by Greg Jaffe
First published 2009
Four exceptional soldiers rise through the military's harsh selection process to become the Army's most influential generals. This new generation faces the challenge of rebuilding an institution weakened after Vietnam. The Army enters a major war unprepared, struggling against a low-tech but ruthless enemy in Iraq. These four leaders must navigate the responsibilities and dangers of high command while their service transforms around them. Their careers span four decades of military evolution, marked by both victories and setbacks, fulfilled ambitions and blocked aspirations. Through their experiences, the Army discovers reserves of talent few believed existed. Their collective journey reveals how the world's most powerful military force nearly faced crushing defeat, then found ways to save itself. The story traces the path the Army traveled and suggests where it must go to protect the nation in the coming century.
Genres: 20th-century, military-fiction, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Iraq, Vietnam
Period: Four Decades
330 pages · Hardcover · Crown Publishers, Inc.