Steven Leonard ( of Strategy Strikes Back)

Steven Leonard rated a book it was ok Trust-Based Leadership: Marine Corps Leadership Concepts for Today's Business Leaders by Mike Ettore	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Read more like a mediocre field manual than an actual leadership book, with a cover price that is not worth the investment.
Mar 21, 2026 01:55PM · like · see review
Steven Leonard rated a book really liked it The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions by Geoff Woods	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The central premise of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐-𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 is blunt and urgent: the difference between growing your business and going out of business is your ability to think strategically — and most leaders are stuck in the operational weeds while their competiti ...more
Mar 18, 2026 04:33AM · like · see review
Steven Leonard rated a book it was amazing Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a Tragic Anglo-American Coup by Christopher de Bellaigue	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Somewhere between recent events and the surge in online expertise in Iranian history, I wandered back to the bookcase in my office to reread Christopher de Bellaigue's 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘢: 𝘔𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘰-𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘱. As I thumb ...more
Mar 11, 2026 05:38AM · like · see review
Steven Leonard rated a book it was amazing The Enlightened Soldier: Scharnhorst and the Militarische Gesellschaft in Berlin, 1801-1805 by Charles Edward White	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Recently, I was chatting with someone about efforts to reform professional military education and refocus the American military's officer corps. As I pondered the question, "What problem are we trying to solve?" I reached back into the bookshelf and ...more
Feb 25, 2026 07:18AM · 1 like · like · see review
Steven Leonard rated a book it was amazing On the Psychology of Military Incompetence by Norman F. Dixon	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
One of the more memorable books we reading during the second best year of my life in the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) was Norman Dixon’s 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. The why behind failure has always fascinated ...more
Feb 15, 2026 11:40AM · 1 like · like · see review
Steven Leonard rated a book really liked it Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War by Rick Atkinson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
As we approach the 35th anniversary of the ground phase of Operation Desert Storm, I decided to reread a few of the better historical studies of the war. Rick Atkinson’s 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙙𝙚: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙪𝙡𝙛 𝙒𝙖𝙧 is a deeply detailed and yet f ...more
Feb 11, 2026 08:17AM · like · see review
Steven Leonard rated a book really liked it Learning for Life: How Continuous Education Will Keep Us Competitive in the Global Knowledge Economy by Jason Wingard	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
#Lifelong #learning is a passion cooked into me at an early age. Too often, we see people achieve a state of what I like to call "cognitive ossification," where learning stops and a weird kind of intellectual malaise sets in. How we overcome that, ho ...more
Feb 04, 2026 02:27PM · like · see review
Steven Leonard rated a book really liked it Custer's Last Stand: The Unfinished Manuscript by Norman Maclean	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 03, 2026 08:08PM · like
Steven Leonard rated a book it was amazing Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 31, 2026 02:13PM · 1 like · like
Steven Leonard rated a book it was amazing The Power of Intuition: How to Use Your Gut Feelings to Make Better Decisions at Work by Gary Klein	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Since I was a student at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), during which we read his landmark book, 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧, I've been an avid reader of Gary Klein and have weaved his work into just about every subject I teach. Publis ...more
Jan 28, 2026 06:28AM · like · see review

Steven Leonard rated a book it was ok

Trust-Based Leadership: Marine Corps Leadership Concepts for Today's Business Leaders
by Mike Ettore

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Read more like a mediocre field manual than an actual leadership book, with a cover price that is not worth the investment.

Steven Leonard rated a book really liked it

The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions
by Geoff Woods

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The central premise of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐-𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 is blunt and urgent: the difference between growing your business and going out of business is your ability to think strategically — and most leaders are stuck in the operational weeds while their competiti ...more

Steven Leonard rated a book it was amazing

Patriot of Persia by Christopher de Bellaigue

Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a Tragic Anglo-American Coup
by Christopher de Bellaigue

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Somewhere between recent events and the surge in online expertise in Iranian history, I wandered back to the bookcase in my office to reread Christopher de Bellaigue's 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘢: 𝘔𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘰-𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘱. As I thumb Somewhere between recent events and the surge in online expertise in Iranian history, I wandered back to the bookcase in my office to reread Christopher de Bellaigue's 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘢: 𝘔𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘰-𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘱. As I thumbed through its pages, one question kept surfacing: "What happens when we our best intentions go hopelessly sideways?"

𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘢 is a meticulously researched biography of Muhammad Mossadegh, Iran's democratically elected prime minister, whose tenure was cut a bit short by a CIA- and MI6-orchestrated coup on August 19, 1953. At its heart is a man who embodied a vision of Iranian sovereignty that was deeply nationalist and principled. A vision, unfortunately, that wasn't deemed in the best interests of Big Oil.

De Bellaigue underscores how Mossadegh's defining act — nationalizing Iran's oil industry after four decades of British control — was not an act of radicalism, but of dignity. He wanted partnership with the West, not subservience to it. Churchill saw a business problem; Ike saw another Soviet proxy. What they actually saw was a #leader who refused to be managed, and that, it turned out, was unforgivable.

Mossadegh was navigating a devastatingly complex political landscape: a conservative clergy, a pro-Soviet communist party, a pliant Shah, and a hostile British embassy all pulling in competing directions. That Mossadegh held this coalition together as long as he did speaks to his remarkable skill as a #leader, diplomat, and politician. That it ultimately collapsed — with little help from the West — speaks to the limits of what principled #leadership can accomplish against determined external interference.

The book's most enduring lesson — one that we still seem to struggle learning — is that interventionism has consequences that compound across generations. The coup didn't merely topple a government; it foreclosed Iran's democratic experiment and set in motion the conditions for the 1979 Islamic Revolution. As de Bellaigue somewhat prophetically notes, "The life of Muhammad Mossadegh is a warning to today's occupants of Downing Street and the White House, as they commit us all to intervention in a volatile and unpredictable region."

It's a brisk read — just under 300 pages — but its implications are long and deeply relevant today. And it will likely bring you right back to where I started: "What happens when we our best intentions go hopelessly sideways?" ...more

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The Enlightened Soldier by Charles Edward White

The Enlightened Soldier: Scharnhorst and the Militarische Gesellschaft in Berlin, 1801-1805
by Charles Edward White

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Recently, I was chatting with someone about efforts to reform professional military education and refocus the American military's officer corps. As I pondered the question, "What problem are we trying to solve?" I reached back into the bookshelf and Recently, I was chatting with someone about efforts to reform professional military education and refocus the American military's officer corps. As I pondered the question, "What problem are we trying to solve?" I reached back into the bookshelf and pulled out an old standard: Charles Edward White's 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳: 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯, 1801-1805.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳 offers a meticulously researched study of Prussia’s early military reform movement, which occurred in the wake of the upheavals brought on by the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. At its heart is Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst, the central architect of Prussian military modernization around the turn of the 19th century, who founded the 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘵 (Military Society) in Berlin in 1801. That society became a crucible for intellectual transformation within the Prussian officer corps, emphasizing reflection, debate, and professional education as foundations for a more adaptive and capable military culture.

White underscores how Scharnhorst's efforts transformed the Prussian army into a profession that recognized warfare as an intellectual as well as practical endeavor. Rejecting the purely aristocratic model of command that had previously dominated Prussia's army, Scharnhorst helped to cultivate a culture where officers studied history, debated theory, and challenged accepted norms. The culture of 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘶𝘯𝘨 (self-formation through broad education) created leaders capable of inventive thought and independent judgment, core tenets of what we know today as mission command.

White also explores the interplay between theory and practice during this period, especially how 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘵 served as an incubator for ideas that later proved essential in restructuring the Prussian army. The discussions, papers, and collaborative analytical exercises of the society’s members helped lay the groundwork for what would become the Prussian General Staff, an organization (and a mindset) that emphasized rigorous planning, flexible command, and meritocratic advancement.

The 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘧𝘵 demonstrated that professional military education could be transformative in its own right, and that fostering open intellectual exchange was both healthy and necessary for the officer corps and the military profession writ large. As White later notes in the book, “The profession of arms was not just a craft or technique… but an extraordinarily complex intellectual skill requiring comprehensive study and training.”

It's not the longest read you'll pick up today, but it may be the most informative. And it might take you right back to where I started... "What problem are we trying to solve?" ...more

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On the Psychology of Military Incompetence
by Norman F. Dixon

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One of the more memorable books we reading during the second best year of my life in the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) was Norman Dixon’s 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. The why behind failure has always fascinated One of the more memorable books we reading during the second best year of my life in the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) was Norman Dixon’s 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. The why behind failure has always fascinated me, from the human element that typically haunts lousy leaders to the institutional variety that plagues some organizations.

Dixon's book is a provocative and deeply researched exploration of why armies so often fail – not because of bad luck or overwhelming odds, but because of recurring psychological and institutional flaws. He structures the book in three distinct parts. He opens with historical examples of catastrophic military failures, then analyzes the psychological traits and institutional cultures that produce such outcomes, and finally contrasts incompetent commanders with more successful ones. Incompetence, it seems, isn't random; it follows recognizable patterns driven by personality, culture, and organizational incentives.

Several key themes run throughout the book. First is 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 – leaders who are rigid, intolerant of ambiguity, submissive to superiors, and harsh toward subordinates. Such traits often lead to an inability to adapt, a fear of innovation, and a preference for obedience over initiative. Second, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀; militaries frequently cling to outdated doctrines despite clear evidence of change. Third, 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 than from lack of intelligence.

𝗠𝘆 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: Military effectiveness depends less on technology or doctrine than on the mental fitness and behavior of #leaders and the institutional cultures that select and promote them. If organizations reward rigidity and conformity, failure becomes predictable. Dixon brings this thought home: “Those very characteristics which are demanded by war… are the antitheses of those possessed by people attracted to the controls, and orderliness, of militarism.”

A sobering read worth every minute... even it was published during the Carter administration. ...more

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Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War
by Rick Atkinson

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As we approach the 35th anniversary of the ground phase of Operation Desert Storm, I decided to reread a few of the better historical studies of the war. Rick Atkinson’s 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙙𝙚: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙪𝙡𝙛 𝙒𝙖𝙧 is a deeply detailed and yet f As we approach the 35th anniversary of the ground phase of Operation Desert Storm, I decided to reread a few of the better historical studies of the war. Rick Atkinson’s 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙙𝙚: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙪𝙡𝙛 𝙒𝙖𝙧 is a deeply detailed and yet fast-moving narrative of the effort to liberate Kuwait and exorcise some of the demons of Vietnam. Drawing on extensive field reporting and close access to senior #leaders, Atkinson reconstructs the campaign from the highest echelons of coalition planning to the day-to-day experiences of the troops operating in the desert. Like most of Atkinson's writing, the result is a book that reads with the pace of a novel but retains the discipline and detail of serious history.

While many histories focus in on the war as a triumph of technology and precision weaponry, Atkinson explores the friction, uncertainty, and human cost of large-scale warfare. He portrays General Norman Schwarzkopf as both brilliant and volatile, shows how intelligence disputes and logistical challenges shaped the campaign, and highlights the moral ambiguity that lingered beneath the coalition’s overwhelming success. The famous hundred-hour ground war appears not as a clean, surgical operation, but as a violent and unpredictable clash marked by friendly fire, civilian casualties, and uneasy political compromises.

In the process, he honors the professionalism and courage of coalition forces without romanticizing the sheer brutality of combat. Even a short, decisive victory carries complicated consequences—strategic, political, and human—that echo long after the shooting stops.

Probably the most important takeaway from the book is that even the most lopsided, technologically advanced victory is shaped by friction, miscalculation, and moral ambiguity. 𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘦 reminds readers that war’s apparent clarity in real time often masks deeper complexities that only become visible in hindsight. A point made all too clear in his writing:

“In the end the war was of a piece with all wars: unpredictable, cruel, and violent, damning the innocent and guilty alike.”

In just over four hundred pages—Atkinson doesn't do short books—𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘦 transforms the six-weeks of Desert Storm into a timeless study of modern warfare—one that challenges easy narratives of victory and forces readers to confront the enduring nature of war itself. ...more

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Learning for Life: How Continuous Education Will Keep Us Competitive in the Global Knowledge Economy
by Jason Wingard

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#Lifelong #learning is a passion cooked into me at an early age. Too often, we see people achieve a state of what I like to call "cognitive ossification," where learning stops and a weird kind of intellectual malaise sets in. How we overcome that, ho #Lifelong #learning is a passion cooked into me at an early age. Too often, we see people achieve a state of what I like to call "cognitive ossification," where learning stops and a weird kind of intellectual malaise sets in. How we overcome that, how we inspire others to continue learning is where Dr. Jason Wingard and Michelle LaPointe, PhD’s book, 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙐𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙀𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮, comes into the picture.

Their book presents a compelling case for why #lifelong #learning is a non-negotiable pillar of personal and professional growth. They argue that the accelerating pace of technological change, globalization, and industry disruption have created a world in which traditional education is no longer sufficient. To remain competitive, successful leaders – and organizations – must continually update their skills, mindsets, and capabilities.

The authors focus this through the lens of the widening skills gap in the United States, noting that while other developed nations have invested heavily in adult and continuing education, the U.S. is lagging behind a bit – putting us at a disadvantage with global competitors.

A central message of the book is that learning is a vital strategic asset. Nations that invest in lifelong education strengthen their economic resilience, organizations that prioritize learning outperform competitors, and individuals who commit to continuous growth remain agile in the face of uncertainty. The future belongs to those who treat learning not as transitory but as a lifelong pursuit. Sustained competitiveness – whether personal or professional – depends on embracing continuous learning as a core strategic priority, not something left to "smart people."

As the authors so aptly note in the book, “Continuous learning is the only sustainable strategy for staying relevant in a world defined by constant change.” Anyone who knows me will immediately know why this quote hit the sweet spot. ...more

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Custer's Last Stand: The Unfinished Manuscript
by Norman Maclean

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Starship Troopers
by Robert A. Heinlein

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The Power of Intuition: How to Use Your Gut Feelings to Make Better Decisions at Work
by Gary Klein

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Since I was a student at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), during which we read his landmark book, 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧, I've been an avid reader of Gary Klein and have weaved his work into just about every subject I teach.

Publis Since I was a student at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), during which we read his landmark book, 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧, I've been an avid reader of Gary Klein and have weaved his work into just about every subject I teach.

Published in 2002, 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 transforms the thinking from 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 into actionable ideas, providing a sharp, #experience-driven challenge to the suggestion that good decisions always come from slow, analytical #thinking. Drawing on decades of research with firefighters, #military leaders, and business professionals, Klein argues that intuition—when properly developed—is not guesswork or bias, but a form of expertise grounded in pattern recognition and lived experience.

As with his earlier work, the book’s central theme centers on recognition-primed decision-making (RPD), the power behind human #intuition. Klein shows how experts recognize familiar patterns, rapidly generate a workable course of action, and mentally simulate it to see if it will hold up. This insight reframes intuition as a cognitive skill shaped by deep #learning rather than an instinct divorced from reason. In high-stakes environments where time and information are limited, this kind of intuition is often superior to formal analysis.

Another key theme is the importance of sensemaking. Klein emphasizes that decision failures usually stem from flawed understanding of the situation itself. Effective leaders focus first on asking, “What’s really going on here?” before deciding what to do. This has powerful implications for #leadership, particularly in complex, ambiguous environments where clarity matters more than speed.

Klein also tackles the limits of #intuition, distinguishing skilled intuition— emerging from valid experience and feedback—from intuition shaped by habits, organizational myths, or untested assumptions. This distinction is critical: intuition improves only when people build experience in situations that provide clear feedback and opportunities to reflect and adapt.

An important takeaway for anyone in the #leadership business: the most effective #leaders don’t choose between analysis and intuition—they know when to rely on each. Leadership development should focus on and invest in building opportunities for experience, reflection, and shared understanding within their teams.

One particularly meaningful quote captures the heart of the book: “Intuition is not magic. It is recognition.”

𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 validates what experienced practitioners often feel but struggle to explain: that good judgment is built over time and a honed intuition is one of our most reliable #leadership tools. ...more

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	Strategy Strikes Back: How Star Wars Explains Modern Military Conflict by Max Brooks (Goodreads Author) (Editor), John Amble (Editor), M.L. Cavanaugh (Editor) 3.94 avg rating — 349 ratings — published 2018 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	To Boldly Go: Leadership, Strategy, and Conflict in the 21st Century and Beyond by Jonathan Klug (Editor), Major General Mick Ryan (Foreword), Steven Leonard (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 3.86 avg rating — 118 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Winning Westeros: How Game of Thrones Explains Modern Military Conflict by Max Brooks (Goodreads Author) (Editor), James G. Stavridis (Goodreads Author) (Foreword), John Amble (Editor) 3.90 avg rating — 58 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Why We Write: Craft Essays on Writing War by Randy Brown (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Steven Leonard (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Eric Chandler (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.49 avg rating — 41 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Power Up: Leadership, Character, and Conflict Beyond the Superhero Multiverse by Steven Leonard (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Jonathan Klug (Editor), Kelsey Cipolla (Editor) 4.50 avg rating — 10 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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