The Admiral's Bookshelf

by James G. Stavridis

In The Admiral’s Bookshelf—the third and final title in the Bookshelf series—Adm. 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 Admiral’s 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 Tzu’s 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 Corleone’s success in The Godfather results from the same skills and priorities that benefited the Department of Defense under Donald Rumsfeld, how The Handmaid’s 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 one’s 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 leader—or a better reader—will find The Admiral’s Bookshelf an invaluable guide.  

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership, History

224 pages, Hardcover

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

A Florida native, Jim Stavridis attended the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, and spent 37 years in the Navy, rising to the rank of 4-star Admiral. Among his many commands were four years as the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, where he oversaw operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Balkans, and counter piracy off the coast of Africa. He also commanded US Southern Command in Miami, charged with military operations through Latin America for nearly three years. He was the longest serving Combatant Commander in recent US history. Following his military career, he served for five years as the 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

In the course of his career in the Navy, he served as senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense. He led the Navy’s premier operational think tank for innovation, Deep Blue, immediately after the 9/11 attacks. Admiral Stavridis was promoted directly from 1-star rank to 3-star rank in 2004.
He won the Battenberg Cup for commanding the top ship in the Atlantic Fleet and the Navy League John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational leadership, along with more than 50 US and international medals and decorations, including 28 from foreign nations. He also commanded a Destroyer Squadron and a Carrier Strike Group, both in combat.

In 2016, he was vetted for Vice President by Secretary Hillary Clinton, and subsequently invited to Trump Tower to discuss a cabinet position with President Donald Trump.

He earned a PhD from The Fletcher School at Tufts, winning the Gullion prize as outstanding student in his class in 1983, as well as academic honors from the National and Naval War Colleges as a distinguished student. He speaks Spanish and French.
Admiral Stavridis has published ten books on leadership, the oceans, maritime affairs, and Latin America, as well as hundreds of articles in leading journals. An active user of social networks, he has tens of thousands of connections on the social networks. His TED talk on 21st century security in 2012 has close to one million views. He tweeted the end of combat operations in the Libyan NATO intervention. His two most recent books are “Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character” in 2019 and the novel “2034: A Novel of the Next World War” in 2021.

Admiral Stavridis is a monthly columnist for TIME Magazine and Chief International Security and Diplomacy Analyst for NBC News.

He is happily married to Laura, and they have two daughters – one working at Google and the other a Registered Nurse and former naval officer, both married to physicians.

Recent commentary: https://admiralstav.com/news/

Reviews

[Chad Manske · Rating 5 out of 5]

James G. Stavridis’s “The Admiral’s Bookshelf” is an educational and motivational celebration of lifelong learning, curated by one of America’s most distinguished naval leaders. Part memoir, part literary guide, Stavridis invites readers to join him in exploring the power of books to shape strategic vision, ethical judgment, and broad-minded leadership across military and civilian spheres. Drawing on decades at sea and in command, he recounts vividly how great narratives—ranging from classic accounts of naval warfare to deft works of diplomacy, history, fiction, and poetry—have influenced every stage of his career and enriched his life. Stavridis demonstrates that reading is not merely an intellectual pursuit but the heartbeat of professional development and wisdom. His stories of how Churchill’s memoirs, Thucydides, and naval classicists instilled resilience and analytical depth are both informative and stirring. He argues persuasively that the best decision-makers embrace contrasting perspectives and learn from the lessons of both triumph and catastrophe. By sharing selections from his own “admiral’s bookshelf,” he encourages everyone—from young officers to seasoned executives—to use literature as a compass for navigating complexity and uncertainty. What sets Stavridis’s reflection apart is its practical optimism. The book is not just nostalgia for the golden age of naval libraries but a blueprint for twenty-first-century leadership. Stavridis links each volume on his shelf to core virtues: courage, empathy, adaptability, humility, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. He shares personal anecdotes about how reading inspired and sometimes humbled him amid geopolitics, crisis response, and teamwork at the highest levels. These moments are both instructive and uplifting for anyone reflecting on the demands of ethical, cross-cultural leadership. Ultimately, “The Admiral’s Bookshelf” is a literary lifeline, urging readers to cultivate curiosity and wisdom no matter their background or ambitions. Stavridis’s genuine love of books and conviction in their transformative power will resonate with readers who seek both knowledge and inspiration as they chart their own course through life.

[John Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book written by a great leader in Admiral (Ret.) Stavridis. I’ve been impressed by him for a long time; he’s a thoughtful and highly intelligent former Flag Officer who is incredibly well read. He devotes each chapter of this to a different book that he thinks is important to read and learn from. It’s really fun to hear someone so sharp pull the thread on wonderful books and deduce so many great lessons and takeaways from them. I came out of this learning a lot from a great leader and adding more books to my own bookshelf.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

B: Book collections are idiosyncratic reflecting the interests of the individual reader. This is the third collection ADM Stavridis has shared with his readers. I have read The Sailor’s Bookshelf and reviewed it in Goodreads and his The Leader’s Bookshelf is by my chair in one of two the “To Be Read” piles. In this book he ties twenty-five recommended books to senior leadership traits he has tried to live up to. He admits both his successes and failures. Of the twenty-five, fourteen are on my shelves as read or to be read. One, The Caine Mutiny” is one of my favorites that I’ve read several time and recommended/given away many times. Enjoy.

[Scott Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting idea for a book. Admiral Stavridis talks about 25 books that he believed helped him learn life lessons especially on leadership. Each chapter is dedicated to discussing a different book and what he took from it. Some of the books are obviously lessons in leadership like books written by Dwight D Eisenhower and Colin Powell but it's Stavridis's other picks that I found the most interesting.

Admiral Stavridis believes that people can learn a lot from great fiction and uses famous novels like The Godfather by Mario Puzo, Don Quixote and the Great Gatsby to discuss why they are great works of fiction and what he learned from them.

[Cam Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that offers awesome recommendations, but more importantly the lessons and experiences that these books helped the author with throughout his career and life.

[Bob Proctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book The Admiral's Bookshelf © 2025 after seeing Admiral James Stavridis on Fareed Zakaria’s GPS TV show, which aired on June 8, 2025, discussing Ukraine’s attacks on Russian airbases. Stavridis, an avid reader, showcases 25 books from his personal library of 5,000 that convey the most meaningful messages relating to leadership. These books helped to shape his successful naval career. This is a powerful book. I gave it five stars.

[Roger L. Shaul, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for impact

The Admiral provides brief summaries of 25 books that have had a significant impact on his leadership development and his personal life.

It is written particularly for people in their earlier career but quite excellent for lifetime learners of all ages.

Quite impactful!