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Kathy Wirtanen
Administrative, Facility
& Conference Assistant

P:  (540) 464-7361
F: (540) 464-7396

Center for Leadership & Ethics
VMI, Marshall Hall
500 Anderson Drive
Lexington, VA  24450

Leadership Book Program

This cadet-led program sponsored and supported by the CLE, encourages reading and discussion on leadership topics by cadets, faculty and staff, including topics on current and sometimes controversial issues.  The program includes, where possible, bringing authors to VMI to speak to a wider audience and sign books. Meetings will be held on Thursday evenings from 1945 until 2030 at Marshall Hall (CLE). All cadets, faculty, and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend.

For academic year 2012-2013, the first book to be discussed is "Heart of a Soldier," by James B. Stewart.  Stewart was a speaker at the 2012 VMI Leadership Conference:  Cheating, Lying and Honor in America's High Schools, Colleges and Universities.  Stewart is invited to visit Post to discuss his book with participants of the book program on 20 September 2012, the first meeting of the year.

2012-2013 Meeting Schedule

20 September  

First Meeting: hand out first book, "Heart of a Soldier,"by James B. Stewart; and nominate second book.
4 October  
Vote on book 2 and discuss first half of book 1.
18 October  
Finish discussion on book 1, hand out book 2, and collect nominations for book 3.
1 November  
Vote on book 3 and discuss first half of book 2.
29 November  
Collect nominations for book 4, finish discussion on book 2 and hand out book 3.
11 December  
(Reading Day) Vote for book 4 and discuss first half of book 3.
17 January  
Finish discussion on book 3, hand out book 4 and collect nominations for book 5.
31 January  
Vote for book 5 and discuss first half of book 4.
14 February  
Finish discussion on book 4, hand out book 5 and collect nominations for book 6.
28 February  
Vote for book 6 and discuss first half of book 5.
14 March  
Finish discussion on book 5, hand out book 6 and collect nominations for book 7.
28 March  
Vote on book 7 and discuss first half of book 6.
11 April  
Finish discussion on book 6 and hand out book 7.
25 April  

Final Meeting of Academic Year- Enjoy your book over the summer!

The first book discussed during the 2011-2012 Leadership Book Program, was Tony Dungy’s “Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life.” This inspiring memoir chronicles Dungy’s journey as the first African-American coach to lead an NFL team to Super Bowl victory and more importantly, what it means to have a successful life. “Quiet Strength” was No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List for 32 weeks. 

2011-2012 Books

  1. "Quiet Strength:  The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life," by Tony Dungy
  2. “Westmoreland: The General Who Lost Vietnam,” by Lewis Sorley
  3. "The Only Thing Worth Dying For: How Eleven Green Berets Fought for a New Afghanistan," by Eric Blehm
  4. "Steve Jobs," by Walter Isaacson
  5. “The Junction Boys: How Ten Days in Hell with Bear Bryant Forged a Championship Team,” by Jim Dent
  6. "Passion of Command: The Moral Imperative of Leadership," by Colonel B. P. McCoy
  7. "Heart of a Soldier," by James B. Stewart (summer reading/book one for AY2012-2013)