xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Franklin D. Roosevelt was born in 1882 in New York. He came from a wealthy family, and attended boarding schools and Harvard College. He came down with polio, which wound up essentially paralyzing him. He married his 5th cousin, and also engaged in a series of affairs. He served as the 32nd President of the United States of America from 1933 to 1945. He was a very capable politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and implemented a lot of programs that made up the New Deal in the era of the Great Depression. He was also president for the majority of World War II.
Winston Churchill was born in 1874 in England. He was a member of the British aristocracy, and attended several boarding schools. He joined the Royal Military Academy, eventually serving in Sudan, Cuba, and India. He began working in the House of Commons in 1901. He did a lot of other things in his political career as well. Eventually, he served as Prime Minister during World War II.
These men had a lot of similarities. Both were leaders of powerful nations during World War II. Both had been born into wealthy elite families. Both had attended boarding schools and prestigious colleges. Both had strong political careers. The first time the two met was prior to World War II, at Gray's in 1918. Roosevelt was working for the United States Naval Department and Churchill was the First Lord of the Admiralty. They met again in 1939 when Roosevelt initiated conversation about working together in Naval matters and war issues. The book goes over their communications and strategies, but also makes the comment that Roosevelt was a better politician than Churchill. I'm not sure that is as nice of a compliment as it sounds. It also makes the statement that Churchill was a better man morally than Roosevelt, which may be the case. I knew of their working relationship in passing, because they obviously communicated a great deal and spent a decent amount of time together while the war was ongoing. If you have two leaders on the same side of a global conflict, they will obviously have to communicate to work together. I didn't realize that they had a more intimate friendship than coworkers, and thought this book was really informative about that. I like this author and the way he communicates his facts and his story together.
Winston Churchill was born in 1874 in England. He was a member of the British aristocracy, and attended several boarding schools. He joined the Royal Military Academy, eventually serving in Sudan, Cuba, and India. He began working in the House of Commons in 1901. He did a lot of other things in his political career as well. Eventually, he served as Prime Minister during World War II.
These men had a lot of similarities. Both were leaders of powerful nations during World War II. Both had been born into wealthy elite families. Both had attended boarding schools and prestigious colleges. Both had strong political careers. The first time the two met was prior to World War II, at Gray's in 1918. Roosevelt was working for the United States Naval Department and Churchill was the First Lord of the Admiralty. They met again in 1939 when Roosevelt initiated conversation about working together in Naval matters and war issues. The book goes over their communications and strategies, but also makes the comment that Roosevelt was a better politician than Churchill. I'm not sure that is as nice of a compliment as it sounds. It also makes the statement that Churchill was a better man morally than Roosevelt, which may be the case. I knew of their working relationship in passing, because they obviously communicated a great deal and spent a decent amount of time together while the war was ongoing. If you have two leaders on the same side of a global conflict, they will obviously have to communicate to work together. I didn't realize that they had a more intimate friendship than coworkers, and thought this book was really informative about that. I like this author and the way he communicates his facts and his story together.
lizbusby's review against another edition
3.0
I'm on record as not being the biggest fan of WWII books. I've read a lot of them, they are generally depressing, and there's literally hundreds of years of other history being neglected by authors. But you know who I will read a WWII book for? Winston Churchill. I love his witty way with words, even though he's not the best person ever. And so it was interesting to look at this familiar part of history from the perspective of the importance of the relationship between these two men.
This book kind of falls into the "great men" view of history, which to my understanding is out of favor. But it makes a good case that at least some of the outcomes of the war would not have been possible without the personal touch of these two men. Particularly striking was Franklin's willingness to absolutely turn on Winston and mock him mercilessly to win over Stalin. He really was a shrewd, scheming politician. Would the Cold War have happened as it did if Franklin hadn't died right before the war's ending? And Churchill's hurt feelings on being ousted from office immediately after the end of the war were very relatable.
Overall, a unique take on a familiar part of history, putting a personal touch on events that can sometimes be feel abstract and inevitable.
This book kind of falls into the "great men" view of history, which to my understanding is out of favor. But it makes a good case that at least some of the outcomes of the war would not have been possible without the personal touch of these two men. Particularly striking was Franklin's willingness to absolutely turn on Winston and mock him mercilessly to win over Stalin. He really was a shrewd, scheming politician. Would the Cold War have happened as it did if Franklin hadn't died right before the war's ending? And Churchill's hurt feelings on being ousted from office immediately after the end of the war were very relatable.
Overall, a unique take on a familiar part of history, putting a personal touch on events that can sometimes be feel abstract and inevitable.
alaspooriorek's review against another edition
3.0
So, this was my first Meacham book and I quite enjoyed it. There wasn't much new information here for me, but Meacham writing style was pleasant (though a bit repetitive). Interesting book. 3.5/5 stars.
xanderzone41's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
emersonernest's review against another edition
5.0
I resisted reading this because I made an assumption that (forgive my crassness) it would be a book about two wealthy, privileged, powerful, anglo-saxons jerking each other off.
I've read a lot about World War II, the 20th century, Churchill and FDR, etc, etc, etc. The title lead me astray. I should never have assumed such a thing.
This is an excellently researched and presented book on the how a complicated personal dynamic between two leaders shaped their countries and the world. As much as possible Meacham tries to use a person's own words to describe an event they took place in which is hard to do for both Churchill and Roosevelt, because one wrote so much about his every thought and one so little.
More books than I can possibly read have been written about these two men. I am so thankful I read this one because Meacham shows how much the relationship of these two men impacted world events, and for however much you study these events knowing the personalities behind certain decisions certainly explains much of WWII, the 20th century and the world we live in today.
I've read a lot about World War II, the 20th century, Churchill and FDR, etc, etc, etc. The title lead me astray. I should never have assumed such a thing.
This is an excellently researched and presented book on the how a complicated personal dynamic between two leaders shaped their countries and the world. As much as possible Meacham tries to use a person's own words to describe an event they took place in which is hard to do for both Churchill and Roosevelt, because one wrote so much about his every thought and one so little.
More books than I can possibly read have been written about these two men. I am so thankful I read this one because Meacham shows how much the relationship of these two men impacted world events, and for however much you study these events knowing the personalities behind certain decisions certainly explains much of WWII, the 20th century and the world we live in today.
pncurtis's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the dichotomy drawn between the two characters. I became a huge Churchill fan after reading this book.
eagray88's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
meacham creates non-fiction books that entertain and not just inform. i loved learning about their complicated friendship between churchill and roosevelt. oh his was my first of meacham’s books, but it won’t be my last.