Rating: 
Summary: Good One
Review: .
I just finished reading this book. And I must say that it is one of those no-nonsense books.There is no doubt that Rumsfeld is indeed a Battle-Hardened Maverick. He is a sort of licensed trouble-shooter and crisis manager. The book takes you thru Rumsfeld's ways of dealing with people and issues. Or Rumsfeld's recipe for success. At the end of each chapter the author summarizes the key ideas covered in the chapter. Worth Reading.
Rating: 
Summary: God Help Us
Review: All we need is more psychopaths like DR running the world into dust and ashes.
Rating: 
Summary: The Rumsfeld Way
Review: As a writer/author/management researcher I attempt to keep a critcal eye on areas that interest me. I found this book to be a very pleasant surprise. I expected a canned look at a currently high profile person. Instead, I found a straightforward, interesting read about a more complex person than I had assumed existed. The book has an easy to follow flow, is crisply written, and is informative. Watching Rumsfeld in action on the news programs is easy to connect to the background, operating under difficult circumstances, and experiences portrayed in this tightly written book. If your looking for the negative side of Rumsfeld this is not the book. If you want to trace how current leadership style is shaped by background than this will be a quick, educational, and comfortable read that is worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: A chickenhawk who avoided armed combat
Review: Don Rumsfeld likes to portray himself as so "tough". Yet when presented with the opportunity to prove it by serving in armed combat during the Korean War, he dodged military service by sitting it out at Princeton with a student deferment. The book conveniently glosses over this salient fact. This man has no claim to honor, and the book is a waste of valuable trees.
Rating:
Summary: Great book about a great leader!
Review: Donald Rumsfeld. Just mentioning those two words evokes emotion from those who follow politics - be it a scowl from a liberal, or hopefully, a smile and an affirmative nod of the head from one of a more keen intellect. It seems as if Rummy has created, in what is indicative of any true leader, many friends - as well as some enemies - along his way. The Rumsfeld Way is, for all intents and purposes, a leadership book, albeit one that also chronicles Rumsfeld's highly successful exploits both in the private sector and the public arena as it delineates Rummy's dynamic leadership acumen. Rumsfeld has, in what is no small feat, rapidly transformed America's national defense from a vacillating and timid gun shy state of malaise with a dilapidated and impotent military suffering from Clinton-induced low morale to the current state of a vibrant, robust, confident, and fully empowered military unrivaled in the world. How has he, for someone the liberals gleefully lambasted as being a relic of another era, generated such impressive results in such a short amount of time, all the while accumulating an impressively fervent following? One reason is Rummy, who routinely works grueling 14-hour days at The Pentagon, expects nothing but excellence from all of those around him - including himself. Tolerating underperformers, and God forbid, nonperformers, doesn't fly in the Rumsfeld camp - to put it mildly. Rummy's 2-word leadership mantra of "Get Results," while simply stated, sums up his no-nonsense philosophy. Invariably, he has achieved exemplary results, while cultivating, unlike the Clinton White House, such wildly bizarre concepts as honesty(gasp!), integrity, perseverance, propriety, and plain old-fashioned straight talk - all the while invoking a cutting sense of humor. When you're a multi-millionaire of retirement age, why return to the arduous undertaking of heading up the Pentagon? Because Rumsfeld, being the leader that he is, thrives on seemingly intractable challenges. As a country and a people, we are blessed to have had Rumsfeld return to Washington in the period just prior to such an incredibly grave and trying time in our American history. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to truly enrich themselves with the intricacies of what consitutes a truly superb paragon of leadership - from a man that all Americans should be thankful is working for them. "Some people believe that the first casualty of any war is the truth. But in this war, the first victory is to tell the truth."
- Donald Rumsfeld
Rating:
Summary: Unparalleled leadership, candor, & resolve
Review: Donald Rumsfeld. Just mentioning those two words evokes emotion from those who follow politics - be it a scowl from a liberal, or hopefully, a smile and an affirmative nod of the head from one of a more keen intellect. It seems as if Rummy has created, in what is indicative of any true leader, many friends - as well as some enemies - along his way. The Rumsfeld Way is, for all intents and purposes, a leadership book, albeit one that also chronicles Rumsfeld's highly successful exploits both in the private sector and the public arena as it delineates Rummy's dynamic leadership acumen. Rumsfeld has, in what is no small feat, rapidly transformed America's national defense from a vacillating and timid gun shy state of malaise with a dilapidated and impotent military suffering from Clinton-induced low morale to the current state of a vibrant, robust, confident, and fully empowered military unrivaled in the world. How has he, for someone the liberals gleefully lambasted as being a relic of another era, generated such impressive results in such a short amount of time, all the while accumulating an impressively fervent following? One reason is Rummy, who routinely works grueling 14-hour days at The Pentagon, expects nothing but excellence from all of those around him - including himself. Tolerating underperformers, and God forbid, nonperformers, doesn't fly in the Rumsfeld camp - to put it mildly. Rummy's 2-word leadership mantra of "Get Results," while simply stated, sums up his no-nonsense philosophy. Invariably, he has achieved exemplary results, while cultivating, unlike the Clinton White House, such wildly bizarre concepts as honesty(gasp!), integrity, perseverance, propriety, and plain old-fashioned straight talk - all the while invoking a cutting sense of humor. When you're a multi-millionaire of retirement age, why return to the arduous undertaking of heading up the Pentagon? Because Rumsfeld, being the leader that he is, thrives on seemingly intractable challenges. As a country and a people, we are blessed to have had Rumsfeld return to Washington in the period just prior to such an incredibly grave and trying time in our American history. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to truly enrich themselves with the intricacies of what consitutes a truly superb paragon of leadership - from a man that all Americans should be thankful is working for them. "Some people believe that the first casualty of any war is the truth. But in this war, the first victory is to tell the truth."
- Donald Rumsfeld
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Follow the finely crafted journey of the politician, turned CEO, turned politician. Learn how the no-nonsense Secretary of Defense applied his standards of excellence to the floundering G.D. Searle Corporation and turned it into a stockholders dream. And you'll be able to recognize how Rummy is applying those same principles as he works as the CEO to the war on terror.
Author Jeffrey Krames takes you through four decades in the life of Mr. Rumsfeld. Whether you like the man or not, you will have a much better understanding of where he is coming from when he gives those cut-to-the-bone answers during press conferences. Whether a CEO or a student working part time, the reader will come away motivated and will have a greater understanding of how to succeed in any endeavor. Many great minds have difficulty transitioning from the private to the public sector and vice versa. Rumsfeld did it with ease.
Rating:
Summary: Golden nuggets from Rummy
Review: For the time-pressed businessman or woman, I found this to be a really fast and interesting and most importantly USEFUL read, with lots of easily adoptable lessons and great ideas on how to lead and be successful. Here's the kicker: Donald Rumsfeld had never run a company before he became CEO of a pharmaceutical company, yet he went in armed with ideas (mapped out in the book) and became hugely successful. I loved this book, and you'll love the "nuggets" at the end of each chapter--leadership ideas that spell success!
Rating:
Summary: Masterful and Majestic: A Heroe's Journey
Review: From the moment I began to peruse this volume I was immediately capitvated by the gentle touch Krames uses to describe this powerful leader. The author succeeds over and over again by deconstructing Secretary Rumsfeld so that the reader understands the riddle behind Rummy. It is as though Krames has unlocked a complex puzzle to enable those who seek the ingredients of a great leader to discover how to find the perfect mixture and then apply this alchemy to their own lives and careers. The easily readable book includes short and to the point chapter summaries further ensuring that we will learn how to lead in The Rumsfeld Way. From the dramatic opening pages documenting the change of power during Watergate to the final moments as President Bush ascends the platform in the U.S. Congress, Krames has created a book that is part drama, part historical documentary, and part legendary tale. In a deft and effective manner Krames has helped those who aspire to become leaders learn how to adopt and adapt Rumsfeld's Way to better lead their organizations throughout the 21st century. I not only gained a great deal from the book but immediately shared it with my MBA students who are enrolled in a course entitled, "Leading Organizational Change." This books is far better and more comprehensive than any text book I could assign. The opportunity to share the mastery and majesty as chronicled by Jeffrey A. Krames is a great pleasure for this Dean and Professor. I look forward to Krames next revealing and insightful leadership adventure.
Rating:
Summary: What a load of rubbish
Review: I can't believe this Cold War dinosaur is still in power let alone revered for his "leadership" qualities. Apart from the fact that he's a phycho the guy is 70+ years old for God's sake. He should do mankind a favour and retire to Miami or wherever it is that Republicans retire to. There he can be out of harm's way playing golf and reminiscing over the good old days. I think America is on a serious cultural decline if a serious publication like McGraw-Hill is publishing rubbish like this. I know freedom is a "wonderful thing" and that America is a place where anyone can read say what they like, worship freely etc. However, think how more wonderful that freedom would be if used more constructively. I mean what are we to expect next: "The Little Book of Rumsfeld Wisdom?"
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