Pershing's recent death will give a certain impetus to sales, but inevitably the appeal of this authoritative and competent biography is somewhat limited. The greater part of the book is concerned with the First World War, and Pershing as Commander of the AMF. It is biography, history and a tribute to a great general, written by a World War I correspondent who served on his staff. The author traces his background, his boyhood in Missouri, his switch from law to West Point, later taking law and teaching at the University of Nebraska, fighting Indians, and Moros, serving in the Spanish-American War, the troubles in Mexico, and his promotion to Brigadier-General. Then the First World War, in minute detail -- battles, campaigns, offensives, planning and strategy; conferences with other war leaders; insistence on high stands of discipline and morale; determination on separate American troops; his vision, insight, and gift for organization; his urging of unconditional surrender- overruled. No attempt at an objective evaluation, but a marshalling and presenting of the evidence.