Best book on Patton?

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I realize as I'm getting older I'm drawn more towards historical books than my usual fiction escapist reading.

My father was in the 301st Signal Corp, 3rd Army. He never talked much about his time in WWII like many of his generation. He told one story about Patton to me as a kid and when the film came out took me to see it. His main comment was that while George C. Scott sure looked like Patton he said he definitely didn't sound like him.

Is there a definitive best book about Patton I should search out? Thanks in advance.
 
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Brothers-Rivals-Victors by Jonathan W. Jordan.
Extremely in-depth biography of Patton, Eisenhower, and Bradley during WWII.
This is one of the best books on WWII I've ever read, and I read a lot.
 
I have a uncle now in his late 90s that told me he was assigned to drive Patton a few times. No, he wasnt driving in the accident that eventually killed Patton. Art was a MP dog man. I think he might have been used as a interpreter as dad and maybe Art too spoke german as their folks spoke it at home and dad said he didnt learn english until he went to primer school.
 
George S. Patton: A Biography by David A. Smith is a good start. Then, move up to Carlo D'este's comprehensive bio of the "Genius for War."


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If you really wantto get inside the General's mind...

...and know what type of person he really was, then there is only one book: "War As I Knew It." by General George S. Patton, Jr. USA. Both it and Sun Tzu's "Art Of War" I think SHOULD be mandatory reading for all military personnel from Private to Five Star General. It is his journal and he pulled no punches.
 
Thank you all, I've read "Art of War" and gave a copy to my son when he came home from Basic/AIT.

I will begin my journey, should be some great reading to start the summer.
 
the ringo kid said:
Another good one is: "War As I Knew It" written by Patton himself.
Click to expand...


I read it, and it certainly lets you see the man as he saw himself. Modesty was hardly his primary virtue, but the same could be said of Viscount Lord Montgomery, whose autobiography I also read.

Come to think of it, I've read Julius Caesar's Gallic War commentaries. He wasn't a shrinking violet, either. Maybe it takes an ego to be that brilliant of a commander. Robert E. Lee was perhaps the most modest of the well known generals. But Grant wasn't a major ego tripper, either, nor Washington.
 
Texas Star said:
I read it, and it certainly lets you see the man as he saw himself. Modesty was hardly his primary virtue, but the same could be said of Viscount Lord Montgomery, whose autobiography I also read.

Come to think of it, I've read Julius Caesar's Gallic War commentaries. He wasn't a shrinking violet, either. Maybe it takes an ego to be that brilliant of a commander. Robert E. Lee was perhaps the most modest of the well known generals. But Grant wasn't a major ego tripper, either, nor Washington.
Click to expand...

I think there were a lot of well known generals (and admirals) that were not ego trippers. Just off the top of my head I can think of several: General Nathanial Greene, General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, General James Longstreet, General John Buford, General Joshua Chamberlain, General Leonard Wood, General John J. Pershing, General Omar Bradley, General Henry "Hap" Arnold, General James Doolittle, Admiral Chester Nimitz, Admiral Ray Spruance, General Matthew Ridgeway, and Admiral William Leahy
 
jgh4445 said:
The Patton Papers Vol I and II. Martin Blumenson. Pretty in depth reading.
Click to expand...

YES! Blumenson was given rare access to the Patton family "archives" and did a fabulous job. He also wrote the Official Army accounts of the 3rd & 7th Army battles. (kind of a bore to read but they are out there)

I worked for a place that had so many books on Patton that I can't remember them all, BUT these are interesting enough to read:

Patton Papers, mentioned above (small warning... vol 1 is a little dull, IMHO)
Kasserine Pass, Martin Blumenson (difficult to find but outstanding)
Gen Patton's Principles for life and leadership, by Porter B. Williamson
Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943, by Carlo D'Este

alternatively, I recommend Panzer Battles, by Maj Gen F.W. Von Mellenthin

Several other recommend "Patton: A Genius for War" by Este AND I enjoyed "Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943" by D'Este. I can only ask that you decide for yourself the endorsement (on my copy anyway) from New York Times Book Review, "This is revisionism at its very best."
 
As you research, you will come across the Patton Museum in Ratcliff, KY. It was an awesome place to visit when I was there. However, the School of Armor & Calvary was recently moved to GA and they took the incredible display of restored tanks with them. The grounds may still have the monuments to the fallen from the divisions serving under Patton though.
 
When I was in college a number of history classes were required. The professor who taught World history was a retired U.S. Army full bird who lectured for the full class period with out stop with out any aids. He taught the history of the world from a strictly military point of view and I think even today that he was correct in that approach . Great leaders and generals have shaped the human experience since the beginning and Patton is one who had a large role in WW II.
 
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