3. The author says, "Few today think of Hitler as a soldier. But it was as a soldier, quite as much as a politician or ____________ - the strangest of his delusions - that he thought of himself" (p. 235).

4. Keegan details Hitler's early years in the __________________ regiment, where he would receive his military training.

5. West Point would go on to graduate many notable people, including President Eisenhower, James McNeil Whistler, and __________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Hitler go into hiding? How did Hitler adapt to being in hiding?

2. How was Hitler affected by World War I?

3. How did Grant's approach to battle compare to Alexander's?

4. How did the northerners compare to the southerners?

5. How did the attack on Fort Sumter affect Grant? Why?

6. What was Hitler's impact on and relationship with his soldiers?

7. How did the results of World War I affect World War II?

8. What was the myth regarding Hitler's war-time lodgings? Was this myth true?

9. What is Grant's military philosophy?

10. How does Grant's opinion of the progress of war compare to that of the other leaders mentioned? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

We are living in a nuclear age.

Part 1) How have we come to live in the nuclear age? Do you believe this could have been predicted one hundred years ago? Why or why not?

Part 2) Are our leaders today better at listening to their citizens? Can communication be improved between U.S. leaders and citizens as well as between world leaders? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 3) Do you believe the nuclear age will end? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 2

The heroic ethic has characterized the style of government throughout most of the world.

Part 1) What is the heroic ethic? How has it influenced the style of government for much of the world? Do you see the heroic ethic as being influential in the careers of the leaders found in this book? Explain.

Part 2) Are leaders today influenced by the heroic ethic? If so, how? If not, why not? How has the U.S. government style been influenced by the heroic ethic?

Part 3) Do you agree with the author that leaders in the nuclear age must not be affected by the heroic ethic? Why or why not? How might our country change if leaders were not influenced by heroism or the lack of heroism?

Essay Topic 3

Alexander the Great was compared to many other leaders.

Part 1) How did Alexander become such a great leader? Why does the author seem to believe that no other can match Alexander the Great? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Part 2) Of the leaders mentioned in this book, who is the greatest leader, besides Alexander the Great? Why do you believe this? How does this leader compare to other leaders?

Part 3) Who is a great leader today? How does this leader compare to the leaders mentioned in this book? Are the world's leaders becoming greater? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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