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General Votel’s

Recommended Reading & Listening

Explore General Votel’s library to unlock some of the secrets of effective leadership, delve into the fascinating world of technology and innovation, or gain a deeper understanding of national security and global threats. Empower yourself to make informed decisions and drive positive change in your life with this curated collection of wisdom and insight.

Featured Book

The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better

I recently read “The Science of Storytelling” by Will Storr. I always thought this technique was important to being a good communicator and explaining difficult ideas and concepts to reasonable people who may not have the same experience and expertise. I was hoping to add something to my kitbag that would help me be a better communicator. What I learned from this excellent book was actually more important than my own skills – it was an appreciation for how people we communicate with understand what we are saying. Through six key principles, the author very effectively highlights that people are obsessed with change, appreciate cause and effect, want to understand what is at stake, desire to know what happens next, want to experience meaning and purpose and in the end – they want to appreciate that the situation is resolved. I don’t know that this will make your next business pitch more successful but understanding these principles will definitely increase your ability to connect with audiences and increase the chances that they leave the discussion with a better understanding of whatever you are talking about. Whenever I talk with groups of leaders I highlight the importance of “telling a story” – here is some concrete evidence to suggest this approach really works.

Leadership & Inspiration

Books
The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves

Alexandra Hudson

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

Adam Grant

Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff

Joel Peterson

The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King - the Five Stars Who Won the War at Sea

Walter E. Borneman

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David Epstein

Leadership: In Turbulent Times

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging

Sebastian Junger

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage

Alfred Lansing

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt

Edmund Morris

The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today

Thomas E. Ricks

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Simon Sinek

Podcasts
Our Future is Bright with Leaders like this. Why we "Gen Z" choose to serve and the People who influence them.
Mission Critical : Defense Recruiting
Leading with Action: Fostering Resilience from the Ground Up with Wahid Nawabi
Ideas That Impact
Character Development at West Point: Insights from Dr. Peterson
Jocko Podcast
This Is Why People Don't Achieve What They Set Out To Achieve.
Leadership Matters
HBR IdeaCast
Stuck on a Problem? Try Switching Up Your Approach
Dare to Lead with Brené Brown

Technology & Innovation

Books
Loonshots

Safi Bahcall

The Gun

C.J. Chivers

The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation

Jim Gertner

Outliers: The Story of Success

Malcolm Gladwell

The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution

Walter Isaacson

Failure is Not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond

Gene Krantz

The Wright Brothers

David McCullough

Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century

P.W. Singer

Podcasts
Horns of a Dilemma
Understanding DoD's Industrial Base Problems
Defense Mavericks
Empowering Soldier Innovation
The Lawfare Podcast
Revisionist History
Intelligence Matters
Rational Security

National Security Strategy & Threats

Books
2054: A Novel

Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret)

Three Days in January

Bret Baier

The General vs. The President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War

H.W. Brands

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789

Joseph J. Ellis

Earning the Rockies: How Geography Shapes America's Role in the World

Robert D. Kaplan

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to KnowAbout Global Politics

Tim Marshall

The Map of Knowledge: How Classical Ideas Were Lost and Found; A History of Seven Cities

Violet Moller

Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the US Navy

Ian W. Toll

Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin, and Sadat at Camp David

Lawrence Wright

Podcasts

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Book General Votel

Whether you’re hosting a corporate event, leadership summit, educational conference, or other gathering where inspiration and leadership are paramount, he is the ideal speaker to elevate your occasion.

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Book General Votel

If you’re organizing a corporate event, leadership summit, an exclusive roundtable engagement, or any gathering where inspiration and leadership take center stage, General Joe Votel is the perfect choice to enhance your event.

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