West Point: The First 200 Years: The First 200 Years
by John Grant, James M. Lynch, Ronald H. Bailey

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Book Reviews of West Point: The First 200 Years: The First 200 Years

Book Review: Outstanding Photographs in a Candid History!
Summary: 5 Stars

West Point did a fine job of filling in the many blanks in my understanding of West Point's past. Here are some of the questions that I had wondered about that are answered in the book. Why did the British care about capturing West Point in the Revolutionary War? What was the political process that led to the establishment of having the Academy established at West Point, rather than somewhere else? How has education and training evolved at West Point? How did integration of African-American cadets proceed? Where did the hazing traditions come from? Who were the most influential superintendents? What influence did West Point graduates have on armed conflicts prior to the Civil War? What influence did West Point have outside of the U.S. Army? How was pilot training handled before the Air Force was established? Who are the famous cadets who did not pursue military careers?

The United States has been well served by its commitment to and investment in military education at West Point. Reading this volume will leave you even more impressed with that point than you were when you started.

I especially liked the book's candor about the very difficult problems of establishing and maintaining the quality of such an important educational institution. The early superintendents had great difficulty maintaining discipline and in overcoming political influence used to reinstate ousted cadets, and had very few resources to work with. Did you know that cadets originally had to learn French because almost all major military texts were written in that language? More recently, the difficulties of adapting to co-education, overcoming past cheating scandals, and continuing battles against hazing are all well documented.

If you are like me, you will come away astonished by the positive influence that Colonel Thayer had in establishing the permanent character of the Academy during his tenure as superintendent from 1817-1833.

Your sense of the Civil War will also be changed as you read about the ways that Academy classmates kept up with each other's lives and needs during and after that terrible conflict.

As interesting and rewarding as the text was, I would have liked even more information. For example, military leadership in the United States seems to have greatly improved in the last ten years. What role did West Point play in this enhancement?

The photographs and images captured in the book deserve enormous praise for their relevance, reproduction quality, and inherent appeal to the viewer. You will get a strong sense of place, even without ever visiting West Point. I came away with a great desire to visit during peak fall foliage to see the many buildings and landmarks illustrated in the book.

What other important institutions does our nation need that it does not yet have? How can you help to see that these bodies are formed and well developed?

To enjoy peace, be sure you are prepared for whatever comes your way!

Summary of West Point: The First 200 Years: The First 200 Years

West Point: The First 200 Years is a celebration in words and pictures of the venerable military academy's remarkable role in our nation's history. Published to coincide with the Academy's bicentennial, this lavish commemorative book tells the story of West Point, from its awkward beginnings to the divisiveness of the Civil War through the social challenges of the modern era - including the admission of the first African American and female cadets and the backlash of the Vietnam War.

Woven into the fabric of this extraordinary history are the stories and images of the larger-than-life characters that people the Academy's past: Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Douglas MacArthur, and H. Norman Schwarzkopf to name just a few.

Stunning, full-color photographs of the campus as it looks today, archival images of the Academy, and photos of artifacts and memorabilia from the West Point Museum's collections are featured throughout the pages of this beautiful keepsake volume. The perfect souvenir of the Academy's 200th anniversary, this book will be a treasure not just for West Point alumni and their families, but for anyone with an interest in American history. (8 3/4 x 11 1/4, 208 pages, color photos, b&w photos)

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• Books > Subjects > History > Americas > United States
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