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Richard Brookhiser
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George Washington on Leadership Hardcover – May 13, 2008

by Richard Brookhiser (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 63 ratings
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FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, FIRST IN LEADERSHIP. Richard Brookhiser's revolutionary biography, Founding Father , took George Washington off the dollar bill and made him live. Now, with his trademark wit and precision, Brookhiser expertly examines the details of Washington's life that fullscale biographies sweep over, to instruct us in true leadership. George Washington on Leadership is a textbook look at Washington's three spectacularly successful careers as an executive: general, president, and tycoon. Brookhiser explains how Washington maximized his strengths and overcame his flaws, and inspires us to do likewise. It shows how one man's struggles and successes 200 years ago can be a model for leaders today. Washington oversaw two startups-the army and the presidency. He chaired the most important meeting in American history-the Constitutional Convention. Washington rose from being a third son who was a major in the militia, to one of the most famous men in the world. At every stage in his career, he had to deal with changing circumstances, from tobacco prices to geopolitics, and with wildly different classes of men, from frontiersmen to aristocrats. Washington's example is so crucial because of the many firsts he is responsible for.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    May 13, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0465003028
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0465003020
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

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In the guise of a management consultant, historian Brookhiser informs readers that George Washington used the hub-and-spoke system; was a shrewd talent scout; handled smart people well; was on top of essential details; and mastered his temper. Author of several superpopular titles about the Founders, Brookhiser, with casual diction and his customary wit, distills leadership lessons from Washington’s three occupations—business operator, military officer, and politician. Noting the universal problem of leadership, choosing from competing advice for dealing with problems, Brookhiser elaborates on how Washington did so by ranging across Washington’s life, collecting disparate incidents from youth or maturity to make a common point. Washington made his share of mistakes, admits Brookhiser, but learned from them and appreciated the value of effective PR. He famously melted the hearts of mutineers in 1783 by apologizing for going blind in the service of his country—and putting on spectacles they’d never seen. Could a CEO squelch a boardroom rebellion with the same stunt? While leaders glean Brookhiser for practical advice, history buffs will be intrigued by his biographical insights. --Gilbert Taylor

About the Author

Richard Brookhiser is the author of What Would the Founders Do? , Founding Father , Alexander Hamilton , American , and America's First Dynasty: The Adamses, 1735-1918 . He wrote and hosted the critically acclaimed PBS documentary Rediscovering George Washington , is a columnist for TIME magazine, and is a senior editor of National Review . He has written for The New Yorker and the New York Times . He lives in New York City.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; First Edition (May 13, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465003028
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465003020
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 63 ratings

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Richard Brookhiser

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
63 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sarge
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book on leadership.
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2019
Verified Purchase
Terrific book on leadership. Easy read
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Jim Ryan
5.0 out of 5 stars Unlike other biographies of George Washington, this one singles ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2015
Verified Purchase
Unlike other biographies of George Washington, this one singles out his prescription for leadership for a variety of situations and leadership alliances. For example as General of the American Colonial Forces he personally checks to see that the latrine detail is being attended to. He points out that even that minute a detail bears careful attention by a leader. He also gives advice on how to deal with personnel representing enemy forces and even ornery people who are supposed to be your friends. The book is a valuable addition to tomes on leadership.
2 people found this helpful
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Miguel
4.0 out of 5 stars A different kind of book...
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
I think what I liked most about this book is that it just is not talk about George Washington and why he is such an awesome leader. It actually goes through specific situations that he had to deal with and how he dealt with them and what he was probably thinking. I give mad kudos to the writer of this book. I really enjoyed reading it and apply a lot of the principles of George Washington to my everyday life. This book was good to read and I will probably keep it in my repertoire to look back at every down again. Good read.
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Ronald D
5.0 out of 5 stars Common Sense Information
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2013
Verified Purchase
From a person who is in management and loves history, this book was great. Very practical and informative. I read it twice.
One person found this helpful
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Mike Dillemuth
3.0 out of 5 stars More about Washington than Leadership
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book is mostly a collection of short stories about George Washington. The author, Richard Brookhiser, uses these stories to highlight specific leadership characteristics. Unfortunately, his efforts are only marginally successful. In several cases, the connection between the story and a leadership trait is somewhat superficial. Often, the leadership trait is presented in the briefest of detail at the end of the chapter.

On a positive note, the book is well written and easy to read. The chapters are relatively short and frequently subdivided into smaller parts. For example, the chapter on "Enemies" is divided into "Living with Enemies" and "Learning from Enemies." Thus, the reader can stop and start again with relative ease, always beginning at a new part.

The last section of the book has a better focus on leadership. The author attempts to tie the book together by referring to previous chapters. For example, on pg 216, he states (see Chapter 11, Failure and Betrayal). This writing technique allows the reader to easily go back and refer to the story being evaluated. Some of the final chapters go beyond Washington and discuss the traits of Presidents Nixon, Truman, Johnson, and Roosevelt. Although the author is trying to make a point, he only succeeds in dragging the reader all over the map.

Bottom line: This book is a satisfactory collection of stories about George Washington. It is mildly entertaining and moves along quickly. As a study in leadership, however, it is somewhat lacking. The author makes a good attempt but the analysis is weak. The connections between the stories and various leadership traits are tenuous at best. Nevertheless, this book still provides interesting insight into our country's first president and Commander in Chief.
4 people found this helpful
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Delia
5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2012
Verified Purchase
Loved it. These principles are still valid in this day and age. Would recomend it as a book to give employees of a company.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars History polished...
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2008
Verified Purchase
A fine account of Washington's trials & tribulations during the birth of our Nation as culled from his (and other's of that time) writings; an inside look at the leadership "chess moves" facing political statesmen. This account ranks up there with Machiavelli's "The Prince"...
2 people found this helpful
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VJ
2.0 out of 5 stars Content does not live up to title
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2008
Verified Purchase
Washington is one of our greatest leaders -- maybe our greatest over Lincoln, Grant, FDR and Eisenhower.

That's a given, but the content of this book does not live up to its title.

Leadership is the ability to get people to put aside their normal competitive instincts and work together toward a common goal. A winning coach or military officer; a successful CEO and, yes, a winning guerilla chieftan are examples of EFFECTIVE leaders.

The question then is: What behaviors in these men make people want to follow them?

"The 7 Leadership Lessons" on the back of the dust cover provide little or nothing practical for someone hoping to improve his or her effectiveness as a leader. They're too broad, too vague, too clichéd.

The author seems muddled in his concept of leadership. Yes, Washington held a leadership position before, during and after the Revolution, but this books does little to tell us WHY he was EFFECTIVE in those roles as a leader.

Holding a position of leadership says nothing of whether one is effective in that role.

The subject of leadership needs lots of attention -- especially today.
This book does little to advance the debate.
2 people found this helpful
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