Customer Reviews

Legacy of Leadership: Lessons from Admiral Lord Nelson

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Despite the book's subtitle about "leadership", this book has a very old-fashioned and descriptive picture of Lord Nelson as a leader. If you want an excellent contemporary analysis of command and leadership, that explains these things instead of describing them, you will simply have to buy Joel Hayward's new classic, FOR GOD AN GLORY. That doesn't mean this book by Callo doesn't have much for the Nelson enthusiast. It does. I rate it very highly as an insightful portrait of our greatest admiral. It just isn't a leadership book, that's all.

Most books on leadership struggle to define the term, leaving the reader tumbling in the wake of writers who've never, themselves, led anyone or anything. In "Legacy of Leadership" Joe Callo avoids that trap by drawing on the insights of his own experience as a naval officer to offer a unique and revealing portrait of Admiral Nelson -- a man who consistently rose above his flaws to perform masterfully in the service of his country and the men to sailed with him. It's a helluva good read and ought to be in all the seatbacks of the Bush and Gore campaign planes!

Mr. Callo's book captures the essence of Nelson and his formula for leadership. Great personal courage in combat, a truly lead from the front guy; the ability to adapt to changing circumstances under fire, today's maneuver warfare; and a personal concern for the deckplate sailor. For after all, it is he who secures the admiral's victory as well as his glory.

Callo's monograph illustrates that a great leader's weaknesses contribute as much to his success as his strengths. Nelson's weaknesses are actually the strength of his character. A man willing to risk all for what he believes is right rather than what is politically expedient. Unfortunately, in today's climate, Lord Nelson would have been retired or drummed out of the naval service long before his greatest victories.

This book provides profound insight into the life and mind of a tactical genius. I recommend it highly both as an example and as a warning.

I began expecting just another history of ADM Nelson. After completing the book I found it to be a great learning experience about his leadership skills and those characteristics of the man that are applicable to leadership in any area of business, the military or life. Joe manages to tell history in a way that makes the experiences of Nelson relevant to the world of today. He also manages to provide an fasinating view of history and a new vision of a great military leader.

Beyond those steeped in British history, Admiral Lord Nelson brings no memorable images to mind. But Joe Callo's "Legacy of Leadership" provides more than just a quick remedy. In a little more than 100 pages Callo brings the legendary British Naval hero to life, while at the same time leaving you with an insightful analysis of what made the leader so great and so memorable nearly 200 years after his death.

In his look back on the Admiral's life, Callo focuses on the the qualities that made him a great leaders, qualities that Callo rightly contents should be easily visible in today's military and business leaders.

In interesting detail, Callo shows how Lord Nelosn's love of the sea, deep religious beliefs and sense of honor won him both battles and human respect. For example, with his own elbow shattered by either grape shot from a cannon or a musket ball, the semiconscious Nelson ordered assistance for others before ordering the amputation of his own arm. And, reminding us of Nelson's own inner strenght and humor Callo points out that Nelson not only ordered the amputation of his own arm, but "later complained of the coldness of surgeon's instruments."

Just as important Callo shows his skill as a writer by weaving those qualities of leadership into the battles that history talks about whenever the name Nelson is mention. Which may cause the reader to find out not only more about Nelson, but much more about the qualities of the leaders surrounding us today.