Rating: 
Summary: A short study of friendship
Review: In Comrades, Stephen Ambrose delves into the topic of masculine relationships....fathers, brothers, pals, etc. Beginning with his relationship with his own brothers, he moves on to explore the relationships of more famous people...Eisenhower and Patton, Lewis and Clark, and even Richard Nixon (in this case, a look at why Nixon had no meaningful relationships with anyone). Most interesting though, is his coverage of the bonds and friendships formed between men who have served together in combat. It is a very short read, but well worth it just for the tid-bits of biographical information that typically would not be found in other history books.
Rating:
Summary: A short study of friendship
Review: In Comrades, Stephen Ambrose delves into the topic of masculine relationships....fathers, brothers, pals, etc. Beginning with his relationship with his own brothers, he moves on to explore the relationships of more famous people...Eisenhower and Patton, Lewis and Clark, and even Richard Nixon (in this case, a look at why Nixon had no meaningful relationships with anyone). Most interesting though, is his coverage of the bonds and friendships formed between men who have served together in combat. It is a very short read, but well worth it just for the tid-bits of biographical information that typically would not be found in other history books.
Rating: 
Summary: Anecdotal Look at Pleasures and Varieties of Male Bonding
Review: Many authors have picked up on the fact that men need coaching on how to converse with and relate to women. Stephen Ambrose has done a fine service in opening up the need for men to pay more attention to how they relate to other men. Using a combination of historical and personal examples, men will find this book a beacon to guide them towards new kinds of fulfillment. Women will learn to appreciate more of the benefits of encouraging fathers, husbands, and sons to have closer ties with other males. One of the benefits that I got from this book was that it filled me in on relationships that I have never had and won't have. For example, I don't have a brother. I could tell from seeing how my father related to his brothers that this was something special, but could never quite get inside of it. Now I understand the relationship much better from hearing what Professor Ambrose has to say about his brothers. I also never served in the military (4F was my draft status), and did not have that experience. From my father's faithful attendance at military reunions with his World War II unit mates over the years, I could also tell that this was special for him. I also understand this relationship a little better now. I appreciate both of those gifts. Professor Ambrose also points out the potential downsides of these relationships. Custer's unbridled ambition and ego led his two brothers to their deaths at an untimely age. Professor Ambrose's father was stern and strict until late in his life, making his sons feel downtrodden. Milton Eisenhower tried to talk his brother Dwight out of running for a second term, thinking it might kill him. Three other stories were especially rewarding for me. The first was how Professor Ambrose's father developed an interest in American history and helped Professor Ambrose become a fine historian, after having insisted he become a medical doctor earlier. This encouraged me to want to learn more about my sons' professions, both of which I know relatively little about now. The second was the very close connection that some World War II foes on D-Day developed in the post-war period. It made me think that I should seek out people with whom I may have once felt competitive, and become better acquainted. The third related to close ties with students. This made me want to do more teaching than I do now, so that I can develop more cross-generational male friendships. That was something that had never occurred to me. Comrades is not a history book in the classic sense. It is also not a how-to book. Instead, it reflects a sort of oral tradition that will spark emotions and desires in you that you didn't know you had. That's a great benefit to receive from a book. By the way, I suspect that students of management could learn a lot from the example of Lewis and Clark that is described here. After you finish this book, do take a little time to think about which variations on these themes you would like to weave more strongly into your life. Then get going! May you enjoy all the brotherhood that you share!
Rating: 
Summary: True Teaching of the History of Friendship
Review: Stephen Ambrose extracts Famous and Not-So-Famous friendships from the archives of time, and uses History to teach a valuable lesson. Ambrose demonstrates that great people in History have overcome great obstacles, bolstered sometimes only by the loyalty of close friends. His chapter on Veterans was particularly inspiring, especially in his description of how two former Allied Soldiers -- one of whom was Richard Winters of Easy Company -- verbally defended a lecturing former German World War II officer from the ignorant accusations of a self-righteous student years after the war. Also inspiring was the chapter on the friendship of Lewis and Clark, as well as that of the lasting effects of the bonding of the men of Easy Company. This is a wonderful work.
Rating:
Summary: True Teaching of the History of Friendship
Review: Stephen Ambrose extracts Famous and Not-So-Famous friendships from the archives of time, and uses History to teach a valuable lesson. Ambrose demonstrates that great people in History have overcome great obstacles, bolstered sometimes only by the loyalty of close friends. His chapter on Veterans was particularly inspiring, especially in his description of how two former Allied Soldiers -- one of whom was Richard Winters of Easy Company -- verbally defended a lecturing former German World War II officer from the ignorant accusations of a self-righteous student years after the war. Also inspiring was the chapter on the friendship of Lewis and Clark, as well as that of the lasting effects of the bonding of the men of Easy Company. This is a wonderful work.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book if you have never read Ambrose!!!
Review: Stephen Ambrose is an excellent writer and historian. I love all of his work!!. The best part about this book are his experiences in Whitewater, WI. He is revered in this town because of what his father and family have given this city. My only problem with the book is Ambrose recycles a lot of material (see Kirkus review) from his previous books. The stories about his relationship with his Father is excellent reading. Dr. Ambrose was an outstanding person!!. Comrades does not stack up to previous books but if you are an Ambrose fan like myself... it is worth the money. This is not his best work but it does outshine other books I have read this year.
Rating:
Summary: Sometimes moving essay too expansive
Review: The late historian Steven Ambrose wrote definitive accounts of the American West, Lewis and Clark, Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, and the World War II generation. Each topic emerges in some form or another in Comrades, Professor Ambrose's essay indirectly devoted to his father and directly dedicated to friendships among men.
At times quite moving, and at others nauseatingly maudlin, Professor Ambrose ruminates about a largely ignored area that may be the most important aspect of history. Ambrose opens with a chapter dedicated to the friendships he had with his brothers. This bodes poorly for the rest of the book (think Dr. Phil and/or Oprah) although that initial reaction proves deceptive. Professor Ambrose ends with a powerful chapter devoted to his friendship with his father. Despite its eloquence, though, the final chapter seems disingenuous at times as the author lauds a man whom he has subtly and not so subtly accused of mental, verbal and physical abuse. This is hard to square with blind praise even if the poetry is beautiful. The book also is weak because of its brevity. The short format does not lend itself to adequate examinations of Ambrose's personal friendships as well as the relationships historical figures such as Crazy Horse and He Dog enjoyed. This brief book required the author to focus exclusively on either the personal or the historical, and he attempted both. Nonetheless, passages of shining prose and heartfelt joy about friendships with other men ultimately save Comrades. Male relationships need further and much deeper exploration, and Ambrose's courageous attempt to tackle the subject, however cursory, is commendable.
Rating:
Summary: very well written
Review: This book is definitely not as scholarly as Ambrose's other works, but it is a wonderfully written collection. Through his research, Ambrose learned much about men and how they formed friendships with others. Definitely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: very well written
Review: This book is definitely not as scholarly as Ambrose's other works, but it is a wonderfully written collection. Through his research, Ambrose learned much about men and how they formed friendships with others. Definitely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A Celebration of Friendship
Review: This book, a celebration of male friendship, is an interesting mix of autobiography and history. Ambrose relates his warm relationship with his brothers and his father and continues in this context to relate the stories of many strong male relationsips through the years. Readers will find stories among others about the friendship of Dwight Eisenhower with his six brothers, of the comraderie among the soldiers of Easy Company during WWII, the interdependence between Souix Chief Crazy horse and his friend He Dog, and the bond between explorers Lewis and Clark. Some of the stories are emotional. All are interesting. This is an easily read well written book about some seldom mentioned slices of history told from a unique perspective.
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