It Doesn't Take a Hero

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Summary: Schwarzkopf, the Cosmopolitan
Review: I read this autobiography just as the terrorist attacks occured...it was like deja vu, reading that Schwarzkopf, Cheney, Powell and President Bush were in the same kind of talks 10 years ago as they obviously are today.
To characterize Gen.H.Norman Schwarzkopf as a man and a great leader, it only takes this quote from his Farewell Remarks to Departing Troops in Saudi Arabia on March 8, 1991:
"...And you are going to take back the fact that ISLAM is not a word to be feared. It's a religion to be respected just as we respect all other nations. That's the American way."

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Summary: IT DOESN'T TAKE A HERO
Review: I received this book as a Christmas present from a fellow Vietnam veteran a few years back, at the conclusion of Desert Storm. It is interesting to see the difference between Norman Schwarzkopf's two tours in Vietnam. During the first tour, he is avidly impressed with the Vietnamese Airborne troops he is advising, and has a comfortable time back at West Point recounting his experiences. The second time is with the Americal Division, and there is all the contrast in the world between these two assignments. Such works have been helpful to me as a Vietnam vet, and I relish my time as a helicopter pilot in the Mekong Delta in 1966-67 all the more, especially because I had neither of these experiences. I was lucky. This book is a keeper, and a wonderful portrayal of conducting the war in the desert of Iraq.

Rating:
Summary: IT DOESN'T TAKE A HERO
Review: I received this book as a Christmas present from a fellow Vietnam veteran a few years back, at the conclusion of Desert Storm. It is interesting to see the difference between Norman Schwarzkopf's two tours in Vietnam. During the first tour, he is avidly impressed with the Vietnamese Airborne troops he is advising, and has a comfortable time back at West Point recounting his experiences. The second time is with the Americal Division, and there is all the contrast in the world between these two assignments. Such works have been helpful to me as a Vietnam vet, and I relish my time as a helicopter pilot in the Mekong Delta in 1966-67 all the more, especially because I had neither of these experiences. I was lucky. This book is a keeper, and a wonderful portrayal of conducting the war in the desert of Iraq.

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Summary: This book made me a Schwartzkopf fan.....
Review: I recently purchased this book, just for something to read, and when I bought it, I had no idea who General Schwartzkopf was. I gotta say, after I read this book, I felt like I could walk up to his front door and have a day-long conversation with him! GREAT BOOK!

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Summary: one
Review: i red it seven tiems its one of the best books that i ever read. Jonathan Zimmerli Switzerland

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Summary: It Doesn't take a hero book review
Review: It doesnt take a hero is a great book. The book is at a superior level. In this marvelous book he proves that you can do anything that they want if they just put their mind and heart into your work.

The book begins with nhis childhood in New Jersey, to traveling the world with his father and living the military life. The book shares Norman Schwarzkopf's heroic stories with the reader and shares pictures. I would say that the overall quality of the book is above average. All together I give this book a five star rating because it kept me interested and was a heart touching story.

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Summary: Soldiering as Diplomacy and Caring
Review: Military leaders often have statues raised to them. Some go on to become U.S. presidents (including Washington, Grant, and Eisenhower). When General H. Norman Schwarzkopf retired from the U.S. Army, there was not even a ceremony -- unless you call getting handed your retirement papers a ceremony. Although that seems ungrateful for a man who led the allied troops so well in Desert Storm, it somehow seems fitting for this man. In this appropriately titled autobiography, It Doesn't Take a Hero, General Schwarzkopf shows himself to be a man focused on the tasks ahead of him as a servant leader rather than as a man searching for a hero's accolade.

Although General Schwarzkopf accomplished a lot, you get the sense from this book that these accomplishments were heavily influenced by a father, also a West Pointer and U.S. general by the same name. From the time he was quite young, his father and mother made it clear that he was to go to West Point. Clearly, being a dutiful, good son was his primary priority throughout his life. While many will excuse any failings in their own lives by having had a dysfunctional family, General Schwarzkopf seemed to roll with the punches. His mother suffered from alcoholism, no doubt influenced by his father's long overseas assignments in Iran.

Two particular elements of his life story particularly affected me. While a young officer, he often encountered older, senior officers who disgusted him with their lack of attention to duty and lying. Rather than fleeing from this corrupt connection, he soldiered on encouraged by good officers who pointed out that the system could only be cleansed by good officers rising to the top. He also liked virtually nothing about what he saw in the Vietnam War (either in Vietnam or on the home front), and internalized those lessons for running his own combat commands in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. As a result, loss of life was kept to a minimum, the culture of our Saudi hosts was honored, and politics was kept from shortchanging the troops.

I had a chance to hear General Schwarzkopf speak a few years ago. I'll always remember his advice to the audience about leadership. "Be the leader you would like to have." I would rather have that kind of leader than a hero any day.

Understanding that General Schwarzkopf had extensive experience in Iran and Europe as a youngster helped me to appreciate how lucky we were to have a talented general who also knew and appreciated Arabs and their culture. If you are like me, you will enjoy his reactions to the first times he was honored with foods that Americans normally don't eat. Like a good soldier, he popped them right down.

I also appreciate the candor in the book about his own failings and losses of temper, especially. Some autobiographies airbrush out any flaws or blemishes. That's essential to the myth of the hero. Showing the realities, on the other hand, legitimately can inspire all of us to overcome our faults to accomplish what needs to be done.

I recently read Stephen Ambrose's book, Citizen Soldiers, about the battles in northwestern France following D-Day through to the surrender of Germany. I was struck by how much of the top general's job involved diplomacy both with politicians and field commanders. I hope that lesson will be remembered as we begin our new task of stopping terrorism, and as we educate the next generation of military leaders.

After you read this book, think about a leader in your organization. What lessons from this book would apply to helping that leader? How can you assist that leader in being able to uncover and benefit from those lessons?

"Be the leader you would like to have."

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Summary: It Doesn't Take A Hero
Review: My wife bought me this book.The general tells a wonderful story. Having served in the army, it was a warming to read from such a high ranking officer who cared and loved his troops. The story that he told was honest and sincere. Great book! [e-mail]

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Summary: A fine leader
Review: Norman Schwarzkopf is a fine leader, and a real gentleman. I am glad he has finally come out of the closet, and has admitted to always having been a GAY man. It is amazing he kept this big secret under don`t ask, don`t tell military rules. There is nothing wrong with being gay, and I am glad stormin Norman has finally come clean. It is also great that Dick Cheney also fully accepts his own gay family.

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Summary: A true, honest-to-God American hero...this book's a keeper.
Review: One of the things that stood out, and something most probably don't know about Gen. Schwarzkopf, is what a truly interesting life he had. Living all over the world, he absorbed a lot of the culture which certainly helped him later in life, and especially during the Gulf War.

Having been in the military, I was struck at his absolute love and admiration he had for the "grunts" in the field. He loved every one of them....something you don't often see much of.

I lent my copy of this book to my father to read, and have never gotten it back. I only wish I could have gotten a hardcover copy when it first came out. Go ahead...spend the money and read a book which is truly worth reading.