The Savior Generals

How Five Great Commanders Saved Wars That Were Lost - From Ancient Greece to Iraq

By: Victor Davis Hanson

Narrated by: Bob Souer

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Stirring portraits of five commanders whose dynamic leadership changed the course of war and history by prominent military historian Victor Davis Hanson.

Prominent military historian Victor Davis Hanson explores the nature of leadership with his usual depth and vivid prose in The Savior Generals, a set of brilliantly executed pocket biographies of five generals (Themistocles, Belisarius, William Tecumseh Sherman, Matthew Ridgway, and David Petraeus) who single-handedly saved their nations from defeat in war. War is rarely a predictable enterprise - it is a mess of luck, chance, and incalculable variables. Today's sure winner can easily become tomorrow's doomed loser. Sudden, sharp changes in fortune can reverse the course of war.

These intractable circumstances are sometimes mastered by leaders of genius - asked at the 11th hour to save a hopeless conflict, one created by others and frequently unpopular politically and with the public. The savior generals often come from outside the established power structure, employ radical strategies, and flame out quickly. Their careers regularly end in controversy. But their dramatic feats of leadership are vital slices of history - not merely as stirring military narrative, but as lessons on the dynamic nature of consensus, leadership, and destiny.

©2013 Victor Davis Hanson (P)2019 Tantor

Evan's Review

I listen to Dr Hinson regularly comments on different topics.This book is interesting. I recommend it. Dr. Hinson takes a look at 5 different Generals that saves 5 different wars in have they saves the out come wars. Even though I have read about each he gives a different opinion on each.

Great Stories about the “Other Guy”

Awesome listen. Very informative. Love Hansons books. They always have a great way to teach in an engaging style.

Excellent

I didn’t know anything about these generals and I feel so much more informed. Most often you get an overview in school or from the news, but this book makes me want to dive even deeper into these conflicts.

Very Insightful

Loved it. Hanson can pluck figures and random from the pages of history and connect them in ways that most people would miss. Would like to see more works like this.

A Great Book

VDH is one of the best authors currently writing. His thoughts and insight are on par with Liddel-Hart.

VDH in his true area of strength

VDH in his true area of strength — reviewing the ancient classics and drawing strong comparisons to more recent history. Well read. Recommended.

Of all brilliant Mr. Hanson books, MOST “lessons learned” brilliant!

A great follow-up to Mr. Hanson’s The Second World Wars... a recommended read for future reference.

Excellent

Well thought out and well presented.

While there were minor errors, they were just that minor and in no way detracted from the book’s thesis

More Victor Davis Hanson Please

We need more Victor Davis Hanson in every area. His political and military commentary are spot on. His picks for the savior generals in this book go completely against the grain, and that's a VERY good thing. For instance, Sherman gets a bad rap by modern historians for his cruelty and "racism." Actually, Sherman, for all his contradictions of character (like every person who has ever lived) did was implement a strategy to win the Civil War. And here too, Matthew Ridgway gets his due for his unapologetic and incredible leadership in Korea.

Too, David Petraeus is also vindicated for his surge stye Iraq war strategy, after being shamed and a scapegoat by the Obama Administration. The full scope of his resignation were not known at the time of this writing, save his affair, though Hanson devotes significant time to the issue. But at least he gets credit for what he did at during the surge in Iraq.

Bob Sour's narration is impeccable. What a breath of fresh air all around. THANK YOU!

Hanson knows war

From the collision of triremes that Salamis to the roar of the latest Fighting vehicle in the desert you are there.