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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Thoroughly Engaging Read, November 3, 2005
In Lee & Grant, Major Charles Bowery does a great service to the study of leadership. After a brief introduction of leadership concepts to be explored, Lee & Grant opens, appropriately, with a fascinating biographical sketch of each of these towering figures of American history. To his credit, Bowery does not seek the obscure detail that might distinguish his work from the thousands of volumes already devoted to his subject's lives, nor is he intimidated by the legend that looms considerably larger than each of these iconic Americans. Throughout his treatment, Lee and Grant emerge as thoroughly human characters-differing markedly from those of popular convention-whose visions, decision-making skills, and interpersonal relationships are incredibly fertile source material for the serious student of leadership.
The question Bowery ultimately attempts to answer, however, is whether or not his subjects pass the most critical of leadership tests: For all the myth and rhetoric, did Lee and Grant effect a transformation in their respective organizations by their personal influence and commitment? Did they leave their organizations better than they had found them? The answer is a resounding yes, although for very different reasons. Regardless of whether one believes (as Bowery does) that Lee and Grant's similarities were truly more pervasive than their differences, one cannot escape the conclusion that Grant's impact on the Army of the Potomac secured final victory for the Union forces, a feat which had eluded virtually all Union generals prior to Grant. Lee's leadership, while also transformational, consisted more of re-analyzing, re-conceptualizing, and re-assessing what it would take to preserve his precious personnel and materiel against a numerically and logistically superior force. It is arguable that Lee comes out the more successful leader for his ability to transform his army not once, but several times over during the course of the campaign.
Lee & Grant is finally a rewarding and important book for anyone seeking a critical approach to leadership. Beyond his contextual analysis, Bowery offers what is perhaps the most valuable attribute of this book: Leadership Lessons as a summary and conclusion to each chapter. Succinct and concise, these organizational concepts resound as forcefully at the outset of the 21st century as they did in centuries past, and they continue to challenge leaders who seek enrichment through the study of masters of that very difficult craft.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent analysis, March 17, 2005
This book should be of interest to anyone fascinated by either the Civil War or the art of leadership. First, Major Bowery gives a concise and readable explanation of the Overland Campaign, and the book can be read by the general reader for that alone. Second, and more importantly, he does an excellent job of analysing the strengths and weaknesses of Lee and Grant's leadership during that campaign. Though he does not disguise his underlying admiration for both of these generals, he is willing to voice criticism when it is fair to do so. Legendary though they may be, they were only human and both made mistakes despite their overall ability and character. Given the military background of the author, he did a surprisingly good job of showing how basic leadership principles are applicable in any context, including the civilian business world. His analysis was astute and above all, clearly written. I recommend this book highly to those interested in the art of leadership, and I hope that Major Bowery keeps writing on the subject.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amidst so many differences, "a core of similarity", November 22, 2005
This is one of two excellent recently published books about Grant, the other being Charles Bracelen Flood's Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won the Civil War. In this volume, Bowery focuses almost entirely on the Overland Campaign which began with "The Battle of the Wilderness" (May 4-6, 1864), continued during "The Battle of Spotsylvania" (May 9-12, 1864), and concluded with "The Battle of Cold Harbor" (May 31-June 7, 1864).
As Bowery observes, "In a war filled with grist for leadership studies, the Overland Campaign offers a unique opportunity. It allows the study of two of history's greatest generals, playing for a straightforward but momentous prize: the survival or destruction of the United States of America. On the surface, Lee and Grant led in very different ways, but once this veneer is stripped away, a core of similarity remains. Both men were supremely self-confident, highly skilled, and unfailingly devoted to the cause for which they fought. Their achievements and mistakes make the 1864 Overland Campaign a perfect leadership study and a great source of education and inspiration for leaders in any arena."
In addition to what Bowery reveals about this campaign, he also suggests a number of lessons which are relevant to the contemporary business world. These are summarized in a reader-friendly manner at the conclusion of most chapters and then reiterated in Chapter Nine and in the Afterword. For example, after examining "Organizational Leadership Skills for Crisis Situations" in Chapter Seven:
1. "Don't let optimism or a `can do' spirit blind you to second- and third-order effects."
2. "Pay constant attention to your interpersonal relationships."
3. "Think about a participating leadership style in true crisis situations."
4. "Build redundancy into your chain of command."
Granted (no pun intended), these are not head-snapping revelations. Their relevance and value are revealed within the context of specific situations in which both Grant and Lee faced and then responded effectively (or ineffectively) to specific crises. Bowery does a brilliant job of helping his reader to view their leadership in terms of both the Big Picture and the day-by-day (sometimes hour-by-hour) situations during the war's development.
For non-scholars such as I who nonetheless have a keen interest in military history, there is a great deal to be learned about arguably the most decisive campaign during the Civil War. Of equal interest to me is Bowery's rigorous analysis of two great generals, suggesting what decision-makers in our own time can learn from Grant's and Lee's character and personality as well as from their skills as military leaders.
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