Douglas

MacArthur 

American Caesar by William Manchester

(Little, Brown 1978)

There are many good reasons for reading biographies: to learn more about outstanding people, to read about their roots and the secret of their success, to seek inspiration from their behavior in adversity. These are all very good reasons but I usually read biographies out of laziness and for the gossip.

The greatest biography in the English language is still probably ‘Boswell´s Life of Johnson’. It´s a very big book and very famous, but it´s great fun too.

In Boswell’s Life of Johnson  you can find out a lot about the social habits of these venerable characters in the olden days (for ‘social habits’ read, food, drink and conversation) and about day to day life before the inventions we take for granted (like bathrooms and hot running water).

SINATRA HATED EVERY PAGE OF THIS BIOGRAPHY

The most successful biography of the modern age is said to be Kitty Kelley´s controversial life of the singer Frank Sinatra, which has apparently sold millions more copies than any other biography.

For the generations who knew and admired Sinatra it´s a fascinating book. And Sinatra hated every page of it.

An unlikely trio: General Douglas MacArthur, Samuel Johnson and Frank Sinatra

Laziness is a big motivator for me because I like to learn about history without working too hard. So on this approach to the subject,  one of the great books – and greatest revelations – for me is ‘American Caesar’ by William Manchester. [Little, Brown & Company 1978]

THE LAST KING OF JAPAN

If I had seen a book called ‘The History of the Philippines, Japan and South-East Asia 1932-1948’ I would certainly have passed it by.

If I had seen a book called ‘The Last King of Japan’ I would not have understood the title and would probably have left it on the shelf.

But this is the life of Douglas MacArthur, war hero, architect of modern Japan, saviour of the Philippines and more. He was by a long way the most powerful American never to hold the office of president and this book shows how he did it. It´s an unbelievable story, but it’s true.

A GENERAL DISMISSED BY THE PRESIDENT

The gossip part is provided by his notorious sacking by President Truman and by the “supporting cast” of his presidents, who were also, of course, his commanders in chief. Presidents are never meant to be second to anyone. His treatment of his military superior General George Marshall, and his own assistant, a certain Dwight D. Eisenhower, was also surprising.

And surely the famous Generals like George Patton thought they were powerful until they came within range of this soldier, prophet, super-manager, egoist, demi-god and icon.

If he was also completely crazy, as some historians think, then on the evidence of this book he was crazy like a fox. Although he seemed to think of himself as a king without much responsibility to his government back in Washington, he was obviously a superb organiser, manager and diplomat.

NO ONE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED THIS BOOK

They had to sell this book as a biography because they had no choice - it is the true life of an extraordinary man. If they´d tried to sell it as fiction no-one would have believed it.

For the lazy student of history this master work by the eminent William Manchester will explain and fill in the history of South- East Asia and World War II in the Pacific theatre in a comprehensive and fascinating way.