Max Hastings, Warriors

Warriors

Max Hastings

Knopf, Jan 2006, $27.50

ISBN: 1400044413

Selecting fifteen soldiers, ranging from the Napoleonic Wars to the near present, Max Hastings tells the full story of heroes, but not just at the battlefield. Instead he also digs deep into the aftermath of life for supermen (and in one case superwoman) who no longer serve in the military. Readers obtain a fascinating look, that is actually at its best when Mr. Hastings concentrates on lesser known people, instead of for example, the stories of American's Eddie Rickenbacker and Audie Murphy, which have been told in much more depth than here. Still this is an interesting primer that showcases how military heroes need war (no five star generals in peace time) to win acclaim, and how many fail to live up to that highlight film moment once they leave their war fighting glory days behind them.

This book is well written with interesting premises that can be applied intriguingly to sports as much as the battlefield. Most military history buffs will feel Mr. Hastings should have gone deeper into the lives of the less famous heroes, and include some non-western, or at least less Anglo-American warriors, as the few others like the Israeli and Aussie segments feel fresher. Still this is worth the read for those who appreciate a short military biography.