Review by Cii_Mendi -- Leadership by Craig B. Whelden
- Cii_Mendi
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 24 Mar 2020, 05:06
- Currently Reading: Perfect
- Bookshelf Size: 17
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-cii-mendi.html
- Latest Review: Geraldine by Edmund M Aristone
Review by Cii_Mendi -- Leadership by Craig B. Whelden
Leadership by Craig B. Whelden is a book I chose in a bid to quench my learning thirst, on my journey towards becoming an exemplary leader. I was therefore ready to navigate through the difficult jargon as is common with this genre, so as to increase my knowledge in matters leadership. The glowing testimonials at the beginning of the book deepened my interest and I thought perhaps this may be a different read as concerns leadership books. To my delight, it turned out to be an excellent read; by far the best leadership book I have read.
The writer is a retired Major General who spent 30 years in the U.S. Army. Throughout his career, he has led soldiers from lieutenant to general officer levels while serving in Europe and the Pacific. After retirement from the Army, he has continued to hold various leadership roles in the private sector and the U.S. Marine Corps. He is also a motivational speaker on leadership and performance excellence.
The book is a fascinating read and acquaints one with operations of the U.S. Military especially from a leader's perspective. Craig Whelden gives a narrative in an easy to grasp manner that keeps one glued to the pages. His style is captivating and authentic; this largely attributed to by his expertise on the subject, intertwined with accounts of his voyage throughout his tenure in the army. As I perused through the 24 chapters of the book, I found myself engrossed in the stories whilst gleaning invaluable lessons woven within. It is a book about walking the talk. When the author writes about character, trust, loyalty and many other leadership morsels, these are things he has practised and they have worked for him. It is a manual we can use across the board in today's world. In reading this book, just like the author has done in his life, I am amassing leadership rocks for my backpack.
Wholesome leadership; something we rarely come across these days, is exemplified in this book. One incident that is profound to me is when his commander came to talk to him while he was facing a dark moment in his life. Craig Whelden says in his book that leadership is caring. The fact that he applied the same principle with those he led, shows concern for them beyond the workplace. He also talks about the sad times he experienced as a leader with the loss of loved ones. He was still able to forge on and this encourages me to know that one can always overcome challenges and continue on with the journey stronger. He says that leaders play a critical role in leading others through the dark tunnels in life and also that leadership is reaching out to all those within your sphere of influence.
We may not per se be recognized as leaders in our everyday lives, but leadership roles tend to crop up on us in various places and situations. This book can be of great help in such occurrences, as it bears precious gems that stick with you as you read along. It is a great one to have on your shelf, something you can always refer to, that will have an answer to the questions you have or challenges you may be experiencing.
The book is written in a way that, even those who do not consider themselves ardent readers can easily comprehend. I did not see any typing or grammatical errors but I came across a missing word towards the end of the book. Some of the military terminologies especially the ranks were sometimes a hurdle to read through but I didn't really mind as they are an integral part of the story.
Nevertheless, it was a great read that I will be referring to over and over again, hence I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to all, leader or not, as what is contained herein can help one navigate through daily affairs. For those who consider themselves leaders, this is a must read if they want to have their leadership course change for the better. It inspires one to be the best.
******
Leadership
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
-
- Posts: 845
- Joined: 11 Mar 2020, 05:13
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 44
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bookreviewmi1111.html
- Latest Review: Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer's Guide by William H. Coles
Thanks for your review.