The Admiral's Bookshelf

In The Admirals Bookshelfthe third and final title in the Bookshelf seriesAdm. James Stavridis, a leader in international business, national security, and global philanthropy, shares the books that facilitated his success. A guide to living and leading through reading, The Admirals Bookshelf links twenty-five essential life lessons and leadership principles to the books that best illustrate them. Each chapter covers a single work of literature and showcases Stavridis deft analysis of its significance and impact, as well as what he learned and how he used it to better himself. The result is a rewarding and compelling volume that shows how anyone can use expansive reading to develop essential skills and values for successful leadership. Stavridis eclectic collection covers both fiction and nonfiction, ranging from explicitly instructive works to philosophy, history, biography, and memoir. It features classics, such as Sun Tzus The Art of War, alongside lesser-known writings. The wisdom he gleans from these books and their parallels to his own life is often surprising and deeply resonant. He shows how Don Vito Corleones success in The Godfather results from the same skills and priorities that benefited the Department of Defense under Donald Rumsfeld, how The Handmaids Tale teaches one to think independently, and how leaders can learn patience from The Odyssey. The life of Admiral Stavridis, as he reveals it to readers book by book, chapter by chapter, and lesson by lesson, makes a compelling case for the importance of reading to acquire practical life skills and to enrich ones character. Stavridis offers sound advice on what and how to read, how to build an extensive personal library, and how to become wiser, savvier, and more resilient in positions of responsibility. Anyone seeking to become a better leaderor a better readerwill find The Admirals Bookshelf an invaluable guide.