Inside the Five-Sided Box

Lessons from a Lifetime of Leadership in the Pentagon

De: Ash Carter

Narrado por: Ash Carter

The twenty-fifth Secretary of Defense takes readers behind the scenes to reveal the inner workings of the Pentagon, its vital mission, and what it takes to lead it.

The Pentagon is the headquarters of the single largest institution in America: the Department of Defense. The D.O.D. employs millions of Americans. It owns and operates more real estate, and spends more money, than any other entity. It manages the world’s largest and most complex information network and performs more R&D than Apple, Google, and Microsoft combined. Most important, the policies it carries out, in war and peace, impact the security and freedom of billions of people around the globe.

Yet to most Americans, the dealings of the D.O.D. are a mystery, and the Pentagon nothing more than an opaque five-sided box that they regard with a mixture of awe and suspicion.

In this new book, former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter demystifies the Pentagon and sheds light on all that happens inside one of the nation’s most iconic, and most closely guarded, buildings. Drawn from Carter’s thirty-six years of leadership experience in the D.O.D., this is the essential book for understanding the challenge of defending America in a dangerous world—and imparting a trove of incisive lessons that can guide leaders in any complex organization.

In these times of great disruption and danger, the need for Ash Carter’s authoritative and pragmatic account is more urgent than ever.

great story about our past and future

Ash is a little less than riviting, but the story content makes up for it!

listening after death of SecDef

great account of Pentagon history and view point from his position. great insights. Highly recommended for DoD and fed employees

Great read and very informative.

A good book by a great American. Ash Carter was a loyal and faithful servant.

If you find studying the ins and outs of orgs interesting - you’ll like this book

Ash goes in-depth on how the org is structured and how he ran it. His book starts with procurement. If that sounds interesting to you, you’ll like the book.

Not only did the book provide a look at the DoD, it also provided insight into the personality of the secretary himself. He’s clearly very pleased with himself and doesn’t tend to admit to many mistakes. He also continually criticizes a sitting President which I find less than great form for a senior cabinet secretary. In terms of narration, it sometimes sounds like he’s falling asleep reading his own book.

However, I did enjoy the read. Though he can come across as arrogant he's also clearly very intelligent and his background in science is genuinely impressive. He also knows how to run a very large org... at least according to him... but based on the org procedures he outlines in the book I believe he probably did do a reasonably good job. In reading certain passages, he really comes alive and even manages to flash a little personality - I really enjoyed these parts - I just wished they’d happened a little more often.

All in all this was a thorough look through an amazing org by a thoughtful person. I’m glad I listened.

A Must Read

Secretary Carter’s lessons in leadership is a must read for leaders and aspiring leaders at all levels-military, business, political and academic. It is a straight forward no fluff account of his 30 plus years serving our Nation. Filled with numerous examples and antidotes there is a lesson to be learned on every page. You won’t be disappointed.