Review by browgirl -- Leadership by Craig B. Whelden

browgirl · Post by **browgirl** » 08 Apr 2020, 16:16

[Following is a volunteer review of "Leadership" by Craig B. Whelden.]

3 out of 4 stars

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From the first line of Leadership by Major General Craig Whelden, you have the feeling of being spoken to by an uncle or grandfather who is comfortably seated in a warm armchair. Whelden’s voice carries an endearing, peaceful quality that makes the reader lean in to listen as he speaks. Akin to an afternoon spent listening to grandpa’s old stories, at times, the author strays from the point of the anecdote. He is carried downstream by a memory as his listener glazes over and works hard to remain attentive. Most of these stories- and the lessons they carry- are worth tuning back in for.

Craig Whelden is a motivational speaker and self-proclaimed “family man” who has devoted his life to serving his country. Whelden boasts more than forty-six years collectively in the Army (where he served at all levels from lieutenant to General Officer), private sector, and Senior Executive Services with the United States Marines combined. Notably, he worked diligently for the Army during a period of transition in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. He was also one of the first present at the Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks to offer his personal aide. An extensive list of impressive accomplishments and specific roles can be found on the author’s biography. This book is a legacy project acting to pass on these decades of experience.

Leadership is part memoir, part self-development. Each of the twenty-four short chapters conveys a different story about a stage in the author’s life where a truly important lesson was learned. The chapters vary considerably in topic, from “Remember Your Roots,” a section about the power of humility, to “The Light at the End of the Tunnel,” a chapter urging leaders to keep hope in uncertain times. The latter chapter briefly discusses suicide, but this is the only instance of more mature content found in this book.

The targeted audience is unclear, and this is one of the most prominent negative points of the read. In the prologue, Whelden posits the idea that his text will be helpful for “aspiring leaders in any profession.” However, throughout the book, he only gives pertinent examples of adopting his practices for leaders in the military or corporate world, with an occasional nod to athletes as leaders. Many chapters even neglect to mention a moral of the story after the anecdote is presented, moving on to the next chapter as the reader limps along behind, struggling to ascertain the lesson they ought to have learned. The lack of certainty about audience- and even format, at times- betrays the reader and leaves them wondering (with a sinking feeling) what’s coming next.

As mentioned earlier, possibly the most enjoyable part of Leadership is the way Whelden writes with such a conversational tone. His stories reveal a leader most of us want to be: a kind, truthful, and vulnerable person who truly cares about his charges. Whelden also uses a variety of sources (like TedTalks, books, and articles) to convey his adages, and even mentions where they can be found for further reading. The book was impeccably clear of any spelling or grammatical errors and, other than the chapters that briefly touch on suicide, is free of any mature or explicit topics. Because this book is mostly thought-provoking and enjoyable, but at times lacks focus and frustrates the reader, I would rate Leadership by Craig Whelden 3 out of 4 stars.

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Leadership
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