No Excuse Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Army's Elite Rangers [Hardcover]

Brace E. Barber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2004

Every organization needs good leadership in order to win against the competition. Through his own personal story and those of nine other Rangers, Barber illuminates fundamental lessons about what it really takes to win. These first-person accounts of trial and triumph highlight the importance and the inherent truth of the Army’s most fundamental leadership principles: seeking and taking responsibility for your actions, and knowing yourself and seeking self-improvement. Adhering to those principles—and putting them at the core of your organization—will push you and your company to do more and do it better.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

U.S. Army Rangers earn their reputation every day for bravery, leadership, and sacrifice in combat. Extraordinary warriors from the time of the Dieppe raid and the D-Day invasion to today in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Rangers willingly accept the most dangerous missions of any conflict. They are tough, they are fearless, and each and every one is a true leader.

Ranger School forces its graduates to excel under extreme conditions, persevere despite seemingly impossible odds, and develop the mental toughness to succeed at any cost. Those characteristics separate the greatest leaders from everyone else–in both business and in warfare. In No Excuse Leadership, entrepreneur and former Ranger Brace Barber shares the leadership skills and lessons all Ranger School alumni learn. Use these lessons to make yourself a better business leader and reap the rewards of higher morale, improved efficiency, and success in the face of adversity.

Every organization needs good leadership in order to win against the competition. Through his own personal story and those of nine other Rangers, Barber illuminates fundamental lessons about what it really takes to win. These first-person accounts of trial and triumph highlight the importance and the inherent truth of the Army’s most fundamental leadership principles: seeking and taking responsibility for your actions, and knowing yourself and seeking self-improvement. Adhering to those principles–and putting them at the core of your organization–will push you and your company to do more and do it better.

When chaos and trouble reign–when it would be far easier to give up than to keep going–No Excuse Leadership shows you the kind of person you have to be to succeed. For leaders who expect more from themselves and their organizations, this book offers the proven principles and winning attitudes that lead to long-term profit and prosperity.

From the Back Cover

Praise for NO EXCUSE LEADERSHIP

"A great read. Brace Barber was a superb leader, Ranger, and great American. I was proud to serve with him. This book is a must on every Ranger or those who wish to be’s . . . coffee table."
–Colonel David Hunt
Fox News Military Analyst

"A great book, designed to demonstrate how one can achieve the mental toughness to succeed . . . no matter what the adversity."
–J. D. Lock
coauthor of To Fight with Intrepidity: The Complete History of the U.S. Army Rangers, 1622 to Present and author of The Coveted Black and Gold

"I thoroughly enjoyed it. Matter of fact: had a tough time putting it down."
–Hazen L. Baron
COL, Infantry, Commander, Ranger Training Brigade

"A terrific, hard-hitting book on leadership!"
–Christopher D. Kolenda
editor and coauthor of Leadership: The Warrior’s Art

"An excellent book for young people wishing to expand their horizons and tap their potential. As a former soldier, I highly recommend this book for those wishing to push farther and harder than their peers."
–Michael Yon
author of Danger Close

"The challenging demands of U.S. Army Ranger School training as well as the resulting

career and lifetime benefits that accrue to those who have the heart and courage to persevere are vividly recounted in this enlightening and very motivating book."
–USMC Major General (Ret.) Ted Hopgood
Commandant, Corps of Cadets, Texas A&M University

"I would place it on the recommended reading list for those going to Ranger School and those looking for a study in leadership. It is about life–setting high goals and then pushing yourself to the limit and beyond to achieve those goals."
–Colonel Thomas H. Aldrich
Professor of Military Science, Norwich University

"If your desire is to understand the dynamics of how one goes about leading and succeeding in difficult circumstances, this could be the book for you."
–CPT Russell Perkins
Military Instructor, North Georgia Military College

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (January 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471488038
• ISBN-13: 978-0471488033
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book On Leadership I've Ever Read, January 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: No Excuse Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Army's Elite Rangers (Hardcover)

Finally, a book on leadership based on truth and real life experience! If you read business books and are tired of MBA speak, pick this up and learn what it really takes to persevere, to challenge ones self and most importantly -- to set an example. It is no wonder that the Army has produced some of the greatest leaders in history -- they are learning this stuff while most of us are still deciding which happy hour to hit.

I also like the way the book was organized. You learn first hand what it takes to succeed in a seemingly impossible set of physical, mental and emotional challenges. And you hear it directly from the Rangers themselves. The author then guides and offers advice on how to apply these same basic tenets to all aspects of your life.

I had no prior knowledge of the military or Rangers specifically. This book is also excellent for anyone contemplating joining special forces within the Armed Forces. The next time I see a soldier with a Ranger tab, I'll know that he put his heart, soul and mind on the line for 61 days and a better persepctive on what it took for him to survive.

I love Barber's No-Excuse method of leadership -- he's the kind of boss I'd enjoy working for.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good stories, May 13, 2004

By 

Jaewoo Kim "OB-Wan" (Santa Monica, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: No Excuse Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Army's Elite Rangers (Hardcover)

Most of this book is not about leadership. Instead, it is about what it is like to be an Army Ranger. I would say 15% of the book is dedicated to the subject of leadership in the Rangers.

The book hits not so much at the intellectual level, but at the emotions. It does a fine job of describing the ATTITUDE of Ranger leadership. Perhaps it is implying that leadership is mostly about winning attitude.

The book holds the reader with its tales of harsh training every Ranger must suffer. Its training is specifcially designed to push every Ranger to their physical and psychological limits, resulting in what appears to be a near death experience to most Rangers. I found it intriguing that Rangers lose sexual appetite during their brutal training because all they can think about is their basic survival (warmth, food, shelter, and overcoming pain) while successfully accomplishing their mission.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "An informative look at Army Rangers and leadership", April 21, 2004

By 

David G. Stokes (St. George, Utah, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Excuse Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Army's Elite Rangers (Hardcover)

I wouldn't go so far as to say this is the best book on leadership. From a army standpoint, being a ranger is a big deal. Anybody aspiring to be an outstanding military officer should so through a program such as the Rangers, Seals, Special Forces, Green Beret, etc.. Programs such as these certainly make or break an individual.

This book gives the perspective of 10 men who completed the Ranger program and their struggles to overcome their individual weaknesses. One of the Rangers spotlighted, Tex Turner adopted the statement: "As an officer, you are either a ranger or an excuse." The author embellishes this concept: "You are either wealthy or an excuse." "You are either healthy or an excuse." This simple saying can apply to any area of ones life. Am I doing all I can--or am I just making excuses.

I highly recommend this book. My only reservations were the authors abundant use of the F-bomb. True, it adds to the reality of the situation these men went through, but shows a lack of professionalism as a businessman/author. It is one minor aspect which would keep me from suggesting it to young readers. Also, from a business perspective, this book isn't a leader in leadership books. All in all, this book is exciting reading. It is well written. Many times I actually visualized myself in similar situations. Don't make excuses. Read this book.