Rating: 
Summary: Good Book, so I hear.
Review: I purchased this book for a friend who mentioned that he wanted it. He says it really good. I'll take his word for it.
Rating: 
Summary: OK as History, Better as Memoirs
Review: Note: I just finished the origianl first edition, not the recently reissued version.Bradley's memoirs are a good way to learn of the intricacies of leadership in the highest echelons of leadership in World War II. It's the inside story on how a corps commander relates to his army commander, and how Bradley as an Army Group commander interacts with his armies, corps, and divisions, and SHAEF. To understand this (and to see how poor the Germans were at it) is to know how vital this was to winning the war, and is reason enough to plow through Bradley's dated, and less than great, writing. Almost as important, Bradley focuses on the importance of supply, and roads, roads, roads. He won't tell you about Dogface stories and foxhole heroics, but he will tell you how battles come down to mundane things like directing traffic at a crossroads behind your own lines. It's good to remember that Bradly wrote this book as the Korean War was in progress, and several of the officers he speaks of were still in service. Bad turns in the war were either: not his fault, against his advice, or decisions he made that he would have made the same way if given the chance to try again. This lends to a slight air of arrogance in the narration. And if you know the movie "Patton," you'll recognize about 10 scenes from the movie in Bradley's accounts. The script writers of "Patton" must have really loved Bradley's memoirs.
Rating: 
Summary: A view of the Second World War from the back stage.
Review: Omar Bradley's book wins my approval for its behind-the-scenes narrative and honest retelling of the men involved in marshalling and directing the war. It is not so much a soldier's story as a commander's story. It is not merely a biography, but it also describes the strategies of the various campaigns in the European Theater. It is powerful because it is objective, not bothering to propagandize or immortalize men such as Patton or Montgomery; enough books have already done that. Bradley gives a look at the men behind the legends and their failures and shortcomings as well as the victories and attributes that turned them into historical figures of perhaps inhuman stature.
Rating:
Summary: A Soldier's Story
Review: This 1951 volume by the so-called "GI General" is quite an appropriate title to help launch Modern Library's new "War" line of paperback reprints. Bradley here offers a firsthand account of World War II. This is the only paperback available of this title.
Rating:
Summary: A Soldier's Story
Review: This book is the story of WWII as General Omar Bradley saw it. His unassuming and straight forward style underscores how he is portrayed by contemporary accounts. The man known as the "G.I. General" comes across as an island of equanimity in a sea of incredible egos like Patton, Montgomery et al. This book is Bradley's take on events. I am sure that some involved in controversies he covered (Patton's slapping incident, Montgomery at Caen, Falaise and Arnhem) would defend their actions (or inactions) vigorously. Yet this account has an aura of authenticity due to the author's lack of need to tout his own accomplishments (which were many). This inner peacefulness, along with command ability, probably explains Bradley's rise to the level of senior American ground commander in Europe. For an insider's account of the American effort and strategic management in the European Theater of Operations, this book is superb. It is well written, clear and largely devoid of the bombast that can weigh down some combat and command accounts. Although a big book, it reads quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to Read Story of WWII From General Bradley's Perch
Review: This book is the story of WWII as General Omar Bradley saw it. His unassuming and straight forward style underscores how he is portrayed by contemporary accounts. The man known as the "G.I. General" comes across as an island of equanimity in a sea of incredible egos like Patton, Montgomery et al. This book is Bradley's take on events. I am sure that some involved in controversies he covered (Patton's slapping incident, Montgomery at Caen, Falaise and Arnhem) would defend their actions (or inactions) vigorously. Yet this account has an aura of authenticity due to the author's lack of need to tout his own accomplishments (which were many). This inner peacefulness, along with command ability, probably explains Bradley's rise to the level of senior American ground commander in Europe. For an insider's account of the American effort and strategic management in the European Theater of Operations, this book is superb. It is well written, clear and largely devoid of the bombast that can weigh down some combat and command accounts. Although a big book, it reads quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to Read Story of WWII From General Bradley's Perch
Review: This book is the story of WWII as General Omar Bradley saw it. His unassuming and straight forward style underscores how he is portrayed by contemporary accounts. The man known as the "G.I. General" comes across as an island of equanimity in a sea of incredible egos like Patton, Montgomery et al. This book is Bradley's take on events. I am sure that some involved in controversies he covered (Patton's slapping incident, Montgomery at Caen, Falaise and Arnhem) would defend their actions (or inactions) vigorously. Yet this account has an aura of authenticity due to the author's lack of need to tout his own accomplishments (which were many). This inner peacefulness, along with command ability, probably explains Bradley's rise to the level of senior American ground commander in Europe. For an insider's account of the American effort and strategic management in the European Theater of Operations, this book is superb. It is well written, clear and largely devoid of the bombast that can weigh down some combat and command accounts. Although a big book, it reads quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Why it happened the way it did
Review: This is not a book that describes what life was like for the men required to suffer in foxholes during WW II, rather it is an account as to how the decisions were made to place those men in foxholes and just where to place them. General Bradley does a fine job of describing the allied situation in North Africa, Sicily and France from the Allied commands perspective. As an aside to these discussions, he includes fascinating insights into his personal relationships and opinions of Montgomery, Eisenhower and Patton. These comments alone make this book a must read. You've read Ambrose's books regarding the citizen soldier, now discover the men who turned those citizens into soldiers.
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