"Pershing: Commander of the Great War" by John Perry (Kindle Edition)

I believe I may have heard of General Pershing a few times in grade school... but I had no idea what an impressive man he was. John "Black Jack" Pershing had a mediocre start to his extraordinary life. Born in 1860, Pershing had one ambition in his early life: to be a lawyer. He never wished to enter military service, but he saw West Point as a means to achieving his own goal of completing law school. Once he began his military career, however, he fully immersed himself in the performance of his duty.

Pershing was the consummate military man. He was a stickler for details, and expected nothing less than perfection from the men he led. When necessary, though, he could be extremely patient - he demonstrated this several times throughout his life, striving for peace and understanding where others saw only conflict. Leading by example, Pershing was always found at or very near the front line of battles - even later in his career as a general. His demands on his men were so great, he once advised his officers in WWI that if any of their men were caught retreating, the officers should make every effort to stop them - shooting them if necessary. While this may seem harsh, the result of his leadership was nothing less than the salvation of Europe and the conquering of the seemingly unstoppable German war machine. He mentored a group of generals - Marshall, Eisenhower, Bradley, and Patton - who led the US Army to victory in World War II just twenty years later.

There are many things that could be said about his military career and victories, but you may as well read the book. This biography is the perfect introduction to Pershing. There is just enough information to give a good grasp of the man and his character, but not so much detail as to alienate the casual reader. This is the second biography I've read that was authored by John Perry (the other was of George Washington Carver), and I've been impressed both times. Perry has several other biographies written, including Winston Churchill and Robert E. Lee. I may just have to buy them...

Pershing claimed to be a Christian and a God-fearing man, but he was not without vices. He had a mistress for many years (AFTER his wife and three daughters died in a tragic fire...while he was married, he was apparently faithful and totally love-struck with his wife). And the book has several profanity-laced quotes in it. But, I am glad that I read this volume on the life of General Pershing.

I received this e-book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

"George Washington Carver," A Christian Encounters book by John Perry

Everyone close to me can tell you that I am passionately against racism and racial discrimination. It is a sin that is opposed to the very Gospel of Jesus Christ. After all, if God so loved the "world," and if "whosoever will may come," and if we should love our neighbors as ourselves, what room does that leave for racism? Why should we feel we have the option to hate another human being for whatever reason? (By the way, this is one course of logic that compels me to reject the calvinist doctrine of limited atonement. For a full explanation of my thoughts on that, you'll have to email me!)
Also, please know that I am not ignorant or indifferent to trends within cultures. The black culture has been mired in some dangerous trends - particularly as it concerns fatherless homes. But, that is not a reason to hate black people. After all, white people have just as many, probably more, dangerous "cultural trends" that demand to be answered before we presume to judge our brothers. That being said, and since it is Black History Month, I chose to read about the great American scientist George Washington Carver.
This biography struck the perfect balance of information to give the reader the ability to develop an idea of what Dr. Carver was like. It was not a long book, and it wasn't full of trivial factoids. In its pages, I gained a new appreciation for a great man - and a great scientist.
I especially appreciated the emphasis given in this biography on Dr. Carver's love for God, and how he gave God the credit for all the amazing discoveries he made and talents he possessed. It also surprised me to learn that Dr. Carver was a praise-seeker: he loved basking in the compliments of other men. However, this was balanced by his humble attitude and generosity.
The greatest lesson that I learned from this book concerned the way Carver handled the issues regarding racial segregation in those days. Unlike those modern civil rights activists who seek to demand equal treatment, often sounding brash and overbearing (and sometimes causing more harm than good), Dr. Carver had the amazing ability to cause the white establishment to blush at their own unjust laws and silly social rules. They WANTED to break the "rules" for Dr. Carver, because his spirit and personality were so winsome. His white friends would be angered when he could not get a room at a hotel or ride in certain train cars, but he never whined or grew bitter over his treatment. He wanted the white man to see him as a productive and valuable member of society. Couldn't we all learn a lesson from him, especially as it concerns those of us who wish to reach people with the Gospel?
Everyone should read this book about the amazing Dr. Carver. Read it, and learn from his life.
I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.