Zak Parker
While veterans rightly deserve to be praised and respected for what they did for our country, these books show there’s a lot more to a veteran than their time in the army. So, learn about how their service impacted their personal, social and working lives, read inspirational and moving stories and gain another layer of appreciation for these wonderful people.
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#1 Overcome by Jason Jay Redman
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by Holden Majewski from Real News PR. |
Adversity can often catch you by surprise and leave you struggling with what to do next. What if you could confront any adversity, from the biggest challenges-the loss of your job, divorce, health issues, bankruptcy-to normal daily challenges-a late flight, a disappointing phone call, a missed promotion, a bad day-and not just survive it, but thrive afterwards?
Redman was horrifically wounded in Iraq in 2007 when he was shot at close range through the face and arm. After 40 surgeries, including extensive facial reconstruction and skin grafts, he came back from this experience stronger than ever-despite carrying scars and injuries he will have for the rest of his life. Redman went on to launch two successful companies and speaks all over the country on how to build better leaders through his Overcome mindset.
Overcome is based on extensive research and interviews with America’s toughest warriors-including retired 4-star Admiral William McRaven, retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, retired 4-star General Stanley McChrystal, and others. In this book, Redman teaches:
- How to survive any life ambush
- How to move from defense to offense using the proactive techniques of SEAL teams
- How to strengthen your endurance during long-term trials
- How to rediscover and thrive in your life purpose
- How to lead your team (whether in business or family) to success
- How to compete with the top 1% in your field
- How to stay the course even when you want to quit
And more
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
#2 Choking on Silence by Paul B. Tripp
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by Paul Tripp from The Show Up Coach. |
A remarkable journey of self-discovery and survival, as the author navigates a perfect storm of homosexuality, religion and the US Navy Submarine Service.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
#3 100 Questions and Answers About Veterans by Michigan State School of Journalism
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by Susan Stitt from Front Edge Publishing. |
One Hundred Questions and Answers About Veterans: A Guide for Civilians is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series on cultural competence.
This guide has sections on military structure, culture and families, demographics, work, money, deployment and discharge, politics and resources for more study.The guide is written for those who want quick answers to the basic, everyday questions that people ask about veterans. The guide is intended for people in business, schools, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism who need a basic grounding.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
#4 The Emotional Marine by Eric J Rittmeyer
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by Eric Rittmeyer from MentalToughnessSpeaker. |
In my 20+ years in sales and as a professional speaker I’ve come across lots of people that I either really liked, or really disliked. I found there were some common threads amongst the most likable people that could easily be learned by anyone. Likeability really has everything to do with increasing your mental toughness and emotional intelligence. The best part, we all can increase both of these things. Unlike IQ that you’re born with (you’re either smart or not smart), mental toughness and emotional intelligence (EQ) can be learned and improved. You could be someone with a very low IQ, but a very high EQ.
As a matter of fact, I’d take it a step further to say the majority of people I know with the highest IQ’s have the lowest EQ’s. They can solve a geometric algorithm for molecular refinement based on scientific data (I have absolutely no idea what I just typed), but they can’t hold a conversation with the person sitting next to them on an airplane. In your career, most opportunities will come through other people, and people give opportunities to those they like. In your personal life, people will do just about ANYTHING for someone they like.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
#5 Reach for More by David M. Szumowski
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by Julianna Wright from Bookshare. |
After a happy childhood in upstate New York followed by college and ROTC, David Szumowski had his sights set on military service. He joined the Army in 1969 and was deployed to Vietnam to lead a tank platoon. David’s life took a sharp turn when his platoon was attacked. He was seriously injured and had to confront life without sight. David recounts his challenges coping with loss and emotional distress, forging an alternate career path, finding love, and harnessing perseverance. This book teaches us lessons in resilience, and courage to take on life’s challenges with perseverance and creativity.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
#6 Here, Bullet by Brian Turner
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by D. Gilson from USInsuranceAgents. |
It’s hard to find quality poetry about the veteran experience, but Brian Turner’s Here, Bullet is a jewel of a book. Iraqi war veteran Brian Turner writes here in the vein of poetry of witness with great honesty, clarity, and skill. The book moves beyond political affiliation to discuss the realities of the ongoing global war on terror in a visceral fashion. “If a body is what you want,” Turner writes in the collection’s title poem, “then here is bone and gristle and flesh.” This book is a necessary read for anyone concerned with the state of endless war today, veterans especially.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
#7 We The People by Mary Whyte
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by Stefanie Lesser from Hope & Love Radio. |
Released this past September, We the People is a collection of 50 water color portraits of veterans one from each state. These portraits portray Americans from every walk of life including different ethnicities, different titles when they served the military, different careers,from a mayor to even an astronauts well as the homeless. Mary Whyte tries to capture what it means to be an American citizen through its veterans.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
#8 What It Is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by Derek Abbey from Project Recover. |
Marlantes’s What It Is Like to Go to War is a first hand account of one Marine’s wartime experience and processing it after he left the military. Marlantes brilliantly expands the focus from the individual to the collective allowing the reader unfiltered access to the experiences of many veterans at an intimate level. I recommend this book to all of those interested in learning more about the veteran population, as well as other wartime veterans in the process of examining their own participation in our nations conflicts.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
#9 The Forgotten Veterans by Stephen M Reay
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Who recommended this book? This was recommended by Stephen M. Reay from StephenM.Reay. |
Not many books about veterans are as well contributed with a unique sense of connection and humor as Forgotten Veterans. Forgotten Veterans fills in this much needed gap of bringing reality to veterans multiple years post war. Stephan M. Reay, a Vietnam veteran himself, shares a compilation of interesting, heart striking and even sometimes awkward stories of his experience witnessing and working with during his time as recreational therapist in a Veteran’s hospital.
Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:
Paul Tripp from The Show Up Coach
Susan Stitt from Front Edge Publishing
Eric Rittmeyer from MentalToughnessSpeaker
Julianna Wright from Bookshare
D. Gilson from USInsuranceAgents
Stefanie Lesser from Hope & Love Radio
Derek Abbey from Project Recover
Stephen M. Reay from StephenM.Reay
