The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today

The Generals examines the evolution of American military leadership from World War II through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through biographical accounts and military history, Thomas E. Ricks traces how the U.S. Army's approach to selecting, promoting and relieving commanders changed over seven decades. The book centers on key military leaders who shaped American warfare, starting with George Marshall's command style in WWII. Ricks analyzes their decisions, leadership philosophies, and impact on military culture through extensive research and interviews. The narrative follows major conflicts including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, examining how each era's challenges affected military leadership. The focus remains on high-level command decisions rather than battlefield tactics. This work raises fundamental questions about accountability in military leadership and the relationship between civilian oversight and military autonomy. The changing standards for American generals serves as a lens to understand broader shifts in American military institutions and culture.

Readers view this as a detailed examination of U.S. Army leadership with a focus on accountability and relief of command. The book compares World War II practices of removing underperforming generals with later conflicts where this became less common. Readers appreciated: - Clear examples of leadership successes and failures - Research depth and primary sources - Accessible writing style for non-military readers - Analysis of specific battles and decisions Common criticisms: - Repetitive arguments about officer relief - Limited coverage of Air Force and Navy leadership - Some perceived political bias in later chapters - Focus on negatives over successes Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (850+ ratings) Multiple readers noted the book excels at explaining how leadership standards changed after WWII. One military reader called it "required reading for officers," while others felt it oversimplified complex command decisions. Several reviewers highlighted the Marshall/Eisenhower chapters as the strongest sections.

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🎖️ During WWII, the U.S. Army routinely relieved commanders who weren't performing well - about 16 division commanders and 5 corps commanders were removed. However, this practice largely disappeared during later conflicts like Vietnam and Iraq. 📚 Author Thomas E. Ricks won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting twice and covered military affairs for The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post for nearly two decades. ⭐ General George Marshall personally monitored the performance of over 600 generals during WWII and kept detailed notes on each one, using a "black book" to track their effectiveness and potential. 🏆 The book received the 2013 William E. Colby Award, which recognizes outstanding military writing that significantly contributes to the understanding of military history, intelligence operations, or international affairs. 🗣️ The research for this book included over 100 interviews with generals and other military leaders, plus access to previously unpublished documents and personal papers of several prominent military commanders.