Welcome
Paul Dickson has been an independent writer for over 50 years during which time he has produced more than 60 non-fiction books and numerous newspaper and magazine articles on a variety of subjects.
Dickson's most recent book, released on July 7th, 2020 and scheduled for release in paperback on April 20, 2021 is entitled The Rise of the G.I. Army 1940-1941 which is the dramatic, untold story of how the American Army was mobilized from scattered outposts two years before Pearl Harbor into the disciplined and mobile fighting force that helped win World War II. Dickson details the maneuvers in the South that readied those troops, the 1940 peacetime draft that required the registration of over 16 million men ages 21–45, Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall's purge of ineffective leaders in favor of men like George S. Patton, Mark Clark, Omar Bradley and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the way Marshall motivated troops by giving them a culture of their own. As Dickson said in a pre-publication interview with Publisher's Weekly, these stories from the days prior to Pearl Harbor indicate the paucity of leadership we have in 2020: "It's a reflection of how good we once were in a crisis."
The publisher is Atlantic Monthly Press (Grove Atlantic) and the Audiobook was created by Tantor. It is a main selection of the Military Book Club and prior to publication received a starred review from Kirkus.
"A richly detailed history of the rebuilding of American military power in the run-up to World War II . . . The author provides a wealth of fascinating detail; even those familiar with the general history of the period will learn something new . . . One of the best treatments to date of America's rapid transition from the Depression to the wartime power it became."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Here is a Link to the Publisher's Page for The Rise of the G.I. Army
which contains more information on the book and includes links to places from which it can be ordered directly including independent booksellers.
WOW! The G.I.Army Makes the List. Here the Washington Independent Review of Books list of its 51 favorite books of 2020.
WOW II!! Podcast Nirvana . Listen HERE for the November 25, 2020 podcast discussion with World War II historian James Holland.
Here is a link to Joseph C. Goulden's review of the book in The Washington Times July 1, 2020.
Here is a link to the New York Times review of The Rise of the G.I. Army
Here is a link to the Washington Independent Review of Books September 17th review of the book.
Here is a link to BOOKMARK summary of major reviews.
LISTEN here to hear Ethelbert Miller's Interview with Paul Dickson.
LISTEN here to a Infinite Inning podcast about the G.I. Army, this podcast is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman and occasional guests discusses the game's present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large.Turns out it is, from my standpoint, a really good interview with a man who really knows a lot about WWII.
WATCH here to see my virtual appearance as recorded on August 25 through the auspices of Politics and Prose bookstore.
WATCH here to see Paul Dickson's Legacy Lecture to the George C. Marshall Foundation.
Read "October 16, 1940—Uncle Sam's Got Your Number, Guys"--From American History magazine CLICK HERE.
Read "Marshall's Secret Preparations for War" from American Heritage magazine by chicking here.
The publicist handling The Rise of the G.I. Army is Kaitlin Astrella who can be reached by email at KAstrella@groveatlantic.com
From the National World War II Museum: Author Paul Dickson on the Creation of the G.I. Army
Praise for The Rise of the G.I. Army, 1940-1941:
"Reading about the birth of the country's citizen Army before World War II is a profoundly heartening experience. With all they are facing today, Americans need Dickson's reminder of this momentous accomplishment."-- Risa Brooks, The New York Times.
"In The Rise of the G.I. Army, 1940-1941, veteran author Paul Dickson resurrects a critical but overlooked period, recounting the remarkable story of American mobilization during the 828 days between the war's onset and the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor . . . The best history is character-driven, and in this Mr. Dickson excels. He follows the fortunes of emerging Army stars such as Bradley, George S. Patton, Mark Clark and Eisenhower himself with verve and compassion . . . An indispensable account."—Peter Cozzens, The Wall Street Journal
"A must-read book that explores a vital pre-war effort ignored by many Roosevelt-era historians . . . Deep research and gripping writing."—Joseph C. Goulden, The Washington Times.
"This book tells this amazing and improbable journey with all the near disasters, hard choices, and missteps that had to be overcome to get the military prepared for that fateful Sunday morning in December 1941."—New York Journal of Books.
"... exhaustively thorough ... Dickson, an indefatigable researcher, again demonstrates his talent for marshaling ground-level details and contemporary newspaper accounts into a coherent and engaging story ... a remarkable work of historical scholarship, an eminently readable narrative crafted from a swarm of disparate and far-flung sources. The author plunges boldly into a saga that few other experts have explored in detail ... a brilliant history. In the sad and dispiriting times we're living through today, it shines a light on a saga that's largely uplifting yet still shot through with elements counter to our ideals. It's a long story we all need to see as our own, as characteristic of our nation today as ever."—Bob Duffy, Washington Independent Review of Books.
"The book is enjoyable and informative reading, filled with revealing anecdotes, oversized personalities and often pointed analysis. Dickson moves his narrative forward by deftly interweaving historical events with personal experiences. The book makes a significant contribution in showing just how near America came to dismantling its forces, and how important a few individuals, notably Marshall, were in preventing this calamity …The narrative is fast-paced, the personalities and events clearly detailed, the role of politicians, the press and public opinion all well developed."—Army magazine.
"Americans can accomplish amazing things when roused to action by strong leadership. Paul Dickson gives ample evidence of that in his fascinating new book The Rise of the G.I. Army 1940-1941"—American Heritage magazine.
"A wide-ranging look at how the U.S. Army, in little more than a year, was transformed from a disjointed collection of ragtag military units into a disciplined fighting force 10 times its previous size.—Military History Quarterly, Autumn, 2020.
"Paul Dickson's The Rise of the G.I. Army is a deeply researched and well-written account about how FDR mobilized the American army in the years before Pearl Harbor. This is military history at its absolute finest. It's impossible to think about World War II properly without reading this seminal work. Highly recommended!"— Douglas Brinkley, Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities and Professor of History at Rice University, and bestselling author of Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America and American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race
"Just when we think there's nothing left to learn about World War II, Paul Dickson tells us more, much more. This is one of the most important books I've read that showcases the forces of isolationism and racism during one of the most consequential periods in American history. It belongs on the shelves of everyone who understands how fragile democracy is and why every American is worthy of fighting for it." —Senator William S. Cohen, former United States Secretary of Defense
"A largely forgotten story brilliantly rectified by Paul Dickson in a book that lucidly and compellingly charts the rise of the US Army from the nonentity it had become by 1939 to the exponentially growing force of millions by the time of Pearl Harbor. From the corridors of Washington to pioneering manoeuvres to the shores of North Africa, and demonstrating how many of the leading players later in the war made their mark, Dickson recounts this astonishing progression and in so doing fills a gap in our understanding of the United States' incredible contribution to victory in World War II. Utterly fascinating from start to finish." —James Holland, author of Normandy '44 and Big Week
"How did the United States Army transform from a fighting force barely able to repulse another Pancho Villa-like raid to taking on the mighty Wehrmacht? Through lively and engaging prose, Paul Dickson tells this largely forgotten but crucial story. Thoroughly researched and very readable, Dickson's brilliant The Rise of the G.I. Army is destined to be the new standard for this period." —Patrick K. O'Donnell, bestselling author of Dog Company and The Unknowns
"Paul Dickson's compelling, focused and timely account of how America prepared to meet the challenges of the twentieth century's second global conflict is history at its finest: it tells us a story we think we know but actually don't. Dickson deserves enormous credit for his prodigious research, his deft handling of a complex subject, and his singular ability to tell a story." —Mark Perry, author of The Most Dangerous Man In America: The Making of Douglas MacArthur
"Dickson marches readers through his voluminous research at a brisk clip, and makes a convincing case that if the army hadn't been transformed, the war would have been lost. WWII buffs and military history readers will salute this stirring effort." — Publishers Weekly.
"In the chaotic response of the federal government today to the viral war we face, leaders would do well to read this book and see how preparation, discipline, and forethought can make all the difference."—James McGrath Morris, writer of biographies and works of narrative nonfiction presently working on a biography of Tony Hillerman, the author of ground-breaking mysteries set in the Navajo Nation.
"Paul Dickson has discovered one of the last important untold stories of the World War II era, and he has told it as well as it can be told. He deserves great thanks for enriching our history"—Laurence Leamer, best-selling author and journalist.
"Dickson, a prolific and precise writer, focuses on the troops, or G.I.s, as they came to be called in WWII. He does an excellent job of delineating the training shortfalls, and he's especially thorough on the poor treatment of African American soldiers and sailors . . . An informative slice of military history."—Booklist
Paul Dickson is one of my favorite authors. He has a knack for finding the hidden stories of American history and bringing them to life. He's done it again with "The Rise of the GI Army." I sat down with it one evening, and looked up at the clock, and three hours had passed as he deftly guided me through the pre-war maneuvers, in the field and in Washington.---Biographer John A. Farrell, John Aloysius Farrell is the author of Richard Nixon: The Life, a biography of that most enigmatic 37th president of the United States, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
"Who knew how we mobilized as fast as we did for WWII. Not me. Not until now. Not until the amazing Paul Dickson told us in a way that lets us understand how our GI Army came to be, populates the stage with soon-to-be heroes like Ike and Marshall, and whose timing is impeccable to understand why, at this moment when there's an attempt to politicize the Army, it is in fact too big and too democratic to bully. "--Larry Tye.
"Paul Dickson looks past the familiar narratives of WWII to piece together the improbable, compelling story of America's race to transform its scattered, obsolete military forces into a well-trained, well-equipped, well-motivated fighting force in the difficult months before Pearl Harbor. A masterful piece of writing and research, The Rise of the G.I. Army is historical storytelling at its best."— Daniel Stashower, biographer, narrative historian and three-time Edgar award winner
"In The Rise of the G.I. Army, Paul Dickson has looked behind American battlefield victories of WWII and asked where they were born. Tracing the roots of the powerful American military of that global war to the Civilian Conservation Corps of the Depression years, Dickson explains how the United States -- for the first time in its history -- entered a war with a muscular, trained military, rather than careen into a confilct and stumble around for months trying to assemble a fighting force. It's a fascinating history with powerful heroes like Franklin Roosevelt and General George Marshall, as well as an on-the-ground look at the G.I.s and future G.I.s who would do the fighting. A terrific book."--David O. Stewart, author of George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father (forthcoming, February 2021)
"Dickson's book is the first I've seen that covers the critical period before the war when the foundation for an effective wartime army was built, largely through conscription, realistic training, and ruthless winnowing of the officer corps. Dickson has a tremendous sense for which details to include and which to leave out, making for a book that's never bogs down in minutiae while moving briskly to its inevitable conclusion."— Rob Neyer, author of Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game.
About the Book
In September 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland and initiated World War II, a strong strain of isolationism existed in Congress and across the country. The U.S. Army stood at fewer than 200,000 men—unprepared to defend the country, much less carry the fight to Europe and the Far East. And yet, less than a year after Pearl Harbor, the American army led the Allied invasion of North Africa, beginning the campaign that would defeat Germany, and the Navy and Marines were fully engaged with Japan in the Pacific. The story of America's astounding industrial mobilization during World War II has been told. But what has never been chronicled before Paul Dickson's The Rise of the G. I. Army, 1940-1941 is the extraordinary transformation of America's military from a disparate collection of camps with dilapidated equipment into a well-trained and spirited army ten times its prior size in little more than eighteen months. From Franklin Roosevelt's selection of George C. Marshall to be Army Chief of Staff to the remarkable peace-time draft of 1940 and the massive and unprecedented mock battles in Tennessee, Louisiana, and the Carolinas by which the skill and spirit of the Army were forged and out of which iconic leaders like Eisenhower, Bradley, and Clark emerged; Dickson narrates America's urgent mobilization against a backdrop of political and cultural isolationist resistance and racial tension at home, and the increasingly perceived threat of attack from both Germany and Japan.
An important addition to American history, The Rise of the G. I. Army, 1940-1941 is essential to our understanding of America's involvement in World War II.
In other News of Paul Dickson's Books.
In recent months several of his older books have been brought back with new publishers. Sputnik--The Shock of the Century is currently published by the University of Nebraska press and a new edition of The Bonus Army--An American Epic (co-authored with Thomas B. Allen.) is now being published by Dover Publications as is an updated (don't ask) version of Words from the White House. A new and significantly revised edition of his Hidden Language of Baseball--How Signs and Sign-Stealing Have Influenced the Course of Our National Pastime is now also published by the University of Nebraska Press.
Dickson is represented by Deborah C. Grosvenor of the Grosvenor Literary Agency in Bethesda, MD She can be reached by email at: dcg@grosvenorlit.com. Dickson can be reached at
newdefiner@gmail.com