Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Lessons from a Life of Service

by William H. McRaven

From the acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Your Bed—a short, inspirational book of advice and leadership lessons that Admiral McRaven collected over his four decades as a Navy SEAL.

The title “Bullfrog” is given to the Navy SEAL who has served the longest on active duty. Admiral McRaven was honored to receive this honor in 2011 when he took charge of the United States Special Operations Command. When McRaven retired in 2014, he had 37 years as a Navy SEAL under his belt, leading men and women at every level of the special operations community. In the ensuing four years, he served as Chancellor to the entire University of Texas System, with its 230,000 students and 100,000 faculty and health care workers.

During those four decades, Admiral McRaven dealt with every conceivable leadership challenge, from commanding combat operations—including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Phillips, and the raid for Osama bin Laden. 

THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG draws on these and countless other experiences from Admiral McRaven’s incredible life, including crisis situations, management debates, organizational transitions, and ethical dilemmas, to provide readers with the most important leadership lessons he has learned over the course of his forty years of service. Each chapter provides a Make Your Bed-like parable, rich with insights like those featured in his bestselling memoir, Sea Stories, about the specific leadership traits required to be at the top of your game, including:  
Who Dares, Wins
Run to the Sound of the Guns
No Plan Survives First Contact with the Enemy
THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG is Admiral McRaven’s clear-eyed treatise on the leadership qualities that separate the good from the truly great.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Business, Self Help, Military Fiction, Audiobook, Personal Development

Audiobook

Published April 4, 2023

About the author

Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Retired) served with great distinction in the Navy. In his thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL, he commanded at every level. As a Four-Star Admiral, his final assignment was as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. He is now Chancellor of the University of Texas System.

Reviews

[Matt (Fully supports developing sentient AGI) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I buddy-read this with one of my neighbors. A quick read from the man in charge of the mission to kill Bin Laden. Nothing earth-shaking and not a future classic, but it's always good to refresh and reframe the basics. Leadership is probably one of the most elusive skills to develop. It's based on respect which is difficult to earn and easy to lose. According to McRaven the key is work extra hard, get down in the dirt with the troops, and don't neglect the mundane details of the organization. Simple! But, not easy.

[Laura (thenerdygnomelife) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As advertised, this short book provides some simple lessons on leadership — but simple doesn't mean basic, and they are no less powerful simply because they lack complexity. For anyone in a leadership position (or those wanting to rise to one), "The Wisdom of the Bullfrog" was a useful refresher and impactful pep talk.

[Erick Harp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler- leadership principles are simple, but they are hard to apply. Great simple lessons on leading and simply boosting your own personal integrity. Great antidotes, great stories and the humility of Admiral McRaven shines through. Definitely a book to read again and again.

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the longest-serving frogman and Navy SEAL on active duty, Admiral William H. McRaven was anointed “the Bullfrog”. McRaven recounts the many leadership lessons learned (some easy, some painful, but all of value) over almost four decades of service as a midshipman to four-star admiral to chancellor of the University of Texas System.

One of the most outstandingly simple, clear, concise, and at time funny (“we all have our Frog Floats” section) book on how to be a leader, at least the leader people want.
No stupid business buzzwords, no pretention, just good advice.

“Show up early. Work hard. Stay late. Have a plan. Deliver on your promises. Share the hardships with the employees. Show that you care. Admit your mistakes. And—did I mention?—work hard.

-Be trustworthy
-Be confident in your abilities
-Be trustworthy
-Have humility
-Demonstrate resilience
-Be aggressive in solving problems
-Encourage your team to take the initiative, your goal as a leader is to set them up for success
-Be prepared to take risks
-Plan in detail
-Have a Plan B

4/5 While idealistic, it is sensible and straightforward, few readers will miss his points because they have been made so often by other writers. It's a good starter book when studying leadership with excellent quotes.

“While I have often said that a leader “is not allowed to have a bad day,” that pertains only to their demeanor in public”

[michelletliu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hard work creates opportunities."

You can tell that this man was a four-star US Navy admiral just from listening to the crisp way he enunciates his words in the audiobook. Straightlaced and disciplined, McRaven gives excellent advice that translates smoothly from the battlefield into any corporate or leadership setting. The principles themselves are a bit generic, like you would find in any leadership book, but the real world examples he gives from his time in SEAL training and in the field add color to them. If anything, it's just fascinating to learn a bit about behind-the-scenes US military operations and the sheer feats of human discipline that they require.

"You must have a personal code of conduct that provides an anchor for your decisions and your actions."

“The day you no longer believe you have something to prove, the day you no longer believe you must give it your all, the day you think you are entitled to special treatment, the day you think all your hard days are behind you, is the day you are no longer the right leader for the job.”

"Who dares, wins. Who sweats, wins. Who plans, wins"

"Never rely on hope as a strategy."

"A shepherd should smell like his sheep."

"The harder I worked, the more luck I seemed to have."

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this small book in a few hours; very easy read.

Admiral McRaven’s 18 leadership axioms were bite-sized, easy to digest, and universally applicable.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) contained multiple stories of military history and personal experiences from Admiral William McRaven’s distinguished career with the Navy SEALS. Although I felt the book was heavy on those stories and light on leadership advice, I respect the admiral and appreciate his service to our country.

The leadership advice consisted of only a few sentences in each chapter that were repeated several times, a short list at the end of the chapters, and one comprehensive list at the end of the book. There were no major insights in this book, but there were multiple reminders to do things like work hard, be honorable, and plan ahead. With the exception of a few vague references to his time as the Chancellor of the University of Texas, the anecdotes were all about his military career with suggestions that the lessons could be applied in corporate and small business settings as well.

There was one editorial inconcsistency on pages 82-83 where David Stirling was mentioned. The first few times that he was mentioned his last name was written as Stirling, but then it went back and forth being spelled as both Sterling and Stirling.

I received a free copy of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to Goodreads and Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gain insights into leadership qualities.

The longest-serving frogman and Navy SEAL on duty is given the title the Bull Frog. Admiral William H. McRaven was anointed as the Bull Frog 34 years after he started BUD/S – Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal – training.

He’s learned a lot in nearly 40 years of service through being a frogman, leading both other frogmen and many others, including Marine Raiders, ship and submarine officers, Air Force Pilots, civil servants, doctors, and students.

Each day, week, month, and year brought him new leadership lessons – some easy, some painful. But even though leadership has been difficult at times, he maintains that it’s not complicated.

So what is leadership? He defines it as “accomplishing a task with the people and resources you have while maintaining the integrity of your institution.” Leaders, he says, should inspire the people who work for them, and manage the resources necessary to get the job done. But it’s not just about getting the job done – it’s also about maintaining the reputation of your organization in the process. Fail to do that, and you’ve failed, period, regardless of whether or not the job is successfully completed.

There are countless mottoes, creeds, stories, and parables that can provide motivation and guidance to aspiring leaders and their followers. They can also act as a memory prompt in times of uncertainty.

In this book, we’ll look at five of 18 sayings that guided Admiral William H. McRaven throughout his career. They’re not simply words – they’re the product of an outpouring of blood, sweat, and tears. Your road ahead may not be easy, but perhaps the wisdom in this book will make your journey a little clearer.

-

Death before dishonor

Honor is the foundation of great leadership. But what does it mean? The answer is clear: doing the right things for the right reasons. When you do things with honor, your colleagues will follow you through thick and thin.

The phrase “death before dishonor” probably originated with the Greek Stoics. Later, Julius Caesar is purported to have said, “I love the name of honor more than I fear death.” In more modern times, Marine Sergeant John Basilone, who was the only person to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross in World War II, had the motto tattooed on his left arm. In his honor, the United States Marine Corps has, unofficially, adopted the motto.

In 2014, when Admiral McRaven was giving a speech about leadership to cadets at the United States Military Academy, he told them that leadership is difficult. He explained that human interaction, especially during times of difficulty, is pretty daunting. Those who do it well earn respect – but, unfortunately, doing it badly is all too common.

The Cadet Honor Code reads, “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” Based on this foundation, the United States Military Academy is able to produce “leaders of character,” people who will be principled, honorable, and honest.

If you want to be a great leader, you, too, need a code of conduct. This will provide you with a compass to guide your decisions and actions. You may sometimes make poor decisions or act stupidly, but you must always be honorable.

Sometimes people say that it can be hard to know what the right thing to do is. Admiral McRaven is here to tell you that no, it isn’t. You’re always going to know the right thing to do – it’s just that sometimes it will be hard to do it. Sometimes, it won’t be possible, and you’ll fail. Other times, it will be hard because of the way it will affect your colleagues or friends. But that’s what good leadership is about.

So follow that honor code. Remember always to treat others as you would have them treat you. Be honest in all your business dealings. Don’t lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. And when you do have a lapse in judgment, own it, correct it, and return to being the honorable person you are.

-

Who dares wins

In 1942, David Stirling, a British officer, conducted daring raids on German Panzer forces in North Africa with a small group of commandos. To conceal their true mission, the unit was known as the SAS – the Special Air Service. After several unsuccessful ground and parachute raids, Stirling devised a new strategy. He led 18 Jeeps mounted with machine guns in attacks on German airfields and fuel depots. The results were devastating. Throughout that year, Stirling and his commandos often struck behind enemy lines without detection. This earned Stirling a nickname, the Phantom Major, bestowed on him by Erwin Rommel.

Despite being captured, escaping, and being captured again, Stirling’s exploits continued. When tasked with creating a motto for the SAS, he chose Qui audet adipiscitur – Who Dares Wins.

Fast forward to May 1, 2011. Then-Vice Admiral William H. McRaven was in the Tactical Operations Center in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. That evening was, for those involved in Operation Neptune’s Spear, the one on which they hoped they’d finally get Osama bin Laden.

Chris Faris, the command sergeant major, addressed the SEALs, interrupting their preparations for a moment as they gathered around. He told them that the British have a saying: Who Dares Wins. He paused momentarily, and then continued, “Tonight you will be daring greatly, and I know you will come out victorious.”

It’s important to note that “daring” does not mean taking unnecessary risks. What it does mean is being bold and taking advantage of opportunities that others shy away from. It also entails minimizing risk and being prepared. For the three weeks before the bin Laden raid, the SEALs had spent 75 percent of their time in meticulous planning. Nothing was left to chance, and every contingency was considered. Ultimately, the mission proved successful, and bin Laden’s remains were buried at sea.

Those three words, Who Dares Wins, aptly capture the spirit of every commando unit. They also define the difference between great leaders and average ones. History is full of great risk-takers in many fields – business, sport, entertainment, the arts – and all of them recognized that in risk there’s opportunity. But each field is also scattered with countless failures.

So what sets the successful ones apart from the failures? Yes, they’re bold, have confidence, and move forward when others perceive the risk as too high. But there’s another factor, too – planning and preparation. In fact, Who Dares Wins is usually backed up by Who Plans and Prepares Wins.

There’s no room for weak-kneed leaders, either; they must be bold and seek out opportunities to take risks. They must prepare and plan in order to mitigate potential pitfalls. Finally, they must learn from their mistakes and be ready for the next big risk. Failure will never define them.

-

A shepherd should smell like his sheep

It’s June 1974, and Admiral McRaven, then a midshipman third class, has been deployed to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii aboard the USS Ouellet for the next seven weeks. Having just arrived at midnight, he quietly slips off his shoes and starts to climb to his bunk – it’s the top one of three. In the darkness, he loses his footing and unintentionally steps on the person beneath. There’s a roar and a towering Samoan giant emerges. He’s clearly unamused. In the dim lighting, his eyes glimmer red.

The Samoan grabs McRaven’s shirt, pulls him in close, and demands to know who he is. McRaven introduces himself and apologizes profusely. “I’ve only got one face,” the Samoan responds, “and it’s pretty. The ladies like it this way.” He lets go of McRaven’s shirt and helps him stow it away for the night. He gives McRaven his name, Ricky, and tells him to get some sleep.

Over the next seven weeks, McRaven shares quarters, meals, and duties with the sailors. Ricky teaches him everything he needs to know about being a sailor. McRaven learns that every sailor has a unique tale to tell about why they joined up, their hometown, and their family. And each one also has a story about their overseas deployments, from the time a storm nearly capsized their ship to their dragon tattoo to the Polynesian princess they came close to marrying. He learns that they all take pride in their ship, too. He learns exactly what it takes to build relationships with his sailors.

Most importantly, the sailors teach him what they expect from their officers. They respect the ones who get greasy and turn wrenches with them in the 120-degree boiler room, pick up a broom and assist with sweeping duties, and thank them for their efforts. But they also want officers who are prepared to make difficult decisions, will hold them accountable, and value them. Ultimately, they want officers who’ll make them proud.

Pope Francis once said that a shepherd should smell like his sheep. This is pretty much in line with the thinking of all great leaders – you can’t afford to lose touch with those who work for you. If you don’t “smell” like them, this can lead to ineffective leadership and poor decision-making. So share the hardships and the camaraderie with your employees. Let them see that you’re human, too. And, above all, listen to them. Who knows – they may well have the solution to the problems you’re struggling with.

-

Communicate, communicate, communicate

A rugged island in the Pacific Ocean 80 miles west of San Diego is where the Third Phase of Navy SEAL training takes place. It’s on San Clemente that after six months of training, the remaining few trainees hope to complete the last three weeks. They’re dropped three miles off the coast and told to swim to shore. That’s followed by a 16-mile run and a five-mile swim, demolition and weapons work, physical training, and constant harassment to try to break your spirit. Grueling, indeed.

It’s also where officers are tested – especially their leadership skills. One of the trials of the officers’ command and control skills is the Ambush Drill. During the drill, an ambush is simulated by the instructors, using blank ammunition and grenades. The platoon leader must get the platoon out of the kill zone quickly.

McRaven’s platoon knew they had to pay attention to him and follow his commands. Everyone had to be on the same page – otherwise, disaster would ensue. As his platoon entered the underbush, the ambush commenced from the right. The only way to evade the ambushers was to move left, as all other avenues of escape were blocked. Moving left was the textbook response, but McRaven saw another possibility: flank the instructors, come up behind them, and counter-ambush them. He did just that – on his own – and raked the bodies of the seven instructors with blanks. His platoon had won.

“What are you doing?” one of the instructors yelled. The instructor told him he’d left his men in the killing zone. They had no clue what he was doing. He was told to get back to them. When he returned his platoon berated him, too: “What were you thinking?” “I thought you were running away from the firefight.” “Your job was to get us out.”

McRaven knew they were right. His job was to get them out alive, communicate what he was doing, and move together.

Although everyone understands that communication is key, leaders often fail because they don’t communicate their goals and intentions to the whole team. Communication takes effort if you want to ensure it’s delivered correctly and you’re getting appropriate feedback. So make sure you have communication channels in both directions. Make sure everyone from the top to the bottom of the organization understands its goals and values. And always, always ensure you’re communicating your actions to the team.

Communicate, communicate, communicate.

-

Can you stand before the long green table?

In October 1925, General Billy Mitchell was court-martialed. He believed that war was coming and that the air force should be unified. It would be a force that would rival both the Army and Navy.

Mitchell had posited that a battleship could be destroyed by a bomber. The Navy, on the other hand, had rigged demonstrations of the survivability of battleships. Mitchell then went on to expose that deception. After a valid test, it was beyond doubt that Mitchell was correct. Yet still, the Army and Navy opposed the idea of a unified air force. Mitchell was court-martialed when he accused the leadership of “almost treasonable administration of the national defense.”

There was a seven-week trial, during which Mitchell stood “before the long green table” of 13 military officers. He maintained his position, stating that he had a moral, legal, and ethical obligation to raise the issue. Failure to do so would be nearly treasonous, he argued. Mitchell was found guilty.

Fast-forward to 1942, and the German skies are filled with American bombers. Come 1947, the United States Air Force is established. Despite the criticism he faced, Mitchell maintained his position on air power and history rightly recognizes him as “Father of the Air Force.”

The questions for leaders should always be: Can you stand before the long green table? Are you able to justify that the actions you’re taking are moral, legal, and ethical? If the answer to these questions is no, then you need to rethink your actions. But if the answer is yes, stick to your convictions and make the necessary hard calls. Do the right thing.

-

A leader needs many qualities. Those qualities include being a person of integrity – death before dishonor. A leader must be a risk taker – who dares wins. They must spend time with their team – a shepherd should smell like his sheep. They must clearly communicate their actions – communicate, communicate, communicate. And finally, they must be accountable for those actions – can you stand before the long green table?

Admiral McRaven reminds us that, although leadership is difficult, it’s not rocket science. He freely admits that after 40 years in leadership positions, he’s still learning – from students, colleagues, board members, family, and friends. But one thing, he says, is certain: you need to do your best every day.

[Sebastian Gebski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short & pleasant read - in a style similar to Jocko Willink's books (surprise, surprise).
Don't expect deep theoretical analysis - it's an inspirational lecture that proves (once again) that many practical lessons from applying leadership in an army environment can be re-applied later in different environments. If what you're looking for is pure inspiration with a bit of pathos, feel free to add 1 star. Personally, I was a bit disappointed as I expected more unique personal stories - truly challenging situations that have stretched WMcR. Sadly, none of those actually presented in the book was memorable enough to stick in my memory for longer.

Not a waste of money, but neither was a game-changer of any sort.

[Jessica Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Isabelle Babson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5⭐️ I really enjoy when leadership books employ the (1) principle (2) story (3) lesson format and felt this book kept things practical and to the point, liked it a lot!

[SS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst this has a militaristic focus and all the stories are in some way related to military operations or business, the leadership lessons are clear and transferable. None come as a surprise but they are great to be communicated in a concise manner.

[Paul Grubb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review contains no spoilers.

Earlier this summer, this book arrived for me in the mail, an unexpected gift from my boss. Receiving a leadership guide from your manager might be construed as cause for concern, but I was very pleased to have it. I did, of course, verify with him that I wasn't the *only* person he sent it to, and it turns out he'd sent it to his entire staff. Whew.

I have read a number of books like these, and I found that the structure and content of this one was among the best I've read of its type. Many books in this vein have a few key lessons that are shared in the first several chapters, and then the last half of the book strains under the weight of trying to offer less relevant points. While struggling to fit a less pertinent "lesson" into the theme of the more powerful earlier chapters, these books lose a lot of steam and even come across as shrill and disjointed.

But not this one. The author does a wonderful job here of compressing some valuable lessons into easily digestible chapters with titles that are memorable catchphrases. The book lends itself well to quick chapter reads, which I would typically execute between meetings. At the end of the read, those catchphrase titles form a handy summary to recall the good advice shared in each chapter. Very useful and helpful for review.

The wisdom imparted gave me good ideas for how to improve my own leadership techniques. I feel that leaders are always learning and should be fine-tuning their approach to best assist their teams. This book, as advertised, offers simple (but not easy) suggestions to be more effective in a leadership role, as well as reminders of how to do the right thing.

Even if you think you're the most effective leader in the world, this quick guide can help you to shore up your style. It's well-written and a snappy read. Highly recommended.

[Cagefighter18 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good short book on leadership. Good stories as well. Leadership isn’t hard to understand, it’s hard to do, because it means constantly doing the right thing even when it’s not popular or easy.

[Ala · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple pep talk from a military tough guy.

[Jim Beatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us. - Tyron Edwards

[Armando · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Reading Prompt: A Biography of a Person Who Traveled to Serve in Another Country than Their Own (ABSOLUTELY not hitting the category for this reading prompt, but I cannot find any others I'm interested in reading about and a book about leadership lessons from an Admiral who served in multiple wars seems like a good enough fit]

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog is pretty much what its subtitle is, its about leadership lessons and values that are simple to take in, but not so easy to digest and apply.

For the most part, all of these lessons and insights that William McRaven shares are mostly universal good values; don't lie, don't cheat, stand up for what's right, be honest with your team and your customers, get your hands dirty. McRaven does a nice job listing these values at the end of each chapter, and often has a motivational quote at the beginning of each chapter to help frame your mind for what to expect. The unique part is seeing how they play out or how McRaven learned them in his years of military service. And that's what I loved about this book, but not exactly in the way I think most people would. It was less the American bravado and military might and more of the humility and camaderie that McRaven learns along his career that I cared for the most. It was truly a breath of fresh air, in a sea of books about positive 'go for it!' or 'never surrender!' that this book actually focused on the times that McRaven made mistakes, and even got fired from being the captain of his Navy SEAL team. And he doesn't sweep them under the rug, and doesn't spend time 'questioning' why these things happen, but rather digs in and keeps going. That's what I loved about this book and the advice it shared. In my work life I haven't done anything nearly as exciting or thrilling as McRaven no doubt has done, so I can't relate to the more intense aspects of his job, but I totally related to having to do less than stellar or less exciting things at work, like having to make a frog float for a parade.

However, this book doesn't dive much deeper than what I feel are surface level values. While I certainly loved McRaven's views on leadership, and many principles stood out to me, he doesn't really dive deep on any of them. Again, this book comes across as being more of a daily motivational quick read, where you should read a chapter a day to get yourself going. That's not inherently a bad thing, and like most books of this nature I think the true value of them will come once you've had time to incorporate the principles into your own personal life.

It should be said that this book is more than just for those in military service and is a general leadership guide and insight towards leaders of all walks of life, whether that's in your work life, personal life, family life, etc.

Overall, a well written and well organized leadership book with helpful and powerful insights, and while it comes across as light and surface level at times, it is still a generally insightful book.

[Einar Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog, by Retired Admiral William H. McRaven, is now one of my favorite leadership books. He combines eighteen common mottos and aphorisms with personal experiences to explain his premise that leadership is both simple and not easy. The chapters are simple and complex, and thus engaging and interesting.

I recognized plenty of memories of good and bad leadership, both performed by me and directed to me, among McRaven’s stories. For example, his chapter on “Running to the Sound of the Guns” spoke to the need for leaders to face crises. He recalled how Major General Hood, already injured, led his soldiers to counterattack the Confederate attack of Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. That story inspired me to recall how some leaders stayed in the trenches (in fire stations, on apparatus, or at least in their communities) during COVID while others bailed and hunkered down in vacation homes. Those who stayed, like General Hood, were leaders; those who left us weren’t.

A similar section is “A Shepherd Should Smell like his Sheep,” which is a quotation from Pope Francis. My current fire chief responds to calls, pulls hose, does compressions, and assists me with engine demos. He didn’t run off during COVID. He’s an excellent leader and someone I strive to emulate.

McRaven, by the way, was the Bullfrog: he was the longest-serving SEAL for part of his career. He certainly has the experience and knowledge to mentor leaders. His acknowledgment of failures and appreciation for subordinates who acted on their own accord (he didn’t punish them as micromanagers love to do) resonated with me.

This book was so fun to read. It is full of military history from the Spartans to the War on Terror. The author combined insights from sources as different as General Billy Mitchell and Taylor Swift. I’m glad it was gifted to me because I plan to return to it.

[Lyle Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admiral McRaven was a Navy SEAL for just under 40 years…but more than that, he was a leader! He has multiple books out about his life in the SEALS (Sea Stories), books about motivation (Make Your Bed), becoming a hero (Hero’s Code) and books about leadership (The Wisdom of the Bullfrog).

Each book is loaded with his personal experiences, as well as experiences from history that are similar to his (or stories he learned from and applied to his own life). Even if you aren’t one to read a book like those written by Admiral McRaven, I challenge you to try one out. At some point, every person will have a chance to lead and reading about the difficult situations other leaders have experienced can help you develop the leader within yourself.

I HIGHLY recommend (5 Stars!!) any book written by Admiral McRaven. I have now read all of them and I will definitely reread them in the future. His stories are short but impactful and INTERESTING to say the least.

***** FIVE STARS *****

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this short quick book, Admiral McRaven shares lessons in leadership, through anecdotes from his years in the military. While the leadership lessons weren’t particularly groundbreaking, the most valuable part was in how he explained his personal experience in putting those lessons into practice. For example, most good leaders know that it’s important to keep the people most responsible for day to day operations happy. Admiral McRaven shares a story about how he actually went into the different units and while with them, asked what they needed to be successful, as well as took notes about things that were lacking. By asking his team what THEY needed to be successful, as opposed to just getting them what HE thought they needed to succeed, made all the difference in having the team feel empowered and supported to accomplish each mission. It’s an important distinction. I always appreciate Admiral McRaven’s books as they are short but insightful, and this book is no exception.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that every single chapter has profound truth. It is not long, very easy to understand, but difficult to implement. It is not difficult because the ideas are hard to understand but because doing so requires intense effort, long term commitment, and character development to do what William H. McRaven has done with his life. I'll have to review the ideas many times. I took copious notes!

What I like most about his approach to leadership is the implementation of short aphorisms that are principal based. Supporting each aphorism were stories to teach why they are so valuable. I resonate with the style of learning.

For me, I've already started collecting aphorisms of my own. This is a great way to structure a lifelong system of guidance.

[Greg Kopstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

The admiral’s third book on leadership, and an excellent addition to the list of SEAL books I’ve read (see below). I think Admiral McRaven is the sort of leader this country needs, someone with experience, a calm and collected demeanor, and someone who navigated a career battlefield with land mines and dangers, rising to the head of Joint Special Operations Command. And, also, he was a Bullfrog among Frogmen. If you want to better yourself as a leader, read this book.

SEAL books:
Wisdom of the Bullfrog, McRaven
Never Enough, Hayes
Raising Men, Davis
The Hero Code, Admiral McRaven
Lone Survivor, Luttrell
No Easy Day, Owen
Can’t Hurt Me, Goggins
Living with a SEAL, Itzler - not quite this genre
Fortitude, Crenshaw
Sea Stories, Admiral McRaven
Make Your Bed, Admiral McRaven
American Sniper, Kyle

[Mindaugas Mozūras · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of your own accord.

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog is a fine book about leadership. It's relatively short and does not go too deep about any topics. The most interesting part is not the leadership advice but the actual stories of the author himself. The chapter named "Sua sponte" was the highlight for me, as it made me think about Vinted's (the company I work for) value of "take ownership" from a different angle.

[John Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the best books I’ve read regarding what it takes to be successful in any leadership position. Powerful stories and lessons that are extremely valuable not only on the battlefield, workplace and school but for life in general. Much like the two other books written by Admiral William H. McRaven that I have read, this book belongs on every coffee table. Short, informative and captivating. Highly recommend!

[Hannah White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wisdom of the Bullfrog is another well-written book by William H. McRaven ("Mic-Craven"), retired admiral from the U.S. Navy. The lessons about leadership were very clearly and briefly laid out and then supported by McCraven's personal experience. If you are uninterested in listening to military operations and/or history, this book would not be for you even though the lessons are applicable to anyone in a position of leadership (no matter how small). McCraven truly explained leadership made easy, but not simple.

[Brian Thorson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leadership stories that impart axioms that stand the test of time. Written in an engaging, conversational tone, this is a book to come back to.

Concise and packed full of rich content - worth your time.

I listened to this as an audiobook but will likely purchase a print copy for quick reference.

[Chris P · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing clear cut description of what it means to be a leader in clear practical terms. The descriptive events kept me captivated as it impacted the lessons that have been learned through many hard years trying to be the best leader he can. If leaders implemented even a quarter of what’s in this book they would be exceptional in almost any field. Highly recommend.

[Dave’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting to hear about the Bin Laden raid and how it didn’t succeed just because of skill but because of discipline, deep prep, and total trust in the team. The California shark stories were cool too.

Leadership principles are simple, but the actions are tough. Top Principles: Trust. Humility. Mental Toughness. Communicate clearly. Stay calm under pressure.

[Christie Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a great book. Bonus: short, but powerful, chapters, so it's a quick read as well as a 100% useful one. Though the author is military and that was where he learned all he knows about leadership, the lessons in the book apply perfectly to just about any leadership situation. Highly recommended to anyone in a role that involves managing other people at any level.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

McRaven’s version of Slim’s “ Unofficial History.” Vignettes about military aphorisms. Nothing new here but a short, engaging read.