Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot (Reprint ed.)

Rating:
Summary: A Great Thought-Provoking Book
Review: I do not normally choose to read a book based on the author's resume', but Stockdale's credentials (retired thirty-three year U.S. Navy Vice Admiral (3-stars), spent over seven years as the highest ranking U.S. prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam, Medal of Honor recipient, 1992 Reform Party vice presidential candidate, president of the Naval War College and the Citadel, holder of eleven honorary doctoral degrees, experimental test pilot, author, professor), compelled me to read his book. I am very glad I followed my gut instincts, for Stockdale wrote one of the best thought-provoking books about life, character, and leadership that I have ever read.

This book is a collection of essays, speeches, and articles by Stockdale (and one by a Stockdale friend and colleague) about his many and diverse experiences and how they have influenced his personal philosophies about life, character, and leadership. Many of his key points are repeated throughout the book, but the different purposes and audiences for the essays, speeches, and articles prevented those key points from becoming stale.

Stockdale's key points included, but were not limited to: character is demonstrated under pressure; his POW experience was the defining event in his life, a blessing (that I believe most non-POWs (like myself) will have trouble understanding or appreciating); the value of an education in philosophic classics (i.e. Stoicism, Epictetus, the Enchiridion, etc.); his first-hand accounts of the events leading up to the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which officially began our involvement in the Vietnam War (I was surprised); how the lack of character and integrity in senior U.S. leadership prolonged the Vietnam War and ultimately led to defeat and betrayal; and how Vietnam's U.S. POWs differed from our POWs in other wars.

Not one of the easiest books to read, but certainly one of my most inspiring and stimulating readings. I believe this book is one that I will use as a frequent reference, and it is already influencing my personal research and reading selections.

Rating:
Summary: philosophy in the REAL world
Review: I was introduced to Epictetus and his follower Marcus Aurelius (yes, the Emperor from Gladiator the movie!) in the book by Tom Wolfe: "A Man In Full". Briefly , in this Dickensian style novel, one of the characters with a hard luck life and misunderstood personality comes across "meditations" by Marcus Aurelius (yes he DID exist) and this inspires him quite profoundly and empowers him, the effects of which reveberate through the rest of the novel. Intrigued I bought meditations and then the original stoic text: "Handbook" by Epictetus. The introductions of both refer to this book by Admiral Stockdale. The philosophy stunned me with its insights into OUR challenges that we face everyday in our careers, relationships and friendships. But to REALLY see how powerful this philosophy is, is to read this book. Our trials and tribulatons of urban life are nothing compared to Admiral Stockdale's experience of being a POW for several years, tortured and humiliated during the Vietnam war. The insights of how epictetus helped in his (successful) effort to survive & thrive, make this philosphy come "alive" beyond mere "deep words" and UNREALISTIC conclusions that most of us believe philosophy is. If you thought that, read this. If philosophy could make a "gungho" fighter pilot get through what he did, imagine just how REAL it must be.

Rating:
Summary: How to choose the next dozen books to read? Start here.
Review: Life is tough, and it's not fair, and it may not be given to us by a personifiable diety who judges us and has a plan for everything. So what do you do? You have to dig deep within yourself. If you avoid the pitfalls of self-pity or the temptations posed by easy ways out, you can prevail against just about anything. Against repeated torture, humilating forced "confessions", and prolonged solitary confinement? Yes!! This man has been there and is quite willing to tell us all about it.

Being a collection of short articles and speeches written by the retired VAdm., the key points are often repeated and there is not a smooth progession in the narrative. But given the wealth here, there's little wrong with that.

This can serve as an introduction to the works of two great thinkers: one living today, and one who lived just a century after the birth of Jesus. Edward O. Wilson is the former, a friend of Stockdale himself, and the founder of sociobiology (and target of the PC Red Guard... see Tom Wolfe's "Hooking Up"). The latter is Epictetus, a former slave turned teacher (he would not call himself a philosopher) who was among the giants of the Stoic tradition.

Tom Wolfe made a habit in his public apperances a few years back of mentioning the clarity of Friedrich Neitzsche's prognostications. According to Nietzsche, the 21st century would see "the reevaluation of all values" which would be doomed without the implicit belief in an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-juding God. Around this period of time, Wolfe had heart surgery followed by a bout of depression, from which he bounced back to finally finish his mammoth novel "A Man in Full", eleven years (!) in the making. Stoicism features prominantly in the book, and I can't help but wonder if Wolfe himself has found some helpful balance between the rationalism of Wilson (who he has in the past called "the giant") and the sheer fortitude of Epictetus.

Who knows, maybe Wolfe read some of this? As someone who has gone though depression himself, this book offered me a heartening glimpse into the strength that can be tapped into when all else goes awry.

Rating:
Summary: Put on your short list of books to live by
Review: Stockdale mixes philosophy with his hard-earned wisdom as a POW in this incredible, honest inspiring book. Better than 99% of all self-help books. Read it, live it.