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: 6.5 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 45 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

Format: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.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good stories May 13, 2004

By Jaewoo Kim TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommnded! June 3, 2004

By Rolf Dobelli HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

Author and Army Ranger Brace E. Barber shows you how to make adversity hit the deck and give you 20 push-ups. His lessons on becoming a great leader are simple - stop thinking of yourself, learn to think of others, lead by example, persist in the face of adversity and so forth - but the process by which Army Rangers learn those lessons is complex and fascinating. Barber gives you insight into the brutal training that heroes such as the late Pat Tillman, the NFL star-turned-Ranger, endure for the cause of freedom. Barber profiles ten Rangers who applied lessons from their training to overcome difficulties. Readers see the circumstances under which these lessons were imprinted and deployed. In an age when people offer excuses as readily as business cards, Rangers believe the way to succeed is to stop making excuses. That's a valuable lesson in business and life. We highly recommends this book to those leading others through the hazards of business.