• American Warlords

  • How Roosevelt's High Command Led America to Victory in World War II
  • By: Jonathan W. Jordan
  • Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
  • Length: 19 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (229 ratings)

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American Warlords  By  cover art

American Warlords

By: Jonathan W. Jordan
Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
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Publisher's summary

American Warlords is the story of the greatest "team of rivals" since the days of Lincoln.

In a lifetime shaped by politics, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proved himself a master manipulator of Congress, the press, and the public. But when war in Europe and Asia threatened America's shores, FDR found himself in a world turned upside down, where his friends became his foes, his enemies his allies. To help wage democracy's first "total war", he turned to one of history's most remarkable triumvirates.

Henry Stimson, an old-money Republican from Long Island, rallied to FDR's banner to lead the Army as Secretary of War and championed innovative weapons that helped shape our world today. General George C. Marshall argued with Roosevelt over grand strategy, but he built the world's greatest war machine and willingly sacrificed his dream of leading the invasion of Europe that made his protégé, Dwight Eisenhower, a legend. Admiral Ernest J. King, a hard-drinking, irascible fighter who "destroyed" Pearl Harbor in a prewar naval exercise, understood how to fight Japan, but he also battled the army, the air force, Douglas MacArthur, and his British allies as they moved armies and fleets across the globe.

These commanders threw off sparks whenever they clashed: generals against politicians, army versus navy. But those sparks lit the fire of victory. During four years of bitter warfare, FDR's lieutenants learned to set aside deep personal, political, and professional differences and pull a nation through the 20th century's darkest days.

Encircling Roosevelt's warlords - and sometimes bitterly at odds with them - was a colorful cast of the Second World War's giants: Winston Churchill, MacArthur, Josef Stalin, Eisenhower, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Charles de Gaulle. These and other larger-than-life figures enrich a sweeping story of an era brimming with steel, fire, and blood.

©2015 Jonathan W. Jordan (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about American Warlords

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Outstanding Book by this Author

Loved the information and pace of the book and its terrific narrator. It provided great personal insights into these men who were absolutely perfect for the roles Fate assigned them. I became very interested in learning more about George Marshall, a man sadly forgotten about over time.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Terrific listen

I do not hand out 5 stars to every book. In order for a book to be a 5 star you must be
teleported to where the story is being told and you become engrossed in what is happening
around you. You must live the story rather then just witness it. This is why Ameridan
Warlords gets 5 stars from me.

This book is the telling of WW2 from the perspective of the major policy players. Roosevelt Marshal, King, Stimson, Ickies and others. As Hitler takes power in 1933, Roosevelt knows
that a distant storm is coming Wrapped in the throws of the depression, Roosevelt has the vision to jump start the American manufacturing war machine to keep Great Briton afloat.

This book is a must read for the WW2 history buff. Where the book loses one star in performance is the mispronunciation of key names and cities. Missing from this book is any discussion of Harry Hopkins, one of Roosevelt's closest advisers I wonder at this omission

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Spectacular!

As a 75 year old with an intense interest in WWII, this book was s terrific rendering of how our nations leaders formulated and executed our countries war strategy. It clearly laid out the roles of political and military leaders in place for 5 long years. It's a not to miss audio book.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best WW2 non-fiction I've listened to

Combination of great writing and a great performance made this difficult to put down and by the time I'd finished 20 hours I still wanted more. Fascinating insights from a perspective I've read little about, this book certainly brings the characters to life. Will definitely buy more from this author & performer.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

WWII From a different angle

I have read 20+ books on WWII but I haven't read anything as comprehensive from the American high command. I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot

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1 person found this helpful

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  • TJ
  • 03-18-24

Excellent Audio History Book

Excellent book and reading performance. The author does an excellent job of describing each of the figures in great and vivid detail. 

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Terrific

Absolutely wonderful book which reads like you were there with the decision makers every day. What a terrific bunch of human beings focused on winning the war and doing the best they could for their country, Despite their first differences in political opinion and personality. Many anecdotes in here I had never heard before.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Must read/listen

Just a wonderful and interesting book. Let’s you know just how great a man was George C Marshall…

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent and colorful

Overall this is an entertaining narrative of the American military high command in World War II. Easy to listen to and captivating.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Inferior Qua!ity

While I greatly enjoyed the perspective of the author and his clear writing, the sound quality was poor in many places.

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