The Mantle Of Command

FDR at War, 1941–1942

By: Nigel Hamilton

Narrated by: Brad Sanders

Based on years of archival research and interviews with the last surviving aides and Roosevelt family members, Nigel Hamilton offers a definitive account of FDR’s masterful—and underappreciated—command of the Allied war effort. Hamilton takes readers inside FDR’s White House Oval Study—his personal command center—and into the meetings where he battled with Churchill about strategy and tactics and overrode the near mutinies of his own generals and secretary of war.

Time and again, FDR was proven right and his allies and generals were wrong. When the generals wanted to attack the Nazi-fortified coast of France, FDR knew the Allied forces weren’t ready. When Churchill insisted his Far East colonies were loyal and would resist the Japanese, Roosevelt knew it was a fantasy. As Hamilton’s account reaches its climax with the Torch landings in North Africa in late 1942, the tide of war turns in the Allies’ favor and FDR’s genius for psychology and military affairs is clear. This intimate, sweeping look at a great president in history’s greatest conflict is must reading.

Reorienting

Slow start, but excellent. I was surprised by how much I didn’t realize about FDR’s role in WWII, and how much Churchill and his fans have obscured the impediments the Prime Minister presented at times. FDR offers us some genuine and unusual (but potentially dangerous) lessons in leadership.

Franklin and Winston ( from FDR perspective)

I’ve read many Churchill books that were from Churchill perspective. This is the flip side peak behind the curtain of an FDR bio writer. At first it seemed a bit uncomplimentary about Churchill but in the long run the events from both sides are so accurately depicted that it’s like watching a split screen. Adds a lot of depth to the story of these two giants who, together, stopped Hitler and the Nazis.

Very good content

The book content was very good unfortunately the performance was very difficult to listen to

the ability of the author to create an insightful and fascinating narrative of FDR

Nigel Hamilton is an exceptional writer and his research and writing style make for a powerful narrative covering FDR and his war leadership. This is a must read for all those interested in character driven leadership.

Unfortunately like others have noted, the narration is sub par. The narrator often struggled with pronouncing basic phrases and words. In fact it was at times shocking how badly the narrator struggled to get through the book. Not sure how the narrator choice was made but if I was Hamilton I would demand a new voice actor and start again a fresh read.

Excellent

I like this correction to the relationship between Roosevelt and Churchill. Most accounts make Churchill out as the hero of WW2 strategic thinking when this account makes it clear that wasn’t so. Churchill was afraid to cross the Channel and was most concerned about saving his empire. But Roosevelt died and Churchill wrote his account of the war, portraying himself its hero. And the narrator is brilliant!