Eisenhower in War and Peace

By: Jean Edward Smith

Narrated by: Paul Hecht

Author of the best-seller FDR, Jean Edward Smith is a master of the presidential biography. Setting his sights on Dwight D. Eisenhower, Smith delivers a rich account of Eisenhower’s life using previously untapped primary sources. From the military service in WWII that launched his career to the shrewd political decisions that kept America out of wars with the Soviet Union and China, Smith reveals a man who never faltered in his dedication to serving America, whether in times of war or peace.

©2012 Jean Edward Smith (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Always engrossing . . . Smith describes a man who commanded the largest coalition army in history without grandiloquent posturing . . . leaving office more popular than any successor. . . . Smith portrays a genuinely admirable Eisenhower: smart, congenial, unpretentious, and no ideologue. Despite competing biographies from Ambrose, Perret, and D’Este, this is the best.” ( Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Dwight Eisenhower, who was more cunning than he allowed his adversaries to know, understood the advantage of being underestimated. Jean Edward Smith refutes this durable misunderstanding. Smith, America’s greatest living biographer, demonstrates why, now more than ever, Americans should like Ike.” (George F. Will)

“Jean Smith, indubitably America’s most distinguished biographer, has now produced the classic life of Dwight Eisenhower…Here he comes alive on every page—the beneficiary of the exhausting fresh research this handsomely written book is based upon. When the General died, Mamie, his lifelong wife, allowed that she never fully knew her famous husband. No reader of Smith’s work will render the same complaint.” (Henry F. Graff, Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University)

Informative but a bit disjointed

There were many things about Ike that were interesting and illuminating. But several times I had to re-listen to make sure I understood the point. Also, chapter titles are not always clear about chapter contents. I liked the quotes at the start of each chapter, but sometimes there was nothing in the chapter related to the quote, and sometimes the quotes were from a different point in history than the chapter was covering.

Good book of a great man.

Fair. Gives good credit to much of what Ike
accomplished as president.
A man more than a soldier, but with a soldiers heart.

Great read

Great book to learn about Eisenhower, it drags at some points but overall engaging and worth the time.

They bio for my main man, Eisenhower.

loved it. touches all points of his life, and does not sugar coat anything at all.

Very worth it

At times the text can be droll, but good narration and book structure definitely make fighting through the heavy text very worth it. It's worth the 20-30 hours you'll spend on it. :)

However, it does fall short on these two key factors of any stellar biography: deep, psychological analysis of the subject, that decisions are understood in narrative real time, not just epilogues of memoir citations; and, there is a lack of detail that helps maximize the imagery of the time of Eisenhower's life. This is especially vital in biographies like this, from 60+ years ago, when the time period in question is not very accessible to younger audiences. World-building isn't just for Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

GREAT BIOGRAPHY

I give the work an A-. I was disappointed by little mentioned concerning the feud with Truman, and 1960 with Nixon v. JFK. Still, a great work!

Fascinating depiction

Where does Eisenhower in War and Peace rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Extremely revealing esp. to those of us who know only a little of this period of our history.

I Liked Ike!

One of the most engaging biographies I've ever encountered. Smith was fair and thorough in his treatment of Eisenhower. He presented his subject in such an authentic manner that I felt like I could almost reach out and touch the man. Excellent book.

Insightful and inspiring

If you could sum up Eisenhower in War and Peace in three words, what would they be?

Many, if not all, of the current geopolitical threats, concerns, and interest of the United States were defined during Eisenhower's lifetime. This book is an insightful and human account of Gen. Eisenhower's career and legacy.
I would strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in mid-century history and leadership.
As well, the author does a fine job creating a portrait of his subject as a hero, while acknowledging his human frailties.

Have you listened to any of Paul Hecht’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narrator is quite good. Subtle changes in accent add a little drama, without going over the top.

I like it

Didn’t realize how much Eisen had created the fate of America by his savvy political sense and restraint in crises.