... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by both Capt Brandon and Capt Carlson!

---

Product Description

A look at the leadership secrets of the U.S. Military Academy explains the school's system and shows the four-step process--including self-command, direct leadership, indirect leadership, and executive leadership--that makes leaders. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71975 in Books
• Published on: 1993-12-15
• Released on: 1993-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780385417037
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Before he retired from the West Point Academy, colonel Donnithorne taught moral philosophy and the leadership training program discussed in this book. After establishing the problems of leadership based on hierarchy and authoritarianism, he describes the model successfully adopted by West Point--a model focusing on character, personal honor and teamwork, stressing an individual's complete absorption in group and institutional goals. Donnithorne overreaches himself, however, in asserting the applicability of West Point methods to the business world. Patterns suitable for 18- to 22-year-olds who have selected a military environment, and who are serving, in effect, an apprenticeship, cannot be transferred readily to corporate structures staffed by experienced men and women. The stakes of military leadership, moreover, differ in essence from those of the corporate world: lives are involved, not balance sheets.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
A former teacher at West Point and now the president of College of the Albemarle, North Carolina, Donnithorne presents an interesting and readable account of the way the academy teaches leadership. He describes the leadership skills West Point cadets learn year by year and the process used to instill them. Clearly, the academy does an excellent job; the question is, What can others learn from the way it teaches leadership? The answer is not clear here. Not surprisingly, West Point uses a hierarchical model of leadership. Although some aspects of its leadership training process, especially those dealing with character and concern for others, are transferable, much is not. Recommended for military and comprehensive management collections.
- Michael D. Kathman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Collegeville, Minn.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher
West Point has bred more CEOs than any business school, and the leadership skills taught there are truly matters of life and death. Bolder than Sun Tzu, savvier than Gracian -- THE book on learning to lead.

---

Customer Reviews

Absolutely Awful
The structure of this book was absolutely awful. The content even worse. This book has no clear storyline and jumps around uninspiringly. The army-business connection wouldn't convince a 1st grader. In summary, this book offers nothing of value.

For those who served, or always wanted to...
I'll admit, as an Eagle Scout from the midwest the idea of going to an academy and receiving a well disciplined education in being a man of character always appealed to me. However, I passed on the opportunity and have frequently contemplated the decision. It is for this reason that I, as a young MBA with high aspirations, read Donnithorne's book. I like his idea that leadership is not about a correct style of loud or soft-spoken, hands off or hands on, but more about being a leader of character. To go along with this are several anecdotes that are interesting for those interested in the academies and the military in general. However, one does get the sense that given Donnithorne's viewpoint, that of a military lifer, he's trying to sell you a bill of goods about how majestic the experience and lessons learned are.

Learning the steps the cadets go through to become leaders is interesting but a lot of the stories seem forced which wasn't surprising upon reading that the book was suggested by the publisher and stories were drawn out after insufficient stories appeared in initial drafts. Like most things in business it will only be a winning product if the customer demands it. Trying to force a product rather than responding to the desire of the author and vast amounts of personal insights is a recipe for disappointment.

Overall, enjoyable read at times with many useful lessons but a lot of the stories aren't that great. Lessons learned and description of leaders of character is good stuff though. As the title suggests, it's a good primer for those who served or always wanted to.

Quick read. 4-5 hours at most.

If you have the money to spend and are curious like I was about why West Point folks succeed, then the book's worth it.

So So
I found the book to be disappointing enough to write this because I am cheesed off enough for having somewhat wasted my money. It was quite boring and I didn't like the ego of the author setting himself up as the paradigm.