Ulysses S. Grant (Modern Library War) - Personal Memoirs

This book is about history but extremely relevant and insightful regarding the challenges our country faces today. I believe if more people read books like this we would all have a better perspective. While the book is long and can be confusing if the reader does not have basic knowledge of the Civil War it's a must read for military professionals or any citizen of the US who want a deeper understanding of his/her country

Very readable, probably because it was edited by Mark Twain. Covers the western Civil War (Appalachians to Mississippi R.) in detail. Runs through the eastern war after he assumes command, which is good, since we all know that part. But you do need a map. I found reading the Wikipedia account of the battle with the maps first as being very helpful before reading Grant's version. Grant reveals his personality, which is why the North won. If you're not a Civil War buff, you probably won't like this book. It's a much different perspective than say DKG's "Team of Rivals", although Grant admired Lincoln.

Grant tells his story with no bragging but with a kindness towards those he conquered. He had great insight into war but mostly about people and the future of this country. He was exactly what this country needed during the Civil War to end the division. The book gets into the weeds of the battles and these chapters can drag on sometimes ad nauseam. If you are interested in detail reporting of his battle experiences then this is for you. His early life and lessons learned are interesting and timeless.

Very clearly written. Provides a very nice view of USG's military expertise and thinking as the war went forward. It's my understanding that he wrote this many years after the war, which makes his detailed analysis all the more impressive.

We live in Illinois and visited Galena (President Grant lived there for a while) and we were interested in him originally due to these facts. I bought the book and got drawn in (I am now reading the second volume). He was a very bright person, a great tactician and leader. It is fun to learn about him in this way. I recommend the book.

You have to admire Grant for writing this while suffering from terminal cancer and supporting his family. He actually wrote pretty well and seemed to have a very good memory of his early career. Of course he was able to serve as President as well as commander of the US Army. Its not the most fascinating book, but well worth the effort.

Glad to have read this finally, after years of reading histories and playing wargames of the American Civil War. Anyone with similar interests will be edified by get Grant's description of the events, his assessments of the generals involved and his comments on strategy, particularly his consideration for keeping or closing lines of communication and supply. But, read this with a civil war atlas, the West Point Atlas, or game maps close at hand. For it to be meaningful, you have to see the geographic overview and dispositions of the forces involved.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir in its Kindle form. I had looked for a hard copy of the books for some time but had never been able to find both volumes at the same time. Kindle made it easy and convenient, and best of all, inexpensive to read one of the best Civil War memoirs ever written.

To begin with you should improve your attitude about Grant if you see him in a negative light. I found it was awesome
following him using Streets & Trips which has been discontinued i.r. I did not have to be on line. I intend to read all of his volumes.
Bear in mind he had Mark Twain behind his writing. He also was dying of cancer while he was writing. His descriptions of the battles are excellent.

The writing is superb. The historical and political insights are numerous. This is a must read for Americans who want to understand not just the battlefields of the war to preserve the Union, but for those who want to understand the personal and political background.

I decided to read this book after it was mentioned in Killing Lincoln. This was a tough read for me but we'll worth it. Grant's time in the Mexican War seemed long and boring. Most likely due to the fact I did not know to much about it. The part regarding the Civil War was fantastic. I do wish I was able to see the maps. You can not zoom in on them. Anyone that enjoys history should read this book and you will have a greater appreciation of this country as a whole and the boarders we cross without realizing it except for a sign on the side of the road. The civil was about slavery however, it was also about the importance of the right for the state's to operate as they felt was best for the people that reside in those state's.

General Grant is an excellent journalist and writer. Vicksburg is a battle that contributed more to the ultimate outcome of the War than many understand. The terrain and logistics made the city a difficult objective and the transportation significance of it to the Confederacy made an essential target. The campaign was a chess match fought against the terrain and the Confederate army with brilliance by Grant. Many histories may be more comprehensive (including "Vicksburg, 1863", by Winston Groom), but this first person narrative provides insights no other source can rival.

Grant's writing is a model of clean, crisp, elegant prose. Map graphics, which I'm sure are adequate in the original print version, are unreadable in the Kindle edition. Maps are essential for understanding what's happening on the battlefield unless you're already a Civil War expert, so plan to supplement the Kindle version with maps from other sources.

Daily I read this book. Piece by piece and slowly. Often I'd find myself referring back to previous read chapters. I found myself immersed in the mind of U.S.Grant. I'd search and google Grant's accounts and find validating facts and photo's from the American Civil War that brought me back in time. It's a journey into history from a first person's perspective from a leader. Next I'm going to read the Memiors of Geneal T.Sherman. 4 stars only because it is one sided, and the vernacular of the time needs to be translated as you read. The Kindle is a plus for instant definitions.

I am truly impressed with the quality of writing by someone who never really wanted to go to school. In fact he was almost forced into attending West Point.

Grant goes into great detail describing the lay of the land and the positioning of troops on both sides. He had an incredible talent for visualizing the battlefield and the moves and the counter moves, He truly ranks with the all time great military geniuses!!!

I'm already engrosses in part 2!!

This work provides remarkable insight into the character of Grant, and esp. those who served under him, of any rank, and selected officers of the confederacy. His assessment of Lincoln and the Army Chief of Staff is of special interest - at least to me. Had Grant not been assigned as Commander in Chief, it is likely that the war would have been prolonged, if not lost. He deserves more credit than that traditionally given.

Grant's actions from West Point, through Mexico, between wars and into the Civil War are well worth the reading effort. Well written and informative. I never realized General-in-Chief Halleck was so strategically short-sighted. Sherman stands out as Grant's right hand.

Grant's actions from West Point, through Mexico, between wars and into the Civil War are well worth the reading effort. Well written and informative. I never realized General-in-Chief Halleck was so strategically short-sighted. Sherman stands out as Grant's right hand.

As with all generals memoirs from the Civil War they al should be read especially before contemporary authors. While their memoirs might have a natural bias one needs to be careful of hindsight authors. Reading original material gives you a heads up. If all one does is read some pop authour about history he knows little except what that author wants you to know.

Loved this book! While certainly I am no expert on the American Civil War, and the book was hard to follow without the aid of maps, actually delving into the mind of the Union's greatest civil war general (I admit that being from Ohio and having spent the majority of me boyhood in Brown/Clermont counties perhaps makes me more than a little biased in my assessment!) was a real treat! While I have read a fair amount of Catton, Foote, and Shaara on this subject, actually reading for the first time an account in the first person of one who lead these campaigns was fascinating. And the candid, humble style of Grant's writing--his pro and con assessment of other leaders both north and south, as well as his assessment of his own strengths and weaknesses-- was very refreshing. Just wish Grant had written more!

Second Memoir of the Civil War that I have read. I have read about 50 books on the Civil War before and this book covered the war for me as great summary of the previous books that I have read including the Memoir of the First Maine Calvary that described the horror of the war from some of my relatives perspectives. Grants book covered the strategy that he used to defeat the south which was pretty much a foregone conclusion. The rebs should have known better that we had better generals and industrial potential that would lead them to defeat. I was surprised to see that this book was written by Grant even up to the moment he was dying. Something that I was unaware of before.

I found the thoughts & reflections of U.S. Grant on his actions during the Civil War invaluable. His writing style is very plain and lucid. I was struck by the similarities in the Press of the North during the War and our current "spin cycle" of news in the 21st century -- rather than just reporting the news of the war, the Press sought to inflect its personal bias into the reporting. What a debt of gratitude we owe these former great military men in their pursuit of preserving the Union of states and our constitution.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have gained profound new perspectives as a result of reading it. My understanding of the US Civil War, the times, the sacrifice, the suffering, and the trials of ending slavery was powerfully changed by the author who lived it and wrote about it so clearly and well. It is a treasure.

I knew very little about this Civil war general and former president until I read about him in Jeff Shara's excellent novel about the Mexican War "Gone For Soldiers" and then I became more interested after reading the terrific book "Grant's Final Victory" by Charles Bracelen Flood. It recounts his efforts to complete his memoirs before he died of throat cancer. This memoir is very well written and shows the real man, which was considerable. I highly recommend all three books.

There is nothing like hearing history from the voice of someone who actually was responsible for making that history. In this book we hear first hand how the momentous events of our Civil War came about and why. This is a must read book for any serious Civil War historian.

I feel silly saying "no violence" while Grant presided over some of the bloodiest days in US history, but the fact is he tells his story from a general's viewpoint, naturally, and does not dwell on the casualties, although you can tell they affected him deeply. Very businesslike tone, although he does have occasional quite pithy remarks, very dry and understated. I'm about a third of the way through the book now, and it is exactly what I was hoping for and expected from a good commander.

A Largely forgotten and misunderstood giant of his generation. He is often portrayed as a drunken bully, but he was anything but. He was a gentleman, an exceptional leader and a highly revered international personality. Revered by Mark Twain. War stories can get tedious to all but the most interested scholars.

I was amazed by the beautiful, clear writing that illuminated one of the most underrated American presidents. What a humble, smart, ambitious man he was! When historians claim the South had all the great generals, I want to scream -what about Grant, Sherman & Sheridan? A must read for any American! I never realized ho9w vicious the politics were that Grant had to surmount -all that slander about his drinking by his jealous enemies.

More than the descriptions of the great battles, which were of such great scale that they were beyond my ability to grasp, I was most impressed with the courage and intelligence of the man, who wrote these memoirs while dying of a painful cancer. His assessments of the generals on both sides, many of whom he knew intimately from the Mexican war, are priceless. I think the one I like best was of General Warren -- "His difficulty was constitutional and beyond his control. He was an officer of superior ability, quick perceptions, and the personal courage to accomplish anything that could be done with a small command."
General Grant also never lost the ability to make fun of himself (a lost art among today's leaders?), recalling being mocked by a stablehand who had seen him prancing in his uniform shortly after being commissioned. Perhaps that is why in his prime Grant so often wore a simple private's shirt with his proper insignia of rank.
The anecdotes from his conversations with President Lincoln are unforgettable. So are stories from the war with Mexico, when long-range Mexican cannonballs came into his lines at such shallow angles that his men could open ranks to avoid the bounding projectiles. The language of the day - "reducing" the enemy "works" with great "execution" -- adds to the enjoyment and reminds the reader of today's "collateral damage" military jargon.
Grant, great lover of a good cigar, comments on his observations from the war with Mexico that people smoked tobacco more when it was an expensive item they they did later when the price was much cheaper.
Where are such men today? Probably still out there waiting for the next great challenge to bring them forward. General Grant comments that "Those who wait to be selected, rather than those who seek, can be expected to provide the most efficient service."

Fascinating account of Civil War events and the mind of a great leader. We should and could have arrested Lee and other Southern leaders as traitors. Grant was against Confederate monuments and this is relevant now.

The writing is of the highest quality, the story compelling, the accuracy unchallenged. Add to this the story of an amazing career and as you read think of Grant fighting to finish as he is dying of throat cancer. There was much rancor and political infighting during and after the war among the generals. Grant took more than his share of abuse from lesser minds in an attempt to undermine his career. And yet as you read the book you will find little or no crticism of those who tried to destroy his career. In spite of what he had to do I think he was a gentle, kind, intelligent man. I would have liked to know him.

I was happily surprised by the dry wit that threads its way through this narrative. Some of the military history is a bit dry, but it is really interesting from Grant's perspective. The most interesting aspects of this memoir were the realizations that Grant was more "liberal" than I expected, and that he was from a somewhat priveleged background. Plus, his description of 19th-century teenage life was fascinating. Highly recommended!

These memoirs from a U.S.Army General are unexpectedly interesting, personal, and while charming is not an accurate word, Grant's winning ways will (permit the tautology) win you over. An Essential book for understanding not only a man's life, his service to his country, and to us, but also an explanation for aspects of the U.S. Civil War you had not imagined.

Well written and engaging book. Presents a different side of Grant than most earlier biographies. Grant is portrayed as a better president here than is the consensus of historians. However, the author always minimizes the corruption of his presidency. Grant's failure to supervise his political appointees is ignored. U S Grant is not our worse president but the attempt to make him a great chief executive fails. Historians are biased just like everyone else.

This is a well-documented account of Grant's early military years, Mexican War and American Civil War campaigns. It was written in the voice of the times in which it was written, after Grant had been president. I would recommend it to the student of the Civil War.

His personal remarks are very interesting, but there is entirely too much and too detailed information about every battle he was ever involved in; obviously much of the material was gathered from others. It was impossible to keep in mind who all of the persons mentioned were and how they were connected; it was difficult to believe some of the numbers of dead from each battle, given for both sides of the conflict. I was hoping for more of the interplay between Grant and Lincoln, but that was downplayed - not at all like has been reported in other sources.

It's worth reading (but I wouldn't try to read it again!)

The book is wonderful. I bought the MP3 version to listen to during commuting. While I am sure Robin Field is a fine person, his voice doesn't fit my image of US Grant.
I find myself turning it off and switching to something else at times.
but not for long. I have to listen to it all.
As an aside. I loved Grant's description of Texas circa 1845. What a paradise it was before the ranchers and farmers chewed it up.

Amazingly readable, especially when you consider how ill General Grant, (later President Grant), was when he wrote this detailed autobio. Starting from his youth, his time at West Point, his service in the war with Mexico (which he roundly felt was wrong) and then his service to the nation during the Civil War, this lucid and thoughtful memoir gives insight into the man who led the Union forces through the most harrowing war a country can fight. This is a book to read carefully, stop and consult some good maps of the Civil War, go and visit some of the now beautiful battlefields that were the site of so much blood shed. It is so peaceful at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, Bull Run, and Ft. Sumter, you have to remind yourself that thousands of countrymen slaughtered each other and it was questionable if the Union would survive.

Incredible amount of information about the deployment of troops throughout the entire theatre of operations. Although I am retired army with much interest in the battles of our armed forces I was overwhelmed by the end of volume 2. I would not recommend this book to the casual reader. Having said that, it is a rarity to read the innermost thoughts of a commanding general in what in my opinion is the most important war fought by the United States.

For some, details are essential to a story to get a better idea of who person is/was. Mr. Grant has done an excellent job of providing the reader the capability of doing such a read. The details provides the reader a better understanding of the life and times of this time period. In other words to me this was just a good read of who this General Grant was.

Grant has in both volumes given his reflections on the events of the Civil War in which he participated. I found his reflections on the other major participants to be very sensitive to the realities of the time, the nature of warfare at this time and the strengthens and weaknesses of both himself and the others.

Interesting, straight forward autobiography. Many interesting asides concerning the character and competence of many players during the historical period in which the author played such a key role. A reviewer of another presidential autobiography called US Grant the best presidential autobiographic writer. I suspect that reviewer was correct.

Interesting to read personal memoirs from from soldiers from the civil war! This one from General Grant the 'head roy' game me great insight
how he fought and was able to bring down R.E.Lee. Grant's tactics always perplexed me as he drove his army through the meatgrinder.
Yet they knew in their heads that he was the guy to beat Lee. This book answered a lot of my questions. If you are into civil war history,
this is one to read, and you'll love the price!

The fact that Grant wrote this while dying and in great pain from throat and tongue cancer (producing upwards of 10,000 words a day, long-hand) is no more amazing than the fact that his prose sparkles with insight, wit and compassion. His descriptions of his ancestry, early life and the Mexican War (which he opposed but fought with distinction) are stunning. Who is buried in Grant's Tomb? A great writer and soldier.

The book is interesting from the standpoint of hearing the War described in Grant's own words. The narrative is sometimes hard
to follow because he uses the names of locations, roads, rivers and streams that you have no idea where they are and are probably names used during this time but not always currently. This is not an entertaining read, but if you want a different perspective on the War this is it.