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dantad's review against another edition
4.0
"The price of greatness is responsibility" I got introduced to Andrew Roberts Visa Vi his biography on Napoleon. I think that Roberts has an incredible way of simultaneously drawing upon characteristics of figures that influence generations while portraying them in such a human way that it makes me feel like I know them.
There is no better title than "Walking with Destiny" for Churchill. At the age of 16, he said "I have dreams about the future. The world is mine for the taking. If only I am to be given the opportunity." Destiny suits Churchill so well as he was at the crossroads of both incredible luck and drive. At a young age, he rewrote famous parliamentary speeches so that he would deliver them. These traits foreshadow what would become one of the greatest individualists of all time.
The book spends lots of time - 25 hours - before it covers Churchill becoming PM. At times it felt quite stale and drew out aspects of Churchill's life and at times felt slightly rushed. But it definitely grasps Churchills style incredibly well. I say he is one of the greatest individualists of all time because his conviction in his own beliefs costed him his career and many opportunities. Yet his foresight into the rise of Nazism and Hitler's looming threat to Europe was course right and his rejection of appeasement to pursue war highlights his almost romantic leadership rather than the cold, calculating rationalist leaders are often depicted as.
I think the book does a good job of covering both the good and bad with Churchill. How his unwavering self-belief leads him to defend Jewish people, workers' rights and Hitler yet also failed him in regard to things like women's sufferage, India and the gold standard. It is clear Roberts Is a fan of Churchill but I think he did a good job overall at giving critics a voice.
"One reaching open seas, we forget how we clung to the pilot during the storm"
There is no better title than "Walking with Destiny" for Churchill. At the age of 16, he said "I have dreams about the future. The world is mine for the taking. If only I am to be given the opportunity." Destiny suits Churchill so well as he was at the crossroads of both incredible luck and drive. At a young age, he rewrote famous parliamentary speeches so that he would deliver them. These traits foreshadow what would become one of the greatest individualists of all time.
The book spends lots of time - 25 hours - before it covers Churchill becoming PM. At times it felt quite stale and drew out aspects of Churchill's life and at times felt slightly rushed. But it definitely grasps Churchills style incredibly well. I say he is one of the greatest individualists of all time because his conviction in his own beliefs costed him his career and many opportunities. Yet his foresight into the rise of Nazism and Hitler's looming threat to Europe was course right and his rejection of appeasement to pursue war highlights his almost romantic leadership rather than the cold, calculating rationalist leaders are often depicted as.
I think the book does a good job of covering both the good and bad with Churchill. How his unwavering self-belief leads him to defend Jewish people, workers' rights and Hitler yet also failed him in regard to things like women's sufferage, India and the gold standard. It is clear Roberts Is a fan of Churchill but I think he did a good job overall at giving critics a voice.
"One reaching open seas, we forget how we clung to the pilot during the storm"
mattjorgdbb's review against another edition
3.0
This book has enough information on Churchill to feel at times limitless. All kinds of information from the world changing to the mundane. You get to know what he was eating the night before he made such and such a speech or what he's wearing when or all kinds of things. It paints a very detailed picture and for that reason I won't give it less than three stars.
However, there was one thing that killed the enjoyment of this book. The author felt the need to constantly make excuses for nearly all of Churchill's flaws and always immediately dismisses any Churchill detractor without ever seriously examining the argument. Historical figures are flawed. That's a fact. Many great historical figures were also racist, imperialist warmongers. Churchill was no exception and there really is no need to try and gloss over every one of his flaws. Even the casual fans of history like me know and expect the imperfections and even the serious flaws of great figures. We don't need to pretend.
However, there was one thing that killed the enjoyment of this book. The author felt the need to constantly make excuses for nearly all of Churchill's flaws and always immediately dismisses any Churchill detractor without ever seriously examining the argument. Historical figures are flawed. That's a fact. Many great historical figures were also racist, imperialist warmongers. Churchill was no exception and there really is no need to try and gloss over every one of his flaws. Even the casual fans of history like me know and expect the imperfections and even the serious flaws of great figures. We don't need to pretend.
lbewley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
jonyoung2007's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Reading through the entirety of this book is three years in the making, and I am SO GLAD I came back to it. I may say that it is one of the best, gripping biographies that I have ever read. Anyone who appreciates WW2 History or British History or the man of Winston Churchill should read this book. The language used is not academic but of great storytelling, even though there are lots of details. Also, if you appreciate Churchill’s clever quips, you will find an abundance of them here! The subtitle “Walking with Destiny” is beautifully conveyed in this biography. Roberts tells how Churchill’s lifetime was in such a unique position as one of the last statesmen from the Victorian Era, and carried not only his nation but many of the free peoples of the globe through the devastating world crisis of WW2, never losing sight of hope and resolve, and using his past failures to inform his decisions when they counted the most. Churchill’s quote “never, never, never give in” will stick with me a lot more now, having seen how he lived that mantra throughout his life. I loved reading this book!
wethecenter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.75
ahoureader's review against another edition
Quite a compelling biography. The first third was rather slow, and at times there were long (unnecessary) lists of names. But overall it gave a great portrait of a singular, great figure of history.
xanderzone41's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
4.0