The Leader's Bookshelf

Jim Staviridis’ gift to bookavores everywhere, The Leader’s Bookshelf is a difficult one on which to provide notes because it is so packed with great and essential material. What Stavridis and former Navy PAO R. Ancell have done is put together a Top 50 reading list for military leaders--they accomplished this feat by surveying hundreds of senior military leaders. The final list, though, only took into account the inputs of the more than 200 4-star officers surveyed. The authors then compiled the most frequently cited titles and ranked them by frequency of citation. I’ve only read about 12 of the 50 which lean a little too heavily toward the Civil War (5 of the 50, not including three on Lincoln). Each of the 50 books includes a prelude on its importance written by one of the surveyed 4 star officers. The distribution of preludes by service follows: 6 Air Force 16 Navy 9 Marine Corps 18 Army 1 Coast Guard He also devotes a chapter to an unofficial survey of junior officers and provides a short summaries of the titles that are most often listed. One of the strengths of this book is that it provides a framework to analyze future books. The author’s systematic approach to reading provides a useful framework for anyone desiring to better digest and use what they read. As a FAO, I enjoyed Staviridis’ analyses that repeatedly noted the need for regional expertise (across the spectrum of history and literature) to better inform national strategic decision-making. Key Quotes: “To be a good soldier you must love the army. To be a good commander, you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love.” -Robert E. Lee (16) There are certain wicked people in the world that you can’t deal with except by force.” -John Keegan (39) “The Americans have all the watches, but we have all the time.” -Taliban saying (45) “Military operations alone cannot defeat an insurgency because only economic development and political action can address most sources of disaffection.” -H.R. McMaster (48) “What constitutes defeats? The conquest of his whole territory is not always necessary, and total occupation of his territory may not be enough.” -Carl von Clausewitz (52) “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower (67) “In the military services...the main rewards go to him who can make other men feel toughened as well as elevated.” -S.L.A. Marshall (71) “Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability to explain why it didn’t happen.” -Winston Churchill (78) “The buck stops here.” -Plaque on President Truman’s Oval Office desk (81) “In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine.” -Erwin Rommel (83) “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” -Stephen R. Covey (86) “Let no officer keep to himself or his brother officers, but circulate daylong among his men.” -King Leonidas of Sparta (109) “If there is no work, make it up...action, on the other hand, produces the appetite for more action.” -King Leonidas of Sparta (109) “A king does not expend his substance to enslave men, but by his conduct and example makes them free.” -King Leonidas of Sparta (111) “The opposite of fear is not courage--it is love [of a fellow soldier].” -King Leonidas of Sparta (111) “Molon labe”--”Come and take them.” -King Leonidas in response to Xerxes call to lay down his arms (111). “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” -Abraham Lincoln (113) “My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.” -Abraham Lincoln (116) “Be with a leader when he is right, stay with him when he is still right, but leave him when he is wrong.” -Abraham Lincoln (116) “Every man’s happiness is his own responsibility.” -Abraham Lincoln (116) “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” -Abraham Lincoln (117) “The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.” -Abraham Lincoln (117) “The best to predict your future is to create it.” -Abraham Lincoln (117) “Preparation equals performance.” -Admiral James Loy, USCG Commandant “Outside solutions unanchored by an understanding of a given regional system are almost always doomed to fail.” -Admiral Jim Stavridis, commenting on A Peace to End all Peace. “In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it’s impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them...I destroy them.” -Ender Wiggins in Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game (174). “[Matterhorn] is a novel about a young man learning compassion in the middle of a war.” -LtCol Ralph Peters (176). “Matterhorn... is the first great [novel about the Vietnam War] and I doubt it will ever be surpassed.” - Mark Bowdren, author of Blackhawk Down (177). “Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be. The enemy will be most tired, and more hungry. Keep punching.” -Patton (182) “No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair.” -Patton (182) Key Takeaways: The best leaders are forged through practice--both heredity and environment matters (1) Central value to reading lies in one’s ability to live vicariously through others’ experiences and evaluate ourselves and how we would react to their challenges (3). In reading about our heroes we are able to ID their leadership traits and replicate them (4). A carefully crafted daily routine is a key enabler to productivity. Stavridis recounts his as he runs through what he reads and does over his first two cups of coffee everyday. You’ll find the power of a routine centrally cited by productivity gurus from Tim Ferris to Cal Newport (you can read more about Newport’s amazing Deep Work here) (8) Nimitz’ transformative belief in second chances is especially relevant today in a zero-defect military promotion system (59). Rommel: Leaders are good observers first (85). Repeat back what you hear to make sure you understand (87). Creative solution-making and cultural understanding are inexorably linked (Key FAO Trait) (93). Mark Twain: Leaders duty to challenge “tradition”...what are the ancient and incorrect traditions today in the Navy and FAO community? (135). Leaders bring order from chaos (155). “[Matterhorn] is a novel about a young man learning compassion in the middle of a war.” -LtCol Ralph Peters (176). I combined all the leadership principles and lessons from the various noted books below: Give offense to no one Take personal responsibility Develop real human relationships Know when to delegate Keep your enemy off balance Intelligence is vital Keys to victory Confidence as force multiplier Simplicity matters when plans are assembled Lead as servant and protector Dream Good leaders can never rest of their laurels Leaders reach for the stars Delegation is crucial Focus on the objective Leaders must be determined Be proactive Begin with the end in mind Put first things first Think win/win Seek first to understand Synergize--getting the mix right Sharpen the saw--constant improvement Do the Right Thing (integrity) Master the Situation (action) Serve the greater good (selflessness) Speak your mind (principle of candor) Lay the Groundwork (be prepared) Share knowledge (share to make others better) Choose and reward the right people (principle of fairness) Focus on the big picture (delegate at the next level, i.e., operational or tactical) Support the troops (principle of caring) Carve out time to read Find the time to think after you read Speak and write with simplicity and precision Be humble and use humor often Focus and prioritize Stay physically fit Be your own spokesperson Spend the most time on personnel matters Have a relaxing weekend routine Don’t lunge at the ball Details matter but think big thoughts Understand the process (before you criticize it) Look at the law or regulation for yourself Organize yourself Make mentorship a priority Avoid refusing to delegate Avoid losing patience with people Avoid obsessing over little things that don’t matter in the long run Avoid working to exhaustion Give the right people second chances Act with honor, hope and generosity Listen first, then speak You have a duty to challenge “tradition”

I admit that one of the multiple reasons that I followed my creative intuition to purchase this kindlebook that is The Leader’s Bookshelf by Admiral James Stavridis USN (RET.) and R. Manning Ancell is to facilitated my novice understanding on multiple points of views regarding leadership and/or courage/greater self-confidence. I was previously in the navy for at least 8.5 years and I quickly eventually learned and both logically/intuitively eventually understood that moving up to the enlisted rank of E-5 also came with the expectation that a person was ready to accept and do what it takes to be and improve as a leader. Still even since then my knowledge on leadership is that of a novice who intends to obtain whatever knowledge and real life application that I can to increase my awareness of what it means to be a leader. This kindlebook was definitely eye-opening for me because the author lists multiple resources and the leader attributed to referencing the resource. Some of the ideas/resources mentioned: a book by former president Dwight D Eisenhower, a 2012 book pertaining to Winston Churchill, some excerpts of leadership details, a 1992 book regarding another former president, career summaries of multiple officers who recommended these books including info that indirectly explains their selections, details featuring some of the authors who wrote the books referenced, how a resource came to be featured in this kindlebook from a classically trained scholar/historian/journalist who tragically unexpectedly passed away from a car accident by 2007, a title recommended by a Homeland Security deputy secretary, details on an author who wrote a book titled The Mask of Command, a book regarding a politician who included/added to this team multiple high profile employees who were among some of his most famous critics andor rivals, and more.

A book I have really enjoyed reading and listening too as well. The books and people reviewed make for great further readings.

Clear, concise, and relevant. Provides an excellent genesis to professionally developing your reading. Will continue to be a reference for how you scrutinise your leadership journey.

No problems... Stavridis is an excellent writer... his style is easy to read and flows well. However, he doesn't usually say much. I don't find much depth... for someone who has been so successful (rising to the rank of Admiral for example).

Excellent book. Should be on every leader's bookshelf.