A General Who Will Fight
The Leadership of Ulysses S. Grant
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- $34.99
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- $34.99
Publisher Description
Prior to his service in the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant exhibited few characteristics indicating that he would be an extraordinary leader. His performance as a cadet was mediocre, and he finished in the bottom half of his class at West Point. However, during his early service in the Civil War, most notably at the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg, Grant proved that he possessed an uncommon drive. When it was most crucial, Grant demonstrated his integrity, determination, and tactical skill by taking control of the Union troops and leading his forces to victory.
A General Who Will Fight is a detailed study of leadership that explores Grant's rise from undisciplined cadet to commanding general of the United States Army. Some experts have attributed Grant's success to superior manpower and technology, to the help he received from other Union armies, or even to a ruthless willingness to sacrifice his own men. Harry S. Laver, however, refutes these arguments and reveals that the only viable explanation for Grant's success lies in his leadership skill, professional competence, and unshakable resolve. Much more than a book on military strat-egy, this innovative volume examines the decision-making process that enabled Grant both to excel as an unquestioned commander and to win.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Laver (Citizens More Than Soldiers) takes an in-depth look at Ulysses S. Grant's military success in his latest historical study. He argues against popular explanations of Grant's success, like those that merely attribute his victory to the Federal's army wealth of men and resources. Instead, Laver shows how Grant's inherent leadership skills were fundamental to his rise to U.S. commanding general. He studies each of Grant's battles in minute detail, and then analyzes them for Grant's mistakes and accomplishments. Unfortunately, Laver's analyses aren't as elaborate as his detailed historical facts, as he depends primarily on vague words and ideas such as Grant's "analytical determination", which results in each battle analysis sounding the same instead of building from the last. Laver also studies Grant's professional relationships, such as his insecure one with General Henry W. Halleck, his superior for most of his early career during the war, and his friendship with a supportive President Lincoln. This book is best for military buffs and historians; Laver's writing style and use of incredible detail will prove dry for the average reader.
