No Time for Spectators
The Lessons That Mattered Most from West Point to the West Wing
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Narrated by:
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Martin Dempsey
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By:
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Martin Dempsey
About this listen
Why are the best leaders the ones who are most adept at following? What should we expect of those who have the privilege of leading? And what may leaders expect of those who follow them?
Drawing upon a military career spanning more than four decades, General Martin Dempsey, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, examines the limits of loyalty, the necessity of sensible skepticism, and the value of responsible rebelliousness, and explains why we actually should sweat the small stuff.
No Time for Spectators takes listeners behind the closed doors of the Situation Room, onto the battlefields of Iraq, and to the East German border at the height of the Cold War. It contends that relationships between leaders and followers, employers and employees, politicians and constituents, coaches and athletes, teachers and students, are most productive when based on certain key mutual expectations.
The book begins from the premise that life is not a spectator sport. Especially not today, especially not at a time when issues are so complex, information is so pervasive, scrutiny is so intense, and the stakes are so high.
No Time for Spectators may not be the answer to all of our problems, but it is a clarion call for those who are actually interested in solving them.
©2020 Martin E. Dempsey (P)2020 Martin E. DempseyListeners also enjoyed...
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After he was selected to be NATO's 16th Supreme Allied Commander, the New York Times described Jim Stavridis as a "Renaissance admiral." A US Naval Academy graduate with a master's degree and doctorate from Tufts University, conversant in both French and Spanish, this author of numerous books and articles impressed the Navy's leaders and senior Pentagon civilians. The Accidental Admiral offers an intimate look at the challenges of directing NATO operations in Afghanistan, military intervention in Libya, and preparation for possible war in Syria.
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Insider View on Complexity in Nato
- By Theo Horesh on 05-16-22
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Desert Redleg: Artillery Warfare in the First Gulf War
- American Warriors Series
- By: L. Scott Lingamfelter
- Narrated by: Bill Nevitt
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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When Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, triggering the First Gulf War, a coalition of 35 countries led by the United States responded with Operation Desert Storm, which culminated in a 100-hour coordinated air strike and ground assault that repelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Though largely forgotten in descriptions of the war, an eight-day barrage of artillery fire made this seemingly rapid offensive possible. At the forefront of this offensive were the brave field artillerymen known as "redlegs".
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Excellent account of the Gulf War.
- By Tim on 02-22-24
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Chosen Soldier
- The Making of a Special Forces Warrior
- By: Dick Couch
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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In combating terror, America can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. More than ever, we need men like those of the Army Special Forces---the legendary Green Berets. In Chosen Soldier, Dick Couch draws on nearly a year spent at Special Forces training facilities and offers an unprecedented view of the education of these men.
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Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Green Beret
- By Michael on 07-24-12
By: Dick Couch
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Duty
- Memoirs of a Secretary at War
- By: Robert M. Gates
- Narrated by: George Newbern, Robert M. Gates
- Length: 25 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Robert M. Gates received a call from the White House, he thought he'd long left Washington politics behind: After working for six presidents in both the CIA and the National Security Council, he was happily serving as president of Texas A&M University. But when he was asked to help a nation mired in two wars and to aid the troops doing the fighting, he answered what he felt was the call of duty.
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The Fighting Season
- By Cynthia on 01-28-14
By: Robert M. Gates
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The Gamble
- General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008
- By: Thomas E. Ricks
- Narrated by: James Lurie
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
- Abridged
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Fiasco, Thomas E. Ricks's #1 New York Times bestseller, transformed the political dialogue on the war in Iraq - The Gamble is the next news-breaking installment. Thomas E. Ricks uses hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with top officers in Iraq and extraordinary on-the-ground reportage to document the inside story of the Iraq War since late 2005 as only he can, examining the events that took place as the military was forced to reckon with itself.
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A Sure Bet
- By Joshua Kim on 06-10-12
By: Thomas E. Ricks
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The War Within
- A Secret White House History 2006-2008
- By: Bob Woodward
- Narrated by: Boyd Gaines
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Abridged
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As violence in Iraq reaches unnerving levels in 2006, a second front in the war rages at the highest levels of the Bush administration. With unparalleled intimacy and detail, Bob Woodward takes listeners deep inside the tensions, secret debates, unofficial back channels, distrust, and determination within the White House, Pentagon, State Department, intelligence agencies, and U.S. military headquarters in Iraq.
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Too short the story...
- By Mr. Miint on 10-21-08
By: Bob Woodward
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State of Denial
- Bush at War, Part III
- By: Bob Woodward
- Narrated by: Boyd Gaines
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Abridged
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Bob Woodward examines how the Bush administration avoided telling the truth about Iraq to the public, to the Congress, and often to themselves in State of Denial. Woodward's third book on President Bush is a sweeping narrative from the first days George W. Bush thought seriously about running for president, through the recruitment of his national security team, the war in Afghanistan, the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and the struggle for political survival in the second term.
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Concerning and hard to put down
- By Chris on 12-10-06
By: Bob Woodward
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The Fourth Star
- Four Generals and the Epic Struggle for the Future of the United States Army
- By: David Cloud, Greg Jaffe
- Narrated by: Richard McGonagle
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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They were four exceptional soldiers, a new generation asked to save an army that had been hollowed out after Vietnam. They survived the military's brutal winnowing to reach its top echelon. They became the Army's most influential generals in the crucible of Iraq. Collectively, their lives tell the story of the Army over the last four decades and illuminate the path it must travel to protect the nation over the next century.
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Learning from the Military
- By Joshua Kim on 06-10-12
By: David Cloud, and others
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88 Days to Kandahar
- A CIA Diary
- By: Robert L. Grenier
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 15 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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In his gripping narrative, we meet General Tommy Franks, who bridles at CIA control of "his" war; General "Jafar Amin", a gruff Pakistani intelligence officer who saves Grenier from committing career suicide; Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan's brilliant ambassador to the US, who tries to warn her government of the al-Qaeda threat; "Mark", the CIA operator who guides GulAgha Shirzai to bloody victory over the Taliban.
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Honest conclusion based on practical realities.
- By rehman on 03-30-15
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Fiasco
- The American Military Adventure in Iraq
- By: Thomas E. Ricks
- Narrated by: James Lurie
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Abridged
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The American military is a tightly sealed community, and few outsiders have reason to know that a great many senior officers view the Iraq war with incredulity and dismay. But many officers have shared their anger with renowned military reporter Thomas E. Ricks, and in Fiasco, Ricks combines these astonishing on-the-record military accounts with his own extraordinary on-the-ground reportage to create a spellbinding account of an epic disaster.
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History not Politics
- By Scott on 08-10-06
By: Thomas E. Ricks
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My American Journey
- An Autobiography
- By: Colin Powell
- Narrated by: Colin Powell
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Abridged
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Colin Powell is the embodiment of the American dream. He was born in Harlem to immigrant parents from Jamaica. He knew the rough life of the streets. He overcame a barely average start at school. Then he joined the Army. The rest is history - including Vietnam, the Pentagon, Panama, and Desert Storm - but a history that until now has been known only on the surface.
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Audio book is abridged!
- By Lydia on 02-11-21
By: Colin Powell
What listeners say about No Time for Spectators
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- John
- 05-19-20
One Of My Favorite Books Ever
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a friend of General Dempsey. I have known General Dempsey for over 55 years. I was in his wedding party when General Dempsey married Deanie at West Point. I was thrilled when I found that General Dempsey had narrated his own book. The experience of listening to General Dempsey tell his story was almost surreal and a total delight. I enjoyed the experience so much that I bought a copy for my brother and sister-in-law. My brother is General Dempsey’s best friend. Having said all that, General Dempsey has written and narrated a masterpiece. General Dempsey’s ability to take his many experiences, both good and not so good and turn them into a positive learning moment is a wonderful attribute. General Dempsey’s sense of humor and his capacity to be self critical without false modesty is another virtue of this book and by extension of the author. General Dempsey was born with certain gifts. He nurtured and honed these gifts to become one of America’s finest leaders. This book will not disappoint. I couldn’t stop listening until the end. I highly recommend it.
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2 people found this helpful
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- David Mcfarland
- 11-19-22
Great Insights by a Great Leader
General Dempsey was a tremendous leader. The thoughts he provides in this book are exactly the authentic and insightful lessons you would expect from someone of his caliber. His telling of his stories and the lessons he learned from them are not unlike sitting at the kitchen table with a mentor. I wish I could have had these insights as a young second lieutenant.
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- pmoney39
- 05-30-20
One of the best books available.
Amazing book with great lessons and in depth stories to reinforce the messages being taught in each chapter. If you’re on the edge of listening to this book stop what you’re doing and get it.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Jvazq
- 09-16-24
Structure
The structure was excellent. Never a dull moment. Vivid life experiences followed by lessons learned.
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- Mommye2
- 01-17-21
Excellent biography and presentation
Great insights from a tremendous career. Valuable for all audiences. Read by the author, with engaging presentation.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-21-20
Great book on leadership.
Interesting examples based on his personal experience. Hearing it read by the author, General Dempsey, makes listening to it even better.
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- Raymond A. Cooper
- 04-08-22
insightful lessons everyone can relate to.
Gained a greater understanding of General Dempsey. He was the Commander of the 3rd ACR. Enjoyed the learning process
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- Anonymous User
- 05-09-20
Leadership for Life
Compelling lessons in leadership for anyone who leads, in business, in government, or just in your own family unit. Marty Dempsey is a master storyteller and mentor. He brings these leadership lessons to life with poignant, moving, and inspiring memories from his committed life of service to our nation.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Steve Dietrich
- 01-24-21
Awesome History and Lessons in Leadership
Great history, insights, vision from an outstanding warrior.
For the warrior / leader - many great lessons filtered from Dempsey's long military career. Trump may not have used his military advisors well but he chose them well.
Innovator, leader, immensely loyal to his Country and his troops. The lessons in leadership are applicable within the civilian world and sadly too often missing in vacuous political and large corporate environments.
Part of the joy of the Audible version is that it is narrated by Dempsey.
Highly recommended
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- John C.
- 03-06-22
Good Book from a Great Leader
GEN(R) Dempsey tells much of the story of his upbringing in the military, intertwined with lessons on leadership for everyone serving in leadership positions, or aspiring to do so. The reader can't help but appreciate the history of how he earned the position as the military's senior most officer, interlaced with historical stories of what our military has experienced over the past 20 years of conflict - to include certain decisions that got us there. Really interesting content. Recommended.
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