How to Be Fit Though Monty

THE PATH' TO LEADERSHIP (256 pp.) --Field Marshal Montgomery--Putnam ($4.50).

In some respects this book is a worthy sequel to Colonel Robert Baden-Powell's celebrated work, Scouting for Boys, but this is not necessarily a slight of its author. Bernard Law Montgomery, Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, 73, would readily agree that Boy Scout ideals are what the world needs more of. It is disarming and somewhat startling to find a celebrated soldier, whatever the specific merits of his wartime role, writing without an ounce of embarrassment in praise of prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, honor, courage and truthfulness. His aim is to define the na ture of leadership, and he believes that all those qualities--together with sincerity, selflessness and the ability "to master events"--are necessary ingredients. Unfortunately, Montgomery never conies closer to a real definition of leadership than this catalogue of virtues.

Moses & Alfred. In the course of the book, Monty ranks a score of world figures from Moses to Mao Tse-tung on his highly personal report card. Moses "had the wisdom and the insight into human nature to realize that the best way to raise morale in an army is by victories in battle." Christ, "the greatest Leader of all time, gave His followers a set of principles and an unforgettable example ... He claims to be the light we need; no other man has ever made that claim." Jenghiz Khan and Oliver Cromwell receive high grades from Monty for their military skill, but Cromwell flunks as a political strategist. King Alfred is given the palm as "possibly the greatest king England has ever had" for combining admirably the arts of generalship and statesmanship. Tito and De Gaulle are awarded top honors among contemporary leaders who wield both Parliaments and paratroops.

Simple as they sound, Monty's estimates were carefully made: before he wrote the book, he personally visited his living subjects in their native habitats, and he always asked himself: "Would I go in the jungle with that man?'' By that standard, each was eligible for Monty's safari except Khrushchev. Mao, whom he met in Peking in May 1960, he regarded as 'the peace-loving ruler of an emancipated people--sort of trustworthy, friendly, courteous, cheerful, clean and reverent. Can Mao be persuaded that "the best interests of China lie in being friendly to the West?" Says Monty: "I shall do my best to bring this about."

Smoke & Drink. In passing, Monty has a lot to say about courage ("One of the greatest of human qualities") and justice ("[It] cannot prevail without the sanction of force"). He is perhaps most eloquent about clean living: "Abstemiousness is vital--in food, in drink, in smoking, in social activities. So is need for regular sleep." Monty once reproachfully told Churchill: "I never smoke, never drink, I'm always in bed by 9:30, and I'm 100 percent fit." To which Churchill, who has his own definition of leadership, replied: "I never stop smoking, drink when I like, am never in bed before 3 a.m.-- and I'm 200 percent fit."

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