Hard Call: Great Decisions and the Extraordinary People Who Made Them - Softcover

McCain, John; Salter, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 044669911X ISBN 13: 9780446699112

Publisher: Twelve, 2008

Synopsis

America's most inspiring politician pays tribute to men and woman who have exhibited composure, wisdom and intellect in the face of tough decisions. John McCain draws from experiences of both extraordinary people and people in extraordinary circumstances, culling lessons about the process and nature of judicious and effective decision-making.
Acclaimed authors John McCain and Mark Salter describe the anatomy of great decisions in history by telling the remarkable stories of men and women who have exemplified composure, wisdom, and intellect in the face of life's toughest decisions. They identify six qualities typically represented in the best decisions: Awareness. Timing. Foresight. Confidence. Humility. Inspiration. These qualities are personified by the exceptional individuals in this book, each of whom made a hard call, including:

• Henry Ford's decision to sacrifice his company's competitive edge by reducing the work day and guaranteeing a minimum wage;
• Branch Rickey's decision to offer Jackie Robinson a contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the face of public opposition;
• Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf 's decision to return to wartorn Liberia after receiving an economics degree from Harvard;
• General Fred Weyand's decision to redeploy fifteen of his battalions despite resistance from senior American military commanders in Vietnam.

Woven into these stories are John McCain's own views on the process and art of decision-making and examples of the hard calls we face in our lives. "When I assess a decision," McCain writes, "I want to know all I can about the character of the decision maker before I examine the properties of the decision, its outcome or how it was arrived at."
Hard Call is a testament to the people whose choices serve as a beacon for us all.

About this title

About the Author

John McCain was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 and was named one of America's ten best Senators by Time magazine in 2006. During his military career he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, and a Distinguished Flying Cross. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Phoenix, Arizona.

From AudioFile

With his political intentions so well known, it can be difficult to discern if this is a simple attempt to examine Òhard callsÓ in history or merely McCainÕs way of demonstrating his knowledge of such events. Of course, the implication is that he, too, knows how to identify such situations and make the right choices. Daniel Kelly uses emphasis and a deliberate pace to good effect as the author discusses events such as the CHALLENGER explosion, the invention of the telephone, and the decisions that led to Jackie RobinsonÕs crossing the color line. McCainÕs narrations are delivered in a more oratory fashion that resembles speeches or lectures more than actual narration. Much like a campaign speech, the bonus ÒconversationÓ sounds a bit rehearsed. L.E. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Twelve
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 044669911X
• ISBN 13: 9780446699112
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 480