Wess RobertsCritiques

NF

'A managerial cult classic.'-Forbes

This is the book you've heard about. The book that leaped to the top ranks of the bestseller lists. The book that's got the business world reading, thinking, and quoting. This is the book that reveals the leadership secrets of Attila the Hun-the man who centuries ago shaped an aimless band of mercenary tribal nomads into the undisputed rulers of the ancient world, and who today offers us timeless lessons in in-directed, take-charge management.

'Shrewd and sensible.'-Houston Chronicle

'Provocative and worth remembering...Attila is really a perosn who moden corporate chieftains can emulate.'-Across the Board

'Well written, breezy and enjoyable...a primer on basic management.'-Barron's

Contents

Author's notes
Preface
Introduction In search of Attila
1 In the Roman court: 'Leadership qualitites'
2 The lust for leadership: 'You've got to want to be in charge'
3 Becoming a hun: 'Customs'
4 Peace in the camp: 'Morale and discipline'
5 The fury of internal battles: 'Cunning in the tribes'
6 The tribute: 'Paying and receiving deference'
7 Battle dress and armament: 'Chieftains are as they appear to the huns'
8 Aetius: 'Picking your enemies wisely'
9 Leading the charge: 'Responsibilities of a chieftain'
10 The omen of Aquileia: 'The essentials of decisiveness'
11 Horse holders: 'The art of delegation'
12 Booty: 'Rewarding your huns'
13 Attila and the Pope: 'The art of negotiation
14 Surviving defeat: 'There is another day'
15 The bones of caravans past: 'Lessons learned'
16 Ashes to ashes: 'Departing with nobility'
Attilaisms: Selected thoughts of Attila

3/31/22

This book is a fairly easy read. The author follows an interesting approach. Each chapter gives a small historical episode about Attila, then for the advice segment, where you get the lessons, he would set up little scenes of Attila talking to his chieftains. It is unlikely the great warrior sat around dispensing advice, but it makes for good reading, and it makes for a good way to get the lessons. Now, as for the lessons, much of it is common sense, but I can see how the book, at its time, was such a popular text for CEOs and executives. Too bad you can't deal with disloyal and disruptive people the way Attila advises (removal). And for me, there are a couple of gems here applicable to librarianship.

An interesting take on leadership roles, advice, and leadership talk. Most of the advice in the book are common sense, practical things, that any leader should know. It's good to have these in one place, one source, for a new leader to read; but this isn't anything ultimately indispensable. Fun light read with an intriguing take on things, nothing more than that though really.

First attracted name of the book and I thought that the content will not be talking about education .. and all members have not learned
Then it dawned on me that he is talking about education matters and public life with its own, but in a different way and a simple story was written by 19

I like to call this book Banoanin first: contentment treasure Eveny..walthani not important who you are now important to you in the future½

My daughter, who works at the local library, rescued this from the trash bin since she knows what a Star Trek nerd I am. I sure wish I had read this book before the time my boss was kidnapped by a rival company and tortured to reveal our business secrets. We launched a daring and ultimately successful rescue attempt. He eventually recovered, but he was kind of weird around the office for a few months afterward.

Seriously, this is a dumb idea for a business leadership book. It was kind of fun to read the recaps of 9 Star Trek:TNG episodes, especially since I read this book just now, many years since TNG went off the air. By really, business leadership lessons?

Fast read, but no new info on leadership here.

1) Beyond a list of leadership qualities that you can adapt for any industry and argue they will lead to success, we are given bon mots like "you've got to want to lead" and "pick your enemies wisely".
2) Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Be sure you conduct yourself accordingly, because you are always being watched.
3) Take responsibility, be decisive, delegate, negotiate, be resilient, and reward and recognize great performance. Learn from your failures, and move on.

I have just saved you an hour of reading time. Go forth and lead.

Fast read, but no new info on leadership here.

1) Beyond a list of leadership qualities that you can adapt for any industry and argue they will lead to success, we are given bon mots like "you've got to want to lead" and "pick your enemies wisely".
2) Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Be sure you conduct yourself accordingly, because you are always being watched.
3) Take responsibility, be decisive, delegate, negotiate, be resilient, and reward and recognize great performance. Learn from your failures, and move on.

I have just saved you an hour of reading time. Go forth and lead.

Fast read, but no new info on leadership here.

1) Beyond a list of leadership qualities that you can adapt for any industry and argue they will lead to success, we are given bon mots like "you've got to want to lead" and "pick your enemies wisely".
2) Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Be sure you conduct yourself accordingly, because you are always being watched.
3) Take responsibility, be decisive, delegate, negotiate, be resilient, and reward and recognize great performance. Learn from your failures, and move on.

I have just saved you an hour of reading time. Go forth and lead.

Being a Star Trek fan, I have often admired the leadership skills displayed in the TV series. Author Wess Roberts cleverly employs several episodes from ST:TNG to illustrate solid leadership and management techniques that every person can learn from. Delightfully done.

Found this among the sale books, it maybe the epitome of 1980s book of leadership "secrets," not much in the exploration of ideas or motivations just truisms. The greatest lessons not fully developed relate to the mentoring of leaders and the long term goals of society over short term goals. If you must read, read the first and last chapters, what lies in between is filler. I understand it's a book on leadership and not history, however it might have been more interesting if it contained a single foot or end note relating to sources.

Recently trolling the bargain audiobooks on Amazon, I came across two books on management from former generals: The Scourge of God (Attila the Hun), and the father of our country (George Washington). I thought it might be fun to compare and contrast what has been written about them.

The comparison will have to wait until later in the week when I finish the George Washington book. Meanwhile, Attila clocks in about half the size. While the great leader of the Huns left no documentation behind describing his management style, author Wess Roberts extrapolates from his deeds what Attila might have said addressing groups of chieftains or rising tribal leaders. He constructs parables from both Attila's many success and his greatest failure.

Each chapter begins with a little history lesson of what we know about Attila, and his adversaries, particularly the Roman general Aetius whose paths had intertwined since childhood. Attila did not seize power until relatively late in life, so is thought to have been wiser than some of the more rash tribal leaders. The Hun were a people, but also a collection of tribes, tribes that did not necessarily get along very well. Like departments in a corporation, Attila counsels them to put aside differences, engage in diplomacy, and attack the enemy only when it is the best remaining option. Through his unexpected death are cautioned that life is unpredictable, and when fate intervenes, new leadership must be installed quickly and decisively.

It all comes together as a little gimmicky in a fun way. Roberts leaves it to the readers to apply each chapter to their own situation, and I can imagine this leading to lively discussion in management workshops. There are no great revelations here -- most is common sense, but since corporations notoriously lack common sense, it makes for a good reminder.

Now we'll see what George has to say.

To read a book without it being interesting is always a difficult read. I had to read this book as part of leadership traning book club. OMG, it was a very difficult to follow language for me.

You would be missing anything if you didn't read this partcular one. There are plenty other leadership books out there that are worthwhile and have the same principles of leadership.½

Timeless lessons in win-directed, take-charge management

It's an interesting concept, but for me it failed in execution. Though far from our image of a heroic leader, Attila, the "Scourge of God," still must have had excellent charisma and leadership skills. This book uses his history as a device for framing a series of leadership messages. It didn't resonate with me. The lessons are too varied to carry any deep impact and not heavy enough for any substantial historic connection. Some of the lessons encourage cut-throat tactics we now associate with an older school of management.

Interesting descriptions of events recounted by Picard. However, leadership lessons are blatantly simplistic and uninteresting.

The central idea of this book - that Attila must've known something about people - is interesting. Roberts has a very modern interpretation of the history, which might be useful even if it's not true.

Most of the book is written in an aphoristic style, which seemed refreshing at first, but gradually made me wonder if I shouldn't be reading Sun Tzu instead (or eating fortune cookies.)

Oh, and fair warning: Roberts found his exclamation point key! And uses it! A lot! Just like the great Attila would!½