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46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
George C. Scott and then Some, July 16, 2000
Frankly, I had some reservations as I began to read this book. By now I have become weary of so many books with gimmicky concepts (eg Chicken Soup for Dummies, Caligula on Management) and was pleased to find that Axelrod has skillfully correlated Patton's expressed ideas on leadership with key issues in the contemporary business world. Many of those ideas probably reflect the influence of Sun Tzu and von Clausewitz whom Patton no doubt studied while a student at V.M.I. (for one year) and then the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from which he graduated. In any event, this is a well-written book with solid substance. After a Foreword and Introduction, Axelrod organizes 183 "Strategic Lessons" within ten chapters: 1. What He Did and Who He Was (Patton's Achievement and Background) 2. "A Commander Will Command" (On the Dimensions of Leadership) 3. "Always Attack, Never Surrender" (On Developing a Winning Attitude) 4. "How Do We Know That?" (On Fact Finding, Preparation, and Planning) 5. "Speed -- Simplicity -- Boldness" (On Execution and Opportunity) 6. "The Soldier Is the Army" (On Training, Mentoring, Motivating, and Inspiring) 7. "Letters of Instruction" ((On Communication and Coordination) 8. "Only One Direction -- Forward" (On Creating Efficiency) 9. "Success Is How High You Can Bounce When You Hit Bottom" (On Courage and Character) 10. "Audacity" (On Managing the Impossible) I provide the chapter titles and subtitles to suggest the specific areas in which Axelrod examines Patton's ideas. Patton remains one of the 20th century's best-known and least-understood military leaders. Mention his name and most people immediately conjure an image of George C. Scott whose inspired portrayal provided an accurate but incomplete representation of Patton. It is worth noting that Patton's strategies minimized casualties of his own troops while maximizing destruction of those whom his troops opposed, that he assembled an extraordinarily talented staff to whom he delegated effectively and whose members remained steadfastly loyal to him, and that under his leadership his troops achieved truly stunning results, often with severely limited resources and under political constraints. There is a great deal to learn from this man...and Axelrod has done a brilliant job of suggesting what that is. Axelrod includes a Recommended Readings section to which I presume to add Puryear's 19 Stars (A Study in Military Character and Leadership). In it, Puryear examines the careers of George S. Patton, Jr., Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, and George C. Marshall. You may also wish to check out Sun Tzu's The Art of War (Oxford University Press) and von Clausewitz's On War (Penguin).
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy Read, Inspiring, Instructive, October 31, 2001
General George S. Patton, Jr., was a legend in his own time. While known for his coarse language, he was also respected as a brilliant tactician and terrific motivator. Those who served with him weren't just "in the war" or "in the army," they were Patton's men. This hard-driving leader instilled confidence, acted decisively, and excelled under relentless pressure. His army moved at unprecedented speed, always on the attack and not on the defensive. Patton did not write extensively; he was challenged by dyslexia. But he said a lot, was often quoted, and was written about. Historians have a rich treasure of who this unusual man was and the impact he had on others . . . and ultimately on the world. His approach to his work was clear and direct, making him an excellent case study and role model. Role model? A man who spat profanity in almost every sentence? Ah, look beyond the rough exterior that actually endeared him to his men. Look at how Patton thought, his philosophies. That's where the lessons are. This book delivers 183 of those lessons in short, tight, bite-size pieces. This is a book you can read cover-to-cover or refer to as an inspirational resource. Each lesson is constructed as a Patton quote, with Axelrod's interpretation of the meaning, the purpose, and the impact of the words. The flavor throughout the book is how Patton's military style and experience applies to management and leadership of today's business organization. Or any organization, for that matter. The beginning of the book includes an enlightening biographical profile of Patton to understand the context of the man. The volume concludes with some recommended reading and a helpful index. As a reviewer, I'm tempted to start listing some of the titles of those 183 lessons. I'll resist, because it will be too difficult to present a representative sample. Every page of this book is filled with concise, valuable insights. Thought-provoking as well as inspiring, Patton on Leadership should be read-and applied-by leaders at all levels. Invest a few dollars and some of your reading time. You'll get a good return on your investment with this book.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Chance To Learn From the Greatest, March 7, 2000
When people think of George Patton, they tend to think of the larger than life character portrayed in the movie. While colorful, Patton was above all a superb manager who knew how to motivate people to accomplish the seemingly impossible. This book takes what made Patton a successful manager and analyzes it in detail so that the average person can apply to his or her own field of endeavor. I suggest you read the book and then, after each section, close it and think about how what you've just read can be applied to your own situation. Patton's intense focus on what he wanted to accomplish, and his no nonsense way of communicating his vision, are valuable lessons for managers in any field. Few can emulate Patton, but we can all learn from him.
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