Who is Ulysses Grant from Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant and what is their importance?

Born in 1822, Grant was the son of a strict father who believed in the need for education. Though Grant had no personal ambitions toward a military life, his father applied to West Point in Grant's name. Grant said that he didn't mind attending West Point but was afraid that he might fail. Despite the fear, he easily passed the entrance exam and gained admittance. Grant admitted that he didn't apply himself to his studies as he should have. Instead, he spent a great deal of time reading novels. Grant said that he had no intention of making a military career for himself.