Author Archives: schoultz

Unknown's avatar

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.

Descent into Darkness – Pearl Harbore 1941, a Navy Diver’s Memoir, by Edward Raymer

Why this book:  I had visited the Pearl Harbor Submarine museum and the Arizona memorial and found this book in the bookstore, while I was reading Shadow Divers, which had fascinated me about difficult diving.  The experience of those men who … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The French Lieutenant’s Woman, by John Fowles

Why this book: Selected by my literature reading group. Also, I’ve had my wife’s copy on my bookshelf, unread by me, for decades. Summary in 4 Sentences:  An upper class English gentleman in the late 1860s,  has made a good … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mark Twain, by Ron Chernow

Why this book:I like so many people have been a fan of Mark Twain for much of my life. I have recently re-read Huckleberry Finn in preps for reading (listening to) James by Percival Everett.  Also I have read three … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pirate Hunters – Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship, by Robert Kurson

Why this book: I thoroughly enjoyed Shadow Divers, so was intrigued to see what Kurson’s next book was about. After reading the summary, I had to go for it. Summary in 3 Sentences: John Chatterson (one of the heroes from … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hyperion, by Dan Simmons

Why this book: My Sci Fi reading group I’m in selected this book as part of our project to read some of the most highly regarded science fiction literature of the last decades.  Hyperion won the Hugo Award for best novel … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby van Pelt

Why this book:  I listened to a preview of it on audible, in the voice of an octopus in a tank in an aquarium.  Since reading Soul of an Octopus and watching the movie My Octopus Teacher, I’ve been very … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Shadow Divers – Two Americans who risked everything to Solve a Mystery of WWII, by Robert Kurson

Why this book:  Proposed multiple times by several participants in my SEAL reading group, and finally selected,  Summary in 2 Sentences:  Three men who were leaders of the elite wreck diving culture of New England discover a German Submarine in … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

On Character – Choices that Define a Life, by General Stanley McChrystal

Why this book: Selected by the SEAL book club as our selection for summer of 2025. I and many of us had worked with Stan McChrystal in our careers.  Summary in 3 Sentences:  A thoughtful meditation on values that help drive … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Shipping News, by Annie Proulx

Why this book: Selected by my literature reading group – several had already read it and wanted to read it again.  It is one of a handful of novels that won the American Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Woman, Captain, Rebel – The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain, by Margaret Willson

Why this book: I was planning to travel to Iceland for a hike and wanted to learn about the people and its history. This book was strongly  recommended by two women on the hike. Summary in 4 Sentences:  The book … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment