The Education of a Leader

It can be edifying to know how accomplished leaders learned to lead. To understand how George Washington became educated in leadership, I recommend reading John Ferling’s new book, The Ascent of George Washington. Ferling has authored an informative narrative of Washington’s education as a leader.

The focus of the book is on Washington’s political life. The author goes behind the myths to reveal Washington’s political flaws and genius. The portrait of Washington that emerges is of an adroit politician. Ferling gives a balanced perspective. Washington is revealed as having been enormously ambitious and driven to succeed. He was quick to claim credit for the accomplishments of others and skilled at laying blame on others for his own failures. He was expert at self-promotion. He was a poor tactician and strategist and commonly indecisive in a crisis. Yet Ferling believes Washington may have been the only person equipped to lead the American colonies to independence and to guide the fledgling nation. Washington’s character, judgment, courage, industriousness, persistence, and political skills set him apart from his contemporaries. Ferling’s book is an engaging study of how one does not need to be perfect to achieve greatness.