Never Give in: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill

I had asked a colleague who he was most influenced by in his life and without a second's hesitation he said Winston Churchill. Not being exposed much to Winston Churchill I read a number of books about him but this one was by far the most explosive. Churchill was an amazing individual and not really what he has been portrayed to be in the press and folklore. If you are looking for a real portrait of a remarkable human being of iron-willed steadfastness, this is a "Must Read." I actually took this book to work and it is being passed around so much I doubt that I will ever get it back but I see it on a different desk each week. We have all benefited from reading the book.

In reading the reviews under this section, I find that a reader either loves this book or hates it - there is very little middle ground. I believe those who discount this book are looking for an objective work on the history of Churchill. While this is a very fascinating subject, the market is saturated with such works, so if that is what you are looking for, go elsewhere... Those who love the book don't seem to place such emphasis on its historical precision; rather on the value of the information as it pertains to their own lives and leadership styles. I found this book to contain many great nuggets of wisdom and my highlighter saw much action as I poured through the pages. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their leadership qualities. If you are looking for a historical masterpiece, this isn't it nor did the author intend it to be...

This excellent book gives a fascinating insight into the embodiment of British "Bulldog Spirit". Take Churchill in May 1940 - appointed Prime Minister only weeks before, with France about to be overrun by a massive armoured thrust from Germany, the British Expeditionary Force desperately fighting to avoid being cut-off, and the risk of an aerial and naval onslaught on Britain a very real one, he faced a divided Cabinet. He rallied his supporters and opponents in the cabinet by initiating a top-secret cabinet "Fight Club" where he and fellow politicians bonded in the course of gruelling fist fights in an underground Whitehall gymnasium. Resolve and spirit was inculcated into the War Cabinet during these encounters - the message being "no surrender". A vivid picture of Britain's finest statesman emerges: despite his age and lack of robust health Churchill impressed his colleagues, not least in a bloody bout with a physically stronger Neville Chamberlain. Churchill was battered and bruised when the former Tory Prime Minister ferociously laid into him, goaded on by Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax. But with Chamberlain poised to knock him out, Churchill spoke - "There will be no parley or surrender. This will end only when I am lying choking on my own blood on the ground." Some say that was the moment when the war was won.

Before I read this book, I knew Winston Churchill only as the great man who played a key role in saving Western civilization during WWII. What Mansfield's book unveils is his brutal, heartrending childhood and hideous treatment at the hands of his father, the physical frailties that plagued him his whole life, the multiple depressive episodes throughout his life, his struggle to overcome his speech deficiency (a lisp), his incredible escape from prison camp in South Africa, his getting rolled by a cab in NY City, etc. etc. etc. I challenge anyone to read this book and not conclude that God had a special plan for this man (and, by extension, for Him to have him grace the world with his incredible inner strength, convictions, and courage). Basically, Churchill had every reason to end up a loser, or at least a chronic underachiever, in life. That he didn't is testimony to, as the title states, his incredible character. This is an incredibly inspiring reading.

This is a wonderful small book that describles how a man could overcome overwhelming difficulty and oppositions with a firm belief and an exemptional moral courage. In this book you will find Churchill was a fallible, ordinary man who mistakes, but yet achieved extraordinary things despite his limitations. The development of his life shows us how a weak, self-doubted, shy boy to become a strong, energetic, effective leader with nothing but a deep inside guidance to do good. Never give in is the main theme of this book and each chapter reinforces the theme. This is not a "self-help" book that usually tells you how to feel good about yourself. This is a book on character development that takes duty, pain, responsibilities, and more importantly, a deep inside moral guidance. These concepts are quite foreign nowsday and that's what it makes this small standing out.