Rating: 
Summary: Epic use of language
Review: The most valuable asset this book has isn't Churchill's narration of the "gathering storm" and the rise of Hitler, but his exquisite English prose. It's definetely a book to read, not only for Historians and history fans, but for anyone who wishes to read a top-notch narration with a top-notch language. I must warn, though, that this is not as "internationally" focused as other books are. Whilst other authors such as Kershaw or Shirer may focus on the German domestic politics, and whilst other historians concentrate on the internatioanl relations in the period, Churchill's approach is more centered towards his British political life and his career in England. It's lengthy but not impossible. It's not a light reading book, but most certainly enjoyable. I would not recommend this book to anyone who isn't seriously or academically interested in this historical period, for there are bounteous amount of books that cover the same in a more concise way. All and all, Churchill's language is perfect. It gives you the insight of an eye witness at the time, but the reader must take it with a pinch of salt, for Churchill's background, as well as the mood at the time, heavily influence his books.
Rating: 
Summary: The origins of the world's most terrible war
Review: The Second World War by Winston S. Churchill is THE work on the conflict. Churchill's graceful command of the English language, his personal role in the conduct of the war, and the broad scope of the work, from the origins of the war to its execution, make this the best book on the topic. This first book in the series explains the causes of the war to the reader. One of the most powerful passages is a one page summary of Hitler's philosophy as set forth in MEIN KAMPF - Churchill read Hitler's book, and, unlike his contemporaries in the Western democracies, the British leader very clearly understood the threat Hitler posed to the world. Rated the number one book on leadership in time of war by HUMAN EVENTS in 2004, The Second World War will take about a month to read (for someone with a job and family) - time well invested in understanding the massive conflict of the 20th Century that still shapes our globe. As a once and future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (he was defeated in 1945) Churchill's easy access to documents, world leaders and generals made him uniquely suited to this ambitious task. I doubt any other mere author of the day could have filled one volume of the six he wrote.
Rating:
Summary: The origins of the world's most terrible war
Review: The Second World War by Winston S. Churchill is THE work on the conflict. Churchill's graceful command of the English language, his personal role in the conduct of the war, and the broad scope of the work, from the origins of the war to its execution, make this the best book on the topic. This first book in the series explains the causes of the war to the reader. One of the most powerful passages is a one page summary of Hitler's philosophy as set forth in MEIN KAMPF - Churchill read Hitler's book, and, unlike his contemporaries in the Western democracies, the British leader very clearly understood the threat Hitler posed to the world. Rated the number one book on leadership in time of war by HUMAN EVENTS in 2004, The Second World War will take about a month to read (for someone with a job and family) - time well invested in understanding the massive conflict of the 20th Century that still shapes our globe. As a once and future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (he was defeated in 1945) Churchill's easy access to documents, world leaders and generals made him uniquely suited to this ambitious task. I doubt any other mere author of the day could have filled one volume of the six he wrote.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book is simply excellent. Winston Churchill is one who has a brilliant first-hand experience and does a great job sharing it with us. One of the hallmarks of this book is its ability to keep the reader interested through real-life accounts of the times of war; in the War Rooms and in the minds of men. It is also truly fascinating to watch as the whole of Europe fall prey to a nation which had been summarily defeated only a few decades prior. Winston is very good at pointing out the mistakes made by victorious nations in rebuilding the defeated. While Britain and the U.S. tried to help Germany get back on its legs after WWI, we were really helping them prepare to make war once again. One particular interest I had was the treaties that were made, and constantly broken by the Germans. Perhaps never in recent history had a nation been so cynical in signing and then throwing its alliances away when it saw fit. The nation had truly turned into a thing of evil. I will caution the reader about two points. Do not read this book unless you are prepared to see Germany, France and a bit of the U.S. in perhaps a new, and darkly colored light. All of these nations are at fault for a number of things during the war. Winston holds nothing back in letting the reader know how simply horrible Germany was at that time, how weak France was, and how the U.S. was far too hesitant and should have come to Britain's aid sooner than it had. A final note of caution, do not expect the Art of War. This book rarely delves into the real thought process as to why decisions were made. It tells of the emotions but not of the decision making process in a number of situations where it would have fit in well. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, and its making.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating look at the build-up to WWII
Review: This book's true value rests in its spotlight upon Neville Chamberlain, a man truly ahead of his time and a genius of world geopolitics. When faced with a terrorist threat from Germany, Chamberlain's very first thought was, "Why does he hate us?" Chamberlain then based his every succeeding action upon the premise there must have been something wrong with his own society and way of life, and he went out of his way to appease the terrorist, to give him more time, to allow inspectors to do their jobs and so forth. Contrasted with all the savages who suggest that the German terrorist should have been killed early in the game, Chamberlain's exemplary diplomatic behavior (consulting others, forming a coalition to sit and observe, and so on) was the prototype model for the sort of diplomacy that a significant number of people today believe is the way to deal with aggressive terrorists. We saw exactly how well that strategy worked for Chamberlain, thanks to Winston Churchill's excellent chronicle.
Rating:
Summary: An Under-Appreciated Star of History: Chamberlain
Review: This book's true value rests in its spotlight upon Neville Chamberlain, a man truly ahead of his time and a genius of world geopolitics. When faced with a terrorist threat from Germany, Chamberlain's very first thought was, "Why does he hate us?" Chamberlain then based his every succeeding action upon the premise there must have been something wrong with his own society and way of life, and he went out of his way to appease the terrorist, to give him more time, to allow inspectors to do their jobs and so forth. Contrasted with all the savages who suggest that the German terrorist should have been killed early in the game, Chamberlain's exemplary diplomatic behavior (consulting others, forming a coalition to sit and observe, and so on) was the prototype model for the sort of diplomacy that a significant number of people today believe is the way to deal with aggressive terrorists. We saw exactly how well that strategy worked for Chamberlain, thanks to Winston Churchill's excellent chronicle.
Rating:
Summary: TOP NOTCH
Review: What else would you expect from the most important man of our time. The fact that he could write in such a readable, totally acurate way is the great streangth of this book. If ever there was someone who could say I TOLD YOU SO, it is Mr. Churchil
Rating:
Summary: Don¿t forget that Churchill could write, as well
Review: Winston Churchill may slowly be being forgotten as one of the twentieth century's most prolific writers. Those who learn about him today, if they hear his name at all, usually discover that he was a British Prime Minister, and little more. Even the fact that it was he who put the War Cabinet together in 1940, which managed to hold out both strategically and psychologically against Hitler, is slowly fading. "We will fight them on the beaches..." is slowly becoming merged with the sounds of popular music, and the original sense being lost. Whether that is a good thing or not, I hardly know. Yet there was so much more to this long-lived British soldier, journalist, novelist, parliamentarian, artist, statesman and historian, than mere good generalship. In "The Gathering Storm," we are evidently preparing for the disaster of 1939. Churchill was not in office during those years, and indeed, although it is probably becoming a more obscure fact than ever as time goes on, he was something of a political pariah. The trend of British politics in the thirties, and to some extent within the influential part of British society, was toward pacifism and a consequent reduction in armaments and defence expenditure. Churchill was on the outside, voicing his concern from time to time as a private Member of Parliament, but unable to make himself heard. So this is the background to the book, a time of political intrigue at the international level, and of unwillingness to face up to the facts of the rise of fascism, in Britain. Perhaps it may be said, in fairness, that until Czechoslovakia turned ugly, war with Germany was not to be thought of, for all sorts of reasons. The decisions that were perhaps ill made in those dying days at the end of the 30s, were nevertheless of the tallest order. It is perhaps true that Churchill is unable to give us a completely unbiased version of events. However, in the main he sticks to history and what is coloured in the text is probably what is left out rather than anything reported as fact. One of the interesting snippets in the book (and of course, there are many), is the fact that Churchill, while still out of office, was invited to meet Hitler in the Rhineland in 1937, declined to do so, and subsequently never met him at all. His son Randolph, on the other hand, did meet him in Berlin in the 30s. This is history, first and foremost, and as it intends to cover the war and not just Churchill's part in it, it strays into all sorts of odd corners of international foreign policy. Yet none of it is tedious in the hands of such a gifted writer, and when it becomes a question of the central facts touching upon the lives of so many millions, this point of view is a critical one indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, Insightful History/Memoir By A 20th Centruy Giant
Review: Winston Churchill, in addition to his well-deserved reputation as a great war-time leader and statesman, also has a well-deserved reputation as a prolific author and historian. His six volume history of the Second World War, recently re-issued and now readily available, part history, part memoir, is a must read original source for any student of the War. Obviously, what makes Churchill's history of the War unique is his involvement in so much of the narrative. He is alone among the great leaders in recording his experiences of this period. But this work is not merely a memoir of his role in the War but rather a complete work of historical scholarship in and of itself. In this book, volume one, Churchill covers the period from the end of the Great War in 1919 until the invasion of France and the fall of the Chamberlain government in 1940. The book is divided into two parts, the first "From War to War" briefly covers developments in Britain and Germany during the twenties that relate to the rise of Hitler and the growing menace of Germany in the thirties. The bulk of this section is devoted to the folly of Britain and France in allowing a toothless Germany to reach military parity with and then greatly surpass the abilities of the two Democracies. Churchill covers all the major events and gives his views on them, including his exclusion from the government and his frustrating inability to affect the course of events. His criticism is surprisingly muted, however. In his characteristic way, Churchill allows his adversaries' own words of folly to speak for themselves. His criticism after the fact his actually a good deal tamer than his speeches to Parliament during this period. Some of this may have to do with the fact of his reconciliation with Chamberlain after the beginning of the War. The second part of the book, "the Twilight War" covers the period from September 1939 until the invasion of the West in the Spring of 1940. With the mind of a military thinker, Churchill details the naval challenges to Britain from he very start of the war, including the need to protect merchant shipping and the need to secure England's northern Baltic ports. In this section as well, Churchill chronicles the political and diplomatic difficulties of the early part of the war. Included of course, in his typically understated fashion, is the story of his return to power, first as First Lord of the Admiralty then as Prime Minister after the fall of the Chamberlain government. It is on this note that the book concludes, saving the story of the Fall of France and Britain's lonely stand for the second volume. Churchill's way with the pen is incomparable. His use of the written English language is remarkable. As a history, this book is comprehensive and excellent. He makes much use of original sources, particularly regarding German actions. Its only weakness as a history is the lack of Churchill's detachment from the events of which he writes. But this weakness of the book as a history is its strength as a biography. Churchill's insights into the times in which he lived and the famous people with whom he dealt are invaluable. In this book, his description of Molotov as a perfect robot is priceless. Churchill states that the theme to this volume is "How the English-Speaking people's...allowed the wicked to re-arm." It is a lesson also covered in Manchester's "The Last Lion Volume Two-Alone." It is a lesson still invaluable today.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, Insightful History/Memoir By A 20th Centruy Giant
Review: Winston Churchill, in addition to his well-deserved reputation as a great war-time leader and statesman, also has a well-deserved reputation as a prolific author and historian. His six volume history of the Second World War, recently re-issued and now readily available, part history, part memoir, is a must read original source for any student of the War. Obviously, what makes Churchill's history of the War unique is his involvement in so much of the narrative. He is alone among the great leaders in recording his experiences of this period. But this work is not merely a memoir of his role in the War but rather a complete work of historical scholarship in and of itself. In this book, volume one, Churchill covers the period from the end of the Great War in 1919 until the invasion of France and the fall of the Chamberlain government in 1940. The book is divided into two parts, the first "From War to War" briefly covers developments in Britain and Germany during the twenties that relate to the rise of Hitler and the growing menace of Germany in the thirties. The bulk of this section is devoted to the folly of Britain and France in allowing a toothless Germany to reach military parity with and then greatly surpass the abilities of the two Democracies. Churchill covers all the major events and gives his views on them, including his exclusion from the government and his frustrating inability to affect the course of events. His criticism is surprisingly muted, however. In his characteristic way, Churchill allows his adversaries' own words of folly to speak for themselves. His criticism after the fact his actually a good deal tamer than his speeches to Parliament during this period. Some of this may have to do with the fact of his reconciliation with Chamberlain after the beginning of the War. The second part of the book, "the Twilight War" covers the period from September 1939 until the invasion of the West in the Spring of 1940. With the mind of a military thinker, Churchill details the naval challenges to Britain from he very start of the war, including the need to protect merchant shipping and the need to secure England's northern Baltic ports. In this section as well, Churchill chronicles the political and diplomatic difficulties of the early part of the war. Included of course, in his typically understated fashion, is the story of his return to power, first as First Lord of the Admiralty then as Prime Minister after the fall of the Chamberlain government. It is on this note that the book concludes, saving the story of the Fall of France and Britain's lonely stand for the second volume. Churchill's way with the pen is incomparable. His use of the written English language is remarkable. As a history, this book is comprehensive and excellent. He makes much use of original sources, particularly regarding German actions. Its only weakness as a history is the lack of Churchill's detachment from the events of which he writes. But this weakness of the book as a history is its strength as a biography. Churchill's insights into the times in which he lived and the famous people with whom he dealt are invaluable. In this book, his description of Molotov as a perfect robot is priceless. Churchill states that the theme to this volume is "How the English-Speaking people's...allowed the wicked to re-arm." It is a lesson also covered in Manchester's "The Last Lion Volume Two-Alone." It is a lesson still invaluable today.
| 
