This extensive read is a broad brush stroke for the reader who is looking for a landscape portrait about the man as if it were written by him personally. The book begins coverage tracing his pre-history origin shedding light on the beginnings of his psycological make up then on thru his living influences leaving the reader with a good understanding of Winston and his personality as Winston lived it. Suffering thee, as he puts it "The Black Dog" for most of his life it becomes clear to the reader that he did live his role in life beyond just satisfying his personal ego (unlike most politicians), though his ego was not anything small it did gain it's personal satisfactions and it's blows.

Much like his life the book is long and never boring.

This is a book which I value tremendously. Rarely are books so well written as this; and whatever Churchill wrote in 1897 in this account still holds very much true, if not more so, for the context of this narrative. Were I to write an account on this subject today, it would hardly differ from Churchill's. His opinions are still very much valid, and those who value truthful methods of analysis are well aware of this. This book must not be spurned by experts. Given the nature of the current overall situation prevailing in this region and its effect on the rest of the world, this book becomes more important than ever as a reference primer.

I cannot prove empirically that the words above these comments are unimpeachably accurate; I would however wager that were there such a system to track how often the words of one person are quoted by another, Sir Winston Spencer Churchill would rival all competitors. There are many reasons for this position, the length of his life, the events he was in the midst of, and the manner by which he memorialized all he was involved in. In the 100 years The Nobel Prize For Literature has been given out, it has been given only 6 times to English authors, and he is one of them.

His was born when Queen Victoria sat on the throne of England, and he died when President Lyndon Johnson was serving his second year as President of The United States. There were very few years he was not in the public's eye, and very few moments he was out of the midst of current events. Even the so called, "wilderness years", would become integral in his being prepared to defend The Western Democracies from the threats posed by WWII, and the men who left England horribly exposed. It is too much to say that his words alone carried England through her finest and darkest hours, but that his words were integral cannot be argued.

Sir Winston was a great believer in reading the quotations of history's great personages and then following those quotes through to more detailed biographies. Like Disraeli before him who stated one should read biography to learn history, Churchill often took the very same path. He was never concerned with how History would view him, for has often been quoted he stated, "I will write it". Write it he did, and even if he had not, with his words so ever present in the speeches of those who are in the public arena, and writers of all genres whether fiction or non-fiction, this man would never have been forgotten by History.

There are seemingly endless books about Churchill and collections of wide varieties of his utterances. As a person who has read many of these books, I can say confidently that this pocket size version is well worth your while, contains many of his better known bon mots, and while specific wording will vary with those that record his words from a variety of sources, I found only one or two that seemed to turn a word differently than I had read before.

Few lives have stretched nearly a century, fewer still a century as dramatic as the 20th. He was there for the sunset of the 19th, the dawn of the 20th, and as his lengthy life allowed him to experience the majority of the tumultuous 20th Century. The History of our World has seen few like him, and with our modern penchant for destroying those in one moment who we hold in such tenuous esteem only a breath before, it may be a very long time until his kind is seen once again.

Like the TV series on which they are based, the series of
"Biography" books are accessible approaches to the men and
women on whom they focus. (They are also a great marketing idea.
Give that boy/girl a raise!) Each volume is written by a
well-known and/or respected author; "Winston Churchill" was penned by James Humes, whose past achievements include two other tomes on Sir Winston. The books are pithy and pleasing, highlighting and spotlighting (in concise detail) its subject, and not shrinking away from controversy or scandal. The photos are terrific; the layouts are done in that appealing, yet not over-the-top, DK style. Think of these books as printed soundbytes that are as interesting and insightful and welcome as their small-screen counterparts.

An intelligent and penetrating examination of Churchill's seldom studied views on empire and relations with the developing world. Delightfully written, it will appeal to the Churchilll specailist and casual reader alike.

This volume is the finest hour in the massive "official" biography which was started in the mid 1960's by Winston's son Randolf and continues to this day with the relese of the "document" volumes of the later years of Churchill's life.

Most of the narritive volumes in the biography (there are eight) nessasarily cover a long period of time; after all, Churchill lived into his ninth decade. But Finest Hour covers only a little over two years, from September of 1939 to Pear Harbour in 1941. They were, however, two of the most important years in Churchill's life. There were also two of the most important years for the free world.

This volume, like the others in the series, is magnificently written and reproduces the drama and fear of living in those deadly times. From the begining of the second world war to the entry of the United States in the conflict, every action of Churchill is closely examined. Particular attention is paid to the spring, summer and fall of 1940, as Churchill readied his nation for invasion even as he inspired his people to never surrender. Churchill would say that that that summer would be his nations finest hour, when the tiny Island stood up alone againsed the most deadlly power in the world, and won. Gilbert's message is clear: yes, it was the nation's finest hour, but it was also Churchill's. Only he could lead the nation, not only because of his moral position (he had opposed Hitler from the begining) and oratical skills but also because, after appeasement, his nation wanted to beleive in him. He gave them something to believe in.

The book is highly detailed, at times going to an actual day by day description of Churchill's life. The casual reader who simply wants to learn more about Churchill would do well to read Gilberts one volume Churchill: a life or William Manchester's biography. But for anyone truly interested in World War Two and how the allies won, this book is a must read. More importantly, if anyone wonders why Churchill will soon be named man of the century, reading this bok will provide all the answers.

It is without question the finest biography of its kind that I have ever read.

Winston Churchill does a terrific job detailing his life as a young man in his autobiography, "My Early Life". What make this such a great book is the way Churchill writes: it is rather informal, as if he is talking directly to you. Churchill describes certain experiences in his past so vividly it is like they were fresh in his mind from having just happened. An important feature to this book is that it includes certain incites that cannot be found in any history book. You can learn much from this book. It comes from the mind of an experienced British cavalry officer, journalist, and politician. It is full of stories and special accounts that are never uninteresting. To read and enjoy this book it is not required to know anything about the man, Winston Churchill. Anyone from a high school student to a renowned historian will enjoy reading this book.

My Early Life : 1874-1904 is highly recommended to young people, History buffs, political aspirants, and those with a fetish for biography. Not required to enjoy this book is prior knowledge of the author, the book is strong enough to stand on it's own. Churchill's clear and at times humorous narration was particularly enjoyable; I could almost hear the British bulldog speaking in my ear. An informative and easy read that moves at a good pace as it covers childhood to the early days in the House of commons, the reader is left with a concise picture of Churchill's formative years. The combination of Churchill literary talents and his amazing exploits are truly a winner.

"My Early Life" is an excellent book. This work is the first in which Winston Churchill offers details on his escape from captivity at the hands of the Boers in 1899, some thirty years after the fact. In an earlier work, "From London to Ladysmith via Pretoria", Churchill gives a great narrative of his capture and internment during that conflict, but had to leave out many of the details of his escape because of the danger a full account would have posed to those people who had helped him in the successful attempt. "My Early Life" also takes a couple of steps back from the original journalistic accounts Churchill wrote, adds more of the background, and reveals the political and social intrigue that formed and guided British military and social circles when the British Empire was at its peak. The best part of "My Early Life", for anyone who is at all familiar with the recorded speeches of Winston Churchill, is that the writing "sounds" like the man, the sentences flowing with an air of granduer that demonstrate the superb command of the English language which Churchill possessed. This is not an easy book to read, but the persistent reader will be rewarded with some of the highest caliber prose ever put to paper by a soldier turned journalist turned politician. This book is a must read.

This ought to be a terrific book. Winston Churchill led a fascinating life and shaped the history of a time with many lessons for our own. John Keegan is a wonderful military historian whose book "In the Face of Battle" I still assign to students. Moreover, there is a real need for a biography of Churchill with a military emphasis. I plunged into this book with enthusiasm after having waded through the parliamentary detail of Roy Jenkins's Churchill biography. But this is very ordinary. It provides a competent sketch of well-known information, and would not make a bad introduction for someone unfamiliar with the man or the time. That merits several stars. But it does not go beyond that; tracing the intricate interweaving of the political, moral, and military strands that enabled this leader to stand almost alone against tyranny and to hold his country with him remains a challenge to future biographers. Part of the problem may be that Keegan's greatest strength as a writer is his ability to recreate small moments of history in amazingly vivid detail. Perhaps a series of vignettes of crucial moments in Churchill's career would have suited Keegan's talents better.

As with the entire Penguin Lives series, this book was written by an expert who was given the challenge of sharing his knowledge in less than 200 pages. John Keegan succeeds brilliantly. As an expert on World War II, Keegan has written many wonderful and insightful books and this is no exception despite the literary constraints placed upon him. His clear and beautiful prose make the book a quick and enjoyable read, but he does not sacrifice information. I did not know a lot about Churchill before reading this book, but now I feel that I have a good understanding for his achievements and why he was so significant in his own time. It is a fabulous book for an amateur historian who does not want to spend dozens of hours wading through a biography several volumes long and simply wants to know significant events and some good analysis by a renowned historian. A wonderful, well written, and interesting book.

Well, I haven't read them all, but I have read quite a few, and I think John Keegan's brief life of Churchill is magnificent. Keegan's expertise on military history adds much to our understanding of Churchill. Through Keegan's lens, we see how Churchill's early experiences in Cuba, India, Sudan, and South Africa were truly formative, rather than mere adventures (and opportunities to earn money through journalism). Similarly, Keegan's explanation of the Gallipoli affair helped me understand for the first time why it brought Churchill such ignomy; conversely, my appreciation for Churchill rose even higher as Keegan clearly laid out how Churchill prepared the British fleet for war against the Kaiser. Keegan also shines light on a usually unremarked upon episode of Churchill's life: his months spent in the trenchs on the Western front during the Great War. I have read the (sadly uncompleted) Manchester and the Gilbert tomes, and I highly recommend this little volume as either an introduction to Churchill or as a tasty treat to those who already admire the great man. I ALSO RECOMMEND PURCHASING AN AUDIO CD OR CASSETTE OF CHURCHILL'S WARTIME SPEECHES (AVAILABLE HERE AT AMAZON).

Oftentimes in recorded history a leader emerges as literally the "right man at the right time", a godsend for a country desperately in need of leadership after being led to the brink of disaster. Churchill was such a leader, and Britain desperately needed him in 1939 as Hitler's armies blitzed into Poland while Chamberlain stood by powerless to stop him.

This abridged memoir of the conflict by Churchill, one of the most dynamic personalities of the last century, is a fascinating profile of leadership, offering a unique glimpse into the problems faced by the Allies as the war destroyed the shaky peace of Versailles.

Here is Churchill in all his bravado, bemoaning Britain's woefull lack of preparation, and discussing in shocking detail the problems faced by the Allies as Britain joined the conflict and tried without success to keep the Nazis out of France. You are there as Churchill finds out, to his amazement, that the French have no reserves after the Maginot Line is pierced and the Germans head, unopposed, toward Paris. You understand the tremendous burden faced by Britain as Churchill explains the efficiency of the german war machine, churning out tanks and u-boats on a daily basis at the outbreak of the war while pacifist Britain's military industry had literally ground to a halt.

This is not a battle by battle narrative of every major conflict, and the Pacific theater is in particular given short attention as Britain played a relatively minor role there. Readers interested in the specifics of troop movements, maps, etc. should look elsewhere. However Churchill provides fascinating glimpses into the leaders of the Allied powers, recounting Stalin's relentless demand that Britain and the U.S. open a second front to divert attention away from Hitler's armies. And every American's heart will swell as Churchill expresses the pride and confidence he felt as the Americans entered the war: "Hitler's fate was sealed. Mussolini's fate was sealed. As for the Japanese, they would be ground to powder. All the rest was merely the proper application of overwhelming force." Churchill's words here, and the exerpts of his speeches to Parliament, are as stirring now as they were 58 years ago when he pumped courage into the British as they endured countless bombing raids.

The book has its lapses. It seems like Churchill at times seems a little too interested in presenting his arguments for or against certain operations, (and of course as the author he is usually right), and the abridgement here seems to devote more attention to relatively minor battles like Tobruk than to the Normandy invasion and the liberation of France. However any history buff will want to consider this book required reading for a fuller understanding of WWII.

He said of this work, "This is not history, this is my case." That is, it's his viewpoint on events, and to some degree, his justification for the actions he took during the war. He was too modest. This is also great history from the pen of a man who was not only a great statesman and war leader, but a gifted writer. To read it is a pleasure--and a bit sad since it underlines the decline in letters since Churchill's generation. Only his speeches are more inspiring. For the few remaining purists among us, I would recommend the full six volume set, but much is captured in this condensed version. Get it and learn not only history, but the proper use of English.

Winston Churchill's 'Memoirs of the Second World War,' is one of the most illuminating works on the subject ever written. Churchill tells the story of the war from the massive rearmament of Germany in the thirties to the final victory over the forces of fascism. As a general history of the war it is understandably one-sided, but as a wartime memoir it succeeds on many levels. The feelings of the British Prime Minister on the strategies, soldiers, enemies, and allies of the war are brought to the foreground with an amazing command of language. Churchill justifies many of the more controversial decsions of the war including his stand on British rearmament before the war, the terror bombing of German cities, the 'unconditional surrender' policy of the allies, and the use of the Atomic bomb. This is a finely crafted work that is a tribute to a man who could make history as well as write it.

This book is an excellent compendium of the wit of Winston Churchill. Often acerbic, frequently self-deprecating, but always humorous and witty while exactly on point, Churchill's humor and wit collected in this book would be of great value even to professional comedy writers. The book also tells much about the man, Churchill, himself, and his inner strength, sense of proportion, his mastery of the English language and his uncanny ability to use the English language masterfully and to its maximum affect -- the qualities that made Churchill such an effective and potent world leader during the bleakest days of World War II.

Winston Churchill is one of the greatest men of our or any other time. His intelligence, wit, humor and clarity of thought is well captured in this great little book. It's broken down into several sections and it's a quick read. It's a book that I keep going back to!

A wonderful album for a wonderful man. Many little verbal snapshots, but I couldn't break off reading. Lots of good reasons for reading this book. For history. For style in speaking and writing. For political insight. For personal strength. Just don't come expecting a shrine. It cites the words that saved the world. But this book, like the author's Wit and Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, moves from quotations to essays, and eventually to sometimes titillating and often hilarious annecdotes. This deviltry brings his subjects closer to us -- what's closer seems larger. This is an enlarging book.