The Pattons: A Personal History of an American Family (The Warriors)

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Summary: The Pattons
Review: A truly inspiring work -- when I heard that Jonathan Yardley had dubbed it on the best books of that year, I had to read it... And it is. Should be required reading for anyone interested in history, especially their own.

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Summary: Kudos to the author's beautiful literary style and wit
Review: I am myself admittedly a Patton aficionado, and I must say, this book reveals an even more complicated man and colorful family history than I realized. But what in my view truly distinguishes this book from other recent studies of General Patton is that its fascinating subject matter does not obscure the author's smooth, beautiful, often funny - but always precise and deliberate - literary style. Unlike so many of our more popular modern historians: this guy can actually write!

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Summary: Sad
Review: It was very sad to read the terrible words about George Patton. It seems Robert has an enormous inferiority complex and decided to take it out on this famous family member. In order to further his agenda, he goes as far as to imply Patton had a mental problem ("West Point sometimes accepted students from other colleges 'without the usual mental exam'."). He characterizes Patton's messages in his letters to his family as "scolding" ("I have not had a letter from home for four days. Are you all dead?"). And any West Point cadet (or any man for that matter!) would see "scenes of rejoicing" as "embarrassing" and abhor them! My husband, who was in a Military Academy told me that if a cadet was kissed by his mother in public, he could be reprimanded for "public display of affection." Imagine West Point at the beginning of the XX century?!
That George Patton was a controversial figure, there is no doubt, but after reading this book, I believe Robert Patton's problem is that he is not even a shadow of what his relative was. This book is an excuse for Robert's failure in life (he begins by excusing himself for not following a military career), so he goes on to attack a successful man. That is how this book came to life.
I wish I could give it -1 star!

Rating:
Summary: Revealing
Review: Mr Patton is obviously affected by his relationship to his famous grandfather, the legendary General George S. Patton Jr. The author reveals that he is in the minority within his family for not pursuing a military path. This informative and richly entertaining history of the family of one of America's legends turns out to be a catharsis. It is apparent in his thesis that the Patton forefathers were not a model for General Patton, but a crescendo. It was well written; the author has ensured that his research did not contain gaps. In reading the Pattons, a Personal History of an American Family, one feels like the question has been answered, "Why was Patton such a jerk." He had the original rendezvous with destiny.