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Taking Command
General Sir David Richards is one of the best known British generals of modern times. In 2013 he retired after over forty years of service in the British Army and a career that had seen him rise from junior officer with 20 Commando to Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces.
He served in the Far East, Germany, Northern Ireland and East Timor. He was the last Governor of Berlin's Spandau Prison, when Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy, was its sole prisoner. In 2005 he was appointed Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Afghanistan and as commander of NATO forces became the first British General to command US Forces in combat since the Second World War.
In 2000, Richards won acclaim when he brought together a collation of forces in Sierra Leone to stop the ultra-violent Revolutionary United Front from attacking the capital, Freetown. In so doing he ended one of the bloodiest civil wars to bedevil the region. He did so without the official sanction of London, and failure could have cost him his career.
As Chief of the Defence Staff he advised the government during the crises and interventions in Libya and Syria and oversaw the controversial Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Taking Command is Richards' characteristically outspoken account of a career that took him into the highest echelons of military command and politics. Written with candour, and often humour, his story reflects the changing reality of life for the modern soldier over the last forty years and offers unprecedented insight into the readiness of our military to tackle the threats and challenges we face today.
He served in the Far East, Germany, Northern Ireland and East Timor. He was the last Governor of Berlin's Spandau Prison, when Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy, was its sole prisoner. In 2005 he was appointed Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Afghanistan and as commander of NATO forces became the first British General to command US Forces in combat since the Second World War.
In 2000, Richards won acclaim when he brought together a collation of forces in Sierra Leone to stop the ultra-violent Revolutionary United Front from attacking the capital, Freetown. In so doing he ended one of the bloodiest civil wars to bedevil the region. He did so without the official sanction of London, and failure could have cost him his career.
As Chief of the Defence Staff he advised the government during the crises and interventions in Libya and Syria and oversaw the controversial Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Taking Command is Richards' characteristically outspoken account of a career that took him into the highest echelons of military command and politics. Written with candour, and often humour, his story reflects the changing reality of life for the modern soldier over the last forty years and offers unprecedented insight into the readiness of our military to tackle the threats and challenges we face today.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2014
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About the author
David Richards
4 books1 followergeneral Sir David Richards
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 19, 2016
An interesting biography from Sir David Richards, who was the professional head of the British Armed Forces. It is written in high-toned, oldschool style and the first half of the the book is very boring.
Why I think it is remarkable book is because it's second half. It describes actual situations with actual conversations happened in a level where even mentioned who sat where, who raised his voice and how he negotiated the desired outcome. He also wrote in length about his challenges because the decisions of his “political masters”. These are the things why I like to read biographies.
I can't give five stars, because he wasn't nice about the performance of the Hungarian NATO contingent. Just joking. :)
Why I think it is remarkable book is because it's second half. It describes actual situations with actual conversations happened in a level where even mentioned who sat where, who raised his voice and how he negotiated the desired outcome. He also wrote in length about his challenges because the decisions of his “political masters”. These are the things why I like to read biographies.
I can't give five stars, because he wasn't nice about the performance of the Hungarian NATO contingent. Just joking. :)
January 31, 2016
A very interesting, although at times guarded, memoir by a recent chief of the British Defence Staff. I found Richards' discussion of intervention in Africa and Afghanistan most interesting. It is well worth reading.
June 27, 2023
Writing an autobiography tends to be a very risky business. Not least because the writer has to balance their viewpoints with historical fact so as not to appear too subjective, but also because it can turn into a process of self-appeasement.
In his autobiography, General David Richards discusses his family upbringing, more than four decades of military service starting from the Cold War era till the intervention in Syria, and recurring stories of personalities who influenced him greatly. The writer takes you on a highly personalised and descriptive tour of different countries where he was deployed but also candidly reveals the inner workings of bureaucratic monoliths in the form of NATO, the EU, UK's MoD etc. It is filled with good and sometimes unpleasant anecdotes or experiences dealing with military and civilian leaders of various backgrounds.
The reader begins to realise that the writer had been a highly enthusiastic and routinely non-conformist military officer (in the sense of 'absolute subordination') who was willing to take great risk at personal as well as professional costs; not only as a young officer but also as Chief of Defence Staff, essentially superior to the services chiefs.
There are instances of taking initiative throughout his career that some might find to be reckless, or outright exaggerations. What I feel, personally, is that the General has always been guided by his personal convictions, and he simply reinstated them. I have read several memoirs and autobiographies in which authors have tried to inflate their personalities and influence for personal fame. General Richards, throughout his autobiography and especially the conclusion, expresses gratidude (by name) to the officers, soldiers and civilians who helped him in his duties. Such repeat gestures cannot just be taken as passing courtesies but genuine expressions of the self.
This is a book that is engaging and also very insightful, containing valuable leadership lessons on how to handle high-pressure situations and deal with difficult people from different cultures. I will go far as to say that General Richards took a great risk by retaining his personal convictions and foregoing any feeble attempts at political correctness (which has become a rather pitiful norm among writers of memoirs and biographies). The writer stands by what he believed and did, as a true soldier, and leaves it to the reader and history alike, to judge him.
This was the first autobiography of a British public figure that I selected to read, and I am glad it did not disappoint. Thankfully, it was not embedded with the 'holier-than-thou' vibe.
In his autobiography, General David Richards discusses his family upbringing, more than four decades of military service starting from the Cold War era till the intervention in Syria, and recurring stories of personalities who influenced him greatly. The writer takes you on a highly personalised and descriptive tour of different countries where he was deployed but also candidly reveals the inner workings of bureaucratic monoliths in the form of NATO, the EU, UK's MoD etc. It is filled with good and sometimes unpleasant anecdotes or experiences dealing with military and civilian leaders of various backgrounds.
The reader begins to realise that the writer had been a highly enthusiastic and routinely non-conformist military officer (in the sense of 'absolute subordination') who was willing to take great risk at personal as well as professional costs; not only as a young officer but also as Chief of Defence Staff, essentially superior to the services chiefs.
There are instances of taking initiative throughout his career that some might find to be reckless, or outright exaggerations. What I feel, personally, is that the General has always been guided by his personal convictions, and he simply reinstated them. I have read several memoirs and autobiographies in which authors have tried to inflate their personalities and influence for personal fame. General Richards, throughout his autobiography and especially the conclusion, expresses gratidude (by name) to the officers, soldiers and civilians who helped him in his duties. Such repeat gestures cannot just be taken as passing courtesies but genuine expressions of the self.
This is a book that is engaging and also very insightful, containing valuable leadership lessons on how to handle high-pressure situations and deal with difficult people from different cultures. I will go far as to say that General Richards took a great risk by retaining his personal convictions and foregoing any feeble attempts at political correctness (which has become a rather pitiful norm among writers of memoirs and biographies). The writer stands by what he believed and did, as a true soldier, and leaves it to the reader and history alike, to judge him.
This was the first autobiography of a British public figure that I selected to read, and I am glad it did not disappoint. Thankfully, it was not embedded with the 'holier-than-thou' vibe.
March 1, 2019
A great biography, which puts flesh on the bones of some of the critically difficult issues facing the senior hierarchy in the UK military. Constantly stymied by political difficulties, and politicians, he treads a good line in explaining how all of that came to bear on the decisions made on his watch. As usual one is left with a sense of "Why didn't you say this whilst you were serving?", but he also deals with that issue fairly robustly - our senior hierarchy are required to remain apolitical, which presents real difficulties when the politicians then get involved with what should be purely military decisions. Well worth a read.
May 21, 2018
Factually obviously the book was interesting but despite the forward leading you to believe this book was about his time in the army, it comes across strongly as “I am David Richards” which I found disappointing. He praises colleagues and subordinates but in an almost after the fact way. I would also like to have heard more how decisions were made and by whom including those when he was CDS.
October 24, 2020
Quite flatly written for a fellow who seemed quite bombastic in his life, made reading a little tough. Were it not for his unique place in history during Britains overseas conflicts, it would have been put down. Still, has a few of little quotable gems and real world examples for those who study leadership.
November 17, 2021
Good stories, second half was a bit repetitive but had some purpose to it. Enjoyed it.
April 24, 2024
A decent, recent record of the performance of the Gen David Richards from his school days to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) - the most senior serviceman in UK Armed Forces. Being a Gunner clearly did not prove to be an obstacle to success! ;-)
Of particular interest is his narrative relating the political/military interface, both from a professional role standpoint as well as the internal political machinations within MoD, not least between the three services as well as the (unmentioned but alluded to) regimental jealousies within the army - as the promotion pyramid shapes so do the knives.....
Certainly his reported efforts to determine/confirm political Intent as a means from which military strategy can be formed was an interesting record of unseen processes. The presence of a 3000 mile screwdriver also serves as a further constraint to operational effectiveness.
Certainly worth a read, this is a matter of fact book that understates much.
Of particular interest is his narrative relating the political/military interface, both from a professional role standpoint as well as the internal political machinations within MoD, not least between the three services as well as the (unmentioned but alluded to) regimental jealousies within the army - as the promotion pyramid shapes so do the knives.....
Certainly his reported efforts to determine/confirm political Intent as a means from which military strategy can be formed was an interesting record of unseen processes. The presence of a 3000 mile screwdriver also serves as a further constraint to operational effectiveness.
Certainly worth a read, this is a matter of fact book that understates much.
October 25, 2016
Written as a conventional chronological biography, Taking Command only really picks up when Richard reviews the most controversial military decisions, particularly its overseas interventions. Otherwise, it trundles on poorly as a narrative, particularly when Richards feels the comradely need to include the contemporary and final ranks, alongside a brief professional review, of individuals.
You get the sense that Richards is/was one of a tiny handful in the military who neither idolised the apex of the regimental hierarchy nor overcome with abundant caution and inertia. Perhaps this is the most worrying thing about the state of the British armed forces!
You get the sense that Richards is/was one of a tiny handful in the military who neither idolised the apex of the regimental hierarchy nor overcome with abundant caution and inertia. Perhaps this is the most worrying thing about the state of the British armed forces!
April 25, 2015
a workmanlike memoir of interesting times. A good source book for future historians. I found it interesting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews