The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) by William H. McRaven
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The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)

4.8

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2,567 ratings


THE INSTANT #1  New York Times ** BESTSELLER

From the acclaimed, bestselling author of ** Make Your Bed —a short, inspirational book of advice and leadership lessons that Admiral McRaven collected over his four decades as a Navy SEAL.

The title “Bullfrog” is given to the Navy SEAL who has served the longest on active duty. Admiral McRaven was honored to receive this honor in 2011 when he took charge of the United States Special Operations Command. When McRaven retired in 2014, he had 37 years as a Navy SEAL under his belt, leading men and women at every level of the special operations community. In the ensuing four years, he served as Chancellor to the entire University of Texas System, with its 230,000 students and 100,000 faculty and health care workers.

During those four decades, Admiral McRaven dealt with every conceivable leadership challenge, from commanding combat operations—including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Phillips, and the raid for Osama bin Laden. 

THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG draws on these and countless other experiences from Admiral McRaven’s incredible life, including crisis situations, management debates, organizational transitions, and ethical dilemmas, to provide readers with the most important leadership lessons he has learned over the course of his forty years of service. Each chapter provides a Make Your Bed-like parable, rich with insights like those featured in his bestselling memoir, Sea Stories, about the specific leadership traits required to be at the top of your game, including:   Who Dares, Wins Run to the Sound of the Guns No Plan Survives First Contact with the Enemy THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG is Admiral McRaven’s clear-eyed treatise on the leadership qualities that separate the good from the truly great.

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ISBN-10

1538707942

ISBN-13

978-1538707944

Print length

224 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Grand Central Publishing

Publication date

April 03, 2023

Dimensions

5.3 x 1.15 x 7.5 inches

Item weight

2.31 pounds


Product details

ASIN :

B0B8YX2GTB

File size :

851 KB

Text-to-speech :

Enabled

Screen reader :

Supported

Enhanced typesetting :

Enabled

X-Ray :

Enabled

Word wise :

Enabled


Editorial reviews

Review

"You might be able to find a book with more insights and superb advice about leadership than Bill McRaven's THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG, but I doubt it.  Drawing on a lifetime of successful leadership at all levels of the military and subsequently in other institutions, McRaven's succinct, witty and fast-paced book offers current and aspiring leaders a wealth of lessons learned and common sense approaches to navigating the many challenges of leading people and organizations. At a time of rapid change in every workplace, regardless of size or purpose, this is a book readers will dog-ear and underline.  Once I started, I could not put it down."―Robert Gates, former United States Secretary of Defense

“Admiral McRaven gives inspiring context to popular military maxims that turn mere words into wisdom and simple sayings into powerful leadership guidance. This book is an essential reference for anyone in a leadership position.”―Jocko Willink, retired United States Navy officer and author of FINAL SPIN

“An entertaining and straightforward discussion of what it takes to lead, from the consummate military leader of our age. Admiral Bill McRaven’s THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG is a thoughtful, yet easily digestible, guide to making each of us into better leaders – and people.”―Stanley McChrystal, former US Army genreal

About the Author

Admiral William H. McRaven is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Your Bed and the New York Times bestsellers Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations and The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived. In his thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL, he commanded at every level. As a Four-Star Admiral, his final assignment was as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. After retiring from the Navy, he served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System from 2015 to 2018. He now lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Georgeann.

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About the authors

William H. McRaven

William H. McRaven

Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Retired) is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Your Bed and the New York Times bestseller Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations. In his thirty-seven years as a Navy SEAL, he commanded at every level. As a Four-Star Admiral, his final assignment was as Commander of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. After retiring from the Navy, he served as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System from 2015 to 2018. He now lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Georgeann.

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Reviews

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

2,567 global ratings

Amazonaholic

Amazonaholic

5

Fantastic!

Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024

Verified Purchase

I bought three of the Admiral's books and this one in particular was for an aspiring Naval Academy Student.

The Admiral's messages and stories are great for all ages and really touch on values our world is in dire need of today.

It's a gift that keeps on giving if the recipients take to heart the lessons and advice provided in these books.

"Make your Bed", the author's first book was also made into a children's book and gifted to my nephew, along with the authors adult version. My thought was if the quick entertaining kids version enticed a short attention, so be it. It did and I was delighted both versions were well received!

I shared these books and the thoughts within them with so many of my friends and family.

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Emilio

Emilio

5

Impeccably Summarized

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2024

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Admiral McRaven understands that, by the time you get done reading a chapter, most of the things he said have been forgotten. Being a wise man, he includes bullet points with the key messages after each chapter, and at the end of the book. Hugely beneficial in helping you remember his teachings. Other than that, I enjoyed how Admiral McRaven teaches you about leadership through stories of his time serving his country. This way, you don't feel like someone is preaching at you but rather telling you stories of their past and helping you learn from their actions, good and bad. I appreciated his honesty in admitting some mistakes he made, which made for great learning opportunities for him and his readers. Not very long at all, and the hard cover is very well made. Smaller in size which makes it comfortable to hold. Great read!

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Jimf

Jimf

5

Easy read

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2024

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Terrific and well written. Tons of really useful stuff.

Scott

Scott

5

Author’s knowledge

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2023

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"The Wisdom of a Bill Frog" is a captivating and thought-provoking book that beautifully blends wisdom, humor, and introspection. Written by an anonymous author, this unique tale takes readers on a journey through the life of Bill, a wise and philosophical frog who imparts invaluable life lessons.

From the very beginning, the author's storytelling prowess shines through, as they skillfully weave together engaging anecdotes and delightful characters. Through Bill's encounters with other animals and his deep reflections on life's challenges, readers are encouraged to question their own beliefs and ponder the true meaning of wisdom.

The book's strength lies in its ability to present profound concepts in a lighthearted and accessible manner. The author's use of humor and wit keeps the readers engaged, preventing the story from becoming overly didactic. Moreover, the charming illustrations scattered throughout the book add a delightful touch, making it visually appealing.

"The Wisdom of a Bill Frog" is not just a book; it's a transformative experience. It gently nudges readers to reevaluate their priorities, embrace change, and find happiness in life's simplest moments. Whether you're young or old, this delightful tale will resonate with readers of all ages and leave you pondering its wisdom long after you've turned the final page. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a delightful and enlightening read.

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8 people found this helpful

Alan V.

Alan V.

5

Clear, Direct, Engaging, and Universal

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024

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The blurb on the inside cover of Admiral McRaven's fourth book hails it as "a short, inspirational guide offering advice and leadership lessons gathered over four decades as a Navy SEAL." True to its description, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog goes beyond, making it particularly captivating for those dedicated to enhancing their leadership skills. What sets it apart? McRaven skillfully condenses his 40-year journey into 18 chapters filled with anecdotal snapshots. Each chapter is punctuated by a memorable title, serving as a leadership rule, followed by a concise summary. These rules transcend conventional HBS wisdom, and the summaries form a valuable curriculum. Few individuals, possessing both McRaven's intellect and extensive experience, choose to share their insights publicly. The stories unveiled in the book portray a tenacious individual committed to conquering both physical and mental obstacles, demonstrating that wisdom is forged through the crucible of hard knocks, where failure becomes the most instructive teacher, and successes validate the pains of learning. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it. The author's writing style is clear and direct, the content is engaging, and the lessons imparted are universally applicable. A solid five stars.

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9 people found this helpful

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