I served with Cotton Puryear, the Author's Son, in Desert Storm in 1990-1991. Cotton was the XO of G Troop 2/3 ACR (and a very good one - obviously learned some lessons from Dad). I was a green 2LT just out of the basic course. Cotton loaned me his copy of the book, it was one of the first books on Military leadership I read outside of a classroom and it was exceptional. It was particulalry appropriate for me as a young officer soon to face combat to learn from the greats. The book is very readable and I think should be at the top of any aspiring officer or business executives list who want to learn lessons in leadership from some of our greatest military leaders. Cotton - if you read this send me an e-mail! Brave Rifles!

It is written in such a way that you don't have to be a military historian to enjoy reading about Generals Eisenhower, MacArthur, Marshall, and Patton. It talks about these men as people and explains who they are not just what they did. I have recommended this book to many people.

I read this book slowly, marking it up and making notations throughout, as principles expounded came to light. These men had to make high pressure decisions, the result of which were stupendous! They were in positions that required sterling character. The ramifications of their conclusions were paramount. The fate of the free world hung on the balance the situation was desperate.

In this study of 19 stars of military character I truly found gold nuggets of wisdom. Principles that are invaluable tools which will assist you to set the sail in your life, and then to get to where you want to go.

American Generalship does an incredible job of outlining the necessary components to character, and while it is aimed at American military leaders, its scope seems unnecessarily constrained. I have been told that I cannot criticize the author for not writing a book he didn't write; however, it seems that the subject was deserving of a broader scope than merely American military leaders. The book includes eleven chapters, each covering some component of this elusive leadership character: (1) Selflessness; (2) Decision: The Essence of Leadership; (3) "Feel" or "Sixth Sense" in Decision Making; (4) Aversion to "Yes Men": Having the Character to Challenge; (5) Books: The Importance of Reading; (6) Mentorship: Guidance, Counseling, Advice, Teaching, and Door Opening; (7)Consideration; (8) Delegation; (9) Fix the Problem, Not the Blame; (10) Reflective Descriptions of Character; and, (11) The Pattern. Unfortunately, because of missing and misused quotation marks within the text, it is difficult to understand whether Puryear is himself speaking, or whether he is quoting a military leader. There are some remarkable stories contained in the book however, most especially in the fifth chapter concerning reading. I had purchased the hard- back version of the text (I am unsure of whether there is any other in print), which was published by Presidio Press, and the binding has already cracked. Thus, the reason I have given it three stars is because I believe the structure Puryear used in defining the nature of leadership character is excellent, and the text is generally reflective of a well-considered approach. Yet, the book's durability, and more importantly, its readability remain wanting.

Mr Puryear's "American Generalship" is overall a good book. It has resently been added to the CSAF Reading List. The author has taken many of his interviews and discussions with past military leaders and summized what they believe the keys are to effective leadership within the military. It is a fairly easy read, though some thoughts seem to be repeated in several locations.

Puryear has done a superb job summarizing years of intensive research on the subject of leadership. The finished product is applicable not just to military leaders, but to anyone who takes on the awesome responsibility of managing other people. He systematically breaks down the essential components of character and cites examples that drive the point home. Time after time I found myself thinking that this book should be required reading for civilian leaders of all kinds. His writing style is articulate and easy to read. I've read several books on this subject and this one is a winner.