The Making of a Leader: The Formative Years of George C. Marshall Hardcover – Big Book, 19 March 2024

Anyone who ever had the pleasure of having the author as an instructor learned the high regard that Josiah Bunting held for George Marshall. Over 50 years ago, as a professor at West Point, teaching Historiography and Tudor- Stuart England, he used history to instruct his pupils on the virtues of some of America’s greatest leaders. Now, in his 85th year, he creates a record of how Marshall became ”that Marshall.” The author has a tight focus. Acknowledging other, more comprehensive biographies, he complains that none “do justice to the near providential personal and professional formation that made Marshall the man he would be.” Mr. Bunting corrects this. He examines Marshall’s pre-WWII years, explaining how he was able to take what others described as “dead-end assignments” to learn to “serve and execute as the nation demands.” Mr. Bunting grounds General Marshall in the context of his times. He notes that the West Point Class of 1915, with many of Marshall’s contemporaries, had an attrition rate of only 15% (today’s standard West Point class attrition rate is 75%). The author explains the difference in the cultures between the 2 world wars and 100 years later. Some of General Marshall’s insights, from his “pedagogy of experience, “ like how to be a successful, war-time leader, are just as relevant now as they were in his era. The Making of a Leader is a fascinating, inspirational read. Mr. Bunting has returned to his role of teaching and inspiring through history and biography. This biography is for all, but especially soon-to-be, or recently commissioned, officers. It illuminates virtues that have almost disappeared in our society.

Very well researched . Lots of information. Marshall was a great leader because he was highly adaptable along with having a great proclivity for organization. Be in the moment but keep the future in mind. Good book for history buffs.

I have read a number of biographies on this, famous General and statesman and feel this is one of the best

I am very interested in the subject. However I found the book poorly written. Sentences were often choppy and not well written. The author is repetitive and a short book should have been even shorter. Other recent biographies are such a pleasure this was a real disappointment

writer of book