Customer Reviews

Generally Speaking: A Memoir by the First Woman Promoted to Three- Star General in the United States Army

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

This book screams for the work of a good editor and another year of rewriting. It's not particularly well organized, and leaves the reader wondering about some incidents that could have been explored in greater depth, but were left inexplicibly blank. General Kennedy is understandably provented from discussing the nature of much of her career in Army Intelligence, but totally glosses over much of the human story.

Having followed her career since being a cadet, a found this book a bit disappointing and could not help but wonder why someone of talent and intelligence allowed it to go to print with such obvious quality flaws.

All of that said, Kennedy and her story are important, and the book is not tedious to read, and often times funny. Those who like her will still like her, and those who dislike her, did before they even picked up the book.

As an Army Intel Officer, I hoped to learn something about my chosen profession from an officer who was at the peak of the Intel world. Instead I found myself skimming ever forward to find something new. Given the 5 pages of explanations of Army terms at the back of the book it should have been no surprise that General Kennedy wrote to a general audience, not a military one. I think she missed the mark. Most of her "management" lessons have been given elsewhere and better. Most of her military leadership lessons have been too. Her stories of her early days and the transition from WAC to regular army were good and I wish she had continued. She could have related her views on the change from the Army Security Agency (ASA) to the current INSCOM as someone who was part of ASA and then Commanded INSCOM. Where were the stories of the growth and then near death of tactical SIGINT? I had hoped for a book about an Intelligence professional, and Army Officer and a Female soldier. Instead General Kennedy wrote the reverse emphasis with far more about being a female than an intelligence professional. I was also disappointed that General Kennedy glossed over so many difficulties. She speaks of the "myth" of female soldiers getting pregnant to avoid deployment yet one check of the medical stats at Ft Hood during Desert Storm would dispel the thought that it is a myth. Why not show that just as many male soldiers suffered sudden lower back problems or other ailments that made them non-deployable too. Avoiding deployment is equal opportunity but pregnancy is not so why pretend it doesnt happen? She also missed the opportunity to take to task women like Lt. Kelly Flinn and the Army officer who insisted on breast-feeding at work. Her silence gives the impression of support. Maybe the money she earned from this book (I did my part) will give General Kennedy the opportunity to write another book. Get a better editor if you do General!

As a journalist and enlisted soldier, I would have no qualms about handing this "manuscript" back to Ms. Kennedy and telling her to start over. She has an amazing story and is one of the great pillars of the military, but one has to wonder, who is her audience here?
She lost her enlisted readers after remarking that she had to use "the enlisted latrine" as a captain in the middle of a freezing night near the demilitarized zone in Korea because the officer's latrine was to far away. It had nothing to do with the story and deepened the huge gap between officers and enlisted soldiers. Besides, in the field, a latrine is a latrine and I'd be rather happy to even have one available! I was very disappointed in this fact (as well as in the disorganized context, vague discriptions, and non-existent chronology). What sad messages to hear from one of the Army's pioneers.

I had the great pleasure of meeting General Kennedy when she was still a captain. Even then, she displayed an amazing dedication to her troops - male and female alike. Of all the officers I worked with over my military career, General Kennedy stands out as the best of the best.

General Kennedy's story is unique, but it's also the story of today's military - right down to the barenuckled, back room politics that have always been evident in political decision making. Far more interesting is her unswerving loyalty to the Army and her country despite the petty rumormongering and questionable tactics used against her.

One thing is certain: General Kennedy is a soldier's general. Her story is the story of today's army and the end of the obsession with personal power that's dominated the military since World War II. This is a story, not just of the coming of age of a woman soldier - but the coming of age of the US military.

Claudia Kennedy's recent book "Generally Speaking" is both comical and sad. Comical in that this woman thinks she was a top soldier and officer, and many people believe that. Oh, she was a general, all right, but one who never felt the sting of battle, ever saw a shot fired in anger, or ever led or commanded soldiers in war or conflict. These three experiences are what constitute a military leader of soldiers, not the university classroom and the corporate planning seminars. Kennedy falls far short on the critical skills that define a military leader.

For the Army to have had elevated her to general officer, it is akin to promoting the fireman, who stays back and sweeps the fire house and does not go to fires, to Fire Chief. Claudia Kennedy, known to me for many years, was simply the army's way of getting contemporary credit for being supportive of equality and equal opportunities. It is not an uncommon scenario, covet and protect the fair-haired favorite, promote them and assign them far from where that action is. Kennedy's belief, and that of her mostly liberal female supporters, the ilk of Hillary Clinton and former Lawmaker Patricia Schroeder, that she was a fine soldier is what is sad.

Claudia Kennedy did more damage to the United States Army, than is calculable. Her idiotic statement of, "this is not your father's army", is largely viewed as the single greatest problem with the army today, among many of the older combat experienced officers and non-commissioned officers, who know what being a soldier calls for. General Kennedy made it a personal mission to feminize the army as much as she could and her legacy is a grossly weakened combat capability.

Kennedy left the army under a cloud of disappointment punctuated by the ever-so-common sexual harassment charges. In the end, when she did not get her 4th Star, she showed her true colors by suddenly remembering that a male general, who was about to receive a promotion and a new high placed job, touched (groped) her two years earlier.

Her credibility is Zero amongst real soldiers, I have seen scores of other General Officers laugh at her, about her, and roll their eyes when she was present or spoken of. Peer respect and mutual appreciation, of another soldier's qualities must be earned in the military, amongst contemporaries. Such respect cannot be mandated. One proves their mettle and justifies this esteemed peer evaluation. Kennedy was the "under-wraps" laughing stock of the General Officer Corps. Her book is a waste of money and time, however if you are
into fairy tales, it is a keeper!
Repectfully,
J. David Galland
Founder & President, "Bound & Overwatch-The Military Observer"
(...)

This is a good read about a very interesting person. It has been my pleasure to know her and so reading it and serving in the early 70s brought back a bunch of memories. Thanks for putting this book on the Kindle!!

The reviews seem to fall into two opposing groups, those who think the book is a great commentary on management and women in management, and those of the old hard core military that think a soldier must have been in combat to be called a soldier. I only bother to add my two cents because it has a little different perspective. I thought the book was interesting, easy and enjoyable to read. But then we get to the issue of substance and I am absolutely appalled, there is none! As a management text it is trivial, there is nothing of and real substance, but so what, I wasn't looking for management advice, I read it because it was written by a woman who was the head of signal intel in the army and a Lt. Gen. at that. I thought it might give some special insight into the world of intel because of the unique perspective a woman might have. What I found was nothing, absolutely nothing. Here is a person responsible for one of the most important functions in the military today and she seems about as well qualified as Mary Kay would be for Sec. of Defense. None of her background seems to indicate that she should have achieved this position. She has nothing to say about what is going on in the intel world. I know she can't say much about the day to day activity but I thought she would have some opinion on something more than sexual harassment. It seems to me that every serious woman officer, who has had to prove herself above and beyond to be taken seriously should be highly offended at the impression this officier leaves with the reader about both the Army and women in the Army.

This book presents an excellent road map for people interested in understanding how we have arrived at where we are today--women coming home from a war in body bags.

This story of General Kennedy's military career is interesting from two aspects. First is the transition of the army from the Vietnam draft era to today's all-volunteer army, which is of interest to military history enthusiasts. Second is the story of a woman's progression through a traditionally all-male organization to a very senior position, which is (or should be) of interest to managers and HR people as well as women in any job.

Unfortunately, the book is poorly written and poorly edited. The text switches back and forth between a historical narrative and collections of thoughts on specific topics. As a result, many experiences are discussed in almost identical words in more than one place in the book. This leaves the reader having to slog through already-familiar material to gain new information. (Actually, the book reads as if a ghostwriter simply transcribed interview tapes and tried to organize the interviews to make some sort of sense without taking any editorial responsibility.)

Better organized and edited, this could be a classic for men and women aspiring to senior management positions. As it is, you'll have to read patiently to get the General's message.

This is a terrific insight into breaking through the glass ceiling. While the author's experience is in the military, the lessons she offers are equally valuable in the corporate world. She avoids recriminations and all the drama and trauma so many employ in examining their successes. Instead, the author presents real life examples, problems and solutions, that are transferable to a multitude of situations. It is a fascinating personal history with important lessons to be learned by women (and men!) in all walks of life. I recommend it highly.