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Character Carved in Stone by Pat Williams


First, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to Pat Williams and his publisher for sending me a copy of "Character Carved in Stone" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.


“Character Carved in Stone” by Pat Williams is a moving, entertaining and motivational read.  I originally requested this book for review because I grew up in the area of upstate New York near West Point.  I love reading books that transport me to my childhood home.  And this book blessed me with many stories about integrity and leadership from the worlds of sports and military service.


Written by Pat Williams, Senior Vice President of NBA Basketball’s Orlando Magic, “Character Carved in Stone” focuses on twelve characteristics of leadership taught at West Point…twelve characteristics lived by great leaders…twelve characteristics carved into benches of pink marble located at West Point overlooking the Hudson River donated by members of the West Point Graduating Class of 1934...twelve characteristics that every human being would benefit from embracing.


Each chapter embraces one of the twelve virtues: compassion, courage, dedication, determination, dignity, discipline, integrity, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, service and trust.  And each chapter feels like an intimate conversation: I’m sitting on the couch with the author over a cup of coffee listening to him tell stories about people who have exemplified each of these characteristics.  Tears fall as I read about men and women giving the ultimate sacrifice because they embody these traits.  They also fall as I read about those who didn’t have a drop of these traits within them.


This is a book for my keeper shelf.  I probably won’t loan it out, but will buy it for high school and college graduates and everyone I love!  Great book!

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