Click on cover image to purchase a copy
MWSA Review
American military history is filled with unknown heroes who make extraordinary accomplishments with quiet dedication and humility. In his book, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die: Life Lessons from the Hero Next Door, Capt. David E. Grogan shines a light on men and women who served with simplicity and selflessness across a wide spectrum of conflicts. Drawing on interviews, research, and his own military experiences, the author presents detailed portraits of lives spent in service while offering lessons that can be gleaned from their example. He illuminates the personal goodness of these veterans, as well their struggles and setbacks. The detailed stories in this book teach inspiring lessons of strength, perseverance, and love. The book is a powerful tribute to all those who serve our country and is also a gripping read. Highly recommended.
Review by Zita Ballinger Fletcher
Author's Synopsis
Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die helps readers navigate life's challenges using the lives of veterans to reveal important lessons about character and humanity. Each of the book's fourteen chapters begins with an interlude that discusses an important life lesson such as, "If you don't see a path, blaze a trail," or "Don't accept adversity, challenge it." The chapter then includes one or more veterans' life stories to illustrate the lesson. From manning the deck of an aircraft carrier during a Japanese kamikaze attack, to patrolling the jungles of Vietnam, to riding in an armored vehicle across the Iraqi desert, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die portrays the gamut of wartime and peacetime service.
The veterans' stories in Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die highlight the ordinary yet extraordinary lives of twenty-two men and four women. The stories feature combat and non-combat veterans who served in World War II, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, the Iraq War, the Cold War, and America's peacetime military. Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die's unique approach to presenting the veterans' stories in the context of the life lessons they teach expands the book's audience beyond those interested in military history alone. Each chapter's life lesson offers a new lens through which the illustrative veterans' stories can be viewed and interpreted, making the book attractive and relevant to anyone seeking guidance in how to lead their life.
Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business/Self Help
Pages/Word count: 263 / 90,192