Books about Statesman from Amazon.com

Robert Skidelsky’s three-volume biography of John Maynard Keynes has been acclaimed as the authoritative account of the great economist-statesman’s life. Here, Skidelsky has revised and abridged his magnum opus into one definitive book, which examines in its entirety the intellectual and ideological journey that led an extraordinarily gifted young man to concern himself with the practical problems of an age overshadowed by war. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, John Maynard Keynes offers a sympathetic account of the life and influences of a passionate visionary and an invaluable insight into the economic philosophy that still remains at the center of political and economic thought..
Price: $18.55 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A captivating and fanatically thorough reevaluation of Marshall's life and times..
Price: $18.07 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The American president has come to be the most powerful figure in the world—and back in the nineteenth century a great man held that office. William Lee Miller’s new book closely examines that great man in that hugely important office: Abraham Lincoln as president.

Wars waged by American presidents have come to be pivotal historical events. Here Miller analyzes the commander in chief who coped with the profound moral dilemmas of America’s bloodiest war.

In his acclaimed book Lincoln’s Virtues (“A fascinating account, sensitively written, rich in insight” —Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.), Miller explored Abraham Lincoln’s intellectual and moral development. Now he completes his “ethical biography,” showing the amiable and inexperienced backcountry politician transformed by constitutional alchemy into an oath-bound head of state, slapped in the face from the first minute of his presidency by decisions of the utmost gravity and confronted by the radical moral contradiction left by the nation’s Founders: universal ideals of Equality and Liberty and the monstrous injustice of human slavery.

With wit and penetrating sensitivity, Miller shows us a Lincoln with unusual intellectual power, as he brings together the great themes that will be his legend—preserving the United States of America while ending the odious institution that corrupted the nation’s meaning. Miller finds in this superb politician a remarkable presidential combination: an indomitable resolve, combined with the judgment that keeps it from being mindless stubbornness; and a supreme magnanimity, combined with the discriminating judgment that keeps it from being sentimentality. Here is the realistic war leader persisting after multiple defeats, pressing his generals to take the battle to the enemy, insisting that the objective was the destruction of Lee’s army and not the capture of territory, saying that breath alone kills no rebels, remarking that he regretted war does not admit of holy days, asking whether one could believe that he would strike lighter blows rather than heavier ones, or leave any card unplayed. And here is the pardoner, finding every excuse to keep from shooting the simple soldier boy who deserts. Here too is the eloquent leader who describes the national task in matchless prose, and who rises above vindictiveness and triumphalism as he guides the nation to a new birth of freedom.

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Price: $12.20 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Foreword by Fred Smith, President and CEO, Federal Express

The importance of George Marshall to 20th century American and world history cannot be overstated. And yet Marshall's place in the pantheon of great leaders often goes unrecognized. Eclipsed perhaps by the larger personalities of his contemporaries -- Roosevelt, Churchill, Truman, Eisenhower, Patton -- Marshall was a visionary whose legacy still resonates worldwide. His impact is evident from a look at even a few of his many astonishing accomplishments. For example:

*As Chief of Staff of the United States Army before and during World War II, he oversaw its expansion from a force smaller than Bulgaria's into the mightiest army ever assembled.
* He personally mentored future generals Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, Ridgeway, and others.
* He was the first career soldier ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and was twice named Time magazine's Man of the Year.
* As Secretary of State, he introduced the plan that would literally save Europe from post-war economic ruin: the European Recovery Program, universally known as The Marshall Plan.

Marshall's extraordinary career reflects unparalleled leadership capabilities and consummate skills, which Jack Uldrich has aligned with seven overarching principles. Through shining examples that could only have come from the life of Marshall himself, Soldier, Statesman, Peacemaker outlines these principles and their importance and applicability to today's aspiring leaders.

Uldrich's chronicle of Marshall's stunning record demonstrates the value of:

* Integrity: doing the right thing, "frankly and without evasion"
* Action: mastering the situation by acting swiftly and decisively
* Selflessness: serving the greater good, especially when "the issue is too great" to involve one's personal feelings
* Candor: speaking one's mind and leaving nothing "between the lines"
* Preparation: remembering it's not just about the battles themselves, but laying the groundwork for those battles
* Learning and teaching: "learning how to learn," and sharing the knowledge gained
* Fairness: choosing the right people and seeing that they are rewarded, rather than compromising or settling for mediocrity
* Vision: knowing that every decision must drive the big picture, and "swallowing the little things in order to go to bat on the big ones"
* Caring: considering the interests of your constituents "first, last, and all of the time"

Winston Churchill called Marshall "the organizer of victory" and "the last great American." President Truman called him "the great one of the age." More recently, Tom Brokaw proclaimed him "the godfather of the greatest generation." An illuminating portrait of an undersung hero, Soldier, Statesman, Peacemaker brings the life and achievements of General George C. Marshall front and center -- where they have always belonged..
Price: $9.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A reevaluation of Bismarck's motives and methods, focusing on the chancellor's rise to power in the 1860's and his removal from office in 1890..
Price: $10.36 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A short account of the life and achievements of one of the great figures of history, this volume also serves as an excellent introduction to one of the world's major religions .
Price: $10.74 [Notify me when price goes down.]

In 1912 a young scholar published a slim volume investigating the social structure of the late Roman Republic, which was in due course to transform the study of Roman history The author, Professor Gelzer, went on to hold the Chair of Ancient History at Frankfurt and to become the greatest German-speaking historian of the Roman Republic since Mommsen. In 1921 he published his Caesar, which has by now gone through six editions in Germany and is still the standard account, in any language, of Caesar and his age. It amply fulfills the author's intent "to give the educated public a lively picture of the complete political career of one of the great statesmen of the past." Based on a conscientious evaluation of the abundant source materials--primarily the writings of Caesar and his contemporaries--Professor Gelzer's portrait renders Caesar in heroic proportions, destined and determined from the beginning to overthrow a corrupt aristocracy. The sixth edition (1960), brought up to date and provided with full annotations by the author, is the basis of this translation, which for the first time makes the work available in English. With Professor Gelzer's approval, some minor errors have been corrected, both in the text and in the chronological table and the map at the end of the book, and an analytical index of names has been added..
Price: $22.45 [Notify me when price goes down.]