Rating: 
Summary: Highly Readable Biography of a Fascinating Subject
Review: AMERICAN CAESAR is a highly readable biography of a fascinating subject. Manchester has plenty of good material to examine from both the personal and professional aspects of MacArthur's life. MacArthur's genealogical background is also interesting since one of his ancestors is shared in common with both Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.MacArthur is portrayed as a brilliant innovator as exemplified by his masterful manuever in jumping from Hollandia to Leyte in World War II and of course the Inchon landing during the Korean War. The author by necessity tells the story of the U.S. Army's role in the Pacific during World War II mostly from the army's point of view. In that respect AMERICAN CAESAR serves as a useful adjunct to Samuel Eliot Morrison's HISTORY OF UNITED STATES NAVAL OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II.
Rating:
Summary: A Stunning Portrait of a Complex Man
Review: American Caesar is an historical triumph in helping one to understand the complexities and contradictions inherent in the behavior of one of America's few military geniuses. This book is easy to read and drops the reader right onto the battlefields of World War 2. Not since reading The Glory and the Dream by the same author have I enjoyed a book so much. Thumbs up on a superb achievement well worth the perusal of anyone who cares about our country's leaders, past or present.
Rating:
Summary: America's Ultimate Soldier
Review: An extremely well written bio of perhaps the USA's greatest battle field commander and strategist. Like many great writers, Manchester leaves the reader with a vivid, well balanced depiction of MacArthur, his warts and brilliance. MacArthur was a genuine war hero many times over during his 50-year military career. He was absolutely fearless in combat, unpredictable and bold in battlefield planning, remarkably open to new technologies and techniques, and a visionary leader and administrator. He was controversial and vain--traits of many great men and women throughout history. The title of the book truly sums up the man: An "American Caesar" (or at least the closest one that the U.S. has had to date). Easy reading of a remarkable, larger than life individual.
Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Book!
Review: Any student of history should definitely read this book. The life of General Douglas MacArthur is very well covered in this book. This book tells of his legendary military career and covers his marriages as well.His accomplishments during World War II are written about in detail. His administering and rebuilding of Japan after the end of World War II are covered. You get a good detailed history of General MacArthur's service during the Korean war as well. His firing at the hand of President Truman is also well covered. This book gives you a good historical look at General Douglas MacArthur. This has been one of the better books about a World War II general. Read it,you will not be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Ruffles and flourishes, and the Corps.
Review: Douglas MacArthur cut a broad swath through the first 50 years of the 20th century. His exploits in WWII and Korea engross armchair generals to this day. Oddly, the pinnacle of MacArthur's career may have been his military governance of Japan during the five years between WWII and Korea. MacArthur, the professional warrior, displayed remarkable political skill and compassion dealing with a complicated situation. In battle, other commanders unnessarily took heavy casualties in achieving military goals. MacArthur achieved his goals, from New Guinea to Inchon, by masterful strategies that spared men and material. His failure to adapt to the Cold War concept of a "limited war" in Korea led to his downfall. In MacArthur's 19th century vision, an all-out effort to defeat the enemy was the only way to wage war. Anything less was anathema. His famous conflict with the feisty Harry Truman over Korea makes fascinating reading. William Manchester's work is exhaustive. As usual, he paints history with a broad brush. The military and political events, including the people and the background, receive a big-picture treatment. Aloofness, conceit, and pretentiousness make MacArthur a difficult subject. Manchester does a good job of presenting a three-dimensional picture of the man, the husband, the father, and the general. The book respects the general's place in American history without fawning over its subject. MacArthur was as close to Caesar as one can get in a healthy democratic republic. This work is recommended for multiple reading and further studies. ;-)
Rating:
Summary: More than just a biography!
Review: Generally when you want to read a biography of an Historical figure, you settle for just the Historical facts. This book puts you there! William Manchester has written a superb book that not only describes the life of General Douglas MacArthur, but also makes you feel the emotions of the ppl involved at the time. You actually feel that you are there watching MacArthur pacing back and forth pondering the Pearl Harbour Invasion and the subsequent defence of the Phillipines! This book feels more like a Novel in its gripping "can't put it down" nature. Great book, brilliantly researched, brilliantly executed. One Question: When will they make the Movie?
Rating: 
Summary: A must read for all Filipinos and Asians
Review: I am a 27-year-old Filipino today, and I was only a two-year-old toddler when this book was published in 1978. But just a mere six days of reading this book in December 2003 provided more than enough chunks of knowledge about Philippine history during the Second World War than from what I learned about it in 16 long years of elementary and even college education. Manchester's historical masterpiece 'American Caesar' should be a must-read in all scholastic institutions in the Philippines, at least. Sadly, like most Filipinos my age, I only learned about the real importance of Gen. Douglas MacArthur after reading this valuable work of history. The Japanese and other Asians touched by the values that MacArthur imparted almost 60 years ago are perhaps luckier to have recognized the teachings of the great American general.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for all Filipinos and Asians
Review: I am a 27-year-old Filipino today, and I was only a two-year-old toddler when this book was published in 1978. But just a mere six days of reading this book in December 2003 provided more than enough chunks of knowledge about Philippine history during the Second World War than from what I learned about it in 16 long years of elementary and even college education. Manchester's historical masterpiece 'American Caesar' should be a must-read in all scholastic institutions in the Philippines, at least. Sadly, like most Filipinos my age, I only learned about the real importance of Gen. Douglas MacArthur after reading this valuable work of history. The Japanese and other Asians touched by the values that MacArthur imparted almost 60 years ago are perhaps luckier to have recognized the teachings of the great American general.
Rating:
Summary: masterful
Review: I could not put this book down. Huge insight into this very complex man. Love him or hate him, one cannot deny the impact he had on the 20th century. I had no idea he was vehemently against the use of atomic bombs against Japan.
Rating:
Summary: An in-depth study of MacArthur's life.
Review: I found this book to be a fascinating picture into the life and times of Douglass MacArthur. While Manchester does a splendid job of researching and examining the general's acts and personality, this book may prove a little vague concerning historical events outside the immediate area of the general. In other words, this book should be read by those very familiar with events in World War II, especially the Pacific Theatre, and the relief of MacArthur by Truman. Otherwise, many of the points made so successfully by Manchester may be lost on younger readers who didn't live through or have the generals exploits recounted innumerable times to them. Otherwise, this book is a very fine scholarly look and deserves to be read by any historian interested in MacArthur or the Pacific Theater of war.
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