Leadership: The Warrior's Art

This was some pretty intriguing literature. A little dry if you aren't really wanting to learn something from another. Everyone seems to feel that they are natural born leaders and books like this are for others. I'm here to tell you leaders are made not born. The truth is plain here. Learn from the past or repeat in the future. The story has been told many times and read many ways..but, no one seems to ever learn. No point in repeating the other reviews. They are all pointing in the same direction.

The compilation of essays on military leadership edited by Mr. Kolenda ought to be among the "essential reading" books on the shelves of anyone aspiring to leadership in any form, in any walk of life. "Warrior" in the title deceives, even though warriors have practiced the art through millennia, and many became its masters. Civilians would gain substantially by learning from those who never perused a "how-to" treatise on leadership, and often paid for lessons with their own blood rather than the declined value of corporate shares. Kolenda's book contains a series of such lessons, and the price is cheap: one evening spent on excellent reading, and not a drop of blood spilled. Yet, every "Boardroom Warrior" will discover a lot of highly practical wisdom in this unassuming volume. Maybe, then, the "Warrior" in the title does not deceive after all.

This book is a fantastic compendium of essays on leadership, specifically as it applies to the military experience. Chris Kolenda compiles a list of some of the most talented senior and junior leaders today, both in and out of uniform, as well as renowned historians. The vast majority of the authors taught at the U.S. Military Academy during some point in their career, ranging from the Departments of History, Social Sciences, and Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, to the Department of Physical Education. The book is comprised of three major sections, 1) Ancient and Modern Concepts of Leadership, 2) Historical Case Studies, and 3) Contemporary Experiences and Reflections on Leadership, with author biographies, endnotes and index at the back. General (Retired) Barry McCaffrey wrote the foreword, while Lieutenant General (Retired) Walter Ulmer wrote the Introduction. The authors consist of such leaders as LTG Daniel Christman, former Superintendent of West Point, General (Retired) Gordon Sullivan, former Chief of Staff of the Army, and Professor Frederick Kagan, just to name a few. This work contains a tremendous selection of thoughts and experiences on the art of leading soldiers. I will keep it on my shelf to refer to time and time again. As the editor writes in the preface, "developing the vibrant intellectual core from which a leader can draw insight into the art of leadership requires the courage and humility to immerse oneself in the ideas and experiences of others." Leadership: The Warrior's Art acts as a tremendous vehicle toward achieving that end.Highly recommended for the military professional!

Chris Kolenda has put together a fantastic study of leadership that kept the cap off of my highlighter. "The Warrior's Art" gives the most in depth and comprehensive look at leadership that I've seen. If you want to lead and not just manage, you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK.The book encapsulates the leadership studies of the great philosophers to allow the reader to rediscover the foundations of leadership. These insights are priceless and allow the true student of leadership (private sector or military) to see through the clutter of modern philosophies into what a leader really needs to do to make an organization or team work. Some of the most accomplished leaders in America follow with studies that give further historical insight and a look into the future. It is important to note that there are no step by step instructions and Chris and the other incredible authors allow you to evaluate the lessons and how you can apply them on your own. BRAVO!

A remarkable collection of contributions by highly-qualified practioneers. For those wishing not just to understand the challenges of leading soldiers in ground combat but also to understand contemporary issues of rebuilding the US Army after VietNam, this book is a must. The authors are important rebuilders explaining what, how and why. Other authors are those now creating the future Army. Yet others are excellent historians. Simply the best leadership collection I have seen - bar none.