Robert E. Lee on Leadership : Executive Lessons in Character, Courage, and Vision

Customer Reviews

I would recommend this book to both those who wish to learn a little more about General Lee, and those who need motivation or inspiration. The use of one legend's personal experiences and beliefs to set examples for the people of today, is a superb way of presenting the authors ideas. "Robert E. Lee on Leadership: Executive Lessons in Character, Courage, and Vision" is a classic that analyzes both a great man, and his ethics. Both aspects help the reader to better understand history, and human features.

Lee was, first and foremost, a Christian. He understood human imperfections and made allowances for them, and he was genuinely concerned for the well-being of everyone - even the enemies against whom he fought. Lee also believed in rewarding and promoting those who did their work well. Knowing all of this is key to understanding his leadership.

Crocker also illuminates two mysteries about Lee, that, perhaps, have become clouded with the passage of years. The first is the fact that he fought against U.S.A. Crocker explains that Lee opposed secession, but opposed even more the idea of forcing the Southern states to remain in the Union at gunpoint. He considered himself a Virginian first and foremost, and when push came to shove, he could not take up arms against the Old Dominion state, where so many of his relatives and friends lived. At no time was Lee enthusiastic about the war; even in fighting, he sought to bring the war quickly to an end. Lee refused to permit his men to steal from or to harm any civilians, even in Union territory, and even though some Union soldiers had no such qualms about Confederate civilians.

The second mystery is his relationship with slavery. Lee opposed slavery and saw it as a moral evil. Even so, he wanted to abolish slavery gradually, because he was concerned that the former slaves should have the means to provide for themselves before they were set free. In this, he opposed the abolition movement, but he was no defender of slavery.

The description of Lee's surrender to U.S. Grant is particularly touching. This is due in part to Lee's concern for the well-being of the people of the South (and this was his ultimate reason for surrendering) and in part to the picture it paints of two honorable generals agreeing to terms of surrender like gentlemen. Even Grant was impressed with Lee's personal dignity, although not with the cause for which he fought.

Crocker highlights the virtuous aspects of Lee's character and shows them at work. The virtues, then, become something to be lived out, not something abstract. He ends each chapter with a summary of character norms that made Lee the great man that he was.

It was most helpful of Crocker to include a bibliography at the end, because the reader of this book is very likely to want to read more about General Lee.

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