#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A clear-eyed account of learning how
to lead in a chaotic world, by General Jim Mattis--the former Secretary
of Defense and one of the most formidable strategic thinkers of our
time--and Bing West, a former assistant secretary of defense and combat
Marine.
"A four-star general's five-star memoir."--The Wall Street Journal
Call Sign Chaos is the account of Jim Mattis's storied career, from
wide-ranging leadership roles in three wars to ultimately commanding a
quarter of a million troops across the Middle East. Along the way,
Mattis recounts his foundational experiences as a leader, extracting the
lessons he has learned about the nature of warfighting and peacemaking,
the importance of allies, and the strategic dilemmas--and short-sighted
thinking--now facing our nation. He makes it clear why America must
return to a strategic footing so as not to continue winning battles but
fighting inconclusive wars.
Mattis divides his book into three parts: Direct Leadership, Executive
Leadership, and Strategic Leadership. In the first part, Mattis recalls
his early experiences leading Marines into battle, when he knew his
troops as well as his own brothers. In the second part, he explores what
it means to command thousands of troops and how to adapt your leadership
style to ensure your intent is understood by your most junior troops so
that they can own their mission. In the third part, Mattis describes the
challenges and techniques of leadership at the strategic level, where
military leaders reconcile war's grim realities with political leaders'
human aspirations, where complexity reigns and the consequences of
imprudence are severe, even catastrophic.
Call Sign Chaos is a memoir of a life of warfighting and lifelong
learning, following along as Mattis rises from Marine recruit to
four-star general. It is a journey about learning to lead and a story
about how he, through constant study and action, developed a unique
leadership philosophy, one relevant to us all.
