New York Times Book Review "A well-written, insightful portrait of a commander whose occasional military genius vied with an overweening ego that alienated his superiors in Washington and led to his eventual downfall." Wall Street Journal "Mark Perry''s enjoyable The Most Dangerous Man in America amply captures the general''s ''proud and egotistical' streak." Washington Post "The author offers a vivid and convincing recounting of MacArthur's tremendous skill as a pioneer of air-land-sea battle in the Pacific, along with ample evidence that ''proud and egotistical' MacArthur ''was his own worst enemy.'" Boston Globe "A deft portrayal centered mainly on MacArthur's World War II years." Foreign Affairs "Without ever denying MacArthur's flaws and mistakes, Perry revives the general's reputation by carefully and positively appraising his role in some of the war's key moments." Dallas Morning News "Perry sets out to demonstrate how FDR ''tamed and used' the general as the principal tool that would defeat the Japanese. Perry accomplishes this efficiently through an entertaining narrative that will satisfy MacArthur's defenders." Christian Science Monitor "A perceptive, authoritative biography of the legendary general.
" Washington Independent Review of Books "A riveting and accessible biography of General Douglas MacArthur.simultaneously providing insights into his behavior and filling in needed and appropriate biographical nuggets in order to illuminate his bigger than life persona. A noble portrait of an often misunderstood and complex 20th-century American. Without diminishing the humanity of the book's central protagonist, Perry captures the conundrum of being a great man and presents a story that is full of its own kind of romance and adventure." Shelf Awareness for Readers "A compelling, succinct account of a deeply flawed but brilliant leader, a man seemingly created for the circumstances through which he lived. With fluid prose and fascinating personalities, The Most Dangerous Man in America should appeal to military history and biography buffs alike." Roanoke Times "Perry's skill as a storyteller brings the reader into the action of MacArthur and the officers with whom he interacted, and those who were relegated to talking with MacArthur's adjutant, Richard Sutherland.[ The Most Dangerous Man in America ] is certain to have an impact on those who read it, and they will come away with a better understanding of the challenges of the Pacific campaign.
" Buffalo News "Perry undertakes a thorough re-examination of MacArthur's role in World War II, with the goal of bursting the myth promoted by Roosevelt's inner circle that this dangerous, uncontainable commander, and possible Republican foe, deserves the judgment accorded him by modern historians.In making his case, Perry dazzles in his telling of the Pacific narrative through the eyes of his general.That is Perry's story and he tells it superbly: The political infighting, the inter-service rivalry, the president who favored the Navy, all overlaid on the internal bickering within MacArthur's talented and high-powered staff." Booklist "An excellent.limited examination of MacArthur's life in the critical years preceding and including WWII.informative and easily digestible." Kirkus "A study of quiet authority. A majestic overview with an engaging sense of the nuance of character.
" Library Journal "A gripping read, this book will be valuable to the novice and specialist alike." Publishers Weekly "[Perry] provocatively reinterprets the volatile relationship between F.D.R. and Gen. Douglas MacArthur." Lewis Sorley, author of A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam "Second only to his monumental self-regard was Douglas MacArthur's ability to polarize those who encountered him. Thus Mark Perry's achievement in this even-handed and insightful assessment is all the more remarkable.
Concentrating on the events of World War II, he reveals in telling detail the strengths and weaknesses of this most controversial military figure." David Crist, Senior Historian, Joint Chiefs of Staff "The book is extremely well-written and the story simply enthralling. It pulls you in from the first page. Mark Perry has written balanced, accurate book on one of the most important men in American military history. If there is one biography to read about Douglas MacArthur, this is it." John Prados, Author of Islands of Destiny: The Solomons Campaign and the Eclipse of the Rising Sun "Mark Perry intrigues with his inquiry into Douglas MacArthur, one of the most fascinating, frustrating characters in modern U.S. history.
In The Most Dangerous Man in America , Perry not only illuminates General MacArthur's actions and motives in the Depression-era U.S. Army and World War II, he shows MacArthur's human side, sheds new light on the relationship between him and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, reframes FDR's wartime leadership, and gives deserved attention to such comrades as Robert L. Eichelberger. Don't miss this fresh vision of the general who returned to the Philippines." Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs "A pleasure to read, Mark Perry''s The Most Dangerous Man in America is a revealing and topical biography on arguably the greatest general in American history. It shows MacArthur at the pinnacle of greatness and the nadir of vanity--usually simultaneously--during the most critical periods of the Japanese campaign in WWII.
Replete with new information, insights and perspective on this most enigmatic of American generals, MacArthur''s legend is thoroughly but respectfully dissembled to show him, and the generation of political and military leaders that won WWII, as petty, vindictive but brilliant military strategists and ruthless political infighters. Mark Perry''s well-balanced book stands far above the crowded collection of official military histories, biographies, hagiographies and analyses of General Douglas MacArthur and should be mandatory reading for those that aspire to command--that most humbling of military experiences--at any level." Eliot Cohen, author of Supreme Command and Conquered Into Liberty "MacArthur''s reputation has been in eclipse for some time. Mark Perry restores much of it in this vivid and compelling account of his career before Korea. Without scanting MacArthur''s faults and failures, he makes a convincing case that during World War II he was not merely an able but at times a brilliant commander." David Kaiser, author of The Road to Dallas: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy "A balanced and wide-ranging portrait of one of the United States'' most brilliant and controversial military leaders, reminding us that MacArthur had great strengths as well as weaknesses.".