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The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander
by
Pete Blaber
Pete Blaber knows what it takes to survive
and thrive.
As a commander in Delta Forcethe most elite counter-terrorist organization in the worldPete Blaber has taken part in some of the most dangerous, controversial, and significant military and political events of our time. And hes learned and experienced more about the real world and how things really work than most peo...more
As a commander in Delta Forcethe most elite counter-terrorist organization in the worldPete Blaber has taken part in some of the most dangerous, controversial, and significant military and political events of our time. And hes learned and experienced more about the real world and how things really work than most peo...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
December 2nd 2008
by Berkley Hardcover
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This excellent book is really about how to thrive out on the edge of a high-risk, high-profile career. It's not a book for armchair experts or backseat drivers of whatever stripe, because one of Blaber's key teachings is how to circumvent the kibbutzers and second-guessers in positions of authority, ignore their distractions and overcome their interference, and accomplish the mission.
In fact, while it's a great title, the equation of the "mission", his "men" and h...more
In fact, while it's a great title, the equation of the "mission", his "men" and h...more
Fairly short, yet interesting work from a former Delta commander. Like a lot of people associated with Delta, Blaber is an innovative thinker often frustrated with the hidebound way in which military decisions are made. Although some of the things the book relays are fresh and interesting vignettes from the life of a special forces commander, this book's strength is that, rather than trying to just write a memoir of his time in Delta, Blaber has tried to present his experiences in the unit as a ...more
Yes, another war book indeed! I really enjoyed this book. After reading Lone Survivor and Joker One I was expecting to be taken right into combat again and expecting the same kind of format when it came to telling the story. I was pleasantly surprised when I came to find this book doesn't only tell one but many stories. Pete Blaber is a former Delta Force Commander who recounts several experiences he endured during his career and then reminiscing on the life lesson he learned from each exper...more
Delta Force is the world's most elite counterterrorist fighting force. Pete Blaber was a Delta Force operator that worked his way up to become a Delta Force commander and took part in some of the most dangerous, controversial, and significant military and political events of our time.
During his time in uniform, he learned a number of lessons about life, about how we make decisions and act on them. In The Mission, The Men, and Me, Blaber writes about a number of the missions he condu...more
During his time in uniform, he learned a number of lessons about life, about how we make decisions and act on them. In The Mission, The Men, and Me, Blaber writes about a number of the missions he condu...more
Part treatise on leadership and part Special Forces memoir, this is one of the better such books I have read. This is due mainly to the fact that Blaber is a better writer than men such as Charlie Beckwith and Billy Waugh.
While Waugh and Beckwith had great histories to tell, their self-aggrandizing style left me cold. Blaber is much more analytical and takes the focus off himself and his accomplishments, which ended up impressing me all the more.
While Waugh and Beckwith had great histories to tell, their self-aggrandizing style left me cold. Blaber is much more analytical and takes the focus off himself and his accomplishments, which ended up impressing me all the more.
if you want a dose of "life lessons" from an elite soldier, mixed in with declassified stories from the "war on terror" and the hunt for Bin Laden, then this is for you. While it covers the author's career in a general way and makes light of how incomptently the US military is pursuing our operations, it is a page-turning good read filed with humor, insight, and operational detail that gives you a good window inside US special forces' unusual experiences. A personal, grab-you...more
More a book on how to lead than an action adventure (though there is plenty of that). Good tips on how to be an effective manager of men. Also has some great on-the-ground scenes from the beginning of the war in afghanistan including how the typical military decision making process is unsuited for counter terrorism and small scale wars.
Very interesting book. I was surprised by how applicable some of the main messages--my favorite example being to always listen to the people on the ground (i.e., the people actually familiar with the context in which you are supposed to be working)--are to everyday life and work, not just the combat arena.
Outstanding. The practical applications of the lessons Mr. Blaber pass along in this book are limitless. It gives the reader the tools to view the world outside of the box; the paramount skill needed by all "Spec Ops guys". A must read for those who like to look at the world differently.
I really liked this book... it was way different than anything I've read in the past, but it gave me a new perspective on the military and why things go the way they do. It also helped me understand what we were doing directly after 9/11 to try to find Osama bin Laden. Definitely recommend it to everyone!
Great read and the author doesn't get into rank or is egomaniacal. Good stories, good leadership, and squandered opportunities by guys who got into rank.
Outstanding. Very highly recommended for anyone in a leadership position of any kind of organization, any entrepreneur, any creative, or anyone else that just wants to understand how to approach their own life in a more rewarding and clear headed way.
Insightful regarding the U.S. pre-invasion of Afghanistan. Some good lesson in leadership within the book.
This is a great book. Exciting stories all while learning amazing leadership and organizational skills.
Very good. A lot of this is directly applicable to my work. Some of the stories/anecdotes are a little hard to believe - they read like "fish stories" (exaggerations?), but I can't complain
A fascinating book on leadership in both military and civilian jobs.
Gives great ways of looking at real life situations differently.
Campbell
added it
Must reread in the future. Good writing and good lessons.
Excellent read...anyone in a leadership role should read this book.
Steven
added it
Good read.
Absolutely loved this book, totally different from anything I have ever read. Found it extremely interesting and liked the principles he uses in his life and military service. I will refer to these principles in my own life and experiences. God Bless our troops, their service and sacrifices. Would highly recommend this book!!!
Amazing read! I must of underlined something on every page. Lessons to be learned and a must read for any leader. I'm a firefighter and I wasn't through the first chapter before I was making a copy of two pages and hanging them in the stall of the firehouse bathroom as reading material.
Great war stories. But a great overall applicable book on leaderships for every leader in every area. It dealt with areas of leadership that are alot of times over looked. Every leader should be required especially military ones to read this book.
Recommended from a family friend...
Great leadership insight.
One of the best leadership books I have read to date. It also gives the reader a different way of succeeding in everything you do in life. 'Develop the situation, and listen to the guy on the ground.' Pete Blaber is a man who can think outside the box, and come up with a solution to very complex problems.
Deniz
marked it as to-read
Danny
marked it as to-read
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