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Leadership Lessons from the Age of Fighting Sail
It is against a remarkable backdrop of complicated wooden sailing ships and their overwhelmingly complex management and warfare that we may see true leadership displayed in ways most interesting and instructive. Given the challenges of these massive sailing cities from operational, tactical, and strategic considerations, the need for leadership in this historic era was monumental. It is when challenges are the greatest, when pressures are the highest, when risk is at its maximum, that the real mettle of leaders is revealed. Leaders who could rise above such demanding circumstances as those in the age of fighting sail are truly worthy of study. In their time, so foreign from ours, in how they did what they did, and why, there is much for today’s leaders to learn.
- GenresLeadershipBusiness
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Chris Brady
96 books245 followersChris Brady is a NY Times best-selling author, speaker, humorist, and businessman. His books include The Bitcoin Bride, Launching a Leadership Revolution (co-authored with Orrin Woodward), PAiLS, Rascal, A Month of Italy, Leadership Lessons from the Age of Fighting Sail, and several other titles on leadership and success. Over 1 million of his books have been sold in six languages.
Chris is CEO and Creative Director of The Life Platform. He is also the executive publisher of Obstacles Press, and one of the founders of All Grace Outreach, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Originally educated as an engineer, Mr. Brady received his BA in Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University and his Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University as a General Motors Fellow, with Master’s Thesis work completed at Toyohashi University in Japan.
Chris is an avid motorized adventurer, world traveler, private pilot, community builder, soccer fan, Christian, and dad.
He also has one of the world's most unique resumes; including experience with a live bug in his ear, walking through a paned-glass window, chickening out from the high-dive in elementary school, destroying the class ant-farm in third grade, losing a spelling bee on the word "use," jack-hammering his foot, and more recently - sinking his snowmobile in a lake.
If you can’t find Chris speaking in front of a live audience, or in his office writing, or in a bookstore, or playing with his children, or on the sideline of a soccer pitch, or in the hills of Tuscany, or out on the lake, try looking in the following Online locations:
www.chrisbrady.com
www.christopherjamesbrady.com
www.twitter.com/rascaltweets
www.facebook.com/rascalnation
www.instagram.com/cbrascal
www.chrisbrady.typepad.com
www.chrisbradylife.com
www.medium.com/@rascaltweets
www.linkedin.com/in/cjbrady
www.amonthofitaly.com
www.launchingaleadershiprevolution.com
Chris has been recognized by INC. Magazine as among the Top 50 Leadership and Management experts. Richtopia listed Chris among the 200 Most Influential Authors in the world. Chris's blog has been included multiple times as a key resource on leadership for executives, managers and CEOs. In 2010 he was awarded the Kettering/GMI Alumni Association Entrepreneurial Achievement Award.
Chris and his wife Terri have four children and live in North Carolina.
Chris is CEO and Creative Director of The Life Platform. He is also the executive publisher of Obstacles Press, and one of the founders of All Grace Outreach, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Originally educated as an engineer, Mr. Brady received his BA in Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University and his Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University as a General Motors Fellow, with Master’s Thesis work completed at Toyohashi University in Japan.
Chris is an avid motorized adventurer, world traveler, private pilot, community builder, soccer fan, Christian, and dad.
He also has one of the world's most unique resumes; including experience with a live bug in his ear, walking through a paned-glass window, chickening out from the high-dive in elementary school, destroying the class ant-farm in third grade, losing a spelling bee on the word "use," jack-hammering his foot, and more recently - sinking his snowmobile in a lake.
If you can’t find Chris speaking in front of a live audience, or in his office writing, or in a bookstore, or playing with his children, or on the sideline of a soccer pitch, or in the hills of Tuscany, or out on the lake, try looking in the following Online locations:
www.chrisbrady.com
www.christopherjamesbrady.com
www.twitter.com/rascaltweets
www.facebook.com/rascalnation
www.instagram.com/cbrascal
www.chrisbrady.typepad.com
www.chrisbradylife.com
www.medium.com/@rascaltweets
www.linkedin.com/in/cjbrady
www.amonthofitaly.com
www.launchingaleadershiprevolution.com
Chris has been recognized by INC. Magazine as among the Top 50 Leadership and Management experts. Richtopia listed Chris among the 200 Most Influential Authors in the world. Chris's blog has been included multiple times as a key resource on leadership for executives, managers and CEOs. In 2010 he was awarded the Kettering/GMI Alumni Association Entrepreneurial Achievement Award.
Chris and his wife Terri have four children and live in North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 12, 2015
Not sure if in words I can really describe how great this boon was to my educational journey. I happened to start reading this book at a time when I was having some stinking thinking as a leader, from the very first chapter Chris was able to keep me engaged all the way through the book and give me a more clear picture of what leading actually looks like. We read so many how to books and read many principles, but it's nice to have a book that allows you to see leadership in action. Highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself if you're in any sort of leadership position.
February 16, 2019
Chris Brady is one of the best speakers and writers on the topic of leadership. He has a way of telling an engaging story and attaching a lesson that you both enjoy and never forget.
I throughly enjoyed Leadership Lessons from the Age of Fighting Sail because of the great history lessons and the vivid scenes it brought to mind. Using stories from the careers of Horatio Nelson, John Paul Jones, Oliver Perry, James Lawrence and so many others, Brady demonstrates a leadership principle in action and why it was effective.
I recommend reading this book for the great stories and letting the leadership lessons just soak in like a splash of salt water on your thick wool coat.
I throughly enjoyed Leadership Lessons from the Age of Fighting Sail because of the great history lessons and the vivid scenes it brought to mind. Using stories from the careers of Horatio Nelson, John Paul Jones, Oliver Perry, James Lawrence and so many others, Brady demonstrates a leadership principle in action and why it was effective.
I recommend reading this book for the great stories and letting the leadership lessons just soak in like a splash of salt water on your thick wool coat.
February 16, 2016
“Leadership is both science and art. Much of it can be taught, but the rest must be “caught”.
Leadership Lessons is a very unique, entertaining, and insightful book. It has moved to the premier location in my Leadership library. Leadership Lessons presents the historical material not in a standard timeline, but groups events into 11 lessons. Each lesson gives examples of how naval commanders during the age of the fighting sail overcame their unique challenges and demonstrated leadership in the face of grave danger and many times vastly outnumbered.
The first thing that I began to recognize was the sheer complexity of everything required just to navigate these ships, the number of sailors needed to move these machines around. Let alone navigating and communicating during a battle in the midst of thick smoke, loud noises, changing wind and uncooperative seas.
The book is by no means a history book. It fails to give the details needed to qualify for that distinction. What it lacks in historical details it more than makes up for in current day application. I was very entertained as I was introduced to many amazing leaders whose vision has left a rich legacy. Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, Thomas Cochrane, Sir Francis Drake, and many more. And by the way who knew Benedict Arnold was the commander of the colonial fleet?
What was really amazing was the way the author taught lessons from these stories applicable to our day emphasizing the importance of Hunger, Initiative, Culture, and Legacy.
One of my favorite quotes “Leaders are not rigid dogmatists but rather flexible pragmatists. They hold their integrity, principles, values, and ideals inviolate. But when it comes to strategies, tactics, and procedures, they do what it takes to achieve the objectives”.
Each chapter is filled with Leadership nuggets that can be applied to many situations. If you like history and love learning and applying lessons of the past to your leadership journey then Leadership Lessons from the Age of Fighting Sail if for you.
Leadership Lessons is a very unique, entertaining, and insightful book. It has moved to the premier location in my Leadership library. Leadership Lessons presents the historical material not in a standard timeline, but groups events into 11 lessons. Each lesson gives examples of how naval commanders during the age of the fighting sail overcame their unique challenges and demonstrated leadership in the face of grave danger and many times vastly outnumbered.
The first thing that I began to recognize was the sheer complexity of everything required just to navigate these ships, the number of sailors needed to move these machines around. Let alone navigating and communicating during a battle in the midst of thick smoke, loud noises, changing wind and uncooperative seas.
The book is by no means a history book. It fails to give the details needed to qualify for that distinction. What it lacks in historical details it more than makes up for in current day application. I was very entertained as I was introduced to many amazing leaders whose vision has left a rich legacy. Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, Thomas Cochrane, Sir Francis Drake, and many more. And by the way who knew Benedict Arnold was the commander of the colonial fleet?
What was really amazing was the way the author taught lessons from these stories applicable to our day emphasizing the importance of Hunger, Initiative, Culture, and Legacy.
One of my favorite quotes “Leaders are not rigid dogmatists but rather flexible pragmatists. They hold their integrity, principles, values, and ideals inviolate. But when it comes to strategies, tactics, and procedures, they do what it takes to achieve the objectives”.
Each chapter is filled with Leadership nuggets that can be applied to many situations. If you like history and love learning and applying lessons of the past to your leadership journey then Leadership Lessons from the Age of Fighting Sail if for you.
March 16, 2015
Chris does a great job drawing important leadership tidbits out of past naval battles. He draws not only on the successes of the past, but failures as well. I would rather learn from the past than repeat it and with books like this I stand a much better chance. Each lesson is filled with witty and enriching examples of how I can apply the examples to my life to become a more effective leader in many aspects of my life. I will definitely be reading this one again.
September 1, 2016
The book was very interesting. I did not focus on the leadership part as much as I had hoped too, but the book gave me very valuable information on may of the battles from that time period. I would highly recommend this book to someone. The only problem is finding someone who will be interested it.
November 18, 2022
Brady is a self-proclaimed enthusiast of warfare during the age of sail. He has taken many of the stories of mostly underdogs and has placed them in this book on leadership. A spritely read, it covers the daring, wherewithal, and spunk of some underrated leaders and there successes against the odds.
February 10, 2020
Chris Brady has done it again!! Leadership Lessons from the Age of Fighting Sail is full of great historical narratives that are nicely woven with outstanding leadership lessons. This book is a must read for students of both history and leadership!
January 1, 2016
This book uses the lessons learned and illustrated by military history as shining examples of great leaders and what makes them so. I enjoyed the book tremendously and I believe the last chapter is the greatest 1 chapter I have read. Chris Brady is such a skill and articulate student and writer.
July 1, 2015
4 1/2 star tome. A very deep dive into the heart, soul, mind, & essential spirit of leadership.
March 8, 2016
I loved this book. Chris is a great story teller and does a great job of including the reader in the tales he is telling.
February 22, 2015
Excellent book. Nails down what it means to be a real leader.
September 14, 2015
He gives a lot of examples from the same person but they are all relatable.
November 3, 2016
So much fun to read. Even sent one to my dad. Major brownie points there :)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews