
The General starts the book out with a touching portrait of his childhood; his formative years were spent living in the Middle East, learning the customs, an appetite for the cuisine, and the art of falconry.
He is no Gen. Eisenhower, to be sure, but he is still a larger than life figure that served our nation during a pivotal time in our Middle Eastern Diplomacy.
"Stormin' Normin" is neither falsely self-effacing, nor does he "toot his own horn." He is what he is, and his not only has his biography born testimony to his greatness as both an officer and as an American, subsequent interviews with the gliteratti have done nothing but illumine the brightness of his "star(s)."
A great read for the history buff, or a lover of biographies of great Americans.
A fascinating tale of a soldier!.......2006-03-09
I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf was brutally honest in telling his life story! I can see how a deserving general that he was. Honor, duty, country and yes a very just man. I just had some wishful thinking that if only South Vietnam had one or two men just like him to prosecute the Vietnam war! A fine man he is!
The Real Story.......2005-12-29
Beyond the CNN propaganda and the rantings of the Left and Right,_It Doesn't take a Hero_ give you the inside story of Gulf War I. Worth rereading now, a decade latter.
Book Description
Rebecca will have to take a page from her own book to keep the dashing Rafe Danvers from spoiling her success.
But how does one play hard-to-get with a man one cannot resist?
Rebecca Tate never intended to cause a revolution with her notoriously popular Miss Darby novels, merely to earn enough to support herself and her ailing uncle. But now it seems every eligible debutante in London is emulating her spunky heroine and refusing to marry...ever! Still, Rebecca's enjoying her newfound success as Miss Darby's anonymous creator, and she's not about to let anyone interfere—not even the rakishly appealing Raphael Danvers.
Having survived the perils of war and espionage, Rafe is less than thrilled by a disgruntled society matron's wish that he unmask the unknown author and halt the scandalous scribblings. The assignment becomes more attractive, however, when the trail leads to the enticing Miss Tate. Suddenly the dashing adventurer can't get enough of the charming troublemaker—and her resorting to some rather Darbyesque trickery to distract him serves only to intensify his desire. But will a rogue's determined pursuit result in a happy romantic ending . . . or lead them both into a dangerous intrigue?
Download Description
"
Rebecca will have to take a page from her own book to keep the dashing Rafe Danvers from spoiling her success.
But how does one play hard-to-get with a man one cannot resist?
Rebecca Tate never intended to cause a revolution with her notoriously popular Miss Darby novels, merely to earn enough to support herself and her ailing uncle. But now it seems every eligible debutante in London is emulating her spunky heroine and refusing to marry...ever! Still, Rebecca's enjoying her newfound success as Miss Darby's anonymous creator, and she's not about to let anyone interfere -- not even the rakishly appealing Raphael Danvers.
Having survived the perils of war and espionage, Rafe is less than thrilled by a disgruntled society matron's wish that he unmask the unknown author and halt the scandalous scribblings. The assignment becomes more attractive, however, when the trail leads to the enticing Miss Tate. Suddenly the dashing adventurer can't get enough of the charming troublemaker -- and her resorting to some rather Darbyesque trickery to distract him serves only to intensify his desire. But will a rogue's determined pursuit result in a happy romantic ending...or lead them both into a dangerous intrigue?
"
Customer Reviews:
One of the worst..........2006-02-09
Generally, I like Elizabeth Boyle's books but this one was terrible. All the things I do not like about romance novels were contained in this story. I have to question anyone giving this read 5 stars. This is a perfect book???
First of all, the descriptions of Rafe and Rebecca were slight. I know more of what Rafe looks like than Rebecca and what I kow about Rafe is that he is very manly and dark. Also, the "instant" connection is not well played out. It seems his interest was gained because she did not fall for his charms right away. What a bore he is for that.
Rebecca's desire to keep the ruby defies logic. What a terrible thing for her to do. This alone would make most readers question what sort of person she is.
Also, Rafe, while no longer comfortable with turning Rebecca over to Malvina, reflects he might have to sell whatever belongs he has left to pay the rent. Well, why? For those of us who have read the previous books we know who his brothers are!!! I mean, show me the money. Rafe has little in the way of clothes, can't pay the rent, etc. That is just ridiculous. He brothers do not share their wealth with him? Forget the end of the book, 3/4 of the book he is poor.
It is hard to get involved with characters who are too vague in appearance and also hard to get involved with characters who tend to over react to situations. Rafe was hired to do a job and he lets his feelings for Rebecca cloud his judgment. But why? This is a man who fought in a war for goodness sakes. Mental toughness is important. And to lose that after, what, 3 or so meetings? Silly.
It Takes a Hero.......2005-09-25
I really loved this book. The characters were great, the story interesting. Rafe and Rebecca were wonderful together. I will definetly keep this book in my collection!
Still Good BUT Really a 3-1/2*.......2004-07-29
Setting - England 1817 --- Raphael 'Rafe' Danvers, did not fit into the polite ton society since coming home from the Peninsular wars, yet here he was being summoned by the Countess Tottley to join her at her morning salon. It seemed that the young daughters of the ton had thought to emulate a popular 'fictional' heroine who had vowed after the demise of her 'fictional' beau to never marry! This author had to be found, in order to make her stop writing so that the match-making mamas of the ton could convince their impressionable young daughters to stop turning down offers of marriage to their eligible suitors. Knowing that Rafe had no home of his own, Lady Tottley thought to entice him in aiding her and mothers of the other marriageable daughters of the ton to locate M. Briggs the elusive author of the immensely popular Miss Darby chronicles, by offering him an estate - a bit of a 'handy-man's special.
Rafe, a confirmed bachelor, would rather solve the murder he'd been working on with the promise of a hefty monetary reward but the thought of an estate - a home to call his own - was just too good to pass up. He traveled to every bachelors nightmare, the matchmaking capital of Kent - Bramley Hollow where he discovered the very infuriating and lovely Miss Rebecca Tate. His gut feelings told him she was the elusive author, and his brain told him he should forget about it and go look for a murderer instead - it would have been less dangerous for his state of mind and body.
Normally, I have found Elizabeth Boyle's novels to be fast and funny page-turners, but have to confess that I couldn't categorize this in the 'I can't put it down' standard I associate with her earlier books. While the story was good, it just didn't engage my emotions as much as her previous novels of the other Danver family members. The zest just wasn't there, even with some very engaging sparring matches between the main protagonists. The mystery of the original murder Rafe was working to solve was eventually worked into the search for the elusive author and brought to an almost too abrupt conclusion - but of course, the romance was the prime objective. The one thing that didn't seem to make sense to me with regard to the heroines apparent insolvency was her obvious success of the Miss Darby novels. With so successful a writing career her fixation and greediness in wanting to obtain and keep the legendary and valuable Kailash ruby seemed out of place, especially where she seemed to want to stay and live a peaceful existence in the country. Some of the more enjoyable and humorous moments were provided by Rebecca's 'batty' uncle; her very ferocious tom-cat Ajax; and of course, the witty dialogs filling out the requisite gender banter. Bottom line - My nit-picking aside, this was still an entertaining effort and fans of Elizabeth Boyle will not be too disappointed. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---
Good romance, bad mystery = a mixed result.......2004-07-12
Ms. Boyle's style is a big stumbling block on this book; there are some very tortured phrasings, including some that simply do not make sense. The book is sometimes slow and the murder mystery is solved almost too quickly. That subplot is the least fulfilling part of the book. Indeed, the whole murder-ruby angle detracts from the lovely romance.
There's some very nice humor; Rafe is a good hero; and the heroine is quite likable except for her desire to hang onto stolen property as though she deserves it. Perhaps it's supposed to be symbolic of the corrupting influence of the gem (the curse), but it doesn't really work. Nevertheless, Rafe and Rebecca are very good together. The romance part of the book is quite good, and is marred only by the subplot and by Boyle's overblown prose.
3 1/2 stars: good story marred a little by prose style.......2004-04-30
Since returning from the Napoleonic wars, Rafe Danvers has made a living solving problems for the rich and titled. Currently, he's trying to solve the murder of a rich nabob. That is until the rich and powerful Countess of Tottley offers to give him the deeds to a small estate if he would take on a task for her. Lady Tottley wants Rafe to find the authour of the popular Miss Darby adventures, and persuade her to stop writing completely. Apparently in the latest Miss Darby installment, Miss Darby's faithful swain dies in battle, prompting the heroine to forswear marriage forever. Unfortunately, Miss Darby's ardent fans, the impressionable young society misses, have all decided to follow suit and have taken an oath not marry. Faced with the prospect of having their unmarried daughters on their hands forever, the ladies of the ton are at their wit's end, and hence the drastic step of hiring Rafe. Less than thrilled by his latest assignment, but wanting the prize, Rafe agrees. The trail leads him to Bramley Hollow in Kent and to the incredibly vexatious, sharp-tongued and engaging Miss Rebecca Tate. Rafe may not be completely sure as to whether or not Rebecca is the elusive authour of the Miss Darby novels, but he's rather enjoying their verbal sparring matches. That is until a few sinister incidents makes him realize that Rebecca is in danger and at the heart of a much bigger mystery...
Once you through the rather florid prose style, "Once a Hero" turned out to be a very entertaining read. The story is a good and intriguing one and Rafe and Rebecca were both likable and engaging characters. As for the romantic relationship that develops between Rafe and Rebecca, it was vibrant, exciting and fairly brimming with sexual tension. Some readers, however, may find Rebecca's desire to find and keep the stolen ruby very distasteful, but, unfortunately, her desire to find and sell the ruby, and her belief that the ruby is rightfully her's because her father had figured out where to steal it from, was in keeping with the times. My advice, if you're looking for a good and entertaining read, is to overlook the overblown prose style and the heroine's less upright tendencies and concentrate on the fast paced and exciting adventure at hand.
Customer Reviews:
An honest account from an honest man........2007-06-16
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man" is an adage that was penned for men such as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
It is very easy for Englishman to prefer British heroes over those from other countries. Some might say it is even easier for United States citizens to acknowledge the achievements of their own citizens whilst deprecating those of any other nation. Eisenhower, for example, was a great man - but so was Montgomery!
This book, however, is about a man who is not in open comparison to any. He tells an account of his own life which, as others have already stated, is so honest as to be brutally so. How odd that the fickle finger of fate is able to steer any man towards his ultimate destiny. What if Eisenhower (or even Montgomery) had joined the Navy?, what if Norman Schwarzkopf had railed against his father's wishes and "not" joined the US Army?
But they did and I am unable to avoid that cliché which demands that "the rest is history." Having said that, I would suggest General Schwarzkopf's contribution to that history is as great as any man's.
Other reviewers have sought to express their views in their own ways and quite rightly so! Some of those reviews give the reader a quick impression - "it's a great book" and all that, whereas others seek to paraphrase the book and, is so doing give the reader a better impression of what is found within it's pages.
Me, well, for the very first time in a long time, I feel as though I have read a book. Just think about that. Take a moment to look at any of my book reviews, then click on that button which says "see all my reviews" and you will see what I mean. Some of those books are on subjects I feel very passionate about. Some are great books and well worth the 5 star rating given. Others are less than ordinary and not even worth the single star one is required to donate to the charitable cause that best describes that particular offering in print.
Then I find a biography from a retired general who came to prominence during the first Gulf War, the biography of a man who recognised it does not take a hero to order men into battle, the biography of an ordinary bloke who did good, served his country and the cause of freedom well and expects nothing in return.
Buy it. Read it. Only then will you also appreciate what I mean by having "read" a book. There will come a time when you will read it again.
NM
Retired British Army major.
Average customer rating:
- A Real Hero of The Civil Rights Movement!
|
Take a Seat -- Make a Stand: A Hero in the Family
Amy Nathan
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 People of Color | Biographies | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Historical | Biographies | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595417612 |
Book Description
This book tells of Sarah Keys Evans, an unsung Civil Rights hero. As a young woman in the Women's Army Corps in 1952, she did what Rosa Parks did-three years before Rosa Parks. Sarah Keys Evans kept standing up for her rights until victory was won. Her story shows that an individual can have an impact on history, and that in troubled times ordinary people can step up and accomplish remarkable things. Her story also shows that change is a step-by-step process. Many small contributions along the way help to bring about big shifts in attitudes and laws.
"Sarah Keys, a courageous Army private, helped set the stage for the civil rights movement in the 1950s by seeking and getting a legal ruling outlawing discrimination on seating on buses and proving that justice can be there for each of us."
Wilma L. Vaught, Brigadier General, USAF (retired); President, Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation, Inc.
"Sarah Keys fought her battle against segregation and humiliations as a matter of moral decency and learned first hand about mental and physical fear thus exemplifying extraordinary courage."
Representative Major R. Owens, U.S. House of Representatives; from a proclamation issued March 2006
"Perfectly pitched to its target elementary audience. Nathan strikes just the right balance of emotion and facts necessary to reach children within the context of a history lesson. A winner."
-Kirkus Discoveries
Customer Reviews:
A Real Hero of The Civil Rights Movement!.......2007-04-13
Even though she wore an Army uniform and was in service of her country what happened to Sarah Keys Evans to make her a hero did not happen on the battlefields. Author Amy Nathan puts together a non-fiction children's book that deals with some real important issues and some civil rights history. Her book "Take A Seat - Make A Stand: A Hero In The Family" is about real courage and about doing the right thing.
The book details what happened to Sarah Evans back in 1952 when she was a young black woman serving her country in the Women's Army Corps. She refused to give up her seat on a bus on her way back to camp and was put in jail and fined. This happened three years before Rosa Parks did the same thing. The story follows her as she fights injustice; and after years of legal work, she gets some laws changed. It is truly an inspirational story that is not only just for children but people of all ages.
I had never heard this women's story before nor anything about her successful battles in the congress to change the laws, but this book opened up that as new history to me. I think this book will educate many people about who some of our unsung heroes of the civil rights battles were. I am sure that there must be many more whom history has no long-term memory of. If this book inspires young people to go and look for more "heroes" that would be a most wonderful gift indeed.
This book is highly recommended for children from age of 10 and up including adults like myself who enjoyed reading it.
Average customer rating:
|
It Takes A Hero (Bachelor Auction) (Harlequin Temptation, 729)
Gina Wilkins
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Harlequin Temptation | Series | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0373258291 |
Average customer rating:
- An honest account from an honest man.
- an excellant book by and inspiring human being
- The most down to earth military book ever
- As a veteran _ Amazing_
|
It Doesn't Take a Hero
Norman Schwarzkopf
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Military | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0553093665
Release Date: 1992-11-01 |
Book Description
He set his star by a simple motto: duty, honor, country. Only rarely does history grant a single individual the ability, personal charisma, moral force, and intelligence to command the respect, admiration, and affection of an entire nation. But such a man is General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the Allied Forces in the Gulf War. Now, in this refreshingly candid and typically outspoken autobiography, General Schwarzkopf reviews his remarkable life and career: the events, the adventures, and the emotions that molded the character and shaped the beliefs of this uniquely distinguished American leader.
Customer Reviews:
An honest account from an honest man........2007-06-14
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man" is an adage that was penned for men such as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
It is very easy for Englishman to prefer British heroes over those from other countries. Some might say it is even easier for United States citizens to acknowledge the achievements of their own citizens whilst deprecating those of any other nation. Eisenhower, for example, was a great man - but so was Montgomery!
This book, however, is about a man who is not in open comparison to any. He tells an account of his own life which, as others have already stated, is so honest as to be brutally so. How odd that the fickle finger of fate is able to steer any man towards his ultimate destiny. What if Eisenhower (or even Montgomery) had joined the Navy?, what if Norman Schwarzkopf had railed against his father's wishes and "not" joined the US Army?
But they did and I am unable to avoid that cliché which demands that "the rest is history." Having said that, I would suggest General Schwarzkopf's contribution to that history is as great as any man's.
Other reviewers have sought to express their views in their own ways and quite rightly so! Some of those reviews give the reader a quick impression - "it's a great book" and all that, whereas others seek to paraphrase the book and, is so doing give the reader a better impression of what is found within it's pages.
Me, well, for the very first time in a long time, I feel as though I have read a book. Just think about that. Take a moment to look at any of my book reviews, then click on that button which says "see all my reviews" and you will see what I mean. Some of those books are on subjects I feel very passionate about. Some are great books and well worth the 5 star rating given. Others are less than ordinary and not even worth the single star one is required to donate to the charitable cause that best describes that particular offering in print.
Then I find a biography from a retired general who came to prominence during the first Gulf War, the biography of a man who recognised it does not take a hero to order men into battle, the biography of an ordinary bloke who did good, served his country and the cause of freedom well and expects nothing in return.
Buy it. Read it. Only then will you also appreciate what I mean by having "read" a book. There will come a time when you will read it again.
NM
Retired British Army major.
an excellant book by and inspiring human being.......1998-06-08
I started reading this book with some trepidation, thinking I would find a canonization of a soldier and the American war machine. What I found was an insightful and emotional look at the follies of war and the remarkable heroism of those who lay their life on the line so we may live in peace.
Schwarzkopf takes us on a journey covering the globe where america has had military interests, for those looking for an insight into the workings of the military machine are well covered. Those looking for an insight into the man made famous on CNN during the gulf war will find a man who is warm, humourous, intelligent and determined to be the best of the best.
As a young Australian I am proud to say that i class the author as one of the few people I would consider a true hero in a world of would be's if they could be's.
In conclusion do yourself a favour you will not be disappointed in this book or the man behind the legend.
The most down to earth military book ever.......1997-11-24
This book should be read by every soldier, in every nation. it is so frank and honest in its account of military life and actions, it could have been written by any of the troops. .As a serving British soldier I have found it a requirement to read this book on a regular basis and absorb some of the ideas to use in my career and every day life. A great loss to the military service.
As a veteran _ Amazing_.......1997-08-24
As a veteran I find that the accuracy, the notes, research and espiecally the historical and political events leading up to the event(Operation Desert Storm) are absolutely amazing. History will decide the outcome but today it is done
Customer Reviews:
An honest account from an honest man........2007-06-14
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man" is an adage that was penned for men such as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
It is very easy for Englishman to prefer British heroes over those from other countries. Some might say it is even easier for United States citizens to acknowledge the achievements of their own citizens whilst deprecating those of any other nation. Eisenhower, for example, was a great man - but so was Montgomery!
This book, however, is about a man who is not in open comparison to any. He tells an account of his own life which, as others have already stated, is so honest as to be brutally so. How odd that the fickle finger of fate is able to steer any man towards his ultimate destiny. What if Eisenhower (or even Montgomery) had joined the Navy?, what if Norman Schwarzkopf had railed against his father's wishes and "not" joined the US Army?
But they did and I am unable to avoid that cliché which demands that "the rest is history." Having said that, I would suggest General Schwarzkopf's contribution to that history is as great as any man's.
Other reviewers have sought to express their views in their own ways and quite rightly so! Some of those reviews give the reader a quick impression - "it's a great book" and all that, whereas others seek to paraphrase the book and, is so doing give the reader a better impression of what is found within it's pages.
Me, well, for the very first time in a long time, I feel as though I have read a book. Just think about that. Take a moment to look at any of my book reviews, then click on that button which says "see all my reviews" and you will see what I mean. Some of those books are on subjects I feel very passionate about. Some are great books and well worth the 5 star rating given. Others are less than ordinary and not even worth the single star one is required to donate to the charitable cause that best describes that particular offering in print.
Then I find a biography from a retired general who came to prominence during the first Gulf War, the biography of a man who recognised it does not take a hero to order men into battle, the biography of an ordinary bloke who did good, served his country and the cause of freedom well and expects nothing in return.
Buy it. Read it. Only then will you also appreciate what I mean by having "read" a book. There will come a time when you will read it again.
NM
Retired British Army major.
Average customer rating:
- An honest account from an honest man.
|
IT DOESN'T TAKE A HERO
SCHWARZKOPF / PETRE
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0593025938 |
Customer Reviews:
An honest account from an honest man........2007-06-16
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man" is an adage that was penned for men such as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
It is very easy for Englishman to prefer British heroes over those from other countries. Some might say it is even easier for United States citizens to acknowledge the achievements of their own citizens whilst deprecating those of any other nation. Eisenhower, for example, was a great man - but so was Montgomery!
This book, however, is about a man who is not in open comparison to any. He tells an account of his own life which, as others have already stated, is so honest as to be brutally so. How odd that the fickle finger of fate is able to steer any man towards his ultimate destiny. What if Eisenhower (or even Montgomery) had joined the Navy?, what if Norman Schwarzkopf had railed against his father's wishes and "not" joined the US Army?
But they did and I am unable to avoid that cliché which demands that "the rest is history." Having said that, I would suggest General Schwarzkopf's contribution to that history is as great as any man's.
Other reviewers have sought to express their views in their own ways and quite rightly so! Some of those reviews give the reader a quick impression - "it's a great book" and all that, whereas others seek to paraphrase the book and, is so doing give the reader a better impression of what is found within it's pages.
Me, well, for the very first time in a long time, I feel as though I have read a book. Just think about that. Take a moment to look at any of my book reviews, then click on that button which says "see all my reviews" and you will see what I mean. Some of those books are on subjects I feel very passionate about. Some are great books and well worth the 5 star rating given. Others are less than ordinary and not even worth the single star one is required to donate to the charitable cause that best describes that particular offering in print.
Then I find a biography from a retired general who came to prominence during the first Gulf War, the biography of a man who recognised it does not take a hero to order men into battle, the biography of an ordinary bloke who did good, served his country and the cause of freedom well and expects nothing in return.
Buy it. Read it. Only then will you also appreciate what I mean by having "read" a book. There will come a time when you will read it again.
NM
Retired British Army major.
Average customer rating:
- An honest account from an honest man.
|
It Doesn't Take a Hero
Norman Schwarzkopf
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Biografías y memorias | Libros en español | Formats | Books
General | Militar | Historia | Libros en español | Formats | Books | Inteligencia y Espionaje
Contemporánea | General | Literatura y ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books
No-Ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books | Automotriz | Ciencias Sociales | Crimen y Criminales | Educación | Estudios de la Mujer | Feriados | Filosofía | Gobierno | Hechos Verídicos | Planeamiento Urbano y Desarrollo | Política | Sucesos de Actualidad | Transportación
ASIN: 0553405519 |
Customer Reviews:
An honest account from an honest man........2007-06-14
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man" is an adage that was penned for men such as General H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
It is very easy for Englishman to prefer British heroes over those from other countries. Some might say it is even easier for United States citizens to acknowledge the achievements of their own citizens whilst deprecating those of any other nation. Eisenhower, for example, was a great man - but so was Montgomery!
This book, however, is about a man who is not in open comparison to any. He tells an account of his own life which, as others have already stated, is so honest as to be brutally so. How odd that the fickle finger of fate is able to steer any man towards his ultimate destiny. What if Eisenhower (or even Montgomery) had joined the Navy?, what if Norman Schwarzkopf had railed against his father's wishes and "not" joined the US Army?
But they did and I am unable to avoid that cliché which demands that "the rest is history." Having said that, I would suggest General Schwarzkopf's contribution to that history is as great as any man's.
Other reviewers have sought to express their views in their own ways and quite rightly so! Some of those reviews give the reader a quick impression - "it's a great book" and all that, whereas others seek to paraphrase the book and, is so doing give the reader a better impression of what is found within it's pages.
Me, well, for the very first time in a long time, I feel as though I have read a book. Just think about that. Take a moment to look at any of my book reviews, then click on that button which says "see all my reviews" and you will see what I mean. Some of those books are on subjects I feel very passionate about. Some are great books and well worth the 5 star rating given. Others are less than ordinary and not even worth the single star one is required to donate to the charitable cause that best describes that particular offering in print.
Then I find a biography from a retired general who came to prominence during the first Gulf War, the biography of a man who recognised it does not take a hero to order men into battle, the biography of an ordinary bloke who did good, served his country and the cause of freedom well and expects nothing in return.
Buy it. Read it. Only then will you also appreciate what I mean by having "read" a book. There will come a time when you will read it again.
NM
Retired British Army major.
Books:
- Journey to the Celestial City: Glimpses of Heaven from Great Literary Classics
- Lisey's Story
- Living Large in Small Spaces: Expressing Personal Style in 100 to 1,000 Square Feet
- Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay (3rd Edition)
- Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay (3rd Edition)
- My First Taggies Book: Sweet Dreams (My First Taggies Book)
- Natural Born Charmer
- New Rules of Lifting: Six Basic Moves for Maximum Muscle
- On His Terms
- Other People's Property: A Shadow History of Hip-Hop in White America
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Why Are So Many Black Men in Prison
- Molecular Imaging
- The Counterlife
- Subsea Control and Data Acquisition: Technology and Experience
- Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
- The Peaceful Parenting Handbook
- Signs: Lettering in the Environment: Lettering in the Environment
- Seeing Through Paintings: Physical Examination in Art Historical Studies
- The 16th Mississippi Infantry: Civil War Letters and Reminiscences
My American Journey
American Soldier
The Commanders
The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell
The Powell Principles (Introducing the McGraw-Hill Professional Education Series)
