Where I have always considered myself a history buff, I am by no means fully knowledgeable of all events in US and world history and their nuances. That being said, I am aware of most core events in US history, and of those abroad with a focus on the impacts here in America.

When I got a copy of How to Think Like Churchill as a gift from a relative, I was eager to read it. I was aware of Winston Churchill’s ascent to Prime Minister of the UK during at the time of World War II, his role immediately following the war and his love for cigars. But that was about it. My hope was this book would fill me in on the life and career of this pivotal world leader.

Fortunately this book lived up to my expectations, and then some. What went to and beyond my expectations were my takeaways from it.

I didn’t know about his earlier life – From being a soldier to a journalist to his early political offices, Winston Churchill lived a full life with a great breadth of activities. The majority of my knowledge of him begins with being UK’s Prime Minister following Neville Chamberlain and ends after World War II. This new knowledge of his upbringing, career and time in and out of office provides context to understanding who Churchill was and what he did.

Quotes and more quotes – I have known for years the quote, “If you’re going through hell, keep going” and that it was attributed to Churchill. After reading this book, which is sprinkled with his quotes throughout its pages, I learned many more of his famous sayings, as well as how he was able to sum up his thought process succinctly. Churchill would have done well today in the age of the sound bite and social media.

Soldiering On – To say Winston Churchill’s career bounced back from obscurity to be one the best known world leaders of the 20th century is an understatement. Personal loss, public defeat and challenges at home were just part of what plagued Churchill, but despite all of these he made a return unlike no other. The details of his challenges and his triumphs are nothing short of inspiring for anyone facing great odds.

How to Think Like Churchill is a small but mighty book at 203 pages. It’s larger than life subject made this an enjoyable read. The book is part of a series of “how to think” books on the likes of Steve Jobs and Nelson Mandela and is worth your pursuit whether you’re a fan of Churchill or other great personalities of history. As I give away all of the books I read, I left this one at the local coffee shop where I wrote these takeaways.

This is from The Hot Iron, a journal on business and technology by Mike Maddaloni.

Did you enjoy this? Subscribe to The Hot Iron by RSS/XML feed or Read by Email Book Take-Aways • Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

Comments

Post a Comment

Note: Comment moderation is active, and your comment will be viewable once it is reviewed.