Tag: Reading
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Observations: The Kill Chain by Christian Brose
Some of the best books are about telling you uncomfortable truths you already know. The last year has brought a lot of changes across the world, but as an Airman, two of the notable ones have been the selection of the first black Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Charles CQ Brown, and…
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Observations: One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick
One Bullet Away: the Making of a Marine Officer is a story that many vets have heard, but is a beneficial read for young military leaders, regardless of branch. Published in 2005, One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer by Nathanial Fick is a solid read that is equal parts military leadership primer,…
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Observations: Call Sign Chaos by Jim Mattis
Much like Marcus Aurelius, Secretary Mattis has filled his book with truths, both pithy and hard-earned. Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis published his autobiography, Call Sign Chaos, at a rather auspicious time. Having served two years as the Secretary of Defense for one of the most polarizing and controversial Presidents in recent history, he stepped…
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Observations: Facts and Fears by James Clapper
Fascinating read by a distinguished career intelligence officer. I must admit, this book challenged some of my expectations. Despite James Clapper’s lengthy career spanning the U.S. Air Force (including extensive time in the National Security Agency or NSA, and the Defense Intelligence Agency or DIA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or NGA, and Office of the…
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My Top 5: Fiction Books
Reading for fun is important! Here are some of my favorites. Most of my writing on books in this forum revolves around non-fiction books that explicitly help me be a better leader, manager, Airman, and father. That said, I never underestimate the value of reading fiction as a form of pure entertainment! The books in…
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Observations: Duty by Secretary Gates
I finally got around to reading the 2014 autobiography of one of the most fascinating Secretaries of Defense of the modern era. Having served in the U.S. Air Force while Secretary Robert M. Gates was overseeing the Department of Defense (DoD), I have been eager to read his 2014 autobiography, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at…
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Observations: Sea Stories
Admiral William McRaven (Ret) shares some insightful lessons learned from his wild life. Admiral William McRaven (Ret) is one of the most fascinating modern-day military leaders. A career Navy SEAL officer, he commanded numerous elite units and performed key roles in critical missions all around the world. Most notoriously, he oversaw the daring Operation NEPTUNE…
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Observations: The Checklist Manifesto
Even experts skip or forget important steps. I recently finished reading Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto and thoroughly enjoyed it. Having worked professionally in a field where checklists are a fundamental concept, it was good to have it validated by someone outside of my expertise. He starts by assuming that there are two general types of errors:…
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Observations: David and Goliath
Malcolm Gladwell explores the David and Goliath trope, revealing that maybe we’ve been learning the wrong lesson. Most of us in Western culture have heard the story of David and Goliath since our early childhoods. It has arisen as a common trope to describe an underdog rising up and obliterating their opponent – and all expectations. Malcolm…
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Observations: Dare to Lead
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” – President Franklin D. Roosevelt Lessons Learned is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.…
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Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose
Why Daniel Pink is on to something with his 2011 book, Drive. In 2011, Daniel Pink published a great book titled, Drive, which discusses the numerous ways that people are driven in life, their profession, and their passions. His fundamental thesis was that there are three primary elements that contribute to our personal and professional satisfaction: the…
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My Top 5: Leadership Books
Here is a list of the top five books that have made me a better leader. While I have read a lot of books that I can claim have reshaped my problem-solving and leadership approaches, these are the top five that I like to recommend to my teammates. Some of these I have been reading…