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Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior
Reminiscent of The 48 Laws of Power , legendary football coach Mike Leach’s inspiring history of Apache war leader Geronimo demonstrates the timeless lessons we can learn from his life—featuring a foreword from the bestselling author of Empire of the Summer Moon . Says New York Times bestselling author Brian Kilmeade, "Mike Leach put together a compelling book and humanized a man many thought never existed. A great read."
Playing cowboys and Indians as a boy, legendary college football coach Mike Leach always chose to be the Indian—the underdog whose success turned on being a tough, resourceful, ingenious fighter. And the greatest Indian military leader of all was Geronimo, the Apache warrior whose name is so symbolic of courage that World War II paratroopers shouted it as they leaped from airplanes into battle.
Told in the style of The 48 Laws of Power , Leach’s compelling and inspiring book examines Geronimo’s leadership approach and the timeless strategies, decisions, and personal qualities that made him a success. Raised in an unforgiving landscape, Geronimo and his band faced enemies better armed, better equipped, and more numerous than they were. But somehow they won victories against all odds, beguiling the United States and Mexican governments and earning the respect and awe of those generals committed to hunting him down. While some believed that Geronimo had supernatural powers, much of his genius can be ascribed to old-fashioned values such as relentless training and preparation, leveraging resources, finding ways to turn defeats into victories, and being faster and more nimble than his enemy. The tactics of Geronimo would be studied and copied by the U.S. military for generations.
Drawing on his fascination and love for American Indian lore, Mike Leach explains how the tribe’s organizational structure helped Geronimo be successful. He chronicles specific battles and shows how Geronimo got the most out of his warriors and outthought his enemies. Leach also captures the mysterious nature of leadership itself.
Pain, pride, humility, family—many things shaped Geronimo’s life. In this remarkable book, Mike Leach illustrates how we too can use the forces and circumstances of our own lives to build true leadership today.
Playing cowboys and Indians as a boy, legendary college football coach Mike Leach always chose to be the Indian—the underdog whose success turned on being a tough, resourceful, ingenious fighter. And the greatest Indian military leader of all was Geronimo, the Apache warrior whose name is so symbolic of courage that World War II paratroopers shouted it as they leaped from airplanes into battle.
Told in the style of The 48 Laws of Power , Leach’s compelling and inspiring book examines Geronimo’s leadership approach and the timeless strategies, decisions, and personal qualities that made him a success. Raised in an unforgiving landscape, Geronimo and his band faced enemies better armed, better equipped, and more numerous than they were. But somehow they won victories against all odds, beguiling the United States and Mexican governments and earning the respect and awe of those generals committed to hunting him down. While some believed that Geronimo had supernatural powers, much of his genius can be ascribed to old-fashioned values such as relentless training and preparation, leveraging resources, finding ways to turn defeats into victories, and being faster and more nimble than his enemy. The tactics of Geronimo would be studied and copied by the U.S. military for generations.
Drawing on his fascination and love for American Indian lore, Mike Leach explains how the tribe’s organizational structure helped Geronimo be successful. He chronicles specific battles and shows how Geronimo got the most out of his warriors and outthought his enemies. Leach also captures the mysterious nature of leadership itself.
Pain, pride, humility, family—many things shaped Geronimo’s life. In this remarkable book, Mike Leach illustrates how we too can use the forces and circumstances of our own lives to build true leadership today.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 22, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 8, 2024
In depth look at Geronimo and the strategies he used to lead his people. Tactical concepts are also touched on, making this a well researched look at a unique warrior. The message that stands out most in this book is that a leader has to stay in touch with who is being led; trust has to be built on a foundation of shared adversity, and the leader has to lead from the front.
February 5, 2017
The story, when it stays focused on Geronimo, is well-written and interesting, but I should have read the tagline more closely when I downloaded the book, "Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior". The author interrupts his own narrative to insert various 'principles' that he has gleaned from Geronimo's life. They range from obvious to inane. "Be Physically Better Than Others." "Be Instinctive and Smart as a Leader." "Have Superior Skills!" Thanks Napoleon Dynamite...
The author also had a way of inserting himself into the story - phrases like, "One of the training tactics I found most interesting..." or "To the Apache, there was a huge difference between raiding and war. I like these distinctions..." So now instead of a great book about Geronimo, it was a book about the author and his feelings about Geronimo.
Anyway the actual history was very interesting, but unless you want managerial advise that doesn't always translate to today's world then I would advise skipping this one and selecting another biography on this fascinating, and controversial, American Legend. Its an incredible story ...
The author also had a way of inserting himself into the story - phrases like, "One of the training tactics I found most interesting..." or "To the Apache, there was a huge difference between raiding and war. I like these distinctions..." So now instead of a great book about Geronimo, it was a book about the author and his feelings about Geronimo.
Anyway the actual history was very interesting, but unless you want managerial advise that doesn't always translate to today's world then I would advise skipping this one and selecting another biography on this fascinating, and controversial, American Legend. Its an incredible story ...
April 7, 2014
“Geronimo” by Mike Leach and Bud Levy, published by Gallery Books.
Category – History/Motivational - Publication Date – May 06, 2014
The first thing one must understand is that Mike Leach is a legendary college football coach and that he uses stories, like “Geronimo” as inspiration and motivation.
The reader will find that not only does he get an exceptional history of Geronimo but a motivational tool that can be used in business or some other undertaking.
The book gives a historical account of Geronimo but also what one can learn from his life. The lessons cover the spectrum from leadership, teamwork, truth, and many other virtues exhibited by this remarkable man.
One must take in consideration the number of people that were killed by Geronimo and his Apache band, but one also must consider the fact that his land was taken away from him and the United States Government continued to break any and all agreements, some even before they were agreed upon, with Geronimo.
A demonstration of the will and determination of the Apache is seen in the fact that they remained classified as prisoners of war for twenty-seven years, to this day the longest kept POW’s in our nations history.
A fascinating historical read that has commentary and inserts that can be used as a learning, inspirational, and motivational tool.
Category – History/Motivational - Publication Date – May 06, 2014
The first thing one must understand is that Mike Leach is a legendary college football coach and that he uses stories, like “Geronimo” as inspiration and motivation.
The reader will find that not only does he get an exceptional history of Geronimo but a motivational tool that can be used in business or some other undertaking.
The book gives a historical account of Geronimo but also what one can learn from his life. The lessons cover the spectrum from leadership, teamwork, truth, and many other virtues exhibited by this remarkable man.
One must take in consideration the number of people that were killed by Geronimo and his Apache band, but one also must consider the fact that his land was taken away from him and the United States Government continued to break any and all agreements, some even before they were agreed upon, with Geronimo.
A demonstration of the will and determination of the Apache is seen in the fact that they remained classified as prisoners of war for twenty-seven years, to this day the longest kept POW’s in our nations history.
A fascinating historical read that has commentary and inserts that can be used as a learning, inspirational, and motivational tool.
July 6, 2014
After reading excellent biographies of Cochise and then Red Cloud several months ago I hoped this book would be a great addition to my growing knowledge of Native Americans. I was greatly disappointed. While there was clearly some extensive research involved in producing this book it is a shame that research wasn't placed in the hands of somebody, a historian, that knew how to write. This book reads like a term paper by a college sophmore. Worse, it includes "commentaries" and "lessons" that are so cartoonishly simplistic that it makes this work appear to be intended for child readers. While it is the purpose of history to challenge the reader to think and learn from the past it is not the job of the historian to tell the reader what to think. The author is apparently a highly regarded football coach and, therefore, an amateur historian. This book trivializes the life of an historic figure and the lives of such figures should not be left to amateurs. The book is awful and gets one star only for its research.
May 18, 2020
A good read to be sure
Not as narratively enjoyable as Swing Your Sword or as academically rigorous as you'd expect from a history professor as co-author, BUT it is a fun read and a great easy to read introduction into the life of Geronimo, particularly for those looking to his story mostly to glean leadership principles.
Not as narratively enjoyable as Swing Your Sword or as academically rigorous as you'd expect from a history professor as co-author, BUT it is a fun read and a great easy to read introduction into the life of Geronimo, particularly for those looking to his story mostly to glean leadership principles.
February 13, 2023
Not my first book on the history of the Apache Indians of the Apache wars. Definitely not the best “history,” but come on - it’s authored by Mike Leach! Definitely the most enjoyable, most applicable to simple leadership lessons, and the most approachable to the novice historian and entry-level Apache-enthusiast. If you’re interested, pick it up…you won’t be bored and you won’t be disappointed.
February 9, 2020
I thought this book would be applying Geronimo’s leadership tactics to football or sports - I was wrong. I kept waiting for football, there is no football in this book. However, it is written like a biography of Geronimo and introduced me to a character I had only heard about through legends. Once I got passed my expectations of the book, I enjoyed learning so much about Geronimo and the Apache people.
February 6, 2018
A look at Geronimo from the viewpoint of a football coach. Or better, from the viewpoint of a leadership guru who wants to show you a role model so you can get your takeaways on how its done. I picked it up at the local library.
With a book like this, I'm always wary about the writer. Is he going to romanticize his subject, on the lines of the "noble savage?" The Apaches were not the people you would run into if you stumbled onto the Garden of Eden. They liked to swoop down on ranchers and farmers and take anything they wanted. They killed whenever they felt like it. People were crying out to the Mexican and American governments for help against them. You would too, if you were living in that place and time.
And yet.
There was great nobility to be seen here. And the history of American and Mexican duplicity in their dealings with the Apache makes you wonder who the savages really were. You have to think that if the American government had kept any of its promises to them -- maybe just one? -- and kept it, that there would have been a happier outcome for everybody, but this was not to be.
The authors do a good job of telling the story of Geronimo and his tribe. They got me to admire him.
With a book like this, I'm always wary about the writer. Is he going to romanticize his subject, on the lines of the "noble savage?" The Apaches were not the people you would run into if you stumbled onto the Garden of Eden. They liked to swoop down on ranchers and farmers and take anything they wanted. They killed whenever they felt like it. People were crying out to the Mexican and American governments for help against them. You would too, if you were living in that place and time.
And yet.
There was great nobility to be seen here. And the history of American and Mexican duplicity in their dealings with the Apache makes you wonder who the savages really were. You have to think that if the American government had kept any of its promises to them -- maybe just one? -- and kept it, that there would have been a happier outcome for everybody, but this was not to be.
The authors do a good job of telling the story of Geronimo and his tribe. They got me to admire him.
January 23, 2023
It was a very interesting read that provided a historical account of the man while incorporating traits generally associated with leaders in all walks of life. It's not a book one might expect from a Division I football coach. Leach explains the "why" for the book. Geronimo was an interest all through his life with his mother reading historical accounts of the Apache leader. He and Co author Buddy Levy (also highly interested in the man) provides accounts of numerous raids both in the Arizona and New Mexico territories as well as Mexico. They provide the attempts on numerous occasions to capture him. Very often failing. Near the end, Geronimo surrendered several times but each time grew restless mostly due to lies and promises made but not carried out and left the reservation. Talks about the last surrender and being shipped to Florida where about half of his people succumbed to various diseases. Besides the historical documentation Leach provides leadership quotes throughout. Each chapter provides a leadership technique with the information in the chapter supporting the theme.
May 21, 2020
Tremendous read. Not sure what to expect from Mike Leach but he and his co-author, Buddy Levy, did a fantastic job. I came away with such an appreciation for not only Geronimo but the entire Apache tribe. It was such a violent era they lived and they were constantly fighting for survival. The routine nature with which they would raid farms was so easy to grow accustomed to reading about that it would desensitize you to just how consistently violent these lives were. So much death and suffering. Geronimo was absolutely fearless and a true alpha in every sense. Perhaps my favorite part was towards the end when Geronimo started reluctantly participating in American culture as a bit of a folk hero attraction. Once he realized he could make a lot of money by simply selling autographs, he seemed to soften a bit which I thought was funny as a reflection of how capitalism can pull almost anyone into its grasp.
November 15, 2017
My feelings are similar to the review "Marcole" left. I liken this book to some sort of written concept of a week-long PowerPoint presentation. So, while I did glean some useful insight, and enjoyed the Geronimo research, to have all these sport interpretations really wasn't my style. I do appreciate how M. Leach uses actual strategy based on Indian warfare, nice change of pace from the 'kill'em all and let God sort'em out' mindset. To think first and weigh options is something I think basically everyone should learn and live. Of course, my 'Other Half' says my next tattoo should be "Poor Impulse Control" across my forehead. I almost wish he didn't like SnowCrash as much as I do...
February 16, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the setup of this book. Describing one of the most interesting part of American history, the late Mike Leach not only contextualizes the history of Geronimo and gives the reader perspective on his life, Leach points out a takeaway for the reader on how to lead. This is a tremendous benefit, especially coming from a leader like himself as a head football coach. Leach’s curiosity and storytelling of the American Southwest make you feel like you are there in Arizona and riding with Geronimo to the Sierra Madre mountains and you can hear his voice in the words as you are reading along. Truly a wonderful read.
January 4, 2021
This is a well written book with a lot of detail about Geronimo's life. It also has leadership guidance based on the tactics that he used to survive. I honestly didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, but I'm still rating it highly because it is well written and informative. I'm finding through several books that reading about this time period is very uninteresting to me. I also loathe self help books and there is a little of this sprinkled in but it at least it doesn't beat you over the head with it.
April 4, 2024
Geronimo Lived His Leadership Strategies
Anyone could write a history of Geronimo. Any historian. Anyone with the capacity to research and draw conclusions. Mike Leach is an excellent candidate as the author. He himself pursued a field for which he was untrained. He did so doggedly, determinedly. So he knew what to look for in Geronimo. Geronimo , who pursued doggedly, determinedly. More than that, the author was intelligent, as was his subject. It’s a great formula for a great book, which this is!!
Anyone could write a history of Geronimo. Any historian. Anyone with the capacity to research and draw conclusions. Mike Leach is an excellent candidate as the author. He himself pursued a field for which he was untrained. He did so doggedly, determinedly. So he knew what to look for in Geronimo. Geronimo , who pursued doggedly, determinedly. More than that, the author was intelligent, as was his subject. It’s a great formula for a great book, which this is!!
May 25, 2024
This is a good, brief look into the history of America from the turning point of the wild west into the modern world. The story of Geronimo is a captivating look at the exploits and triumphs of one of America's fiercest warrior tribes that brought respect not just from other Native Americans, but the U.S. Military as well. Reading the trials that Geronimo faced and the lessons from them, taught more what one could do to be a better leader and strategist. From a small corner of history that changed so much, this is an epic journey and look into the history of the Apache people.
September 2, 2017
A layman's history on the lessons one can learn from the Apache shaman's life. Mike Leach, the enigmatic college football coach, gives a very readable story on one of the most infamous Indians ever. Recommend to anybody who wants a general understanding of Geronimo but those who have a solid understanding of Geronimo will be wanting for more.
February 13, 2020
Very interesting, even though I am self-proclaimed, not a fan of non-fiction history. I thought this was about using Geronimo's history as guidance in football strategy. I would still like to read that book. But in the absence, if you want to learn more about Geronimo, the Apache, and the Native American/Mexican/settler conflicts and history, this book is a great add to that list.
May 24, 2020
Amazing Story of Self Belief
This was a great story that I found interesting and easy to read. The theme that I drew from Geronimos life story is one of self belief paired with guidance of a higher power sprinkled with luck. Thank you to the authors for honoring Geronimo and his family.
This was a great story that I found interesting and easy to read. The theme that I drew from Geronimos life story is one of self belief paired with guidance of a higher power sprinkled with luck. Thank you to the authors for honoring Geronimo and his family.
October 8, 2017
3.5. I got this book because I enjoyed Mike Leach's other book Swing Your Sword. He does a nice job telling the story of the last American Indian to be subdued. Mike is my favorite football coach and a fascinating individual.
December 1, 2017
Excellent look at a hero of a vanishing people. I’ve always been sympathetic to Native Americans and Gerinomo’s story shows why. Most of us know and respect Mike Leach as our football coach at WSU but there a lot more to him than meets the eyes. He’s also a great story teller.
May 9, 2019
I read it because I enjoy 19th century American history AND I'm a college football fan. It's an excellent take on Geronimo, Apache culture, and U.S. government-Indian relationships. If you follow college football and coach Mike Leach the book will be that much better knowing who wrote it.
September 25, 2020
I truly enjoyed this book, peppered with past tactics of the Apaches and then fast forward to present days. Taken to the business level, the tactics do project a certain strategy and I appreciated the narrative style of the book. I'd recommend it to my students.
November 10, 2023
This is an amazing explanation of leadership principles applied in extreme circumstances. You learn much about Apache culture and how Geronimo evolved in that culture in the extreme topography of the South West as his way of life was threatened.
January 6, 2018
Solid, not great book. However, it gives a pretty good background into the story of Geronimo and his life.
March 27, 2019
Enjoyed the book, I’m going to read more on his life.
September 14, 2019
I loved the stories of endurance and perseverance from one of the most interesting characters of the American west.
September 18, 2019
Fantastic insight from a great teacher, coach amd historian. The Chiricahua Apache tribe is an amazing group of people.
February 5, 2020
Interesting read, but written at a pretty basic level. I wish there would have been more justification for the acts of Geronimo that resulted in many innocent people getting killed.
October 3, 2020
The narratives of Geronimo were fascinating. The leadership segments...not so much.
October 13, 2020
As a huge fan of history I enjoyed learning about Geronimo but I didn't see this book too much as a guide on leadership. Overall good read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews