"In tracing Thayer’s relentless pursuit of excellence, discipline, and honor, Kershner and Malinowski draw us into an enduring dialogue between past and present, revealing how one citizen’s devotion can shape a nation’s future. Every cadet who marches across the Plain today follows in Thayer’s footsteps. Told with both rigor and grace, Thayer’s story is not just history—it’s a guide for today, proof that ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ remains a living imperative in the American experiment."

"Sylvanus Thayer set the standard of excellence for all future Superintendents of this hallowed institution. This definitive biography of the ‘Father of the Military Academy’ provides insight into West Point’s rich history and tradition, and the way Thayer’s leadership laid the foundation for how the United States Military Academy develops our Nation’s leaders of character today."

"For many years, James Kershner’s 1976 doctoral dissertation was the finest biography of Sylvanus Thayer ever written. With some much-needed updating and gentle editing, Dr. Jon C. Malinowski, Professor of Geography at West Point and an expert in West Point history, has enhanced the manuscript significantly, creating a masterful biography of Superintendent Thayer—a leading figure in 19th-century education and engineering—that will stand the test of time."