Reviews (20)

A BRILLIANT BIOGRAPHY - WELL DONE!
This is a brilliantly written biography of one of the most fascinating characters in history.Like most of Mnchester's work (I must admit to being a big fan), this is a very readable biography, well researched and holds the reader's interest from page to page.We see so much of Churchhill in his role as a WWII leader that we tend to forget there was a young man, living, learning and growing before the back and white films we see today.It is good to be reminded of this from time to time.It is also, for those interested, to learn how a world leader of Churchill's calibre came into being, how he developed and why he was the way he was.This work gives us great insight to those questions.Cannot recommend this work highly enough.

Insight Into A Great Man

Tale of a Giant Lives Up to Its Subject
Although William Manchester didn't live long enough to complete his biography of Winston Churchill, this first book of the proposed triology begins with Dunkirk and shows Churchill at his most magnificent before switching to his early years.Manchester's prose--eloquent, clear, moving, and witty--is a fitting vehicle for the story of a master of the English language, and the story itself is filled with amazing adventures and memorable anecdotes. This book and its sequel are the best of all the Churchill biographies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. 20th century    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Churchill, Winston,    7. Europe - Great Britain - General    8. Foreign relations    9. Great Britain    10. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    11. Political    12. Politics and government    13. Sir,    14. Biography & Autobiography / Political    15. Biography: general    16. British & Irish history: from c 1900 -    17. Churchill, Winston    18. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (30)

Churchill was begging....
After the fall of France in June 1940, Winston Churchill was begging USA President Roosevelt for military aid (in fact, all sorts of support was then needed) as no one knew what would the 'fate' of the French fleet was going to be.
absolutely a delight to read
I was adrift when I finished this volume.
solitary courage
No better profile of Churchill 1932-40 exists. Whetted with acrimony and disdain, Churchill is ultimately proved right (and his real task commences).
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. 20th century    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Churchill, Winston,    7. Foreign relations    8. Great Britain    9. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    10. Historical - British    11. Political    12. Politics and government    13. Sir,    14. Biography & Autobiography / Political    15. British & Irish history: c 1700 to c 1900    16. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (5)

It's one thing to know the right words,but another when and how to use them.

Wit Beyond Comparison
I received this book as a birthday gift from my lovely wife.I loved this book so much I bought is twice more as a gift for a departing superior and for a friend of 10 years.Anyone who has a love of history (particularly this era) will love this book, anyone in possession of a sense of humor will appreciate this book as well.
Very Enjoyable
This relatively small book is divided into several sections with slices from Churchill's life and quotations related to politics, speaches, friends, animals, family, etc.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Churchill, Winston,    5. General    6. Humor    7. Presidents & Heads of State    8. Quotations    9. Quotations, English    10. Sir,    11. Biography: general    12. Humor / General    13. Humour    14. Reference/Quotations    15. USA   

Reviews (22)

review of wit and wisdom of Winston Churchill
The book is entertaining.It's the kind of book you don't just read through, but pick it up read a few sections at a time.

Utterly Delightful
A compact book with more than 1,000 quotations and anecdotes you can enjoy at any time.
Power of Words in the Majestic Battle of Ideas
In this book, James C. Humes gives his audience an excellent opportunity to conjure up a mental picture of Winston Churchill and his legacy.As a renaissance man, Churchill was more than a skilled politician and a gifted soldier.Perhaps more importantly, Churchill was a man of inspired words, whose work was ultimately crown by the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953.Churchill often was far from politically correct and did not hesitate to say, write and do what he thought was right.Churchill's bluntness did not make him dear to everybody.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Europe - Great Britain - General    4. General    5. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    6. Historical - British    7. History & Theory - General    8. Political    9. Political History    10. Reference    11. Humor / General    12. Other prose: from c 1900 -    13. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (32)

Good not great: Churchill not main player
Considering every reviewer seems to give this five stars and call this the best biography ever, here is my two cents. Firstly Manchester is a great writer and I have a lot of time for him (for example his biography of MacArthur is breathtaking) and so this, of course, is very well written and researched. It also covers a very important period in history, the 1930s of appeasement,and an indispensable man, Churchill. In fact the first half, detailing the appeasers victories over Churchill and his increasing marginalisation in British affairs, is perfect and fascinating. My problem is that after about 1936 Churchill disappears altogether, to be replaced by a fairly perfunctory recounting of the historical events - Anchloss, Munich, the Nazi-Soviet Anti-aggression pact - that are more dramatically covered in William Shirer's "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" (Shirer's description of Munich is breathtaking). Why? Because from about 1936-39 Hitler was the main, the only, player on the stage and so accounts of his actions are more interesting than those of Churchill (writing, touring the Maginot Line, complaining to British lawmakers about their lack of bacbone).

Simply one of the best books about one of the greatest historical figures by a magnificent writer
As a newspaper reporter for 35 years, I take occasional side trips from the business of newsmakers and newsmaking to read for pleasure. The Last Lion Alone is simply one of the most fascinating, well-crafted books, about one of history's truly great men, by one of the master writers of his generation, William Manchester. Researching his subject and the times the man lived in, Manchester paints a vivid, striking and often horrifying account of a man whose love of his country, his objective, unblinking analysis of the emerging Nazi threat, and the almost abusive opposition he nobly suffered, from men and women in Britain who should have known better. Born in 1947 in the U.S., I had always considered Winston Churchill a great man from my study of history and WWII, along with Dwight Eisenhower and FDR. After reading Last Lion Alone, treasuring every word and passage, I regard this man and what he stood for in absolute awe. I'm not a person who freely indulges in hero worship - with the exception of Winston Churchill.

Spectacular.
The portrait that emerges from this biography reveals the complxity of genious, the value of valor, the mind behind perhaps the most eloquent leader of the last century.Unforgetable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. Political    6. Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Subjects:  1. Biography/Autobiography   

Editorial Review

It is impossible to understand the Second World War without understanding Winston Churchill, the bold British Prime Minister who showed himself to be one of the greatest statesmen any nation has ever known. This lengthy biography is a single-volume abridgment of a massive, eight-volume work that took a quarter-century to write. It covers Churchill's entire life, highlighting not only his exploits during the Second World War, but also his early belief in technology and how it would revolutionize warfare in the 20th century. Churchill learned how to fly a plane before the First World War, and was also involved in the development of both the tank and anti-aircraft defense. But he truly showed his unmatched mettle during his country's darkest moments: "His finest hour was the leadership of Britain when it was most isolated, most threatened, and most weak; when his own courage, determination, and belief in democracy became at one with the nation," writes Gilbert. There are several wonderful books available on Churchill, but this is probably the best place to start. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

A little dry but still very good.
A good, solid biography although a little dull in parts, especially during the inter-war years.Something about the writing just feels a little stiff; I can't quite put my finger on it.The style is a bit dated, focusing on Churchill the politician and less on Churchill the person.I have to agree with previous critics who note the lack of objectivity; no mention is made of faults or short-comings.I read biographies, however, as much (or more) for the historical context as to learn about the particular person.Given that, I would still give this four stars despite it's serious shortcomings.

No one knows him better.
No human being alive today knows Britain's legendary lion of a Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, than Martin Gilbert.
what a great man
How many men and women can say at their last breath that they made a difference in this world . Well Winston Churchill certainly was among those people . What amazing and inspiring speeches , what a contribution to the world and espcielly to the british people . I guess they are really proud of their unique past prime minister . Anyway , being such an intersting figure the biography is really fun and fluent to read . I think you can say there were few moments of dollness in his life and so the book is very intersting ( Through out all the 950 pages ) . What was missing to my opinion ( And thats why i am giving 4 stars and not 5 ) is more personal perspective of the auther - More expresses of feelings of the auther and espcielly of the people at the time .
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Churchill, Winston,    6. Europe - Great Britain - General    7. Great Britain    8. Historical - British    9. Political    10. Prime ministers    11. Sir,    12. Biography: general   

Reviews (2)

Good But Not Great
Rose does a good job of providing a one volume biography of Churchill. However, it was obvious to me that he was neither as familiar with Churchill as Martin Gilbert nor as talented a writer as Manchester. His strength is in his objectivity which yields a fair view of the giant.

Excellent short volume
I am a great fan of Churchill and am always expanding my collection of books about and by the great man.I purchased this book shortly after its publication.I was impressed by Rose's crisp narrative and ability todescribe the salient points of Churchill's life.He is able to do this inone volume - not easy to do when the offical biography runs 8 volumes!Theonly negative about this work is the length to which Rose goes to remain asimpartial as possible. I say this is a negative because oftentimes there ismuch enjoyment to be gotten by reading a book about Churchill where theauthor's bias is clear. (Since most Churchill biographies are written byobvious admirers - like the yet incomplete William Manchester series; orevident detractors like Charmley.)This work is, sometimes painfully,without bias.This attribute makes "Churchill: The Unruly Giant"a fine introductory work for any reader wanting to learn more aboutChurchill; and form their own opinion on the greatest man of the 20thCentury. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Churchill, Winston,    7. Great Britain    8. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    9. Historical - British    10. Historical - General    11. Politics and government    12. Prime ministers    13. Sir,    14. Biography & Autobiography / General    15. Churchill, Winston    16. United Kingdom, Great Britain    17. World history: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (35)

As Good as Biography Gets
This fully lives up to its reputation as perhaps the best biography ever written. Manchester does a peerless, masterful job filling in the background colors and giving a complete picture of Churchill from a young man into his early fifties. As Manchester emphasizes, this background was essentially the decline and fall of the British Empire and the aristocracy who ran it. Manchester's main point, that Churchill was a Victorian who also lived in the twentieth century, is brilliantly made. Churchill himself is presented in all his perplexing, influriating splendor: an impetuous, charming, ambitious genius who all too often jumped out of the plane without a parachute. If you wish to know why he was rejected by the British people at the polls just after his greatest triumph (and job done) this fascinating volume of his early triumphs and memorable failures is indispensible (answer: they needed his boistrous energy in war but they didn't trust him in peace

Best Churchill biography
Best biography of the person who really should have been the " greatest person of the 20th century".He, more than anyone else, stood alone against Nazism, which, no matter how you feel about the present state ofWestern civilization, kept it from being completely unrecognizable today. He pushed Roosevelt into joining Britain against the Nazis, and was willing to push Britain to keep on fightingalone, down to the last person ; at suicidal odds for many months.He had vision, and was fearless.And, prior to WW2, his exploits in the Boer War and in WW1 make his entire life fascinating.The fact that he was very "aristocratic" in his background has probably made his image diminish in our time.That sort of reverse discrimination is very unfair, I feel. He was also witty, not the least bit warm and cuddly (!) and a pretty good painter.

Understand the most Remarkable Man of the 20th Century
This is an excellent book on the first half of the life of a truly exceptional man.Mr Manchester's book deals with Winston's early life and his rise to power and fame.I particularly liked the vignettes about life at the turn of the century; the social situation, the class struggle, the morals of the upper and the working classes.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Europe - Great Britain - General    4. Historical - British    5. Political    6. Biography & Autobiography / General    7. Biography: political   

Editorial Review

Winston Churchill was querulous, childish, self-indulgent, and difficult, writes English historian Roy Jenkins. But he was also brilliant, tenacious, and capable--in short, "the greatest human being ever to occupy 10 Downing Street." Jenkins's book stands as the best single-volume biography of Churchill in recent years.Read more

Reviews (87)

An excellent, though somewhat difficult read. Not for the faint of heart.
Roy Jenkins was a Labor MP in the House of Commons at the time Churchill was himself still in the house. Jenkins began his career there in 1948, just prior to the second time Churchill became Prime Minister in 1951. [Churchill died at 90 years old in 1965.] Churchill at this point in his life was not quite the force he once was up to and during his first term as Prime Minister from 1940-45, but to see the great orator himself in person still must have been quite extraordinary. Jenkins admits in his book that they didn't really know one another, and they were on opposite sides of the House, as Churchill was a Conservative.
Too scholarly
This book bombards the casual American reader with far too many names and references to obscure British individuals with whom Churchill interacted. It implies that the reader already knows a great deal about other British leaders such as David Lloyd George, the prime minister at the end of World War I.
The One Great Insight Into Public Churchill
Question. Do the times make the man, or does the man make the times?
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Artists, Architects, Photographers    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Churchill, Winston,    8. Europe - Great Britain - General    9. Great Britain    10. Historical - British    11. Prime ministers    12. Sir,    13. Churchill, Winston    14. History / Great Britain   

Reviews (9)

Memoirs of the Second World War - Stalin, Soviet Union, Poland
I find it indeed difficult to assess this book by Winston Churchill. I have read it with very mixed emotions. Nonetheless, I firmly believe that for any serious student of the history of World War II Winston Churchill's "Memoirs of the Second World War" is a must reading - unless he or she decides to study the full fledged, six volume, "The Second World War" itself.
Memoirs of the Second World War
Winston Churchill has helped to create the world we all live in now so to better understand it, it is neccesary to read what one of the authors had in mind.

If You Think You Know WWII History, Read This Book!!!
Nearly 1100 pages in length, this abridged (yes, you read that correctly!) version of Winston Churchill's Nobel Prize winning, six volume set on the history of World War II will leave many would-be scholars stunned by it's revelations. If (like me) you learned history primarily from high school and college courses and your own self-study, this volume shows how woefully inadequate your understanding of this pivotal event may be. Most surprising are the pre-war revelations of how Hitler could have been contained as early as the 1920's; if the politicians of the day were not so interested in unilateral disarmament and taken Hitler's more outrageous promises with a grain of salt, he could have been stopped several times by both Britain and France before he could have built up his armaments. In particular, British Prime Ministers Stanley Baldwin and Ramsay Macdonald are to be blamed, for their inaction allowed Germany to rearm and begin their conquests almost unchecked; by the time of Neville Chamberlain's famous Appeasment at Munich, it was already too late to prevent war. The other major revelation that will surprise many readers is detailed in the chapter entitled October in Moscow, where Churchill and Russian premier Joseph Stalin literally decide postwar, Cold War politics with the stroke of a pen. (For his part, Churchill insists he believed that Stalin understood that such an arrangement was temporary.) Through it all, Churchill spins the fascinating tale of a man who thoroughly understands both military movements and the big picture when it comes to the theatres of war. Of course, the heroic generals and leaders of the nations involved, from Roosevelt to Truman, Montgomery to Ike, are detailed, mostly with compassion for their integrity and valor. This volume is recommended for the novice and true student of history alike (if one wants more military facts and figures, especially numbers of troop movements and battle details, it is suggested he purchase the complete six-volume set.) In short, if you wish to enjoy the history of WWII, particularly from a pont of view not often taught in the United States, purchase Memoirs of the Second World War today. The surprising revelations within will give you a new perspective both of WWII and how our current political situation was determined by events that happened some sixty-plus years ago. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Churchill, Winston,    5. Great Britain    6. Historical - General    7. History - Military / War    8. History: World    9. Military - World War II    10. Personal narratives, British    11. Sir,    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    14. Biography: general    15. British & Irish history: Second World War    16. England   

Editorial Review

The voice of a vanished England speaks from the pages of Winston Churchill's evocative memoir of his first 30 years (1874-1904). The young Churchill inhabits a world in which men fight like hell in meaningless colonial wars--India, Egypt, South Africa--soldiering across the imperial map then extending the hand of friendship to their erstwhile enemy as if they were schoolmates at Harrow. Yet Churchill, born into a privileged family, was not an uncritical supporter of the Victorian status quo. He himself loathed Harrow; an especially amusing chapter skewers the school's emphasis on an irrelevant classical education and rote learning. A firm Tory, he considered himself a friend of the working class, and in 1899 campaigned for parliament with a Socialist colleague. Looking back from his vantage point of 1930, Churchill expresses the most attractive values of the English aristocracy--honor, loyalty, fair play--without giving the impression he wants to live in the past. The book's appeal also stems from its magisterial but colloquial prose. Anyone familiar with recordings of Churchill's rousing speeches during Word War II will hear in their minds' ears that growling timbre and unmistakably patrician accent as they read. Though he would have preferred the peace prize, Read more

Reviews (16)

Churchill at his most human
This 372 page long book would be good, but no more, if it wasn't for the first 40-or-so pages, which are a gem.The book covers the first 30 years of Churchill's life and the first forty pages cover his childhood. Although Churchill had a miserable childhood - his father was distant,his mother more interested in lovers than in her son, and he was bullied at boarding school - Churchill narrates his story with unsurpassed wit and without any hard feelings for the ones that failed him. Some passages, like the description of how he was grappling with the beast called maths, are just hilarious. The first forty pages alone make this book a must read. In the rest of the book, the most interesting part is the story of Churchill's capture by the Boers and escape.You don't need to be interested in Churchill, the statesman, to like this book. Here he is at his most human and disarming.

A Window to the Past
Definitely a good read!Churchill recounts his early years with subtle wit and elegant style.Even the battle scenes kept me interested, which was an unexpected surprise.A good view into the life of a middle-class British soldier before the World Wars.

The "Adventure Tale" portion of Churchill's life.
Before the cigar-chomping, top-hat-wearing portly gentleman hit the scene, there was a young man who nearly flunked out of school, chased war around the world, played polo, participated in the world's last meaningful cavalry charge, was a war correspondent, and escaped imprisonment as a POW in the Boar War. Churchill got around plenty before settling down in Parliament and this is Churchill's own account of that part of his life.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Childhood and youth    7. Churchill, Winston,    8. General    9. Great Britain    10. Great Britain - History    11. Historical - British    12. Historical - General    13. Prime ministers    14. Sir,    15. Biography & Autobiography / General    16. Biography: general    17. British Isles    18. Churchill, Winston    19. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (8)

"Never Be Separated from the Americans"
This is a brilliant book!
Churchill and America Review
I am an avid reader of history. Martin Gilbert is an excellent writer who is the preeminent Churchill historian. As with all Gilbert books on Churchill, he adds new details to an extraordinary life for us normal folk. Churchill loved America and was anxious to see the US enter WWII for obvious reasons. Gilbert goes far beyond that period in this excellent history of Churchill. I recommend this book to anyone who loves history and enjoys the history of Churchill.

Another Fine Churchill Volume by Martin Gilbert
I don't think it would be possible for Sir Martin to write other than a superb book about Churchill if he tried.And this latest volume is no exception.The only thing better than reading it is to hear the author, as I did recently at the National Archives, speak about the book and take questions.One of the most remarkable things about Gilbert is that despite the fact he has written so extensively on WC, he still manages to add something new or a novel perspective.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. America    3. Appreciation    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography And Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Churchill, Winston,    10. Europe - Great Britain - General    11. Great Britain    12. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    13. Historical - British    14. International Relations - General    15. Modern - 20th Century    16. Political    17. Presidents & Heads of State    18. Prime ministers    19. Relations with Americans    20. Sir,    21. History / General   

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Churchill, Winston,    7. General    8. Great Britain    9. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    10. Politics and government    11. Prime ministers    12. Sir,   

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Childhood and youth    6. Churchill, Winston,    7. Great Britain    8. Great Britain - History - 19th Century    9. Historical - British    10. Prime ministers    11. Sir,    12. Biography & Autobiography / General    13. Churchill, Winston   

Reviews (9)

Cheap and concise, but with problems.
I read this book here in Brazil, last year.It's cheap, concise and easy to understand.There's failures in this book?Yes.
A fan book on Churchill
What we have is a series of essays written about Churchill by a man who is both a highly regarded historian and a fan.
A Well-Written Synopsis, but Not a Great Work of Historical Writing
This was my first book by Lukacs and I am not a historical scholar. I picked it up to learn more about Churchill, and where this admirable leader was coming from. If you are looking for a primer or a thorough biography of W.S., this is not the book for you. However, if you are already familiar with his background, ancestry, and accomplishments in detail, this book serves as a kind of postmortem love letter.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Churchill, Winston,    7. Europe - Great Britain - General    8. Great Britain    9. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    10. Historians    11. Historical - British    12. Historical - General    13. Political    14. Political History    15. Politics and government    16. Prime ministers    17. Sir,    18. 20th century    19. Biography: historical    20. British & Irish history: from c 1900 -    21. Churchill, Winston    22. History / General    23. Political leaders & leadership    24. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (15)

Diamonds Refined
Delight is an expected find when reading works on or about Winston Spencer Churchill.Joy is a confirmation when these works attain to the stature and measure of the man.Refreshment is the derivative when joy and delight meet in a polished offering such as 'Never Give In.'
For Leaders, not avid Historians
In reading the reviews under this section, I find that a reader either loves this book or hates it - there is very little middle ground.
Outstanding Book
I found this book to be a superb look at the man and what made him succeed against all odds.This is an inspirational book and I enjoyed it so much that I have re-read it a second time.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Historical - General    5. Historical - U.S.    6. Military    7. Biography: general    8. Literature: Texts   

Subjects:  1. 1885-1977    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Churchill, Clementine,    7. Churchill, Winston,    8. Great Britain    9. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    10. Historical - British    11. Lady,    12. Prime ministers    13. Prime ministers' spouses    14. Sir,    15. Women    16. Biography & Autobiography / Women   

Editorial Review

Scotch and cigars are making a popular comeback, so perhaps the time is ripe for the 20th century's most famous scotch-drinking and cigar-smoking leader to do the same. In the vein of the best-selling book Read more

Reviews (11)

A manager's opinion
I have been a manager for over 10 years, and have worked in different industries and different countries.And I gladly admit I still have a lot to learn concerning management.This book talks about concepts we know we should all be applying, such as learning from mistakes, responsibility and organization, attention to details as well as to a master plan, communication, etc.However understanding how Churchill put these concepts to work is fascinating.I did not know that much about Churchill in the first place, perhaps that is why I enjoyed the book so much.It is a nice change from CEOs' biographies.And yes, I am putting some of what I read to work, so it was worth my time and money !

The First Step in the Huge Churchill Lexicon
I read this book without having known anything about Chruchill, as a lesson on leadership under stress. I learned a lot, but I also became very interested in the man. He is fasinating and very brave. I'm very gald I read this book. A little silly
I just completed this book yesterday and I must confess if it was any longer I might not have.While it was mildly entertaining, it contains little that is new or particularly informative.The book generally repackages concepts that are written elsewhere and ties them to passages in Churchill's life.Many of the comparisons seem strained.In fact, comparing Churchill's almost single-handed stand aginst tyranny with normal business competition, seems inappropriate and a little silly.It's probably fair to say that the book contains a few kernals of wisdom which would be helpful to anyone in business, or otherwise. These kernals are relatively simple and (it seems to me) obvious.It begs the question, Why, exactly, do we need a book such as this? The people most apt to pick-up the book in the first place are those who already have a more than passing affinity for Churchill.If so, those people will likely have read books which are more informative, historically significant, insightful and generally worthwhile.If this is your first introduction to Churchill, do not let it be your last.Overall, I think there are much better uses for all of our valuable time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography    3. Business & Economics    4. Business / Economics / Finance    5. Business/Economics    6. Churchill, Winston,    7. Europe - Great Britain - General    8. Great Britain    9. Leadership    10. Management    11. Politics and government    12. Prime ministers    13. Sir,    14. Business & Economics / Leadership    15. Sale Books   

Reviews (14)

Two great leaders of a surprisingly similar mind
I found this book to be quite interesting but not at all what I had anticipated.Based on the title, I expected to see an erudite tome analyzing the lives of Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill culminating in a discussion of how great leaders, such as these, are "made."I was, of course, being rather naïve, for if anyone knew how great leaders are produced they wouldn't be so rare in human history.What I found, instead, was a side-by-side comparison of two great men with emphasis on the parallels in their careers; the manner in which they were viewed by their contemporaries and the media in their own times; their visionary natures; the constancy of their actions; and the many connections between them which can be drawn when their characters, actions, writings, speeches, and strangely enough their educations are closely examined.
Fascinating and thought-provoking
This is a short, fascinating, and thought-provoking read -- something that's always hard to find!
(To some reviewers) Please discuss THE BOOK!
I have not read this but I'm tired of theses instead of reviews.I think many potential buyers would prefer a "reviewer" such as Ms. Burke justify her unusual rating of 3.5 stars, rather then give us paragraphs of her own impressions of Churchill before an actual review of 2 positive sentences.(Please note: My stars are based strictly on a 10 minute browsing and that someone finally did a work comparing the first and last of the West's Cold War leaders -- what should have long been an obvious and great subject.) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Churchill, Winston,    5. Conservatism    6. Great Britain    7. Historical - General    8. History: World    9. Leadership    10. Political    11. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    12. Political Science    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Presidents    15. Reagan, Ronald    16. Sir,    17. Statesmen    18. United States    19. History / General