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Summary: Definative Biography of MacArthur by a Master Storyteller
Review: This long (nearly a thousand pages) biography of 5 star General Douglas MacArthur is compenhensive, well-documented and thorough. More important it is well-written and Manchester tells the story masterfully. Macarthur dominates the Pacific theater of World War II (unlike the various generals in the European sector: Ike, Patton, Montgomery, Bradley, et al) and Manchester shows why.
The author views MacArthur through the lens of great men dominating history (rather than inevitable social movements defining History). Through World War I, World War II and the Korean War, MacArthur's personal & heroic bravery and intuitive genius at waging war is at the forefront.
Nearly 600 pages covers the decade between 1941 and 1951 where his military genius for offensive operations shone in the Pacific against Japan and in Korea against the Chinese. Sandwich in the middle was his successful post-war reconstruction of Japan. Manchester does not spend much time on his childhood (the section covering his family roots in Scotland and the Civil War is longer) or his final years after his forced retirement by Truman.
Manchester discusses the many flaws of Macarthur (his narcissism, his hunger for glory, his inability to admit mistakes) without whitewashing his weaknesses, though his interpretation of those flaws is inevitably positive -- like his failure to foresee and prepare for Japanese (and later Chinese) surprise attacks on American forces under his command, which Manchester explains away by noting that no one else in the chain of command foresaw them either.
If you enjoyed the more recent "The Last Lion" (a bio of Churchill), then you will enjoy this earlier story of MacArthur. It is clear that Manchester likes MacArthur, in spite of his weaknesses and you will like this biography as well. There will be no more like it for William Manchester died earlier this year of complications from a stroke.
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Summary: PROBABLY THE BEST OF THE BUNCH
Review: While I certainly have not read them all (a great many though), I would have to say this is probably one of the better biographies on MacArthur in recent times. Manchester has presented MacArthur the General and MacArthur the man in an even handed way, i.e. warts and all. Like most great men, Douglas MacArthur certainly had his dark side and the author has accomplished the telling of this in a good way. On the other hand, he, MacArthur was indeed one of our greatest military leaders and certainly must receive acknowledgement for that. Again, the author has done this well. This is a good work for anyone interested in the life of Douglas MacArthur and anyone interested in the history of that time. This is one of those books you will want to add to your collection as it deserves more than one read. I did not that a couple of reviewers gave the book a few hits simply due to the subject matter. Might I suggest that if you do not like the man, MacArthur, that much, they probably you might want to try a biography on some other individual...goodness know there are plenty of them out there. All in all, recommend this one highly. It is difficult to go wrong with Manchester.
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Summary: Manchester Clearly Defines the MacArthur Paradox
Review: William Manchester has written a informative and entertaining biography of Douglas MacArthur. Manchester clearly shows MacArthur as a modern day paradox. Manchester shows MacArthur's triumps and defeats. What I enjoyed about the book is how anyone reading this book as a MacAthur admirer would find plenty of material to back up their position, while clearly seeing why some people might feel differently. Conversly, for MacArthur detractors, there is a clear case as to why MacAthur was a bad general, but detractors are exposed to why many people think MacArthur was great. This is biography at its best. Balance and informative. Read this along with the novel the Emperors General and the non fiction Embracing Defeat.
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Summary: Brilliant Portrait of a Controversial General
Review: William Manchester's American Caesar is a nicely polished and thoroughly researched book covering the career of General Douglas MacArthur, arguably the most controversial and one of the best U.S. military leaders of the Twentieth Century. Manchester covers MacArthur's life from his early childhood to his death at age 84 in 1964. MacArthur's remarkable life and career spans the time from his youth spent on remote western military posts in the 1880's, through the two World Wars and the Korean Conflict, and his subsequent dismissal by President Truman and entry into GOP politics. Douglas MacArthur was perfectly bred for military leadership and his future historical role. The son of a Civil War recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and Military Governor of the Philippines, Douglas MacArthur surpassed even his father's amazing military and historical accomplishments. Manchester argues that MacArthur had a unique genius for military operations, from his quick promotion at age 38 to the command of the Rainbow Division in World War I, to his campaigns in the Pacific and his bold invasion at Inchon in the Korean War. MacArthur's military capabilities conceivably saved thousands of American lives. Typically his military moves were cunning and daring, bypassing enemy strongpoints and leading to victories at lower costs in terms of lives than operations undertaken by his U.S. military contemporaries. The book's title, American Caesar, uniquely describes MacArthur's career as the liberator of the Philippines and the Military administrator of Japan. Perhaps no other American in history has held the type of power that MacArthur held in Japan as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. Yet his immense power was wielded with grace and an understanding of the Japanese people and their culture. MacArthur's long service in Asia uniquely suited him to this role. MacArthur's weaknesses which ultimately led to his downfall at the hands of President Truman are explored. MacArthur learned that great military exploits are often achieved by acting against the will or explicit instructions of his superiors. Combining this trait with an immense ego, MacArthur's showdown with President Truman was almost unavoidable. This led to his firing and a lasting feud with Truman that ultimately tarnished MacArthur's reputation despite his incredible career and service. Manchester presents MacArthur as a complex figure full of contradictions. MacArthur is shown as a warrior who exposed himself to extreme danger, but was often derisively referred to as "Dugout Doug" when he vainly surrounded himself with luxurious surroundings in his headquarters. He instituted liberal democratic reforms in Japan, then became a hard line conservative spokesman in the United States. By illuminating these contradictions inherent in MacArthur's personality, William Manchester presents General Douglas MacArthur's long and eventful life in a book which makes interesting and exciting reading.
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Summary: Brilliant and Engrossing -- A Great Read
Review: William Manchester's American Caesar is a well written, entertaining and authoritative work on the life of General Douglas MacArthur. The book is a masterpiece, providing a fascinating account of the life of one of America's most controverial and mercurial Generals and quasi-political personages.
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