The Admirals

Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King - The Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea

By: Walter Borneman

Narrated by: Brian Troxell

Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

The Admirals tells the story of how history's only five-star admirals triumphed in World War II and made the United States the world's dominant sea power.

Only four men in American history have been promoted to the five-star rank of Admiral of the Fleet: William Leahy, Ernest King, Chester Nimitz, and William Halsey. These four men were the best and the brightest the navy produced, and together they led the U.S. Navy to victory in World War II, establishing the United States as the world's greatest fleet.

In The Admirals, award-winning historian Walter R. Borneman tells their story in full detail for the first time. Drawing upon journals, ship logs, and other primary sources, he brings an incredible historical moment to life, showing us how the four admirals revolutionized naval warfare forever with submarines and aircraft carriers, and how these men - who were both friends and rivals - worked together to ensure that the Axis fleets lay destroyed on the ocean floor at the end of World War II.

©2012 Walter R. Borneman (P)2012 Hachette

In Awe

I can say with out any doubts that this has to be the best book I have ever read. My Navy years as a simple sailor gives me the knowledge and understanding that these excellent Admirals were how and why the USNavy became what it is today.
An outstanding book and a real pleasure to read.

The Admirals

Excellent reading and most insightful.
Excellent research into their careers and personal life and leadership by the author.

What an awesome way to capture these Naval 5stars and Army 5 stars

I spent 20 yrs in the Navy, and didn't even stratch the surface of the Naval history of WWII. This book opened my eyes. Thank you

Great story but just a minor issue with the narration

I liked this audiobook and learned a lot from it. I recommend it. My only complaint was the Narrator’s pronunciation of Japanese names. This may only bother someone like me but I found it distracting his incorrect pronunciation of names like Yamamoto who are key to the story.

Interesting overview

The book provides an overview of significant naval leaders of WWII. It also touches on the people they worked for and with(president and Army). Although unlike the individual biographies this book doesn’t get into the weeds. However, the overview provided some insight into their shared experiences and backgrounds while pointing out how 5 very different men made it to the pentacle of the naval service.
The presenter did a great and made the listening experience enjoyable.

Excellent

Book was excellent , written by an author who managed to write something without interjecting personal political beliefs on a history all ready made .

Excellent work on the Pacific War

This is a well researched and thoughtful work on the Pacific War. The interactions and exchanges among the Admirals was new to me.

Excellent, compelling, informative

What did you love best about The Admirals?

It was written in a style that kept my interest throughout every page, providing both the strengths and weaknesses of each of the admirals described. The author never lost sight of what he was trying to accomplish in writing about these transcendent personalities, and how they shaped the Navy of WWII and today.

What other book might you compare The Admirals to and why?

Pacific Crucible. Another excellent book of the momentous first years of WWII and the men and the decisions that won the war.

What about Brian Troxell’s performance did you like?

It was read very well, with al the emphasis in the right places.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Any additional comments?

One of my favorite history books of all time, given how informative it was regarding a extremely important facet of warfare - leadership

Glad these Gentlemen were around.

I tune in the news every night, and witness first hand how the news hates the white race. They won’t out and out say it, but that’s the feeling they leave America with most every night. As they desecrate Confederate Monuments, and generally tear the Country apart with their “me first groups”. You unpatriotic spoiled overpaid athletes won’t stand for the anthem? The NFL/NBA don’t pay so well in Africa. Be glad you’re here and not chasing down a C-130 for tonight’s meals and medicines. Thank God above for the impeccable leadership this Country fielded during its darkest hours. Had it been the leaders and majority of citizens we have today, we would have would have lost the War. Maybe Chicago would have held out, they’re well armed there I hear...every night... Trump may not be a great leader, but if ALL he did was keeping Hillary from becoming president...Then God Bless him too! Four Admirals, four White men who were Admirals... achieved Victory. And the War against Japan was, and always will be a Race War. Don’t kid yourself if you think that wasn’t the case.

Great story, great performance.

The story of the great Admirals of WWII. The content alone is excellent, but this is also a very well made audio book. I highly recommend it.