Synopses & Reviews
Acclaimed historian Paul Johnsons lively, succinct biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower explores how his legacy endures today
In the rousing style hes famous for, celebrated biographer Paul Johnson offers a fascinating portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower, focusing particularly on his years as a five-star general and his time as the thirty-fourth President of the United States.
Johnson chronicles President Eisenhower's modest childhood in Kansas, his college years at West Point, and his rapid ascent through the military ranks, culminating in his appointment as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. Beginning when Eisenhower assumed the presidency from Harry Truman in 1952, Johnson paints a rich portrait of his two consecutive terms, exploring his volatile relationship with then-Vice President Richard Nixon, his abhorrence of isolationism, and his position on the Cold War, McCarthyism, and the Civil Rights Movement. Johnson notes that when Eisenhower left the White House at age 70, reluctantly passing the torch to President-elect John F. Kennedy, he feared for the countrys future and prophetically warned of the looming military-industrial complex.
Many elements of Eisenhowers presidency speak to American politics today, including his ability to balance the budget and skill in managing an oppositional Congress. This brief yet comprehensive study will appeal to biography lovers as well as to enthusiasts of presidential history and military history alike.
Review
Praise for Churchill by Paul Johnson: and#160;
"Johnson . . . give[s] the reader the definite sense of having known Churchill, or at least of having hung out with him for a bit . . . Churchilland#160;lets you spend some time in the man's company, and who wouldn't want that?"
and#8212;New York Times Book Review
"Johnsonand#8217;s distillation of life lessons from Churchilland#8217;s stories career [is written in] . . . vivid prose and [with] consistent intelligence and urbanity.and#8221;
and#8212;Jon Meacham, Slate.com
and#160;
"[If] you appreciate clarity, authority, and verve in historical writing, you will understand why I gulped down [Churchill] and now declare it the most exciting biography I read in 2009."
and#8212;Jesse Kornbluth,and#160;Huffington Post
"Johnson clearly shares and revels in Churchill's generosity of spirit and limitless intellectual energy. He has produced a book that is a joyand#8212;and a worthy tribute to both of them."
and#8212;Washington Times
"You read Johnson to be provoked and entertained, and on both these scores his biography, like its subject, succeeds wonderfully."
and#8212;The American Conservative
"With deft narrative skill and keen insight, Johnson masterfully sketches the phases of Churchill's life . . . Along the way, Johnson gives us wonderful insights into Churchill's character . . . Rich with anecdote and quotation, Paul Johnson's Churchill illustrates the man's humor, resilience, courage, and eccentricity as no other biography before."
and#8212;National Review
"Paul Johnson is the most celebrated and best-loved British historian in America."
and#8212;Wall Street Journal
Review
“Riveting . . . The `genius of Paul Johnsons biography of Charles Darwin is manifestly, impressively apparent [in his discussion of] 'On the Origin of Species.”
—Wall Street Journal
Review
“Excellent and courageous.”
—Michael Flannery, author of Alfred Russel Wallace
Review
“This little sketch reminds us why Darwins theory of natural selection endures and continues to provoke controversy.”
—Publishers Weekly
Review
“This is a first-rate biography, one that brings Darwin and his ideas into brilliant focus.”
—History Book Club
Review
“A concise biography of the five-star general and two-term president.”
— USA Today, a “New and Noteworthy” pick
“Johnson deftly sketches Eisenhowers political profile . . . Inviting.” — The Boston Globe
“[E]ssential rather than exhaustive. Johnson gives the basic facts, but always with the aim of illustrating a salient point about Ike's character. . . . [Eisenhower] looks better than ever.”
— The Denver Post
“An ideal primer for novices or those looking to brush up on America's thirty-fourth president . . . a satisfying snapshot of a life dedicated to public service.”
— Booklist
“Accomplished historian and biographer Johnson . . . covers all the major facets of Eisenhower's career, beginning with his boyhood in rural Kansas and ending with his tenure as president of the United States . . . with an emphasis on his personality and character, including his flair for public relations. Johnson's contribution will serve as a great introduction to 'Ike' the man.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[An] admiring, opinionated account by veteran British journalist and historian Johnson. Johnson astutely points out that Eisenhower enjoyed being president since, unlike generals Washington, Jackson and Grant, his best qualities were not those of a warrior but a staff officer: efficiency, administration, economy and flexibility.”
—Kirkus
Praise for Paul Johnson:
“Johnson brings to his subject a vitality that cant be matched.”
—The New York Times
“Frequently surprises, even startles, us with new views of past events and fresh looks at the characters of the chief world movers and shakers in politics, the military, economics, science, religion, and philosophy.”
—The Wall Street Journal
“Johnson is a brilliant writer, fluent, precise, crisp, and in full command of the music of words.”
—The Baltimore Sun
“His zesty, irreverent narratives teach more history to more people than all the post-modernist theorists, highbrow critics, and dons put together.”
—Times Literary Supplement
Review
Praise for Mozart by Paul Johnson:
“Historian Johnson lauds everyones favorite composer so as to pique the interest of every reader. . . . Johnson starts debunking myths on the first page . . . [and] they all crumble under his commonsense presentation of evidence. An altogether excellent primer on possibly the most complete musician who ever lived.”
—Booklist (starred review)
"Most satisfying . . . A highly accessible initial foray into an astonishing, and inexhaustible, subject."
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Impassioned . . . Johnson captures the depth of Mozarts achievement with a scholarly fans . . . enthusiasm. . . . A compact and knowledgeable portrait of genius.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Johnson packs a great deal of information into these pages . . . and his grasp of Mozart's musical output is astounding, his description of Mozart's works comprehensive and enlightening. . . . This is a solid, and often fresh, introduction to the life and work of the composer.” —Publishers Weekly
“The perfect stocking stuffer . . . A portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that will give pleasure to and increase the understanding of old Mozart hands as well as those reading for the first time about the man . . . Like his latest subject, Johnson never strikes a false note.”
—The American Spectator
“Excellent . . . A delightful, concise read. It's fun—like listening to Mozart is. . . . To learn about the life of such a remarkable musician is a treat and a privilege. Paul Johnson has made Mozarts story accessible and rewarding.”
—Washington Independent Review of Books
“This short, pithy, intelligent book will appeal to music lovers and general readers.”
—Hudson Valley News
Synopsis
An acclaimed historian presents a revelatory look at the greatest statesman of the twentieth century
For eminent historian Paul Johnson, Winston Churchill remains an enigma in need of unraveling. Soldier, parliamentarian, Prime Minister, orator, painter, writer, husband, and leader—all of these facets combine to make Churchill one of the most complex and fascinating personalities in history.
In Churchill, Johnson applies a wide lens and an unconventional approach to illuminate the various phases of Churchill’s career. From his adventures as a young cavalry officer in the service of the Empire to his role as an elder statesman prophesying the advent of the Cold War, Johnson shows how Churchill’s immense adaptability combined with his natural pugnacity to make him a formidable leader for the better part of a century. Johnson’s narration of Churchill’s many triumphs and setbacks, rich with anecdote and quotation, illustrates the man’s humor, resilience, courage, and eccentricity as no other biography before.
Winston Churchill’s hold on contemporary readers has never slackened, and Paul Johnson’s lively, concise biography will appeal to historians and general nonfiction readers alike.
Synopsis
Eminent historian Johnson applies a wide lens and an unconventional approach to illuminate the various phases of Winston Churchill's career. The author's narration of Churchill's many triumphs and setbacks illustrates the statesman's humor, resilience, courage, and eccentricity.
Synopsis
Eminent historian Paul Johnson provides a rich, succinct portrait of Charles DarwinCharles Darwin is arguably the most influential scientist of all time. His Origin of Species forever changed our concept of the world’s creation.
Darwin’s revolutionary career is the perfect vehicle for historian Paul Johnson. Marked by the insightful observation, spectacular wit, and highly readable prose for which Johnson is so well regarded, Darwin brings the gentleman-scientist and his times brilliantly into focus. From Darwin’s birth into great fortune to his voyage aboard the Beagle, to the long-delayed publication of his masterpiece, Johnson delves into what made this Victorian gentleman into a visionary scientist—and into the tragic flaws that later led Darwin to support the burgeoning eugenics movement.
Johnson’s many admirers as well as history and science buffs will be grateful for this superb account of Darwin and the everlasting impact of his discoveries.
Synopsis
An elegant, concise, and revealing portrait of the inimitable leader.
Paul Johnson's books are acknowledged as masterpieces of historical analysis. In Churchill, he offers a lively, succinct exploration of one of the most complex and fascinating personalities in history. Winston Churchill's hold on contemporary readers has never slackened, and this exploration of his life casts new light on one of history's most intriguing figures. Johnson illuminates the various phases of Churchill's career-from his adventures as a young cavalry officer in the service of the empire to his role as an elder statesman prophesying the advent of the Cold War-and shows how Churchill's immense adaptability and innate pugnacity made him a formidable leader for the better part of a century.
Synopsis
Eminent historian Paul Johnson dazzles with a rich, succinct portrait of Mozart and his music As hes done in Napoleon, Churchill, Jesus, and Darwin, acclaimed historian and author Paul Johnson here offers a concise, illuminating biography of Mozart. Johnsons focus is on the musicMozarts wondrous output of composition and his uncanny gift for instrumentation.
Liszt once said that Mozart composed more bars than a trained copyist could write in a lifetime. Mozarts gift and skill with instruments was also remarkable as he mastered all of them except the harp. For example, no sooner had the clarinet been invented and introduced than Mozart began playing and composing for it.
In addition to his many insights into Mozarts music, Johnson also challenges the many myths that have followed Mozart, including those about the composers health, wealth, religion, and relationships. Always engaging, Johnson offers readers and music lovers a superb examination of Mozart and his glorious music, which is still performed every day in concert halls and opera houses around the world.
Synopsis
From the and#147;most celebrated and best-loved British historian in Americaand#8221; (Wall Street Journal), an elegant, concise, and revealing portrait of Winston Churchill
In Churchill, eminent historian Paul Johnson offers a lively, succinct exploration of one of the most complex and fascinating personalities in history. Winston Churchill's hold on contemporary readers has never slackened, and Johnsonand#8217;s analysis casts new light on his extraordinary life and times. Johnson illuminates the various phases of Churchill's careerand#151;from his adventures as a young cavalry officer in the service of the empire to his role as an elder statesman prophesying the advent of the Cold Warand#151;and shows how Churchill's immense adaptability and innate pugnacity made him a formidable leader for the better part of a century. Johnson's narration of Churchill's many triumphs and setbacks, rich with anecdote and quotation, illustrates the man's humor, resilience, courage, and eccentricity as no other biography before, and is sure to appeal to historians and general nonfiction readers alike.
and#160;
About the Author
Paul Johnsonandrsquo;s many books, including A History of Christianity, A History of the Jews, Modern Times, Churchill, and Napoleon: A Penguin Life, have been hailed as masterpieces of historical analysis. He is a regular columnist for Forbes and The Spectator, and his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many others publications. He lives in London.
Table of Contents
Churchill
Chapter One: Young Thruster
Chapter Two: Liberal Statesman
Chapter Three: The Lessons of Failure
Chapter Four: Success and Disasters
Chapter Five: The Unregarded Prophet
Chapter Six: Supreme Power and Frustration
Chapter Seven: Glorious Twilight
Epilogue
Further Reading
About the Photographs
Index