The Patton Mind: The Professional Development of an Extraordinary Leader

Rating:
Summary: Anyone striving for excellence should read this book.
Review: O.K., I confess I'm a fan of Patton and read most books on him. But I'm also a professional military historian and analyst who wants my students (both civilians and army officer cadets) to learn the value of reading good books -- and plenty of them.

Patton learned it, as Roger Nye's splendid book makes clear. This carefully researched and very readable volume shows that, throughout his dramatic life, from ambitious boy to four-star general, Patton read and digested almost every military historical and doctrinal book he could get his hands on.

What an example Patton is! When confronted by new tests in combat he was able to draw on an encyclopedic memory of what the 'great captains' of the past had done to achieve success under similar circumstances. And it paid off handsomely.

Nye's book tells us plenty about Patton, and also about the need for us to set goals and prepare and equip ourselves through all-out study to confidently face and overcome the challenges we face as we strive to achieve those goals.