August 13, 2010
Book Review: Patton, The Pursuit of Destiny by Agostino von Hassel and Ed Breslin
On a hilltop in France during World War One two men, possessors of gigantic egos, stood chatting casually as enemy shells burst around them. Neither one wanted to be the first to leave and be seen as the less courageous of the two. One of these men was Douglas MacArthur, who went on to distinguish himself as commander of the Pacific theater during the second world war.
The other was George S. Patton.
Perhaps no other military figure in American history is shrouded in as much legend as Patton. In their book Patton, The Pursuit of Destiny, authors Agostino von Hassell and Ed Breslin attempt to separate fact from fiction. The resultant biography is no where near as complete as, say, Manchester's tome on Macarthur. Still, it is helpful in sorting out the real Patton from the Hollywood version.
And according to the authors, the real Patton was a man of contrasts. He was a highly disciplined man whose mouth consistently got him in trouble. He demonstrated great personal courage and had an obsessive fear of death. He gave profanity laden speeches while at the same time writing tender missives to his wife back home. He went beyond the call of duty in his personal care of wounded soldiers, and yet almost lost his career because he slapped on one but two of them.
The authors do a skillful job of bringing out these complexities and analyzing their roots. The first chapters explore his family history (Confederate war heroes, Virginia aristocrats) and early influences. The rest of the biography deals with the major events of his life.
As a side-note, there is an aspect of authors' style that frustrated me. On not a few occasions the authors relate the result of a conflict, then go back and rehash the details, giving the result again at the end. Other than that annoying detail, the writing was crisp and well-paced.
I would recommend this book to all who are interested in the life of this American hero, as well as to any who study the principles of leadership. The best and the worst of said principles can be found in Patton.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Talk back to the missionary: Who is your favorite World War Two personality? Leave your choice in the comments section.
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Posted by Andrew on August 13, 2010 9:27 AM.
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