Leading from the Front

by Richard Dannatt

As Chief of the General Staff, Sir Richard Dannatt was in overall command of the British army for the three years from 2006. This period saw some of the fiercest fighting yet in Afghanistan, and new and increased pressures and expectation placed on the army. From his very first day in the job General Dannatt proved himself a courageous leader and a forceful advocate for the army, never shying from controversy to tell it as he found it.

Dannatt's distinguished career in the army has spanned thirty-eight years and seen him serve in many different theatres of conflict, from Northern Ireland (where he was awarded the Military Cross) to Bosnia and Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. His experiences forged his unwavering loyalty to the fighting British soldier. More than any leader in recent times, Dannatt has used his position of command to argue for improved pay and conditions for British soldiers, a greater dialogue between the army and the country, the right equipment for the troops to do the job asked of them, and greater welfare and support back home for the wounded. His leadership has shaped the debate about the role of a modern army in modern warfare.

Leading from the Front is Richard Dannatt's fascinating reflection on a life of military service and offers his characteristically frank analysis of whether Britain's defence strategy is fit to respond to the threats we will face in the 21st century.

Genres: Biography, Military Fiction, Leadership, War

Audio CD

First published September 16, 2010

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was expecting a revealing account of a great leader of men, but this was in short supply as the bulk of the book is given over to a treatise on military strategy rather than to the life experiences that shaped character and integrity. I was left with a sense of disappointment that this autobiography dwelt too much on the politics of military leadership and missed an opportunity to share with the reader the heartbeat of a great leader.

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, by a great man. The first (and only) CGS of the recent crop to have the moral courage to speak out whilst actually serving. Examines the difficulties of serving a political master whilst trying to remain apolitical, and also examines the ridiculous complexities of defence procurement (and why we always seem to do it so badly).

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting auto-biography of a very interesting man. Clearly this was written to satisfy a few political arguments, but nevertheless it is a very good read and does emphasise a lot of practical leadership.
You get the feeling throughout, right from his first days as a 2Lt, that he was frustrated the Army/MOD couldn't provide a satisfactory solution to an obvious problem; that you just had to "muddle on throughout" - hence why he spoke out so vociferously when CGS.
One chapter near the end was very political but the rest was very readable.
Keeps coming back to the question of what war are we preparing for? The one we've just fought, the one we're fighting now, or the one we expect to fight in the future? Having said that there does seem to have been a shift in Army, mainly due to his leadership as CGS, towards dealing with the war of the moment (Afghanistan) rather than sticking with the cold-war model. Which is fine but where will we be in five years time?

[Stephen Hull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting glimpse into a world very alien to me -- though it does bring back memories of being an air cadet. The biographical bits and theorizing about the army's role in the modern world were more enjoyable than the axe grinding/score settling, and he only seemed to be back-pedalling in a few spots. I can't help being irritated at the privilege implicit in his background (as when his father-in-law gave him and his wife a 300 year old farmhouse in Norfolk so they'd have a place to call home -- you know, typical father-in-law stuff), but that's more me than the book.

[Allen Peckett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the book is well interesting, the bits from Northern Ireland the Balkans Germany etc. It get a bit stiff, when the political stuff creeps in then it becomes a protest to the Labour government regime of Tony Blair. A true gent General Lord Dannett, definitely on the side of the troops.

[Richard Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio book version. Interesting character, plays down some of his own achievements, doesn't seem to be a fan of our ex-Labour government.

[Simon Akam]

Read for book research.