Biographies of nine more or less heroic members of the U.S. Navy. Having told the stories of 10 great admirals throughout history in his previous book, Sailing True North, Stavridis, a former four-star admiral and prolific author, delivers a follow-up that limits his key players to the U.S. All histories of the American Navy begin with John Paul Jones, who became a Revolutionary War hero by capturing a British frigate after a brutal battle in which his own ship sank. Perhaps America's most brilliant fighting captain, Stephen Decatur performed heroically in the Barbary Wars in North Africa and the War of 1812 before dying in a duel with a fellow officer. In 1898, George Dewey had no trouble annihilating a feeble Spanish fleet in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War, but Stavridis admires his careful planning and good sense. Adm. David Farragut won his victories during the Civil War against more formidable opposition, and William "Bull" Halsey did the same against Japan in World War II--although he may be better known for occasions when his pugnacity did more harm than good. The author's sole African American service member, Doris Miller, and only woman, Michelle Howard, have no discernible flaws, but their stories illustrate the racism and sexism that have permeated the Navy since its founding. Stavridis works hard to find common threads among his subjects, and each chapter includes insights into their characters, stressing those qualities responsible for their triumphs, which readers can put to use in their own lives. An expert in his field, the author is not shy about deploring character defects that tarnished some achievements. For example, Jones was bad-tempered, Halsey impulsive, and Decatur too easily offended. Contemporary Navy leadership does not escape censure for stripping Capt. Brett Crozier of command of the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt when he criticized its delay in handling an early Covid-19 outbreak aboard his ship. Admiring accounts of some genuinely admirable American sailors. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Retired U.S. Navy admiral Stavridis (coauthor, 2034) unpacks nine instances of critical decision-making in this insightful mix of naval history and leadership guide. Capt. John Paul Jones let his emotions "provide a powerful spur to action" when he refused to surrender to the British warship Serapis in 1779, while Lieut. Stephen Decatur combined "audacity" with "rock-solid planning" when he rescued a captured American vessel from Tripoli harbor in 1804. Elsewhere, Stavridis shows that "tolerance for risk" was crucial to U.S. Navy commander David Farragut's attacks against Confederate strongholds during the Civil War, and documents USS West Virginia crew member Doris "Dorie" Miller's heroic actions during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Stavridis also spotlights Adm. Michelle Howard, who commanded the rescue of cargo ship captain Richard Phillips after he was taken hostage by Somali pirates in 2009, and Capt. Brett Crozier, who "did the right thing" when he sent a controversial "red-flare email" pleading for help dealing with a Covid-19 outbreak aboard his ship in March 2020. Stavridis's brisk tour of U.S. naval history is action-packed and colorful, and the leadership lessons, though somewhat repetitive, contain nuggets of counterintuitive wisdom. Readers will come away both entertained and informed. Agent: Andrew Wylie, Wylie Agency. (May)

Leadership is a trait that historically hasn't been taught so much as proven under fire. The decision to take a calculated risk, where lives are at stake for the greater good, has led to either glory or infamy in the history of warfare. Retired U.S. Navy Admiral and author Stavridis (Sea Power, 2017) provides nine examples of risk-taking, like that of Captain John Paul Jones in the American Revolution or seaman Dorie Miller's seizing of initiative at Pearl Harbor. The ability to prove oneself in the heat of pitched battle illustrates a skilled leader, according to Stavridis, and the key to adapting to risk is to observe, orient, decide, and act. Other personalities detailed range from Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, who commandeered a hijacked ship in Africa in 1804, and Admiral "Bull" Halsey, who defended the Philippines from Japanese invasion in WWII. Stavridis imbues his evaluations of the highlighted decisions with his own wealth of knowledge and command experience in this fascinating work of military history and biography.