Extreme Ownership Paperback – January 30, 2018

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! This is required reading for my employees and something we revisit at the beginning of each year. The benefits of taking ownership of your life cannot be overstated. The lessons are taught in easy-to-read chapters that are broken into three segments. The first segment is a military experience story, the second is a debrief of the lessons learned, and the third is application in a business setting. Each chapter makes for great group discussion.Every time I tell a team they need to read this book I immediately get pushback: I'm not a reader, I wasn't in the military, and I don't want to join a book club at work. Yet, after we're done. everyone who has read it has thanked me for it! I've given Extreme Ownership to friends and family. Read this book!

Great book. A must read for every man. Accountability in today’s society is almost nonexistent. We need leaders to step up and own up.

Being a director in IT, I’ve been faced with many challenges lately. This book on leadership really helped put a lot of the things I’ve been struggling into perspective. I’m looking forward to putting them in place at my work and also training my junior leaders on extreme ownership. Great read and lessons!

Snail mail as usual. The book is in fine condition.

📖 Book Review: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif BabinReviewer Perspective: Reformed Baptist Christian WorldviewExtreme Ownership is a compelling leadership manual rooted in lessons learned by former Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin during their combat experiences in Iraq. The book offers a powerful case for personal responsibility, humility in leadership, and the necessity of discipline and clarity in both military and business settings.From a Reformed Baptist perspective, there are both commendable strengths and meaningful limitations to consider:⸻👍 Strengths1. Ownership Reflects Biblical ResponsibilityThe core message—that leaders must take full responsibility for the actions and failures of their teams—is consistent with the biblical model of leadership. Consider how Scripture holds elders accountable for their flock (Hebrews 13:17), or how Adam is held responsible for humanity’s fall (Romans 5:12). Extreme Ownership rightly encourages rejecting blame-shifting, a principle rooted in Genesis 3.2. Humility in LeadershipThough not expressed in theological terms, the book constantly exhorts leaders to be humble, to listen, to admit fault, and to elevate others. Proverbs 11:2 reminds us, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” This virtue is clearly encouraged in every chapter.3. Clarity and Mission FocusReformed theology places great value on purpose and order in God’s creation and the Christian life. The authors emphasize the importance of clear communication and unity of purpose, principles that echo Paul’s exhortation to the church to be “of the same mind, having the same love” (Philippians 2:2).⸻🤔 Cautions and Limitations1. Man-Centered SolutionsWhile the book stresses discipline and self-leadership, it does so in a fundamentally humanistic framework. There is little to no acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty, the fallen nature of man, or the need for divine grace in our efforts. For the Christian, all true leadership must begin with fearing God (Proverbs 1:7), not merely improving ourselves.2. Utilitarian MoralitySome principles are presented as “what works” rather than what is right. A Reformed Christian must evaluate leadership through the lens of God’s moral law and the example of Christ, the ultimate servant leader (Mark 10:45), rather than through pragmatic effectiveness alone.3. Secular Worldview and LanguageReaders will encounter a militaristic tone and secular language that may not always align with Christian virtue, particularly in how adversaries or failures are described. While understandable given the authors’ background, believers should exercise discernment and filter such language through a biblical lens.⸻🙏 Final ReflectionExtreme Ownership is a valuable resource for those in leadership, especially Christians in positions of authority—whether in the home, church, military, or marketplace. While the book lacks the theological depth to serve as a complete model for Christian leadership, it offers practical wisdom that, when submitted to Scripture, can greatly benefit believers seeking to lead with integrity, courage, and humility.Like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), we should read books like this with discernment—testing all things and holding fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 starsRecommended for: Christian leaders with a discerning heart, especially those in high-responsibility roles

Excellent read. Valuable everyday on the job.

Truly inspiring. I have read it twice now.

This is a must have book for anyone that wants to improve themselves and their leadership. If more leaders in the world took on these principals and believed the universe wouldBe better off. A must read in physical or audio versions.