Marshall: Lessons in Leadership

General George C. Marshall was a skillful and compassionate leader with a unique legacy. He never fired a shot during WWII and led no troops into battlehis brilliance was purely strategic and diplomatic, and incredibly effective. He was responsible for the building, supplying, and, in part, the deployment of over eight million soldiers. In 1947, as Secretary of State, he created the Marshall Plan, a sweeping economic recovery effort that pulled the war-shattered European nations out of ruin, and gave impetus to NATO and the European Common Market. It was for the Marshall Plan that he won the Nobel Peace Prizethe only time in history a military commander has ever been awarded this honor. Marshall's skilled combination of military strategy and politics, emphasis on planning as well as execution, and his expertise in nation-building holds lessons for military and civilian leaders today.

H. Paul Jeffers (1934-2009) was an established military historian, the author of 70 books, and a broadcast journalist for more than 30 years. He worked as an editor and producer at ABC, CBS and NBC, and was the news director of both of New York City's all-news radio stations, WINS and WCBS. This is his last book. Alan Axelrod is the author of numerous popular history and historically rooted business and management books, including Bradley and Patton in the Great Generals Series, and the Business Week bestsellers Patton on Leadership and Elizabeth I, CEO. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Praise for Marshall: "Jeffers presents a compelling portrait of one of our nation’s most accomplished and inspirational leaders.  His book should be studied by students of military history, diplomacy and leadership alike."--Brian D. Shaw, President, The George C. Marshall Foundation “Jeffers adds to an already stellar reputation with this concise biography of one of the nations’ top military figures.  Jeffers shows how Marshall’s love of country and emphasis on teamwork held together a wartime coalition often threatened by the explosive personalities of Patton, Montgomery, and others.  In doing so, Marshall made as significant a contribution to victory as any field commander.”--John Wukovits, author of One Square Mile of Hell: The Battle for Tarawa"An excellent introduction to a man whose service to his nation will remain the measure for generations to come."--Kenneth Mandel, Emmy-winning director of George Marshall and the American Century