Stavridis offers lessons of leadership and character contained in the lives and careers of history's most significant naval commanders. Spanning 2,500 years from ancient Greece to the twenty-first century, the tales of these ten admirals offer up a collection of the greatest imaginable sea stories. None of the admirals in this volume were perfect, and some were deeply flawed. But important themes emerge, not least that there is an art to knowing when to listen to your shipmates and when to turn a blind eye; that serving your reputation is a poor substitute for serving your character; and that taking time to read and reflect is not a luxury, it's a necessity.

The power of persuasion Themistocles -- A sailor of the Middle Kingdom Zheng He -- A Pirate and a Patriot Sir Francis Drake -- The Band of Brothers Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Horatio Nelson -- The influencer Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan -- Rum, buggery, and the lash Admiral Lord John Arbuthnot Fisher -- The Admiral's Admiral Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz -- The Master of Anger Admiral Hyman Rickover -- The angel of change Admiral Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr. -- Don't Go Near the Water Rear Admiral Grace Hopper -- Resilience and the Modern Admiral.