Admiral's Bookshelf

Adm. James G. Stavridis is a retired four-star naval officer who led the NATO Alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander, with responsibility for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, counter piracy, and cyber security. From 2006 to 2009 he served as Commander, U.S. Southern Command, with responsibility for all military operations in Latin America. Following his military career, he served as the 12th Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Admiral Stavridis earned a PhD in international relations and has published fourteen books, including The Sailor’s Bookshelf: Fifty Books to Know the Sea (2021) and The Leader’s Bookshelf (co-authored, 2017), both published by the Naval Institute Press, and hundreds of articles in leading journals around the world. He is Chair Emeritus of the U.S. Naval Institute Board; partner and Vice Chair, Global Affairs, at The Carlyle Group; Chair of the Board of the Rockefeller Foundation; and Chief International Security Analyst for NBC News.

"The Admiral's Bookshelf by James Stavridis is absolutely enchanting - an extraordinary exploration of twenty-five literary adventures, each journey skillfully navigated with the brilliant insights of a passionate lover of books. From his selections to his synopses, Admiral Stavridis provides new interpretations of old favorites as well as reasons to dive into unchartered waters. Along the way, we learn as much about this extraordinary writer and retired military leader as we do about the characters, real and fictional, in these books. Reading his descriptions, you will gain an entirely new appreciation for his well-thumbed choices, ranging from Catch-22, Beloved, and Homer's The Odyssey to Flashman and The Guns of August. Stavridis' knowledgeable and wide-ranging enthusiasms are contagious. This collection, narrated with the wisdom and wit we've come to expect from the Admiral, is the best guide to literature and life you could ever want."―Andrea Mitchell, NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent"I absolutely love it."―Michael Smerconish, SiriusXM's P.O.T.U.S and CNN"Jim Stavridis is a prolific writer whose success emanates from being an avid reader. The books contained in this volume shaped the man whose career spanned almost four decades. Beginning with Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea,  Stavridis shares a real-life setback that may have defeated another man, but not him. He reminds us of the principal lesson from both Hemingway—and his protagonist Santiago—that a man can be destroyed but not defeated. Similar examples in subsequent chapters provide lessons in life and leadership across a multiplicity of ages and diverse environments.  A must read!"—Adm. James G. Foggo III, USN (Ret.), former EUCOM Commander"In The Admiral's Bookshelf—the third and finest leg of an enchanting journey through his favorite books—Jim Stavridis expertly guides his readers to more efficient choices within their increasingly limited reading bandwidth. More importantly, he also weaves into his elegant descriptions of these diverse volumes the priceless elements of wisdom that empower good leadership. His revelations for how to find and quickly absorb the treasures of other books not on his list is delightful!"―Adm. Sandy Winnefeld, USN (Ret.), former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and author of Sailing Upwind“A brilliant combination of first-person observation and recollection, tempered with analysis and historical insight. Beautifully written and clearly from the heart of one of our nation’s great Admirals. It will appeal to the military professional as well as anyone who wants to gain insight into how senior leaders see the world, and how they express themselves. It’s a delight to read."―Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, USMC (Ret.), former CENTCOM Commander and author of The Melting Point“Few leaders have the knowledge, experience, and perspectives to capture so comprehensively the essential elements required to improve one’s leadership mindfulness, intuition, and application like Admiral Stavridis. Leaders are not born; they are developed over time and effort. The Admiral’s Bookshelf is a must read for all practitioners and lifelong learners seeking to gain relevant lessons from the master. When you read this book, you’ll ask, 'Where was this when I started my career?'”―Adm. Daryl L. Caudle, USN, USFFC Commander"The author, Adm. James Stavridis, is just such an individual: an intellectual warrior-leader with a very distinguished naval and academic career and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and curiosity about the human condition and the invaluable truths we can learn from fine literature. To his credit, Stavridis cites at least as many of his failures or shortcomings as successes and explains how if he had only hewn more closely to the principles in these books, he could have avoided considerable heartache and frustration.”―The Cipher Brief“Admiral Stavridis advocates for “picking up hundreds of books, skimming them quickly, and then identifying the handful that are meaningful, indeed crucial, to your own voyage in life.” Admiral Stavridis has provided another excellent fix for all readers on how to build, sustain, and use their libraries.”— Proceedings “Anyone seeking to become a better leader – or a better reader – will find The Admiral’s Bookshelf a good guide to what could be on their list of books from which they can built their personal and professional store of intellectual capital.” — Australian Naval Institute