Colin Powell

Reviews / Votes

"Jeffrey Matthews' Colin Powell: Imperfect Patriot is a thorough biography of Powell. . . . Relying on government documents and first-hand accounts, including a four-hour interview with Powell, Matthews presents a chronological appraisal of Powell's life that is comprehensively researched and readable." -The VVAA Veteran

"Jeffrey Matthews . . . offers a well-constructed, well-written . . . biography of Colin Powell, who was born in 1937 and remained a popular public figure long after his retirement from government in 2005. . . . Powell comes alive in these pages." -Law and Liberty

"A captivating and balanced story of Powell's remarkable career, and of what we can learn from both his good and bad followership. . . . The book is of special interest to readers of military history, political biography, and leadership." -Northern Kentucky Tribune

"The consummate general, national security advisor, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of State and Patriot is profiled and on full display in Matthews' work. Well-researched and full of rich detail, the book seems to be a balanced, albeit critical, review of Powell's 40+ years of service. . . . Matthews makes note of Powell's followership as an 'assistant' and 'deputy' in many of his duties throughout his career, contributing to why he was a great leader. Yet ultimately, even the best leaders make mistakes and are fallible, and we can all learn from that." -Brigadier General Chad Manske, Commandant of the National War College

"Colin Powell was a good soldier all his life. Trustworthy, loyal, he obeyed orders while exercising a measure of judgment and initiative within the scope of his authority. . . . Powell's judgment and initiative went only so far, Jeffrey Matthews writes in his biography. . . . Matthews examines Powell's formative experience and finds the key to his success as well as his limitations." -Shepherd Express

"This work . . . covers the lofty career of Powell, who eventually became chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State. The author highlights both the successes and failures of his subject, revealing a human being navigating the complexities of leadership and power at the highest levels. It showcases the difficulties and consequences of decision making at the strategic level." -Military Heritage

"At its base is a very well-written story about Colin Powell as fallible everyman. It is an almost existential portrait of the human condition. We all make choices every day; some are good, but some are grave errors in judgment that can have disastrous consequences for a family or for a nation. In my opinion, this book is the most important of the publications focusing on this turbulent period of American political and military history." -Howard Ball, author of Bush, the Detainees, and the Constitution

"Jeffrey Matthews's excellent biography rightly praises Colin Powell's distinguished service over the past half-century, while also delineating how Powell faltered at crucial moments while serving as George W. Bush's secretary of state. This is a comprehensive and compelling analysis." -Walter LaFeber, the Andrew and James Tisch University Professor Emeritus, Cornell University

"This is no hagiography. Consisting of equal parts admiration and critical scrutiny, it is a tough and insightful portrayal of a commanding personality who was capable of both towering professional achievements and astonishing failures of judgment and ethics. Beyond pure biography, Matthews has produced a fascinating case study of the human elements of public service and leadership." -Malcolm Byrne, deputy director, National Security Archive

"This work should be read by all national security professionals, uniformed service members, or any other governmental agency including the department of state and the intelligence community." -The Strategy Bridge