Author Archives: schoultz

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About schoultz

CEO of Fifth Factor Leadership - Speaker, consultant, coach. Formerly Director, Master of Science in Global Leadership at University of San Diego; prior to that, 30 years in the Navy as a Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) officer.

The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell

Why this book:  I had read this book about 12 years ago in my literature reading group.  It resulted in one of the richest discussions we’d had after reading a book.   All of us who were in the group at … Continue reading

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The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel, by Barbara and Michael Foster

Why this book:  After reading My Journey to Lhasa in which she describes how she became the first Western woman to visit Lhasa (and which I review here), I felt inclined to learn the rest of the story of the … Continue reading

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The Popes of Avignon – a century in exile, by Edwin Mullins

Why this book: I was preparing to do a bike ride in Provence starting and finishing in Avignon, and riding for 8 days in the environs.  This book came strongly recommended to provide a historical perspective on the world we … Continue reading

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My 25 Years in Provence, by Peter Mayle

Why this book: I was preparing to do an 8 day bike tour through Provence, beginning in Avignon, and I was looking for something light to read that would give me a different perspective on the region I was biking … Continue reading

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The New Rules of War, by Sean McFate

Why this book: My friend Doug recommended it to me. After looking at it and starting to read it, I convinced several of my friends to read it with me, in order that we could meet on zoom and discuss … Continue reading

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Constant Nobody, by Michelle Butler Hallett

Why this book: Recommended by my friend Chris in my literature reading group. Chris is a retired intel professional and said he found this novel powerful and recommended it for something different. So we agreed and selected it for our … Continue reading

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The North West Passage Vols I & II, by Roald Amundsen

Why this book: I’m in a SEAL reading group and one of our sessions was a pick-your-own-book in the genre of explorations, discovery, survival.  I had read and been fascinated by Shackleton’s Endurance experience and of two failed American attempts … Continue reading

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My Journey to Lhasa, by Alexandra David-Neel

Why this book: I heard first about Alexandra David-Neel in James Nestor’s  book Breath, in which he described how she kept herself warm while traveling in the Himalayas in Tibet by a special type of breathing.  I looked her up and … Continue reading

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Red Dress in Black and White, by Elliot Ackerman

Why this book:  This book had been repeatedly suggested by my friend Janar for our literature reading group. We had read Elliot Ackerman’s Waiting for Eden last year, and we were finally ready to select this book as well.  Glad … Continue reading

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The Whistling Season, by Ivan Doig

Why this book: I had been reading primarily non-fiction and was looking for a novel to balance my reading. My friend Francine told me she’d just read this one. I had read 5 other books by Doig, one of the … Continue reading

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