Jackson: The Iron-Willed Commander by Paul Vickery

Genre- History/Military/General

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Series- The Generals

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 235

Age Group- Adult and younger

Description of Book- hardback, list price $19.99, ISBN 978-1-5955-5454-3

Andrew Jackson was a husband, bureaucrat, and general in the early 1800’s.

Paul Vickery uses quotes from various people in Andrew Jackson’s life which gives a better picture of his life.  This book focuses on Jackson’s life as a military leader from the War of 1812 to the uprisings against the Creeks, Choctaws, Cherokees, Chickasaws, and Seminoles.  As a general he always stood by his troops and did what they did.  He was a man who never changed his mind and could be quite unforgiving.

He was “Old Hickory.”

Author- Paul Vickery is an ordained minister, Professor of History at Oral Roberts University, and presents historical characters in a Chautauqua format.  He and his wife enjoy travel

My Thoughts- I liked this book better than some of the other books I have read in the series, because of the attention to using quotes from Andrew Jackson and the people he knew during his lifetime.  It was especially nice that Paul Vickery mentioned it in the prologue.  That was when I knew that I was going to enjoy the rest of the book and I did.

I must say that I really learned a lot about early American history from this book.  I didn’t remember reading about Jackson’s involvement with the removal American Indians in my history textbooks in school.  It mentioned that many still don’t like him and I don’t blame them.

I was really excited when I was looking in the back of the book and I saw a list of the other books in the series. 

I really enjoyed this book.  Go pick up a copy today! 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Jackson: The Iron-Willed Commander by Paul Vickery for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze Review Bloggers Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Grant- The Generals Series by Mitchell Yockelson

Genre- History/Military/General

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 194

Age Group- Adult and younger

Description of Book- hardback, list price $19.99, ISBN 978-1-5955-5452-9

Ulysses Grant has been called many things and one of them is a great general of the Union Army.  He probably never thought he would be general in chief when he was younger, because he reluctantly went to West Point and resigned from the army at 32.

Grant decided during the beginning of the Civil War to help the troops in Illinois and he was reinstated into the army and used his knowledge to help win the war for the Union. 

He is portrayed as a defender of the U.S. with common sense and determination.

Author- Mitchell Yockelson is an instructor of history at the United State Navel Academy and Norwich University and an Investigative Archivist at the National Archives and Records Administration.  He has a doctorate from the Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University.  He has written another book MacArthur: America’s General, which is part of the General’s Series.

My Thoughts- The books in this series have been interesting and simple enough that they could be read as “living books” in a history class and so does this one.  This book would work for most grades either reading aloud or silent reading.  I have begun to read this book to my first and third grade children and they want me to read more.

I enjoyed learning information I didn’t know about my distant cousin, like how he really didn’t have a drinking problem and how his name changed to Ulysses S. Grant.  I know this series is about generals, but I would have enjoyed learning more about his presidency. 

I highly recommend this book as recreational reading or to be read in school.  I just wish there was a list of other books in the series listed in this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Grant: Savior of the Union by Mitchell Yockelson for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze Review Bloggers Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.