Destroyer Captain: Lessons of a First Command Paperback – Illustrated, 30 September 2014

This is a first-rate book. I am delighted I read it. I found it to be touching, informative, funny, and readable.It also confirms, once again, what I think of those in the American military----they are very good people, and dedicated professionals.It is not surprising to note that Admiral Stavridis is an avid reader. It shows in his selection of books, and in his writing. If you don't read, you can't write well, and he writes well. I respect the way he is in touch with history, and literature. I also respect the way he is in touch with reality---he cares about those under his command, and he takes every bit of his job seriously.I was interested in the Admiral's observations about the Middle East, and the problems America has there.The book was written before 9/11, and some of the observations caught my attention. He noted that Iran is the real problem in the region, which is hardly a surprise. He also wrote that it might be useful to turn Iraq into a democracy as a challenge to Iran. I gather this idea was around a long time before George W. Bush adopted it.I do not know if its right or wrong. The "surge" seems to be effective, after all, and it might just work out.it would be interesting to know what Admiral Stavridis thinks about it now.I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in naval history, naval warfare, and history in general. It is well worth reading.

It was a good, easy read. I got an appreciation for how long a sea tour can be, which was more than two years in this case. I also got an appreciation for the complexities of operating naval ships close to each other, e.g. 100 ft when taking on supplies. I will read it again on the way to and from Austin.

I enjoyed the book immensely- as a young officer on USS DEYO (DD 989) during a Mediterranean deployment, I sailed into many of those ports just a few years later in 1998. It was my first introduction to the Navy and to the World for that matter... I too remember thinking many times after those late night watches..."What in the world am I doing?" I also remember the beautiful scenes the author describes about the ocean and it's eternity... And Admiral Stavridis is right, God does live out in those waves.On a professional level, I of course enjoyed hearing of the Admiral's great triumphs, but it was the failures I cherished most... Not because I enjoy seeing the great fall, as so many Americans thirst for... On the contrary, they were appreciated because I failed more times than I could count when I had Command. I battled those same questions, perhaps more so with just 9 years experience under my belt, and it was just nice to know that on occasion he had failed like me. That said, I was never prouder of my men then when we sailed into Bahrain for the final time...in our wake of a job well done. It was, as the Admiral described, such a sweet sweet period of my life. Despite all my shortcomings and failures, those six months remain the proudest of my professional life.Even after closing the book's cover, it continues to resonate with me, especially when thinking about the supporting cast (XO, Vince, the rest of the gang) whom I would love to learn more about... What a pleasure this has been to reflect on his experiences, as well as my own in such a framework.A true joy to read. I am grateful that the author shared his experiences with us.LCDR Michael Brasseur(Former Captain of USS WHIRLWIND)

Very interesting. Presents a successful captain's perspective on sailing a modern destroyer and leadership.

Although it has been 13 years since James Stavridis was CO of the Barry, Destroyer Captain gives an account from his journal that seems surprisingly fresh. It is fast paced and easily read despite some editorial errors. The author is expressive of his feelings as captain, yet his writing is precise and not sentimental. As everyone in the operational military knows, the author makes a point of describing how well the crew performs and how high the morale is when the ship is actually doing the job for which it was designed. He gives genuine credit to others, as any successful commander would, and credits his luck at times. He gives some limited commentary on Navy policies, though I would have liked to read more in this area. Given his current position as a 4-star admiral, this wish is probably not realistic.The book will be most interesting to those who have sailed navy ships. As a retired Navy captain, I could put myself in his position, but the book should be interesting to all sea-going officers and CPOs.