The book reads more like a biography, but still has plenty of insight and wisdom from SecDef Rumsfeld. It is fairly easy to read, and you can easily finish the book in about 2 hours. Why did I rate it 3-stars, well, this book will never become a classic like On War or the writings of Sun-Tzu.

The author finished the book in early 2002, therefore many of the controversial decisions Mr. Rumsfeld made are not discussed. Mr. Krames is an avid fan of the previous Defense Secretary which blinds his objectivity. He never interviews the employees that worked for the secretary in the public or private sectors. All of his ancedotes are taken from an elite group. The reader will not learn anything new about Mr. Rumsfeld's decision making.

It seems like the author started with a few tenets of leadership than researched Rumsfeld to see what events in Rumsfeld life could be used to line up with the tenets.

Since the first printing came out less than a year after Rumsfeld found his mandate, the content lacks objectivity.

The writing was sub-par.

I'm a business owner/entrepreneur. I first read this book in 2002 when Rumsfeld was less than popular. I picked it up in the airport out of curiosity, and never expected I would find so many practical ideas that I could use within my business and in my career. I love the quotes from "Rumsfeld's Rules." After reading the WSJ article on them, you come to realize what an incredible and thoughtful leader he really is -- and someone I'd want on my team. He clearly understood the role he was asked to play, the responsibilities he held and the implications of his actions, and did his best to execute -- whether he was the Secretary of Defense or a CEO. This is an unknown little gem. Great book

This book is neither biography nor a historical work but rather an analysis of Donald Rumsfeld's leadership and management style in government and business.
It is an easy read with only 213 pages of text (or 244 pages with notes and index added) and has a useful and brief summary of the 'Rumsfeld Way' at the end of each chapter, ideal for a trainer conducting an in-house management training session.
Personally I have enormous respect for DR, although I imagine he wouldn't be an easy man to work for and it would possibly be easy to fall foul of him.
Yet there is no doubt he has always been the man 'running towards the smoke,' and not just on that fateful September 11 day when his Pentagon was in flames around him.
It was DR who came back to run the Ford Whitehouse after the trauma of Watergate and the destruction of the Nixon presidency; and it was the same man who accepted the challenge of a battling pharmaceutical company, GD Searle,that had racked up eight losing quarters before being turned around by the new CEO.
As the 13th and 21st US Defense Secretary, Rummy has the distinction of being both the youngest and oldest person to hold that great office.
It is doubtful if the US has ever had a better 'minister of war'-as borne testimony to by the highly successful American-led blitzkieg in the recent Iraqi war.
DR has become something of a cult figure with his straight talking, no-nonsense style. He is a man that relishes his job and is not interested in courting popularity, although at this late stage of his life he has attracted it, through sheer performance and his sense of humour.
At a press conference at the end of the recent war, an Afro-American major, asked him a question relating to early retirement benefits for Army personnel. Rummy had a field day answering that: "You are asking a 70 year old about early retirement?," the Defense Secretary said with mock horror and a wicked grin that reminded me of the cartoon character 'Whalesteeth' (in Chick Young's "Dagwood and Blondie" series), although his critics would probably refer to him as 'sharksteeth'.
That quip was vintage Rumsfeld and will obviously make the pages of later, and more complete, works on him ( Krames book was published early in 2002).
Indeed, books on Rummy will no doubt doubt be a growth industry by the time he steps down. How long that will be is anyone's guess, but current indications would indicate he may well go the full distance of a Bush presidency which would make him 76 at the close of two terms.
America and the world have been well served by this feisty warrior - and the subject, like the book, is certainly appreciated by this Australian.

Develops background and experience of a strategist who has timely came into international exposure as one strong, determined leader.
Very refreshing in what many thought would never cease of a "spin" leadership style.
Here is no spin, only win for principles.
Principles of leadership and strategy are layed out in this interesting public/private leader who up until the recent events been constantly berated by the liberal element because they see what the rest of us do also, this guy means what he says, and he does what be says.
I cannot be happier that this type of individual is leading us in these perilous times. Many pertinent comments are garnered from this reading, as the author constantly highlights them, and captures them in executive saying style at the end of chapters.
Favorites include these: "It is useful to ask whether you are working off your "in" basket or whether the organization is working off your "out" basket. If it's the former, you may be reacting rather than leading the organization toward agree-upon priorities." "Don't get any, get energized." "whenever it occurred down the road that the United States was under some sort of a threat or attack, that the United States would be leaning forward, not back."
Well worth the read, digest and see what applies to one's own leadership scenario.

I find Rumsfeld a fascinating character as do many Americans who saw him in action during the September 11th crisis and thereafter. Therefore, I was interested to read this book and learn more about Rumsfeld. What I found was a book that didn't dwell on gossip or juicy tidbits about Rumsfeld's life, but rather intelligently analyzed and distilled his true leadership qualities. The book helped me learn about myself and what it was that I was responding to in Rumsfeld. It pinpointed his strengths without making him seem saccharine. That ability, to present the best of the leadership qualities but keeping the man life-size, made Rumsfeld real. It also helped me grasp some of the more subtle issues contributing to effective leadership and I think would make an excellent text book on that subject.