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Brutality, murder, racism and other evils only partially redeemed in a military college in the sixties, admittedly based on Conroy's own undergraduate experience at The Citadel in the 1960's. An unsparing, frightening novel later filmed with Mark Breland.

Customer Reviews:

• well worth your time
  i just finished reading the Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. This book was an assignment for my 12th grade The Novel class. although this sounds geeky especially for a teenager to say, i love to read. i really and truly enjoy reading, but that will be our secret. although i enjoy reading, in the past i haven't always enjoyed the novels i'm assigned to read in school (sorry to all you scarlet letter lovers out there, but nathaniel hawthorne didn't really do too much for me) The lords of Discipline was a much needed change of scenery. i would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read and even to people who don't consider themselves to be readers. despite your reading status, you will love this book. Pat Conroy has an awesome writing style. His use of imagery, makes one feel like he's apart of the book. Once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down. you'll even risk being called a book geek over this novel. so if you are looking for something to read that will not only make you laugh and cry but also teach you life lessons, i definatly encourage you to try The Lords of Disciple. i promise it will be well worth your time, it was worth mine!...more info
• One of the best books
  I would have to say that the "Lords of Discipline" has been one of the best books that I have ever read. This is one of those books that leaves you at the edge of your seat begging for more. Pat Conroy uses so much detail in the book that there are times when you actually feel that you are right there with the character. This is a story about four men, who were friends and roomates. The story of four friends who came together and helped each other through all the sweat, blood, and tears all for the same reason. They all wanted to wear the ring of the institute. As these four cadets go through their senior year at the institute, Pat Conroy takes you through all their good times, bad times, and even takes you through their plebe year at the institute. Just when you thought these cadets have been through the worst, the story gets even thicker. The thing that I loved most about this book was how eveything just came together in end. It totally blew me away. It will leave you sitting there thinking to yourself I can't believe that just happened....more info
• So powerful in story and detail
  Pat Conraoy is one of our most truly gifted authors today. I only wish he had more books to read!

  I knew that this was rough, Beach Music and others had prepared me to expect a harsh story. I am amazed at how Conroy can describe atrocity and beauty with the same deftness and eye for detail. Nothing escapes his scrutiny. The story of four cadets was interesting. I liked that the story is not told chronologically. We are able to meet the characters and then see glimpes of their first year at the school. The plot twists were wonderful and unexpected. I thought I might have it figured out, but found a completely different ending!

  This was one of those books which I had to force myself to slow down, despite the suspense and savor the writing. I reccommend this and look foward to more Pat Conroy novels!...more info

• The Lords of Discipline
  I was assigned to read The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. At first glance, it looked like any ordinary novel, but once I started reading I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down. And I couldn't. It was wonderfully written, and very descriptive. It shows the change of a young, naive man, into a knowing Institute Man. Will Mclean suffers through friendship, love, and betrayal. Although some reviewers expressed dislike of the strong language, I believe that it made the novel more true to life. Pat Conroy has a wonderful talent, and wrote a beautiful novel. I hope to read more of his books in the future, and I highly recommend this one....more info
• Something worth reading
  I must say I'm not much of a dedicated reader, but I do enjoy reading. I find it hard to finish a book unless some teacher crams it down my throat. But with the novel "Lords of Discipline", I had no problem finishing the book. I had trouble putting the book down and I usually found myself reading late into the night. I never understood when people said they couldn't put a book down until I read "The Lords of Discipline". I must say it is one of the best books I have read....more info
• Superb!
  There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. This is a masterpiece--a painfully funny, heartbreaking, stunning masterpiece. Period. ...more info
• Lords of Discipline
  This is an exciting book that keeps it's suspense until the very last page. I'm not normally into anything military, but this book does not want to be put down by any reader(no matter what the usual interest is). I actually read this whole book during a period in my life when I would not read anything longer than three paragraphs. I highly recommend this book to any person that likes a good story. It's just one of those books that doesn't give you the oppurtunity to make you lose interest....more info
• Excellent Writing
  I received this book as a gift and was reluctant to read it as the subject matter was not of interest. I started to read it just to see what it might be like and was captured by the outstanding writing. It was just a joy to read and the characters will stay with me forever. ...more info
• A " couldn't put it down" book
  It was right after reading "My Losing Season" that I decided it was time to pick up this book. I had thought about reading it several times before, but I as I stated in my review of the nonfiction work "My Losing Season", I was trying to space out Pat Conroy's books because I knew that I'd only get to read them once for the first time.

  It was very interesting reading this book because even though it is a fictional story it is based on some true events (which are chronicled in "My Losing Season") as well being based on the realities of many that went through the rigors and trials of a military academy. Conroy interviewed students that graduated as well as students that didn't make it at various military schools (Citadel, VMI, Air Force Academy, etc.) to use their shared experiences to make this work ring true even though it was a fictional story much like many of the Law and Order television episodes are based on real crimes.

  I kept wondering how much of this story was totally made up and how much was based on real events. In "My Losing Season" Conroy tells the real story of his relationship with a girl that appears in the fictional work here. He changed a lot of the details, but the core truth of how badly she hurt him rings true in both the fictional story here and the actual account of the real events. It made me wonder what other stuff was nearly real in this fictional book...

  Mr. Conroy talks about how his alma mater wouldn't let him back on campus for many years after this book was published. It hit a cord which reverberated for a long time and I'll take that as a clue that this work, much like "The Prince of Tides" and "Beach Music" were thinly veiled truths, pieces of art that are much to mirror like for comfort.

  One downside to reading Conroy in general is the depression that always seems to hit me. I must fight my own demons that get stirred up as I turn the pages reading about his. But despite the scabs that get picked and the wounds that hurt over again, I like reading what he has to say because it's real. Real and true are funny ways to describe fiction but when must of us go day to day hiding and playing games perhaps it is enlightening to go ahead and pretend that what is real, is not, and what is not; is.

  If you have not yet read Pat Conroy, this is as good a place to start as any. This work is not as heavy duty as "Prince of Tides" and "Beach Music" and I'd imagine would probably appeal to a wider audience. Once you've read this I'd wager that you'll be anxious to get your hands on "My Losing Season". Enjoy....more info

• LOVED IT!
  I picked this book up at the recommendation of a friend. I was skeptical because I am a 38 yr old woman and the military genre is not my thing. I had never read anything by Pat Conroy before. I simply loved this book! It is expertly written and builds characters that you come to love and hate. It delves into the inner workings of military academy and how the cadets deal with life there. The book builds comradery and loyalty between the characters and you actually feel that as you read it. I cannot say enough good things about this book, if in doubt, just try it!! ...more info
• This is my new favorite book!
  This is the greatest book I have ever read. It's main character, Will McLean, has to go through many trials to get to his graduation from the Carolina Insitute. His story is shared with the 3 men he rooms with. But the rest of his graduating class have minor roles in the story.

  The realism of the characters shows what a great author Conroy is. Although there are recurring themes in all of Conroy's books (the setting, basketball, etc.) the book is a completely new idea. The visuals, plot, and simply stated, the novel itself, will keep you entranced till the end....more info

• Amazing
  When my mom first started to get me interested in southern family sagas Pat Conroy was her first recommendation,Lords of Discipline was the first book by Conroy i read, and I couldn't put it down. In the weekend i read it i feel like i learned more about the author and the city of Charleston than i ever have with any other book. it's an amazing look into military life and the complexities that occur within ones self and people that you think you know.I would recommend Lords of Discipline to anyone!...more info
• A Must Read for Everyone
  Pat Conroy's The Lords of Discipline is a wonderfully writen novel that contains every type of entertainment: action, drama, love, and comedy. It is a fast moving page turner that grabs your attention and holds on. Conroy's beautiful and lyrical writing style and intense plot and conflict make this a great novel. It is very difficult for me to find novels that entertain me through their entirety, but I couldn't put this novel down. I have only read the novel once, but it is already my favorite. I can't wait to read it again. Reading the "coming of age" story of the novel's hero, Will McLean, interested me greatly as a young adult myself. Though the language is harsh it does not take away from the novel. In fact, the mature language strengthens it by showing a honest view of life in a military school. I recommend this novel for all students and I truely think you will enjoy this novel as much as I did....more info
• little slow but great read towards the end
  like i said a little slow in the beggining and i though i wasn't going to like it. don't give up though...the story gets intense without too much "action" type stuff and it ended becoming one good read....more info
• One of best American books of recent decades
  This book is stunning as a coming of age story, and a thriller of the highest order because the story appears to be largely true - the turns of the plot are completely unexpected and gripping. This is one of the best books I've read in years. Together with other books of Pat Conroy that I've read, The Water is Wide and Prince of Tides, a heroic character emerges - someone who triumped over trials of agonizing proportions, who was gifted with life events that made for a gripping story, and the ability to tell that story with literary flair....more info
• Conroy's Homage to the Citadel
  Author Pat Conroy borrowed heavily from his experiences as a cadet at the Citadel to pen this 1980 novel, "The Lords of Discipline." Later made into a film version of the same name that played up the subplot of racism at the expense of the greater themes of friendship, loyalty, discipline, and southern atmosphere, this book is a penetrating insight into the rigors of life in a military college. Most readers are probably more familiar with Pat Conroy's novels "The Great Santini" and "The Prince of Tides," and the two movies they spawned, but fans of those books shouldn't overlook this phenomenal effort.

  Conroy's protagonist in "The Lords of Discipline" is one Will McLean, a cadet in the senior class at the Carolina Military Institute (referred to by everyone associated with it as "The Institute") in the late 1960s. It is easy to imagine that McLean is a symbolic Conroy, with his love of English and writing, his liberal ideas, and his sense of individuality within an institution that subscribes to total conformity. Born in Georgia, Will agreed to attend CMI when his father asked him to do so on his deathbed. It is only because of this promise that Will sticks it out through what ranks as one of the most degrading, brutal experiences a person will ever face. It is the freshman year at the Institute that really separates the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, as all incoming plebes (called knobs by upperclassmen) undergo hazing of astonishing, and illegal, levels. McLean survives the ordeal by making friends with Tradd St. Croix, a rich scion of one of Charleston's most prominent families; Dante Pignetti, a tough as nails northerner who lifts weights and possesses a most unusual affection for his girlfriend Theresa; and Mark Santoro, another northerner who matches Pignetti in physical prowess. The four friends latch on to one another during freshman year and then share the rest of their school days as roommates. The Institute's rigorous requirements create emotional bonds that go beyond mere friendship: these guys are like brothers, and they openly profess their love for one another without any sense of indecency.

  Will might have cleared the final hurdles of his senior year and graduated in relative anonymity if several incidents didn't rise up to confront him. The first problem occurs when Colonel Berrineau, known as "Bear," the gruff overseer and protector of the cadets, asks Will to protect the first black plebe in the school's history. Another crisis arises when Will meets a local girl, a well to do lass suffering from an unwanted pregnancy. These two incidents, along with Will's increasing sense of alienation from the Institute's mindless conformity, place McLean's standing at school in deep jeopardy. When a secret organization within the school called "The Ten" decides that the black cadet must go, Will finds himself in a moral dilemma that forces him to decide where his loyalties lie. McLean's ultimate choices cast doubts on the certitude of honor and the dangers of conformity.

  Even this lengthy summary doesn't properly convey the numerous themes and memorable scenes spread throughout this story. Conroy is a fantastic writer, creating situation after situation of penetrating insights, moral and emotional predicaments, and youthful vigor. Not many writers can pull off a story like the one about Will's last basketball game at the Institute. Conroy perfectly captures the triumph and tragedy of a young man playing the last game of a sport he loves. Moreover, the author uses the game as a way to expose McLean's agonizing dilemma about the Institute. In many ways, Will despises what the Institute stands for, how it demeans and crushes the human spirit, but during the game he realizes how great it is to have the entire body of cadets pulling for him with all of their heart. It's this love/hate relationship with the CMI that makes Will's final decisions so achingly difficult.

  Arguably the best part of "The Lords of Discipline" involves Will's flashback concerning his freshman year experiences as a knob. I know nothing about life in a military institution, but the situations Will and his friends found themselves in are shocking and brutal. It all starts with "Hell Night," where the cadets march the knobs to the parade ground and proceed to scream and bully until every new man is reduced to a quivering wreck. This night of torture is only the beginning of a long year of endless brutality and sadism. All suffer endlessly under the system, but cadets pay special attention to certain individuals who show any signs of weakness. In a process described as "taming," a knob with an allergy to tomatoes resigns after cadets force him to drink glass after glass of tomato juice. I don't know if this type of behavior continues today, but it must have been the case when Conroy attended the Citadel. Personally, I do think this sort of weeding out process is a good idea, as discipline and toughness tend to be in short supply today. At the same time, some of the stuff Conroy describes in his novel is definitely in the region of pure illegality. It's just another example of the split personality of an institute that touts honor above all else while engaging in decidedly dishonorable activities.

  Everything you can think of is in this book: romance, action, and drama all make appearances here. Conroy leaves little to the imagination as he sweeps his readers away through page after page of pure genius. I'll bet the Citadel never knew they had a brilliant artist strolling through their hallowed halls, but readers are better off that Conroy suffered the slings and arrows of a military institute. "The Lords of Discipline" is must read material....more info

• Sheer genius.
  A masterpiece in every respect.

  IMHO, "Lords of Discipline" is Pat Conroy's finest work. Incredible flow and character development. His seamless combination of precise military cadence and southern gothic prose is mind-boggling. This one's a seriously haunting classic....more info

• Excellent Novel
  The best writers make their readers live vicariously through the characters and plot of the book. Few of us have attended a military academy as Conroy has so he lets us into this world. But, it is not just a look inside the academy, it has mystery,conflict, intrique, and good vs. bad all rolled into one novel. Writers write best on the things they know and Conroy has this down cold. The diverse nature of the four main characters also is interesting as well as the hero's struggle to survive the system, but not become indoctrinated by it. If there is one complaint, it is that the ending gambit by the cadets came together all too quickly as if Conroy wanted to finish writing the book. But this is a small complaint and the plusses far exceed the negatives of this book. I did not put it down for the last 150 pages....more info
• an enjoyable read, with flashes of brilliance
  This is the first Pat Conroy book I've read and the first military book. I enjoyed it immensely, finding it very easy to read and engaging from the beginning. Mr. Conroy obviously cares deeply about his characters and the main ones are given dimension and substance. His humor can be quite savage, which I loved. His descriptions of the town are beautiful and the Institute truly chilling. His depiction of the bonds of love and deep friendships that form between young men was eye-opening. There is no question that Mr. Conroy is a gifted writer.

  However, I found the story's plot to be disappointingly predictable, not suspenseful. The membership of "The Ten" was no surprise, nor where McLean could find that information. I also was a little put off by the "tear-jerker" feel the last third of the novel had. I felt it was manipulative, and, frankly, laziness on the part of the author. With the awesome command of the English language that Mr. Conroy has, he should have avoided the emotionally overwrought, overblown speechifying we see at the end of the novel. Despite this criticism, I would recommend this book....more info

• Conroy, a Modern William Faulkner
  Perhaps the best writer of national prominence that Charleston has produced, somewhat ironically, is a man whose controversy is surpassed only by his literary talent, and who is really a son of Georgia. But, just as Edgar A. Poe is a son by visitation, as Conroy mentions in the prologue without a point lost on me, Conroy himself as of Friday last, at The Citadel dress parade, has himself become a son by visitation. Without great ceremony, ceremony unecessary for a man whose accomplishments and paper legacy for the School overshadows the routine weekly parade, The Citadel conferred upon Patrick Conroy (Class of 1967) an honorary doctorate of letters.

  The Lords of Discipline is a brilliantly written book in its final form, despite some of its unfortunate hyperbole with regards to natives of Charleston, and some maligning of character against the School itself, from which hundreds upon hundreds of patriotic warriors came to defend our nation before Conroy was a twinkle in the Great Santini's eyes.

  However, as genuinely fictional as though it may be, I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a desire to experience some of the best composition of the English language in modern times....more info

• There should be more stars for this novel...
  I LOVE "The Lords of Discipline." In fact, I wish I could give this book as a birthday gift to every person I know. I want to tap strangers on the shoulder and recommend them this book. I want to yell from the rooftops that EVERYONE should read this work of art.

  When I started reading "Lords of Discipline," Pat Conroy's language and imagery sucked me in...and didn't spit me out until I finished the last word. I couldn't put the book down..in fact, I kept it right next to my bedside...carried it with me to read whenever I was standing in line. There are so many ingredients that worked together to make this magic. Conroy has an uncanny ability to create characters so real and so tangible that by the end of the novel, I almost felt cheated that the novel had to end. He also paints Charleston so beautifully that now, I will absolutely have to make my way over to see that Southern city for myself.

  "The Lords of Discipline" may seem just like a basic story about boys growing up to be men in a military school--it isn't. It's so much more. The novel touches on the Vietnam War, love, loyalty, racism, friendship, southern traditions, ideals, the military, and so much more. The hero, Will Mclean, is unlike any other protagonist; the reader grows with him and sees how he transforms in his ideas and perceptions. There simply aren't enough superlative statements to pay justice to Conroy's "Lords of Discipline."

  The bottomline: please go buy yourself a copy of this book....more info

• The Lords of Discipline
  Pat Conroy weaves all aspects of the emotional spectrum into this novel. It is thoroughly compelling, and almost reads like one long, fluid poem. He is an amazing writer with a unique ability to create humor, sarcasm, sadness, anger, and triumph, just to name a few.

  I've read this time and time again, and I have always been moved to tears. Every so often in the process of re-reading this book, I need to put it down for awhile because I am exhaustingly overwhelmed by the emotional experiences of the characters. There is so much more to this book than my words could describe, and the magnitude of the effect is just awesome....more info

• A Powerful Novel
  Pat Conroy's The Lords of Disciple is a wonderful novel which captures the struggles of military school with brilliant detail seen through the eyes of Will McLean. It is a story of life's struggles which Will must overcome while finding his true self. Pat Conroy was not afraid at al to dig deep into tough issues such as rascism and hazing, coming down hard on the military system. He has a writing style which grips the reader at unexpected times, making it hard to walk away from this powerful novel. I recommend this book for those who have any spark of interest in what goes on behind a military intitute's walls or simply want a captivating, fast paced read that expresses love, honor, betreyal, and confidence....more info
• A Classic Story of Survival of the Human Spirit
  In Lords of Discipline, Conroy magnificently details the triumph of the human spirit through its lead character Will McLean. McLean is the victim/victor of/over extreme physical, mental and emotional abuse. There are four elements at work in this novel: the ever-real hazing and brutality tolerated at The Citidel, the social and psychological impact of Vietnam in the late 1960's, the beauty and splendor of Charelston and the joy and heartbreak of a first love. Each element is interwoven into this story beautifully.

  Like all of Conroy's novels, it is autobiographical and completely harrowing in its depiction of human life and suffering. This is not a 'feel-good' read, but it offers so much between its covers that it is worth the painful interludes. Conroy is an absolute master of prose, painstaking in his detail and honest to a fault. Perhaps that is why he only publishes about once every five years.

  Lords of Discipline chronicles the first and last years at the Carolina Military Institute (aka The Citidel) through the life of an apologetic, average cadet (Will McLean). We are taken to a place that few have been, and fewer actually survive. As narrated by Will, we see the human soul downgraded to a name, number and rank. But the story goes well beyond the walls of the institute. There is humor, love and returning tours to Conroy's favorite city (Charleston). The book is an inspiration to anyone facing life's challenges and adversity. It's one of his best to be sure....more info

• A well-crafted caricature of the American military academy
  There are times when I consider Pat Conroy to be the Faulkner of today--he brings a similar southern accent to the niche of 20th century American literature which has "Papa" Hemingway as its patriarch. And there's always a bit of Conroy's ongoing crusade for social justice in every book. The autobiographical "The Water Is Wide" stands as his credentials that he puts his money where his mouth is--buy a Conroy book and you get his alter ego "Conrack" as a bonus contributor. But I have no choice but to conclude that polemic somewhat overwhelms storytelling in this book. What you have here is a first-person "memoir" of cadet Will McLean's experiences at the ficticious Carolina Military Institute. Despite the military character of the school, Will's only real talents are those of basketball player and social commentator. He is by his own admission a do-gooder, to the extent that the school's fatherly dean of students appoints him as an unofficial student guidance counselor/ guardian angel for the school's first African-American cadet. Even when Will falls in love, it's with a girl who's alternately in need of a shoulder to cry on and a convenient target to take her rage out on. He doesn't quite come out and say that's what he's there for, but you can tell he feels that way. His three best friends are his roommates; a scion of Charleston aristocracy targeted by excessive hazing because of his effeteness and two streetwise New York Little Italy types who their more bourgeois fellow cadets consider riffraff but are too tough for them to kick around. The proper "Three Musketeer" sidekicks to a kid who acquantances call sanctimonious and actually understands why they say that about him. This book has a lot of self-analytical soliloquies like that, almost to the detriment of narrative. It's easy to see what bothers Pat Conroy the most--prejudice and elitism. So he creates a like-minded protagonist who--would yew buh-lieve?-- goes and joins a military school! And that bit about the sinister, mysterious "Ten", an elite corps who goes about cleansing the school of nerds, wimps and minorities! My own alma mater had an adminstration ban when I attended on any Greek system on the grounds that it "encouraged elitism". There's no such rule at my old school today, though. I guess you have to understand the times in which this story is both written and set. The late 1960s/ early 1970s were a titanic near-civil-war in which the whole country was caught up in left versus right, when one side called anyone who dared to disagree a "commie" and the other side used "fascist" as its generic negative. Small wonder that, a generation later, American politics are so partisan that whichever side is elected, the other side starts quoting Jefferson--you know, the part about "overthrowing"? The generation who attends the "Institute" in this story are today's Pat Buchanans and Al Gores--you can't say there isn't diversity among my fellow 'Boomers! The thing that stands out in this story--and almost obscures it as a Pat Conroy story--is a glorification of liberalism. There's just one problem I have with it. Back in the time of this story, I was a liberal myself. Then I started to become less and less capable over the years of answering this question even to my own satisfaction--just how much of liberalism involves bona fide goodness and how much is mere sanctimony? I think most of us have learned over the years that there's a lot of diversity of opinion out there of how much of a menace to mankind "mean people" are. And I hope most of us have come to realize that the universe underwrites no insurance against hurt feelings. That's why this book only gets a 4 from me--its philosophical naiivete. I mean, could Will McLean have ever envisioned 9-11-01?...more info
• Just an outstanding read! One of my all time favorites.
  I love to read. I've always loved to read. And as I've grown older I've discovered that fiction can rarely satisfy my reading needs. It's either sophomoric, predictable, too far-fetched, uninteresting, or simply not worth the effort. Lords of Discipline, however, stands heads and shoulders above the mediocre fare. I cannot possibly recommend this book highly enough.
  
  This is a great book to introduce anyone to the joys of reading. It is a book that you can recommend with the knowledge that you are imparting an invaluable gift.
  
  It is simply a phenomenal read. A riviting story that cannot help but move you whoever you are. My only complaint (and it is a serious one) about this book specifically (and Pat Conroy in general) is that it has spoiled me. I find myself measuring almost everything I read against the pleasure that this book has brought me. Unfortunately, I have never read another work of fiction that has managed to move me so. So, be forewarned: You read this book at your own risk, for everything you are likely to read afterewards will pale by comparison....more info
• THE ONLY BOOK I WILL EVER READ!
  im a high school junior at hunterdon central and ive NEVER touched a book cuz i hate reading but this book i read .... and read .... i read 50 - 100 pages in a day! i just finished it yesterday and im soooo upset that im not going to read it ever again ... the characters all develop a relationship with u and it made me cry when a certain event happend ... it really truly has inspired me and i would recomend this book in a HEARTBEAT to ANYONE! THE BEST BOOK EVER! its worth 100 stars...more info