Many of us feel, as leaders, that we have a difficult, sometimes even impossible job. There's never enough time, money, people, etc and the consequences of not getting the job done are unthinkable. But few will ever have the crushing responsibility for the very lives of great numbers of people. As a military commander in World War II, General Omar Bradley held the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers in his hands, knowing that the best decisions he could make would not prevent loss of life; that the best he could do is reduce that loss as much as possible. Our problems pale in significance.

Bradley has been recognized as one of the best military leaders in American history, and there is much a modern leader can learn from him. He is one of a very small handful of senior officers who built the U.S. Army into the organization which was able to win World War II. He understood how to get the best of people, even in the most impossible situations.

Like most autobiographies, A General's Life gives the reader insight into the author by starting with his early life, but this book also provides an interesting view of early 20th century America. For instance, in the first 14 years of his life, various diseases claimed three family members including his father and a younger brother. His father, a teacher, walked the six miles to school and back every day. He died of pneumonia in the winter of 1907-08.

Bradley guides the reader through more than 88 years of American history as it can only be told by an insider. His unabashed views of fellow senior leaders during the war, and after, shine an interesting, and very instructional light on leadership at the highest levels. As a general subordinate to the flamboyant General George S. Patton, he suddenly found himself promoted to be Patton's senior. Certainly a difficult situation for anyone.

Aboard his command ship in the English Channel during the 1944 invasion of France, Bradley was so dismayed by the carnage of that day that he seriously considered abandoning Omaha beach. In an excellent, though certainly wrenching example of good decision making, he held off until he received better information which told him the decision was not necessary.

He presided over the Joint Chiefs of Staff during an event that came to be known as "The Admiral's Revolt," a serious schism at the highest levels of government. He held fast to his principles and provided the necessary foundation to recover from the crisis.

There are other historical tidbits in Bradley's book that raise interesting questions about what might have been, if… For instance, he tells of a discussion between Gen Eisenhower and Senator Robert Taft of Ohio. At that time Eisenhower was dedicated to making the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, a viable military concern, an effort which Taft opposed. Taft had his eye on the White House, but Eisenhower was being courted by both parties and his overwhelming popularity insured he would be a shoe-in if he decided to run. In a private meeting, Eisenhower offered Taft a written pledge not to run in the Presidential election if Taft would support NATO. Taft refused. One cannot help but wonder what would have resulted had he agreed.

A General's Life is a terrific view of American history throughout most of the 20th century as well as leadership at a level most of us will never experience.

PLAN - LEAD - EXCEL