The West Point Way of Leadership [Hardcover]

Larry Donnithorne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1993

West Point has bred more CEOs than any business school, and the leadership skills taught there are truly matters of life and death.  Bolder than Sun Tzu, savvier than Gracian -- THE book on learning to lead.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Before he retired from the West Point Academy, colonel Donnithorne taught moral philosophy and the leadership training program discussed in this book. After establishing the problems of leadership based on hierarchy and authoritarianism, he describes the model successfully adopted by West Point--a model focusing on character, personal honor and teamwork, stressing an individual's complete absorption in group and institutional goals. Donnithorne overreaches himself, however, in asserting the applicability of West Point methods to the business world. Patterns suitable for 18- to 22-year-olds who have selected a military environment, and who are serving, in effect, an apprenticeship, cannot be transferred readily to corporate structures staffed by experienced men and women. The stakes of military leadership, moreover, differ in essence from those of the corporate world: lives are involved, not balance sheets.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A former teacher at West Point and now the president of College of the Albemarle, North Carolina, Donnithorne presents an interesting and readable account of the way the academy teaches leadership. He describes the leadership skills West Point cadets learn year by year and the process used to instill them. Clearly, the academy does an excellent job; the question is, What can others learn from the way it teaches leadership? The answer is not clear here. Not surprisingly, West Point uses a hierarchical model of leadership. Although some aspects of its leadership training process, especially those dealing with character and concern for others, are transferable, much is not. Recommended for military and comprehensive management collections.
- Michael D. Kathman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Collegeville, Minn.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Currency Doubleday; 1st edition (December 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385417039
• ISBN-13: 978-0385417037
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For those who served, or always wanted to..., July 5, 2000

By 

Steve Finnie - See all my reviews

This review is from: The West Point Way of Leadership (Hardcover)

I'll admit, as an Eagle Scout from the midwest the idea of going to an academy and receiving a well disciplined education in being a man of character always appealed to me. However, I passed on the opportunity and have frequently contemplated the decision. It is for this reason that I, as a young MBA with high aspirations, read Donnithorne's book. I like his idea that leadership is not about a correct style of loud or soft-spoken, hands off or hands on, but more about being a leader of character. To go along with this are several anecdotes that are interesting for those interested in the academies and the military in general. However, one does get the sense that given Donnithorne's viewpoint, that of a military lifer, he's trying to sell you a bill of goods about how majestic the experience and lessons learned are.

Learning the steps the cadets go through to become leaders is interesting but a lot of the stories seem forced which wasn't surprising upon reading that the book was suggested by the publisher and stories were drawn out after insufficient stories appeared in initial drafts. Like most things in business it will only be a winning product if the customer demands it. Trying to force a product rather than responding to the desire of the author and vast amounts of personal insights is a recipe for disappointment.

Overall, enjoyable read at times with many useful lessons but a lot of the stories aren't that great. Lessons learned and description of leaders of character is good stuff though. As the title suggests, it's a good primer for those who served or always wanted to.

Quick read. 4-5 hours at most.

If you have the money to spend and are curious like I was about why West Point folks succeed, then the book's worth it.

76 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Awful, August 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The West Point Way of Leadership (Hardcover)

The structure of this book was absolutely awful. The content even worse. This book has no clear storyline and jumps around uninspiringly. The army-business connection wouldn't convince a 1st grader. In summary, this book offers nothing of value.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From a Coastie Cadet, January 23, 2000

By 

Colin MacInnes (US Coast Guard Academy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The West Point Way of Leadership (Hardcover)

As a third-year Cadet at the Coast Guard Academy, I read many books on leadership and I have to say that this is one of the best I have encountered. This book has taught me a great deal about my own institution and helped me to see exactly how my experiences have related to leadership. I would definitely say that I am a more effective leader after reading this book. I recommend it to anyone who aspires to leadership and wholeheartedly to anyone interested in our nation's 5 federal service academies.