Norman Schwarzkopf (1934–2012)

I liked this a lot. I know that a lot of people felt that the Gulf War had broke the curse of the "Vietnam Syndrome" and for that reason embraced Norman Schwarzkopf as a hero. Not his evaluation of himself though. The title comes from an interview he gave to Barbara Walters: It Doesn’t Take a Hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle. I found it fascinating to hear his account of his career in the military. His experience in Vietnam and the show more lessons he drew from it was interesting--but what made this account particularly valuable was his story of building the coalition to successfully prosecute the Gulf War. Given his long experience with the Middle East, I think the story and his insights into the region are still important today. show less

I liked this book much more than Collin Powell's book. It just seems more honest and less self serving, General Schwartzkopf admits mistakes, and positions he has taken for political reasons. It makes a very interesting read about decision making in the higher ranks of the military. If you've read Powell's book, you'd like this one, and if you haven't, read it after this as a great supplement.

First person account of the commander of Coalition forces that liberated Kuwait in the first Gulf War. Storming Normal Swarzkopf became a household word with his daily live press briefings that were carried around the world. Provides understanding of the diverse cultural allied forces and the how political decisions stopped the victorious army under Swarzkopf were kept from completely destroying the Iraqi army and Hussein's rule.

Autobiography of Norman Schwarzkopf