First published 2012
Paula Broadwell examines the career of General David Petraeus, who transformed American military thinking more than any leader since George Marshall's era. Drawing from hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with Petraeus, his officers, and soldiers, Broadwell traces his development from West Point cadet through deployments in Central America, Haiti, Kuwait, Bosnia, and Iraq. The book focuses on his command in Afghanistan starting July 2010, when the nine-year conflict appeared most dire. Petraeus implemented counterinsurgency tactics refined during the Iraq surge, adapting them to Afghanistan's unique challenges. Broadwell reported from front lines and strategic headquarters to document how this general's ideas were tested in combat. She also reveals behind-the-scenes negotiations in Congress, the Pentagon, and White House during policy reviews. The book shows how Petraeus shaped military doctrine by blending civil and military operations, preparing forces for unconventional warfare and influencing a new generation of leaders.
Genres: biography, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: leadership, military-strategy
Setting: Afghanistan, Central America, Haiti, Kuwait, Bosnia, Iraq
Period: 21st-century
432 pages · Hardcover · The Penguin Press