American Heroes Press assists leaders military, law enforcement and fire to publish their leadership books


A Concise History of American Policing
Raymond Foster  More Info

Leadership: Texas Hold 'Em Style
Andrew J. Harvey  More Info

What is a Hero?: The American Heroes Press Short Story Anthology
Hi Tech Criminal Justice  More Info


Effective Police Leadership
Thomas E. Baker  More Info

Professor Thomas E. Baker is an associate professor of criminal justice (Feb. 2000), assistant professor (1975-Jan. 2000), and awarded the Decennial Medal and Order of Pro Deo et Universitate for service. In addition, Thomas E. Baker served as a Lieutenant Colonel United States Army Reserve Military Police Corps, Special Agent, and Commander with United States Army Criminal Investigation Command. His civilian experience includes former police officer for Henrico County Police (Virginia) and Montgomery County (Maryland). His law enforcement service includes assignments as an Intelligence Officer and Undercover Officer in the Vice, Intelligence and Organized Crime Unit. Thomas E. Baker’s previous educational experience includes service in the Virginia Community College System as an associate professor, Child Supervisor, and teacher for the Diagnostic Center for Children, Bon Air, Virginia, and Children's Supervisor, Richmond, Virginia Detention Center.

According to the book description of Effective Police Leadership, “Great leaders aren't born, they're made and this book makes them! Whether you're an officer aspiring to lead or a senior official interested in evaluating and enhancing your leadership effectiveness, this powerful book gives you practical, in-depth insight into the time-yesyed principles that empower supervisors and inspire troops. From developing high morale and lasting respect to implementing constructive disciplinary techniques and effective conflict resolution strategies, the wealth of wisdom in this book will launch you and those in your charge to the highest levels of unity and performance!”


Ready, Begin! Practical Strategies for Cultivating Courage :
Lawrence M. Kryske  More Info

According to the book description of, Ready, Begin! Practical Strategies for Cultivating Courage, “there are thousands of books about leadership and less than a dozen about courage. None, however, tells the reader how to be courageous. Finally, there is a book about how to cultivate courage.

 

Ready, BEGIN! contains over 250 practical strategies, techniques, and insights how to cultivate courage including overcoming fear, conquering procrastination, getting into action, sustaining momentum, and burning with more focus and purpose. This book is for leaders who want to create bolder visions, generate more sales, encourage daring innovation, implement new changes, and strengthen teams?

 

A soldier patrols a dangerous sector known for booby-traps and insurgent activity. A fireman races into a burning high-rise. A policeman runs into a dark alley in pursuit of a gun-toting suspect. We all recognize courage when we see it.

 

There are icons of courage that bring shivers to our souls: images like the flag-raising at Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima or Ground Zero at the World Trade Center or places evoking reverence like the Alamo. And who exemplifies courage? Individuals like Abraham Lincoln, Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, John Glenn, Oskar Schindler, Lance Armstrong, and countless others.

 

Most of us, however, are not involved in such life-or-death struggles. Our battles occur at work and home. This book is designed to give ordinary people some practical tools to cultivate more courage in their lives. Strong courageous leadership is needed everywhere. This comprehensive manual will give the reader the tools to become an even more valuable leader.”

The Best Leadership Book

Recommended Leadership Books

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Two Great Sources of Leadership Books are:
 
This site is a complete listing of the leadership and professional development readings as recommended by the head of each branch of the U.S. Armed Services.
 
This is a complete listing of the leadership and professional development reading list as authored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.


Pick Up Your Own Brass: Leadership the FBI Way
Kathleen McChesney  More Info

According to the book description of Pick Up Your Own Brass: Leadership the FBI Way, “In FBI terms, leaders who pick up their own brass casings at the firing range are more effective than those who expect someone else to do it for them. To those at the bureau, this small action speaks louder than words and is largely indicative of a person’s overall management style. Through a host of real-life FBI stories, from the streets to the corner offices, Pick Up Your Own Brass: Leadership the FBI Way reveals the leadership qualities that have enabled the bureau to successfully navigate through a century of war, espionage, organized crime, terrorism, fraud, and corruption. Offering fifty essential leadership lessons based on challenges that FBI officials have faced over the course of their careers, this book can help anyone—established leaders, aspiring leaders, minority leaders, and even “accidental executives” who find themselves managing more than they imagined—build a culture of leadership.”


Lead to Succeed and You Won't Manage to Fail
Corey W Grant  More Info

According to Lead to Succeed and You Won't Manage to Fail, “So you finally moved up and got promoted into management? That's what you’ve always wanted right? That’s what you’ve been working toward your entire career. Lead to Succeed and You Won't Manage to Fail gives you an inside look at what it takes to not only become a great manager but a legendary leader. Written with the career focused leader in mind this book is a straight forward look at what successful leaders do to maximize their effectiveness both before and after they become managers. Whether you manage a small community organization or a large Fortune 500 company this book will help you become a more effective leader by providing you with an in depth insight into what great managers think about and consider when building a successful organization. Learn first hand what it takes to lead like a legend, because if you can lead well... you won't manage to fail.”


Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box
The Arbinger Institute  More Info

According to Pat McGill, Amazon.com, “Using the story/parable format so popular these days, Leadership and Self-Deception takes a novel psychological approach to leadership. It's not what you do that matters, say the authors (presumably plural--the book is credited to the esteemed Arbinger Institute), but why you do it. Latching onto the latest leadership trend won't make people follow you if your motives are selfish--people can smell a rat, even one that says it's trying to empower them. The tricky thing is, we don't know that our motivation is flawed. We deceive ourselves in subtle ways into thinking that we're doing the right thing for the right reason. We really do know what the right thing to do is, but this constant self-justification becomes such an ingrained habit that it's hard to break free of it--it's as though we're trapped in a box, the authors say.

 

Learning how the process of self-deception works--and how to avoid it and stay in touch with our innate sense of what's right--is at the heart of the book. We follow Tom, an old-school, by-the-book kind of guy who is a newly hired executive at Zagrum Corporation, as two senior executives show him the many ways he's "in the box," how that limits him as a leader in ways he's not aware of, and of course how to get out. This is as much a book about personal transformation as it is about leadership per se. The authors use examples from the characters' private as well as professional lives to show how self-deception skews our view of ourselves and the world and ruins our interactions with people, despite what we sincerely believe are our best intentions.

 

While the writing won't make John Updike lose any sleep, the story entertainingly does the job of pulling the reader in and making a potentially abstruse argument quite enjoyable. The authors have a much better ear for dialogue than is typical of the genre (the book is largely dialogue), although a certain didactic tone creeps in now and then. But ultimately it's a hopeful, even inspiring read that flows along nicely and conveys a message that more than a few managers need to hear.”


The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow
John C. Maxwell  More Info

According to Howard Rothman, Amazon.com, “Why do some people consistently inspire others to follow their lead? According to John C. Maxwell, author of 24 books and a regular speaker on the topic, it's the "character qualities" they possess. In The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, Maxwell identifies these top traits as character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, generosity, initiative, listening, passion, positive attitude, problem-solving, relationships, responsibility, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachability, and vision--and then defines them in ways that readers can absorb and utilize. Each is covered in a separate chapter opening with a high-concept definition and continuing with relevant anecdotes, details on its meaning, suggestions for further reflection, and exercises for improvement. For example, in the section on vision ("You can seize only what you can see"), Maxwell describes how Walt Disney initially developed the theme-park concept after accompanying his daughters to a fun-filled but rather shabby amusement park. He then analyzes how Disney's resultant projects drew on his personal history while meeting other's needs, and explains how readers must "listen to several voices" to develop successful foresight in a similar way. Finally, Maxwell suggests methods to articulate these visions and measure their implementation.”


The Churchill Factors: Creating Your Finest Hour
Larry Kryske  More Info

Larry Kryske received a Regular Navy commission from the NROTC Unit at UCLA on 17 December 1971.  Larry Kryske retired from the United States Navy in September 1993 as a Commander.  In his post-Naval career, Larry Kryske (pronounced Chris-key) develops victorious leaders who have vision, courage, and determination. He is president and co-founder of Your Finest Hour Leadership Programs. He speaks internationally on leadership as well as on teamwork and productivity. Larry has over 30 years of worldwide leadership success as a career naval officer, private school administrator, and strategic planner. He is a professional speaker, certified trainer, coach, facilitator, author, and artist.

 

Larry Kryske is also a respected authority on the life and leadership of Winston Churchill, with over 41 years of Churchill study. He served on the Board of Directors of the International Churchill Society.  Larry Kryske has a BA in Astronomy from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and a MS in Applied Science from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is an active member of the Churchill Center and a professional member of the National Speakers Association. He is the author of two leadership book, The Churchill Factors: Creating Your Finest Hour and The Greatest Board in the World.

 

According to one reader of The Churchill Factors: Creating Your Finest Hour, “This is an extremely well done book. It is packed with practical ideas for building a better professional and personal life. Churchill is the perfect role mode for anyone wanting to be a leader or motivator of people. The book translated Churchill's method that brought him countless successes in his life to gems that anyone would find easy to apply. The book was tailored to a person's unique personality based on four well defined styles. Churchill's method was looked at from each of these different styles. This was especially valuable and thought provoking. This book is a keeper that I'll refer to again and again!”


No Yelling: The 9 Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business
Wally Adamchik  More Info

Major Wally Adamchik, a former tank commander and helicopter pilot with the United States Marine Corps, is the founder and president of FireStarter Speaking and Consulting, a national leadership development and consulting firm. His book, No Yelling: The 9 Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business, draws upon the real-life experiences of those currently serving in the Marines and those now in the civilian sector to explain how anyone can incorporate the nine essential behaviors of Marine Corps leadership into their daily business life.

 

The book includes more than 100 interviews with current and former Marines, and offers side-by-side comparisons of their application in military and civilian settings.  “The leadership techniques displayed by the United States Marine Corps have proven themselves time and again in battle,” says Adamchik. “These same principles can be applied from the break room to the board room to help anyone excel in business.”


Asymmetric Marketing: Tossing the 'Chasm' in the Age of the Software Superpowers
Joseph E. Bentzel  More Info

Although directed at technology companies, Joe Bentzel’s book is applicable to any business in the 21st Century.  As a small business owner, Joe’s explanations on identifying “ecoregions,” working in the “sandstorm” and customer barrier management were particularly useful to me.  In addition to providing ideas on how market and sell your product, Joe provides historical insight into the development of today’s software industry giants.  His look at the past becomes an excellent lens from which to view the present and future as it relates to penetrating global markets and business leadership in the 21st Century.  Perhaps the most refreshing part of the book is Joe’s efforts to put to sleep the mistaken ideas about the “new economy.”  It’s not the next “killer app,” it’s the business leader (like Carnegie, Huntington or Rockefeller in the 19th Century, or Google, MSN or Yahoo in the 21st Century) that understands and applies the market rules to their business model.  Simply put, Joe demonstrates it the people, not the technology.  A final note, Joe’s writes in an easy to read and entertaining style.  His use of metaphor helps the reader digest complex concepts.  And, if you he provides interesting insight into a few of the coming “corporate showdowns” in his industry.  If you want to compete in the 21st Century you need a copy – strike that – every member of your senior staff needs a copy.


Toy Box Leadership: Leadership Lessons from the Toys You Loved as a Child
Ron Hunter  More Info

According to the book description of Toy Box Leadership: Leadership Lessons from the Toys You Loved as a Child, “Reach back into your childhood and recapture the leadership principles you learned from your favorite toys. What can LEGOS teach you about building your business through connection? How can Slinky Dog demonstrate the value of patience when you're growing your organization? What has every little boy learned from his Little Green Army Men that he can use in business strategy? Whether you are an executive, a manager, or a parent, in Toy Box Leadership you will find the toy box a great place for lessons to successfully influence and lead others.”


First In, Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department
John Salka  More Info

John Salka “is a 27-year veteran of the FDNY and currently holds the rank of Battalion Chief in the 18th Battalion in the Bronx. He has instructed at the FDNY Fire Academy in several capacities including it's Probationary Firefighters School, Captains Development Program, Firefighters Professional Development Program and it's Battalion Chiefs Command Course.”  John Salka is the author of First In, Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department.

Publisher’s Weekly said of First In, Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department, “Salka, an FDNY battalion chief in the Bronx, has spent 25 years with the department, rising from firefighter to his current rank. He shares his insights on managing people, coping with crises, mentoring, decision making, adjusting to change and more. While Salka uses his experiences fighting fires, he clearly shows how his work has applications in almost any corporation: "[O]ur mission is to protect the people and property of New York City.... Since your customers define this value, your customers define your business. Organizations today need to ask themselves, Who is our customer? Only by figuring out exactly who their customer is and what they want can organizations fully grasp their mission." Salka discusses how he works with his firefighters and how managers can use his tactics. For example, he says, "[T]he most effective way to show your people that you trust them is to delegate to them. This is standard operating procedure in the FDNY. By letting them tackle problems on their own, you demonstrate your belief in them." The book covers key aspects to leadership—establishing trust, connecting with employees, decision making, engaging employees, dealing with crises and nurturing new leaders—in a logical fashion. The writing is solid though not inspiring. Readers who expected thrilling tales of firefighting will be disappointed because Salka's real-life anecdotes are toned down. Overall, this is a solid, but not unique, look at leadership.”

One reader of First In, Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department said, “Salka's advice is modeled on the leadership lessons of the New York City Fire Department. He takes many of the basic principles of effective leadership that are used to define the officers of FDNY and applies it to real life situations that can be used at any level of leadership by comparing these situations to those faced by the firefighters and their daily battles.

This book's real strength comes from Salka's approach: he writes to the front line supervisor/manager, the folks who are often on the first tier of management. While many books, as good as they are, assume that the reader is in a position to affect policy and choose their entire team, "First In" speaks to managers whose responsibility is the daily performance of the staff. In addition to great advice that can be put to practical use by leaders at any level, Salka regales the reader with.”

One reader of First In, Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department said, “As a member of corporate America, I know first hand how many bad managers there are out there, and how easy it is to make poor decisions when managing people. This book is straightforward and easy to read, but more importantly, it outlines what I think, are some of the most fundamental ideas behind strong leadership. Some are common sense ideas that are easy to forget (and are helpful to read again from this angle) others are more surprising. But you will see most if not all of them in every good boss/leader you've ever worked for or observed. (and respected, for that matter.) Highly recommended to anyone who is looking for a truly useful book on managing and leading - the right way.”


A Pirate Captain's Guide To Leadership: How To Turn "Workplace Pirates" Into Motivated And Productive Employees
Doug Heatherly  More Info

Doug Heatherly “is an independent consultant, trainer, and author. The skills and techniques presented in his latest book, A PIRATE CAPTAIN'S GUIDE TO LEADERSHIP, are those he has personally and successfully applied over the course of more than 30 years as a supervisor and manager to develop hundreds of employees in a variety of challenging workplaces. Doug provides clients with business planning, organizational development, and project management services. He has led teams of up to 204 people, and consulted on more than a dozen large-scale business redesign projects, including three that were designated as "Best Business Practices" by the Centers of Excellence.  Doug Heatherly was a 1997 winner of the prestigious Project Leadership Award, recognizing the top five technology project managers in the United States. Dr. Heatherly is a co-developer and facilitator of the Leadership Skills Certificate program. More than 7,000 people have attended his seminars nationwide. He is a member of Bank of America's Small Business Online Community, and has provided the group's worldwide membership with more than a thousand articles, reviews, and forum contributions. His work has also been highlighted in a variety of industry publications and he has contributed to more than twenty management textbooks, learning instruments, and business journals.  Doug Heatherly holds a Ph.D. in Business & Ethics, and professional certifications in project management and leadership development. His client list includes over two hundred business organizations, government agencies, and non-profit groups throughout North America and the Pacific Rim. Doug is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and resides in the Austin, Texas area.” Doug Heatherly is the author of A Pirate Captain's Guide To Leadership: How To Turn "Workplace Pirates" Into Motivated And Productive Employees.

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