Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World [Hardcover]

Rudy Socha (Author), Carolyn Butler Darrow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 159652040X | ISBN-13: 978-1596520400 | Edition: 2

In spite of the relatively small number of people passing through its ranks, the Marine Corps produce a disproportionate share of this country’s leaders. It is because Marines are different from the rest of the population. They have a different mindset and handle problems in a different manner. Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World profiles 87 former Marines who took that attitude and successfully applied it to the civilian sector. As you read the stories collectively, you will see a camaraderie of many ethnicities, ages, and personalities—some you already know—that make up the U.S. Marine Corps. Read these pages and discover why Jim Lehrer of PBS NewsHour says “There has never been a better testimony to the value of service in the Marine Corps than Above & Beyond.” 

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Turner; 2 edition (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159652040X
• ISBN-13: 978-1596520400
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,678,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspirational stories; very easy read, February 15, 2005

By 

weasel (tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Palm Beach, FL Fire (Hardcover)

I LOVED this book. It is truly inspirational for anyone---whether you're a Marine or not. This book proves that with hard work and dedication, even the simplest of ideas can catapult one into stardom, wealth and the good life. Need a lift? This book can help.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Book, November 16, 2006

By 

Charles L. Lowder - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Above & Beyond: Former Marines Conquer the Civilian World (Hardcover)

This book profiles a number of Marines, officer and enlisted alike, and tracks their success during and after their active-duty experience. It becomes clear that the self-discipline, team-work and USMC ethos (honor, courage, commitment) instilled from boot camp onward "hard-wires" these men and women for success in virtually any endeavor.

While military service isn't necessarily everyone's "cup of tea", most Americans would be well-served to devote a few years in military service. There, they learn self-mastery, meet people from all walks of life and ethnic groups, learn team over self, learn to take an order and to execute...regardless of personal opinion, and more.

If military preparedness and national defense are national priorities, they need to be equally tasked to all Americans, wealthy to impoverished. It is about higher duty for the overall good...not an individual's "choice".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real stories, real marines and real success, February 16, 2005

By 

Todd Bottorff "Publisher" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Palm Beach, FL Fire (Hardcover)

This book has profiles of 88 successful former marines in a variety of industries with their bios and comments on what they learned in the corps that made them successful in life.

Fred Smith, CEO and Founder, Fedex; James Baker, Secretary of State; Charles Krulak, CEO MBNA Europe; Gary Cooper, CEO Commonwealth National Bank; Walter Boomer, CEO Rogers Corporation; Mike Kelly, CEO, TMP/Higland Partners; Jack Hawkins; Chancellor, Troy State; Patrick Taylor, Chairman Taylor Energy; Richard Simon, CEO United Service Industries; Drew Carey, actor; and the list goes on.

It is a good read for business people who want insight into real life examples of marine corps leadership principles. The book is different than pure management books like the Marine Corps Way, but has something that those books do not, a set of real life stories and comments from the people who made it happen.

It is also a good read for military personnel who want to understand how their traning can be applied and who has applied it in life.

Overall a substantive and inspirational book.