Rating: 4 1/2 stars (Spotlight Review)

How do you express the highest amount of admiration and praise for someone without sounding disingenuous? Well, however that’s done, that’s what I think of Peter Blaber.

In his book, Blaber, a former Delta Force commander, not only tells amazing stories about the men and the missions that he encountered during his time in the military, he also teaches important life lessons taken from his experiences and that can be applied to everyday life—personal and business.

Just reading the stories of the missions culled from the experience of Blaber’s former military position is awesome in itself. The recounting of major ops, executed by some of the best soldiers, is absolutely riveting. Blaber’s innovative way of carrying out his orders and getting the job done is fascinating. I can only hope that our armed forces see the true genius of his planning, adapting and training methods.

One of the most important parts of the book is how Blaber has taken lessons learned in the military and explains how they can be applied to everyday life. One phrase that comes up often is, “Always trust the man on the ground”; which basically means, there is no better person to assess the situation and make a decision than the person right there doing it. Whether you’re a delta force commander or a middle manager, you can’t always be there to hold your staffs’ hand and guide them; which is why you hire the best and trust that the “man on the ground” has what it takes to make the right decisions and get the job done.

The Mission, The Men and Me will keep you turning pages with its useful insight and incredible special-ops tales; told by a man who has seen much more than most of us ever will. Once the final page has been turned, I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean when I say that I have the highest respect for a man I’ve never met.
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Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade; Reprint edition (September 7, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0425236574