In a Sunday Book Review for the New York Times, Strauss Center Distinguished Scholar and UT History Professor Mark Lawrence discusses Debi and Irwin Unger and Stanley Hirschon’s recent biography of General George C. Marshall. According to Lawrence, the authors take a critical look at one of the most revered generals in US history—and ultimately conclude he is “less than awe inspiring.”

In his review, Lawrence points out that the U.S. has been at war for the longest uninterrupted stretch in its history. Yet current and recent conflicts have “produced no military commanders of undeniable greatness.” Lawrence explains that as a consequence, we reach back in our national history to utilize the heroes of the past, like Marshall, as examples for the present. However, Lawrence says that the Marshall the authors describe is a decidedly ordinary man who accomplished momentous tasks through dedication and determination rather than genius.

In pointing to the differences between this and other biographies written about Marshall, Lawrence lauds the authors’ “refreshing contrarianism” as a needed reminder that glorification of previous eras may reveal more about the present than the past. However, while Lawrence says that in recent years “praise for the general has soared so high…that the reality is bound to be closer to the ground,” grappling seriously with whether or not Marshall deserves the praise he has received would require a “broader examination” than the book provides.