Rickover: Controversy and Genius, a Biography

If you accept the fact that this is an abbreviated biography, the quality is excellent. The more expansive biographies are worth exploring if you have the interest - and Rickover is definitely interesting. However, this is one of the finest short bios I have read. Before beginning this little jewel I had just finished reading Richard Rhodes, "The Making of the Atomic Bomb," which overlaps the beginning of the Rickover era. What a combo. Now off to "RICKOVER" by Duncan.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money and time to delve into Rickover's massive biographies, this small but excellent volume is the best you can find in order to have a complete picture of that important and much maligned personality of the 20th century. The authors cover every important detail of Rickover's life from his early years in Poland to the Annapolis Naval Academy, to World War II service and finally to the atomic branch of the legendary BuShips. Rickover's role in the development of the nuclear powered US Navy is fully precented, as well as his part in the civilian atomic industry and his machinations with the Congress. One of the most interesting chapters in my opinion was the one labelled "The Man" where Rickover's routine, habits and eccentricities make a really enoying read. The book contains some black and white photographs and also a reference to the more important dates of Rickover's life in chronological order.

As a biography, this book covers everything that anyone would want to know about ADM Rickover, and then some. Anyone wondering how someone who despised (and was despised by) his own service could still flourish in it should read this book. It provides a readable description of how Rickover picked his friends and enemies wisely through much of his career. If there is one chapter that is a MUST read, it's "A Fascinating Experience," which describes the infamous Rickover interview process that reduced many a young navy officer to a quivering bag of nerves.Less would have probably been better for this book, however, as the last 200 pages seem to drag with an increasingly vindictive assessment of Rickover's impact through the 1970s. Not that Rickover didn't turn from "yesterday's visionary" to "today's conservative," and eventually "tomorrow's reactionary." He did. It's just that the point is hammered home relentlessly. Many have said that Rickover advanced the Navy by 20 years, while others claim he set it back 20 years. You'll see why by reading this book.

Excellent! "Controversial" only begins to describe the intense but very mixed feelings that Navy nucs have toward The Admiral. This book gets under the surface, and shows the man with all his foibles as well as his strengths and achievements. He was a brilliant engineer and leader, but Niccolo Machiavelli could also have learned a great deal from studying his political methods.