Chester W. Nimitz: Admiral of the Hills

Rating:
Summary: Superb Portrayal of Nimitz the Man and Admiral
Review: Chester Nimitz, remembered most for his victories at Midway and the Central Pacific, is portrayed in a commendable fashion in this well-written and well-researched book. Beginning from his birth, the book discusses the development of the Admiral and the formation of his ideologies and ideals as he rose through the ranks to the top of the naval hierarchy, all of which is indispensable for the student who truly wishes to understand the command of the United States in the WWII Pacific Theatre. The portrayal of the admiral in both a personal and professional military light is superb, and one cannot help but be captivated by the truths presented in this book about the commander who has long been overshadowed by MacArthur despite the fact that Nimitz himself may deserve more credit for the American victory than his flambuoyant counterpart in the army. The relationship described in the book between these two is especially admirable, and Driskill does quite a job demonstrating how the Pacific Campaign was actually commanded.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in WWII reading or modern naval history as this book doesn't present Nimitz as a ficticious hero of the seas like Nelson or Jones, but rather as a modern hero in the modernizing navy who held in his disciplined character the key to allied victory in the Pacific.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Portrayal of Nimitz the Man and Admiral
Review: Chester Nimitz, remembered most for his victories at Midway and the Central Pacific, is portrayed in a commendable fashion in this well-written and well-researched book. Beginning from his birth, the book discusses the development of the Admiral and the formation of his ideologies and ideals as he rose through the ranks to the top of the naval hierarchy, all of which is indispensable for the student who truly wishes to understand the command of the United States in the WWII Pacific Theatre. The portrayal of the admiral in both a personal and professional military light is superb, and one cannot help but be captivated by the truths presented in this book about the commander who has long been overshadowed by MacArthur despite the fact that Nimitz himself may deserve more credit for the American victory than his flambuoyant counterpart in the army. The relationship described in the book between these two is especially admirable, and Driskill does quite a job demonstrating how the Pacific Campaign was actually commanded.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in WWII reading or modern naval history as this book doesn't present Nimitz as a ficticious hero of the seas like Nelson or Jones, but rather as a modern hero in the modernizing navy who held in his disciplined character the key to allied victory in the Pacific.

Rating:
Summary: A Superficial Biography of a Deep Man
Review: Driskill pays tribute to E.B. Potter's official biography of Admiral Nimitz in the credits section of his book. Unfortunately his shorter biography adds little of substance to Potter's. Potter shows his admiration for Nimitz by showing many small incidents of the man's humanity, tactical intelligence, and quiet perseverance that let the reader conclude on his own that Nimitz was a great man. Driskill tries to achieve the same goal in less space by glossing over details and just _telling_ readers that Nimitz was a great man. At several points he resorts to one of my pet peeves, narrative sentences ending in exclamation points. That is! Such a lame way! Of trying to make a story more dramatic! The best parts of Driskill's book are the passages where he talks about Nimitz's Texas boyhood and later visits to the state. There, he brings up vivid local detail that invokes the real Fredricksburg and surrounding Texas hill country. (The Museum of the Pacific War in Fredricksburg, built in the old Nimitz family hotel, is well worth a visit.) Driskill clearly had the best of intentions in writing this shorter account, but I'm afraid a reader would be better served by biting the bullet and launching into Potter's longer biography.