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.

Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts

Why this book:  For several years, one of the members of our reading group has been insisting that we read this book, but we have resisted because of its size – it is 930 pages long.  Finally we relented and selected … Continue reading

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Island of the Lost, Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, by Joan Druett

Why this book: I have always been drawn to survival stories by and about people who find themselves in the most challenging of circumstances and must rely on their wits, creativity, mental and  physical toughness to survive. This one popped … Continue reading

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Energy Leadership, by Bruce Schneider

Why this book: Given to me as a gift from  my friend Paul Monahan, a professional executive coach who uses the methodology outlined in this book in his practice.  Paul impresses me as a man and a friend, and I … Continue reading

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Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual, by Jocko Willink

Why this book: Widely read by SEAL candidates and includes great advice for life for anyone, and especially for young men aspiring to be SEALs. I lead a reading group for SEAL candidates and we agreed on this book. Summary … Continue reading

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The Overstory, by Richard Powers

Why this book: Strongly recommended to me by my friends Auny, Di, and Liz.  Pulitzer Prize winner 2019.  A very different theme that peaked my curiosity. Summary in 3 sentences: The book begins with a series of eight short-story biographies … Continue reading

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Range Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, by David Epstein

Why this Book: Strongly recommended by my friend Jay Hennessey and also a selection by the Next Big Idea Club to which I belong.  After Jay recommended it, I realized the NBI club had already sent me a copy – … Continue reading

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Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead

Why this Book:  Selected by my literature reading group as our selection for September 2019. One of our members had read Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize winning The Underground Railroad, and so liked it that he’d begun this book. We were looking … Continue reading

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An Artist of the Floating World, by Kazuo Ishiguro

Why this book: Selected by my literature reading group, based on recommendation from my son, and our general appreciation for Ishiguro’s Remains of the Day. Summary in 3 sentences: Set in post-WWII Japan, a Japanese artist Musaji Ono is living … Continue reading

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The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch

Why this book: I am preparing a blog post on 200 days – what it would mean to know you only have 200 days to live. Well, here is a book by a guy who lived (and died) that experience. … Continue reading

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You are AWESOME – How To Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life, by Neil Pasricha

Why this Book:  The publisher asked me whether, if they sent me an advance copy of this book, I would read it and review it.  I said yes.  They sent it. I read it.   I liked it, and this … Continue reading

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