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UNPOPULAR OPINION: Burning Down the Bullsh*t to Rebuild Cybersecurity
Unpopular Burning Down the Bullsh*t to Rebuild CybersecurityUnfiltered. Unapologetic. Uncompromising.
Cybersecurity has a truth problem...and this book is here to burn it down.
Unpopular Opinion isn’t another recycled leadership book or glossy security manual. It’s a blunt-force manifesto for anyone tired of the industry’s sacred certification theater, burnout culture, tech-bro mascots, and the endless illusion that policies or insurance can save us.
Joshua Copeland, cybersecurity executive, professor, and 20-year Air Force veteran, built a viral following with his #unpopularopinion posts that hit nerves across the industry. Now, he expands those raw truths into a book that’s part battle cry, part survival guide.
Inside, you’ll
Why certifications prove persistence, not competence
How cyber insurance became a tax on bad decisions
The danger of hiring mascots instead of leaders
Why grind culture breaks people faster than any breach ever could
The real skills, mindsets, and systems that actually build resilience
This isn’t about making security “feel good.” It’s about stripping away the lies, cutting through the noise, and giving professionals at every level the language and courage to challenge broken systems.
Whether you’re a CISO fighting for board buy-in, an analyst drowning in alerts, or just trying to cut through the cyber theater, Unpopular Opinion gives you the clarity, and the edge, you need.
Burn it down. Rebuild it better. This is cybersecurity for grown-ups.
Cybersecurity has a truth problem...and this book is here to burn it down.
Unpopular Opinion isn’t another recycled leadership book or glossy security manual. It’s a blunt-force manifesto for anyone tired of the industry’s sacred certification theater, burnout culture, tech-bro mascots, and the endless illusion that policies or insurance can save us.
Joshua Copeland, cybersecurity executive, professor, and 20-year Air Force veteran, built a viral following with his #unpopularopinion posts that hit nerves across the industry. Now, he expands those raw truths into a book that’s part battle cry, part survival guide.
Inside, you’ll
Why certifications prove persistence, not competence
How cyber insurance became a tax on bad decisions
The danger of hiring mascots instead of leaders
Why grind culture breaks people faster than any breach ever could
The real skills, mindsets, and systems that actually build resilience
This isn’t about making security “feel good.” It’s about stripping away the lies, cutting through the noise, and giving professionals at every level the language and courage to challenge broken systems.
Whether you’re a CISO fighting for board buy-in, an analyst drowning in alerts, or just trying to cut through the cyber theater, Unpopular Opinion gives you the clarity, and the edge, you need.
Burn it down. Rebuild it better. This is cybersecurity for grown-ups.
119 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2025
6 people are currently reading
About the author
Joshua Copeland
13 booksJoshua Copeland is a cybersecurity leader, professor, and 20-year Air Force veteran with a reputation for fixing the unfixable. He has served in senior roles across federal and state government, Fortune 100 companies, and high-growth startups. Known for his candid leadership style and strategic clarity, Josh is also the creator of the viral #unpopularopinion series on LinkedIn, where he challenges the industry’s sacred cows one post at a time. He serves in executive roles in cyber, and teaches at Tulane University’s School of Professional Advancement.
He believes in systems over saviors, presence over performance, and calling BS when no one else will.
He believes in systems over saviors, presence over performance, and calling BS when no one else will.
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