John Wayne: American by Randy Roberts, James S. Olson
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Book Reviews of John Wayne: American
Book Review: Warts and All
Summary: 4 Stars
I've always been a fan of John Wayne. His westerns and war films make up a good part of my DVD collection.
If you're a fan of Duke, this is a "must" read. It goes more deeply into the man than it does into his films, which is a great thing in my opinion.
Like all of us, Wayne was flawed. However, unlike most of us, he never tried to hide who he was and you either accepted him or not. He was a pretty heavy drinker (more so than I was aware of) smoked 6 packs a day (I quit 11 years ago) and had, shall we say, an eye for the ladies. In other words, he was human.
What I was also unaware of was the depth of this political feelings. I consider myself a conservative, but next to Wayne I'm not even in the same league. I guess one must consider the era in which he lived when putting his life under a microscope, but I found his homophobia deplorable (no, I'm not gay).
One fact that I had never even considered was that Wayne starred in numerous films as a member of the military yet never served a day in the armed forces. Be that as it may, I think that he did more for the morale of his country during wartime than if he had won the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I did find the book a bit long and it did "drag" at times. Cutting it by 25% probably wouldn't have hurt a bit.
Book Review: He didn't even like horses!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I was given this book as a present otherwise I wouldn't have purchased it because I never was a big John Wayne fan....and after reading the book am even less of a fan. The authors did a great job of researching the life of this man, and probably presented a true picture of a man who was entirely lacking in talent and totally self centered. His family meant nothing to him if it interferred with his own enjoyent and playtime. He was also a draft dodger, but then went on to portray himself as the all american hero. Time and again he accepted deferrments while all the time claiming that he was "about" to enlist right after the next project. What a phony, and the American public fell for it. His visits to Vietnam were probablly the most hypocritical the man did. After evading the entire World War II he felt it was safe, at a later age, to go visit the "boys" and let them know how much "we" appreciated what they were doing for their country.....wow! Then we're supposed to feel sorry for him when he went broke aftr a career that made him millions of dollars and a "national hero"......come on now let's be real the guy was a phony! By the way, my rating was for the authors who evidently did a lot of research and presented John Wayne as he actually was....I have offered others the book but have had no takers as yet.Book Review: Sometimes it better to remember the hero
Summary: 4 Stars
This is one of those books that is very good and you wish you never read it. It pointed out all of the Dukes flaws and told you about the real Wayne his family, beliefs and his movies. You can understand why Duke was the way he was but you didn't have to like the way he treated his life,I know most men and including myself have been to much like John Wayne concerniong family and life but I had at least a little understanding of women he was clueless and paid the price. It's a wonder to me he turned out the way he did with such a mother! His macho life is easy for me and I think most men to understand. I'm glad I read the book but it was uncomfortable to read, if you loved the "Duke" read the book and you will understand I did and saw to much of myself growing up with him. I should of given this book 5 stars!Book Review: This is the best place to start...
Summary: 4 Stars
I agree with much of what has been said before, this book was the place to start -- books on Wayne seem either to attack him or deify him, and both have their uses, but this does read well, is thorough, offers enough of a view of all sides of the man that the reader can generally reach his or her own opinion on him, even one that might differ with the authors'. Somewhat overlooked, this is a worthwhile read.Book Review: Good read, enlightening
Summary: 4 Stars
A book well worth your time. The film giant was apparently cursed by a harpy of a mother whom he could never please. It goes into his guilt over leaving his first wife, the complex (or not?) reasons he didn't join the service in WWII, and his health problems at the end. I liked him before, and his made him more human and 3 dimensional.