“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower aka. ‘Ike’ is one of the most titanic names from American history. Born in Texas and raised in Kansas, Eisenhower was a West Point graduate who rose to become the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces during the height of the Second World War. Overseeing successful invasions of North Africa and Sicily, his greatness was forged in the Allied invasions of France and Germany that would bring about the war’s conclusion.
After serving as NATO’s first Supreme Commander, he would become America’s 34th President, winning the 1952 election and overseeing eight years of relative peace and prosperity. A true American great, Eisenhower dominated an era where times and eras collided, chartering the country’s path into the modern age. Join us here at What We Reading to learn more about the man with the best Dwight Eisenhower books!
The Age Of Eisenhower – William I. Hitchcock
In 2017, historians ranked Dwight D. Eisenhower as the fifth-greatest President in US history, only behind the colossal figures of Lincoln, Washington, FDR and Teddy Roosevelt. In his deep-diving and penetrative biography, William I. Hitchcock demonstrates exactly why this glowing record is so richly deserved. Hitchcock whisks readers back to the 1950s in The Age of Eisenhower, showcasing the imprint America’s 34th President left behind on contemporary society, the Cold War and the Oval Office.
Utilising declassified information obtained from the CIA and Eisenhower Library, Hitchcock successfully paints a vivid picture of Eisenhower’s goals, achievements and legacy, demonstrating how and why no other figure came close to dominating the world stage during his lifetime.
Eisenhower: Soldier and President – Stephen E. Ambrose
Presidential biographer and historian Stephen E. Ambrose draws upon an incredible range of source material and first-hand interviews with Dwight Eisenhower himself to bring readers one of the most complete historical character studies ever put to paper in Eisenhower: Soldier and President.
One of the best Eisenhower books for detailing the path from Supreme Commander to President of the United States, Ambrose masterfully demonstrates the life of a man who faced sweeping diverse issues including the Cold War, Civil Rights, atomic weapons and a new global order.
How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower’s Biggest Decisions – Susan Eisenhower
As mentioned above, Dwight D. Eisenhower faced a wide array of complex and divisive issues during his time. So, how did he reach the decisions he would end up making? Susan Eisenhower, one of four grandchildren born under Eisenhower and DC policy strategist, attempts to explain the motives and influences on the man in her book, How Ike Led.
In it, readers are led through some of the biggest decisions Eisenhower was faced with during his time. From Little Rock to D-Day, the Korean War to the Red Scare, Susan Eisenhower explores how an ability to see the broader picture and a fixed set of core principles drove the US’ 34th President during his tenure and would steer the country through eight years of peace and prosperity.
Eisenhower In War And Peace – Jean Edward Smith
Lauded as one of the best historical biographies as well as one of the most compelling Eisenhower books of all time, Eisenhower In War And Peace is Jean Edward Smith’s homage to America’s 34th President as one of the country’s greatest leaders.
Covering everything from his early years as a dreamer in Abilene, Kansas, his masterful leadership of the Allied forces in Normandy to his catapulting to the Oval Office and years in power, it is a complete chronicling of a truly remarkable life. In an effort to provide a fresh perspective on Ike, revealing him to be much more than the glorified caretaker, but rather a savvy and skilled operator whose traditional values helped forge an era of peace and prosperity for the US.
The Supreme Commander – Stephen Ambrose
For extensive coverage on what made Dwight D. Eisenhower one of World War II’s greatest leaders, Stephen Ambrose’s The Supreme Commander: The War Years of Dwight D. Eisenhower is a must-read.
From North Africa to Normandy, Eisenhower overcame conflict from the likes of de Gaulle, Churchill, FDR, Patton and Montgomery to demonstrate his ability as much as a diplomat as a strategist. Ambrose masterfully chronicles Eisenhower’s ascent up the military ranks, utilising access to his official papers to show the reasoning behind his key decisions during the course of the war.
Dwight D. Eisenhower – Tom Wicker
For a book on Dwight Eisenhower that goes very much against the grain, Tom Wicker’s biography on the times of the US’ 34th President certainly makes for a captivating read. In it, Wicker describes how Eisenhower was carried into the Oval Office on a wave of superstardom after leading the Allies to victory in the war.
But, whilst his tenure is often viewed through nostalgic lenses, Wicker argues that Ike’s ‘keeping the peace’ would only do more damage to the country in the long run. The emergence of McCarthyism, the escalation of the Cold War, a deteriorating economy and Civil Rights unrest all followed Eisenhower during his presidency, and Wicker puts the President’s reputation under the microscope in this scathing retrospect.
Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Battle To Save The World – Evan Thomas
In Ike’s Bluff, Evan Thomas tells the incredible story of how Dwight D. Eisenhower and one simple tact may have prevented a nuclear holocaust. Upon taking up the presidency in 1953, Eisenhower set about fulfilling his campaign promise of ending the controversial Korean War. In order to do this, he took the ultimate gamble by claiming that he was prepared to use nuclear weapons against China.
What followed was a tense jostling between trigger-happy generals and a Cold War world that was holding its breath. A decision that could have cost millions but ended up saving thousands of lives, Thomas’ remarkable tale illuminates a lesser-known period of American history and demonstrates Eisenhower’s underappreciated political nouse.
Ike & Dick: Portrait of a Strange Political Marriage – Jeffrey Frank
Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon had one of the most significant, albeit peculiar, relationships in American political history. Jeffrey Frank lifts the lid on this relationship in his book, Ike & Dick: Portrait of a Strange Political Marriage.
A professional and private relationship that spanned twenty years, it was a dynamic that endured through misunderstandings, age and temperament. Ike & Dick is a sweeping narrative that whisks readers into the heart of the relationship between the two most influential modern Republicans, exploring how differing political ideologies were brought together through a marriage that united their families.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
