Corps Values: Everything You Need to Know I Learned In the Marines Paperback September 1, 1998

by Zell Miller

Call it Robert Fulghum by way of John Wayne... In 1953, Zell Miller was as low as he could get. He'd dropped out of college after being made to feel inferior because of his "hillbilly" background and wound up in jail one weekend after getting drunk on moonshine and driving his car into a ditch. In an effort to turn his life around, he signed up for marine boot camp. The experience changed his life, and he remains convinced that the values he learned during his 90 days at Parris Island are "the only basis upon which diversity can coexist with commonality and all people can pursue individual goals for themselves while contributing to the general well-being and advancement of society as a whole." These simple values, from neatness and punctuality to discipline and loyalty, are for Miller the basis of a strong civil society. Although some readers may find some of his notions--such as his frustration at seeing kids wear caps backwards--a bit extreme, Miller reminds us that any organization that pumped out men like Bernard Shaw, Don Imus, Ted Williams, and Art Buchwald must have something going for it.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Leadership, Self Help

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Zell Bryan Miller is an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. Elected as a Democrat, Miller served as Lieutenant Governor from 1975 to 1990, Governor of Georgia from 1991 to 1999, and as United States Senator from 2000 to 2005.

Although a member of the Democratic Party, Miller backed Republican President George W. Bush over Democratic nominee John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election and since 2003 has frequently criticized the Democratic Party, and has publicly supported several Republican candidates. In 2006, Miller did voice-overs (narrations) for Republican candidate commercials in Georgia state elections (George "Sonny" Perdue and Ralph Reed).

Miller did not seek re-election in 2004. After leaving the Senate he joined the law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge, in the firm's national Government Affairs practice. Miller is also a frequent Fox News Channel contributor.

Reviews

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book caused me to wonder if mandatory military service wouldn't be a good thing. Food for thought! The principles outlined in the book are sorely lacking or found only in a minority of people, typically the older generation. Seems like society is more worried about offending someone than holding each other accountable for our actions. Remember, freedom isn't the license to do as we please but rather as we ought. (Listen to Os Guiness for further elaboration on such an idea.) At any rate, this book was a short, easy read and worth the time and effort in doing so. In addition, please read the author's other books for his greater perspective on the state of affairs in the good ol' U.S.A. You won't regret it.

[Ben Galbraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The overall message of the book is great. I find a hard time taking some of his points seriously, though. His politics sometimes seem out-of-touch and unrealistically aspirational, and he sometimes gets mired in disputes (like whether people should wear flags on clothing or wear baseball caps backward) that shouldn’t concern him so much. I was also surprised to know he only spent 3 or so years in the Marines - not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I just expected a book about the Marines to be written by someone who had more of a complete (and/or decorated) career in the Marines.

[Chandler Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good principles to live by, but a little preachy for my taste.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Semper Fi

[Mitchel Huott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book full of great values. I think people need to read this book.

[Austin Carroll Keeley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Governor Miller has a vision, but it is one with which I cannot agree. This book is simple and to the point. To that end it is a good read. But the Governor fails to make convincing arguments that American society is in free fall and that the, albeit admirable, values learned at Parris Island would save our apparently decrepit country.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this my second year at tcu. my mother had given this to me and stated that she woul not be paying next semester's tuition until i had read this book...I think that she was trying to straighten me out a bit with the characteristics of marine corps life.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Dad served in the Marine Corp for 29 years, joining when he was 17 years old. I understood him better after reading this book. My father was also born in Georgia one year before Zell Miller and I enjoyed reading this book by another Georgian.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I met Zell Miller was during a promotional tour for this book in July 1997.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I don't agree with all that Zell has to say in his book, I love that he tells you exactly how he feels - no apologies.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author went through USMC boot camp 50 years ago and writes about traditional values, which appeal to me.