The Character Edge: Leading and Winning with Integrity by Robert L. Caslen Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blending contemporary cases, selected military history, and plenty of science, THE CHARACTER EDGE makes for a fascinating and insightful read championing and framing ethics and values as the backbone of leadership and a functional society beyond mere laws and order. From grit and trust to love of learning and spirituality, the authors deftly contextualize and build the case on how character, individually and collectively, manifests both in extraordinary, history-making situations and in everyday circumstances – to the benefit or the detriment of the actors and the world around them, depending on the virtues and flaws of said character. Thankfully, along with plenty of warning calls about the consequences of character lapses, the authors also provide tools and recommendations to assess one’s own character strengths and to discern a bit better those of our communities and groups. Ultimately, their message is clear: a job well done and a life well lived of analytics and performance metrics, but of discernment, self-knowledge, and good character.

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