Eisenhower in War and Peace

By: Jean Edward Smith

Narrated by: Paul Hecht

Length: 28 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Author of the best-seller FDR, Jean Edward Smith is a master of the presidential biography. Setting his sights on Dwight D. Eisenhower, Smith delivers a rich account of Eisenhower’s life using previously untapped primary sources. From the military service in WWII that launched his career to the shrewd political decisions that kept America out of wars with the Soviet Union and China, Smith reveals a man who never faltered in his dedication to serving America, whether in times of war or peace.

©2012 Jean Edward Smith (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Always engrossing . . . Smith describes a man who commanded the largest coalition army in history without grandiloquent posturing . . . leaving office more popular than any successor. . . . Smith portrays a genuinely admirable Eisenhower: smart, congenial, unpretentious, and no ideologue. Despite competing biographies from Ambrose, Perret, and D’Este, this is the best.” ( Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Dwight Eisenhower, who was more cunning than he allowed his adversaries to know, understood the advantage of being underestimated. Jean Edward Smith refutes this durable misunderstanding. Smith, America’s greatest living biographer, demonstrates why, now more than ever, Americans should like Ike.” (George F. Will)

“Jean Smith, indubitably America’s most distinguished biographer, has now produced the classic life of Dwight Eisenhower…Here he comes alive on every page—the beneficiary of the exhausting fresh research this handsomely written book is based upon. When the General died, Mamie, his lifelong wife, allowed that she never fully knew her famous husband. No reader of Smith’s work will render the same complaint.” (Henry F. Graff, Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University)

very good

I feel like it was a great bio, but to me it seemed more aimed at his upbringing and military services than his Presidency.

great story about a great American, written well

A great story about a great American, well written and well narrated. Ike was the iconic American of my parents generation and of my childhood. I feel like I now know him so much better.

I LIKE IKE

I was 11 yrs old when Eisenhower was elected President. I was serving in the Navy when he left office. The pre/post periods covered in this book filled in many gaps for me like bookends holding not one book but several volumes. It was prophetic, insightful, and detailed, with a conversational style. We definitely need more honest and responsible leaders today. I recommend the audio/print combination. I LIKE IKE even more after 29 hours of listening to his life story.

Insightful, revealing Biography of President

What made the experience of listening to Eisenhower in War and Peace the most enjoyable?

I was about 10 when Eisenhower was elected president so I had heard about him but I didn't understand what he had actually done. From the biography I have learned that he did some incredibly good things both during war II and as President. I also learned some of his shortcomings and some things I wish he hadn't done (like supporting a coup to oust a democratically elected leader and replace him with the Shah of Iran.) The story is detailed enough to give a good understanding of all the events in his life, but moves quickly so I couldn't stop reading.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Eisenhower in War and Peace?

Learning about Eisenhower's role in advancing Civil Rights as well as being an person who tried to slow down anti communistic fanatic McCarthy even before Eisenhower was President.

What about Paul Hecht’s performance did you like?

I was not crazy about his reading. He often seems to put an H in front of words so Ike came out soundling like "Hike"

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but of course it was too long to do this. But I could hardly wait to get back to it.

Very Good

A good biography makes you think about a person in a new way. This book accomplished that. Highly recommended.

A great book about a great man

I would give anything for us to have leaders like this today. Eisenhower embodies all that is desired in a political leader and spoke some of the greatest truths our country needs to hear today. This book is excellently written and I enjoyed every second of it.

Eisenhower was a great leader, needed today

Great listen, and very informative. Can you imagine having this guy vs Joe Biden. Eisenhower is an example of how great our country once was before liberals and woke made us broken.

I like Ike and I like this biography

The story of President Eisenhower's life was unknown to me until I aquired this book. I knew he was the WWII Supreme Commander, but did not understand what that meant. I knew he was President, but not of his presidential record. This book does a great job of filling all that in. The author also does not overly embellish or lionize the man, either. The main themes are that Eisenhower was of humble origins, lucky, of integrity, and fallible. the last quality was surprising to learn, but also inspiring. It was facinating to learn that Eisenhower was not an especially good or natural military commander in the field, but was a very good military international coordinator and even politician. Another failing was his long wartime romance. Yet he was able to be very sucessful in all his endeavors by combining his assets with the recognition of his defects. The author has created a really good read or "listen" by weaving in all the details without being too tedious.
The orator had good pace and was able to alter his delivery only slightly, yet sufficiently, to distinguish between different voices in the story without actually altering his pitch or accent. A good talent. I had started another Eisenhower bio before this one but had to put it down before two chapters due to the harshness of another orators delivery, so I was quite pleased that this offering had a good actor.

Grab this book, learn some history, and be inspired by a man with common beginnings and uncommon leadership. This characteristic in our government today is so rare, it makes you want to cry. But instead, you will be humbled, and entertained.

Exceptional, balanced audiobook. A must listen.

I had been looking forward to this book for a while because I love the history of WWII and a huge fan of George Marshall. This book is exceptional and thoroughly goes through the entire life of Ike, all the while being very open about the good decisions and traits of Ike and the not so good. I really appreciated the fairness this book seemed to give about an almost "godlike" figure that is his legend. He made many mistakes and didn't always treat everyone as good as he should have (Truman and Marshall for example) but at the core of his character tried to be an honest, fair, moral, consistent person. There were times that he made mistakes, D Day was not planned well, his long affair, disrespect of Truman at Ike's inauguration, U2 scandal, etc... but his triumphs were huge for our nation and the world -- D Day though fraught with bad planning was successful, Korean war treaty, Little Rock AR and keeping the world out of WWIII and nuclear / atomic weapon not being used again. For all of his successes we are all thankful that he was in charge at the time.

This book hits all those incidents well and you will be happy that you read / listened to this book. For any history buffs this is a must read. The narration was good, an easy listen.

A Triumphal Biography

As a WWII history buff, I was drawn to this biography by a recommendation from a close friend. The facts themselves are compelling. Add the deft skill of an immensely talented writer and the engaging narration of Paul Hecht and you have a Pulitzer Prize worthy Audible listen. The author has combed through earlier biographical writings ( giving credit where due) but added new and very interesting stories and events not available until recently. He is free with his assessment of practically every decision or non decision attributed to IKE” from his prewar years through WW II and through the presidential years of 1952-1960. This is refreshing most of the time but now and then off-putting. Especially when the author forgets to lay before the listener all of the facts upon which the writer has relied. After finishing the book I immediately bought the two memoirs written by Kay Somersby, Eisenhower’s driver, aide de camp, gal Friday and close companion. I was saddened to read a few days ago that the author, Jean Edward Smith had died on September 1st.