Message to Garcia

by Elbert Hubbard

Book Overview

A Message to Garcia, Elbert Hubbard's classic 1899 essay, delivers the message that the true hero is the man who does his work well and without question -- the man who carries the ''message to Garcia.''

The essay is based on the true story of young Lieutenant Andrew Summers Rowan, who at the time of the Spanish-American War was sent to Cuba alone to carry out a difficult mission, which he did with ''sheer courage and indomitable...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0880884347
• ISBN13: 9780880884341
• Release Date: February 1982
• Publisher: Peter Pauper Press
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.6" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Unapologetic and to the point

Hubbard has a few points to make and doesn't waste time making them. For the reviewer who thought his boss was trying to get you to blindly follow their advice, you sadly completely missed the point. Read it again, and again, and again until you do. I know I will.

A Must Read

On the recommendation of a United States Marine we purchased this book for our son who is also a Marine. I read it aloud to my husband before we sent it along to our son. We liked it so much I bought a copy for us. My son loved it. I think that anyone that wants to accomplish anything in their life should read it.

A reader from California misses the point

The message of Hubbard's commentary on Col. Rowan's mission is not to do what you are told without question, but to think for yourself. What Col. Rowan did was amazing. He was asked to carry a message from President McKinley to an insurgent leader in Cuba named Garcia. This was leading up to the Spanish-American War and Cuba was hostile territory. If captured, Rowan would be shot by the Spanish. What you now know about Rowan's mission is what he knew at the time he took it up. And he succeeded! Hubbard's lament is that all employees are not more like Col. Rowan.

It's not Outdated

It's one of the most inspire book i ever read. I strongly believe it's not outdated even it was written long ago, in fact the clear message is very relevant in today world. I.e. Good manager give a clear Objective (E.g. Send a message to Garcia), and the person who is in-charge shouldn't giving excuse, no delay, and no "blaming why me". Ask question if there is any thing you need further clarification. (In Rowan's case, no) Then Figure it out on how to accomplish it. Now day, there are too many people like to say this is not accomplishable and that's not workable without having a try, without even "a Think". Many are giving too much of excuses. In addition, personally i think, this book is not only should be given by employer to employee, employer himself also should learn the lesson. I.e. One of the reason that Rowan can successfully deliver the message is because, His "employer", after given the objective, They fully delegate the task to Rowan, They did not care for the detail, They did not pretend to be smart to teach Roman on how to do it, They did not interfere, They trust Rowan, and give Rowan all the neccessary authority to make decision. Just imagine if all the important decision that Rowan make have to get approval first then only can respond. Do you think The Message can be successafully delivered? I hope Employer also have to bear this in mind before blaming your employee for not that responsible and self-motivate as Rowan. Think first. Think do you really trust your staff, Think do they have all the neccessary authotiry to make decison, think that did you did your job good enough as a employer...? Furthermore, ensure the Objective that you give is meaningful to your employee, let your employee have that kind of feeling of important. Sure when Rowan recieve the task, in his mind he would say this :" WOW, this seem chanllenging, this task is important, i must accomplish it otherwise we would lose the battle. And they are giving this such a important task to me, they trust me, I must do it RIGHT!" Right?Finally, Don't forget Positive feedback or recognising that President give to Rowan. Remember, People will only doing things for two main simplified reason, i.e. pain and pleasure. This also a part which should we learn. Off cause i doesn't mean Rowan doing all this just for his own pleasure, but at least it's a part of it.

Loyalty Pays

Reading and discussing Hubbard's small classic, "A Message To Garcia" should be a pre-requisite for anyone about to work anywhere for a boss. Much is written about leaders, and this book helps to fill the huge gap in what is written for and about followers. The few minutes it takes to read this book could change the rest of your life. I first read it back in 1985 and I re-read it frequently.Hubbard's inspiration for his "preachment" was an obscure but important event in the 1898 Spanish-American War. President McKinley needed someone to quickly deliver a message to an insurgent general somewhere in the jungles of Cuba. An army officer was recommended and McKinley personally handed the message to this officer with the mission to deliver the "message to Garcia." This officer's unhesitating acceptance of his mission with no superfluous questions and his subsequent completion of the mission is Hubbard's definition of an invaluable subordinate.Hubbard's lessons of initiative (doing the right thing without being told) and loyalty to yourself, your boss, and your organization (doing the right thing when told only once) are timeless and well told. Hubbard spoke to all leaders and subordinates when he wrote, "It is not book-learning young men need, nor instruction about this and that, but a stiffening of the vertebrae which will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly, concentrate their energies: do the thing -- "Carry a message to Garcia.""