By Winston S. Churchill
Where to begin to describe the rich experience of reading Their Finest Hour, volume two of Churchill's account of WWII! My copy is marked throughout. Here are five reasons to read it:
1. To appreciate Churchill, the man, the statesman, and the leader. WSC's grasp of world affairs, war, and interactions is simply stunning.
2. To glean Lessons from Dunkirk. I wrote my book, "Churchill And Dunkirk: Finding Insight Inside Defeat" after gleaning so much leadership insight from his account. Many people are fascinated by the Dunkirk account, leaders learn from it.
3. To improve your communication by observing/learning from Churchill's mastery of the English language. There are quotes, maxims, and speeches worth returning to again and again; for instance the familiar: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat." 5/13/40
4. To grow as a leader. The extensive appendices (about 100 pages) are primarily WSC's correspondence for a year. This section is leadership gold. Read to appreciate Churchill's prayers (not what you think) and how he devoted time to assessing, thinking, and holding others accountable.
5. To see WWII through the eyes of Great Britain. Churchill's theme: "How the British people held the fold ALONE till those who hitherto had been half blind were half ready."