[( Challenge of Command )] [by: Roger H Nye] [Apr-2007]

by Roger H. Nye

“A must for those who aspire to follow the profession of arms.”—Maj. Gen. George S. PattonHere is a unique book that emphasizes the attainment of military excellence through reading and field experience. Written to help men and women prepare for positions of command in the American Armed Forces, it is a product of the author’s years of discussions with military commanders about their roles as decision-makers, moral standard bearers, and energizers of military organizations.In his commentary on the problems of the commander as tactician, strategist, warrior, trainer, mentor, disciplinarian, and moral leader, the author analyzes and recommends both classical and current readings that are available for those who seek an expanded vision of their potential as commanders. This book is designed to raise new challenges to conventional thinking about the art of military command.

Genres: Leadership, Military Fiction, War, Professional Development, Self Help, Psychology

Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult book to categorize because it spends a good chunk of the book referring the reader to other books to read for a more in depth study of a particular topic. In a way that was the focus of the book though so I think that it succeeded in that regard. The writer stresses that junior officers should develop good reading habits and that is perhaps the primary focus of the entire book. I think that he does a good job of listing off a great deal of the classics and a decent job of using historical examples to illustrate certain themes. The book may or may not be a little dated now, I suppose that depends on what you're reading it for. It is about twenty years old and so excludes a wealth of hard earned knowledge from the Gulf War and the entire War on Terror. It also is written firmly entrenched in Third Generation Warfare (Maneuver Warfare) since Fourth Generation Warfare was nothing but a future concept at the time. He refers to the "future" when battlefield commanders will be able to utilize satellites for better intelligence.

I would recommend this for someone who does not have a great deal of reading in the field under their belt already. It's a good primer.

[Jens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book. Ideal to read, reflect and discuss about what it means to be in command and an officer in general. Afterwards, I added 15 books to my 'to read' list.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dated, but timeless, collection of thoughts from a well-read and experienced Army Officer. Nye does a phenomenal job of deconstructing the complexities of command and officership while recommending books that shaped his, and other’s, views. He captures these reading lists in compact bibliographies at the end of each chapter, which makes this book a gem for any current or future officer who is asking the question: what should I read next?

[Joshua Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graduate level read prior to command. A truly professional book about command that dissects aspect of a commander (strategy, ethics, etc.). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to all junior officers before command. Do not recommend reading too early; requires a developed professional maturity to appreciate and internalize.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of must-read books for young officers and cadets. Not only does it recommend an assortment of books, so that there are choices in the many categories it has, but it explains those choices and why they are important.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended reading lists on past military commanders (Caesar, Alexander, Rommel, etc.), company command, tactics, strategy, duty, morals, warrior spirit, and mentoring were the highlight for me. All of the chapters had at least two examples illustrating the main points of the chapter.

[maxyeote · Rating 3 out of 5]

decided to start picking up some of the books which the OCS library donated to my unit. very fun reading about grand strategy and military tactics as a lowly third sergeant. some of the chapters are a bit boring - particularly the ones about moral leadership - though that probably reflects more on me than on the author. the best part about this book (and why I'm glad I started with it) is that half of it is essentially recommendations for more books to read about war, military theory, and commandership. would recommend for anyone who wants to get started with reading about war from the perspective of a commander.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic practical and easy to read book on command. It is absolutely worth a look and provides much to think about.

The best part is the series of topical reading lists.

[Brian W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expert advice on how to be a successful commander. It has an excellent bibliography!! The book needs to be read before assuming any command billet.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

ت

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grabbed this book by chance and glad I did, though it is a bit dated it is exactly the type of book I was looking for, a book about what Military books one should read. Giving it a rating almost seems arbitrary since it is a book that rates other books. I did extract a longer reading list from it and I'm excited to get started on them as well.

I also like how the author breaks down the books by the many facets of Military Command: Vision, Command Challenges, Company Commander, Tactician, Warrior, Moral Arbiter, Duty, Strategist and Mentor with a list of books for each.

"There are worse things that could happen besides dying"

"If there is nothing worth dying for than there is equally nothing worth living for"

"In the absence of love man must be governed Justice" -Aristotle

"The thinking commanders probably learned how to be Encylopedias of technology on their way to becoming shrewd tacticians"

"They [Great Officers] seek new experiences in the world surrounding their military haven, learning new languages or sports, undertaking advanced study in new academic disciplines, traveling or perhaps aquiring new skills in the arts"

"It is evident that moral principls have to do with one's actions towards other human beings. Here there is little room for self-aggrandizement or ego-gratification that afflicts Commanders who see themselves standing in splendid isoloation above the masses"

"Creative intelligence is and always has been the supreme requirement in the commander coupled with moral character. The best hope of tilting the scales and overcoming resistances inherent in conflic lies in originality - to provide somthing unexpected that will paralyze the opponent's freedom of action" - LIddel Hart "Thought's on war"

[Adam Balshan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars [Leadership]
(W: 2.63, U: 3, T: 3.25)
Exact rating: 2.96
#1 in genre, out of 8

A good book on [military] leadership, emphasizing the need to be a lifelong reader in order to be an excellent soldier. Even though this is the best book on leadership I have read (out of 8), I did not put it on my "best-in-genre" shelf because surely a better book on leadership is out there. But I haven't found it yet.

Writing ranges above average in the first half to decent in the last parts. It is somewhat dated; the "Soviet Union" is mentioned in its pages. Truth is uncommon, notable, and rare, but suffers from a slightly adulterated chapter on integrity, and omits the highest exemplars of his topic there. It wasn't worth reading it a second time; I should have paid better attention to my first rating (below a 3.5 usually means it is not even worth reading again). It is best used for its quotations and reading recommendations.