This condensed summary of Churchill was just right for me. I appreciated the pro and con perspectives on certain topics (depression, alcoholism, family life etc.). He clearly made the difference for Britain as it faced Nazi Germany alone. His oratory strengthened the country's resolve to endure horrible sacrifices. And yet his unabashed imperialism and condescension toward almost everyone was not appealing (and not that different from Hitler). From birth to death, WC was his certainly his own person. My conclusion is that he was not a hero over the course of his life but he was definitely heroic during the war years. The author also explored the art of biography with candor that I appreciated and will remember.

IQ: "A biographer's choice to highlight or dissmiss certain episodes--controversial, offecnsive, poignant--can vividly color a portrait."