John S. D. Eisenhower (1922–2013)

So Far From God is a very well written history of the 1846-1848 U.S. war with Mexico. Author Eisenhower not only provides clear and interesting descriptions of the military action in Mexico (complete with well-drawn maps) but he also provides the reader with an understanding of the close relationship between politics and military proceedings of both the U.S. and Mexico and how these relationships impacted the interactions of both countries with respect to the prosecution of the war.

The cost of the war in terms of treasure and lives was appalling for everyone concerned and the fallout with respect to political and military careers as well as the fate of both nations was significant. In the U.S. the nightmare of the Civil War just 13 years later overshadowed the importance of this war in the national conscience, however, as the author notes, the impact of the Mexican-American war still plays a role in the present-day dealings between the two countries.

I learned a great deal from this book and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in history.… (mehr)