Person
Every book Leif Babin recommended on podcasts
Leif Babin is a former United States Navy SEAL officer and leadership instructor. Appearing on The Shawn Ryan Show, Babin discussed his military background and leadership concepts from his co-authored books. He reflected on reading Richard Marcinko’s 'Rogue Warrior' as a boy, which sparked his early interest in joining the SEAL Teams. Babin also described how he and his teammates held Bible study and read the Bible during Hell Week, drawing inspiration from the story of Gideon. Discussing his written work, Babin explored the leadership principles in 'Extreme Ownership', co-written with Jocko Willink, explaining how ego drives people to cast blame and how teams must take absolute responsibility for outcomes. He noted that businesses initially questioned how combat lessons translated to corporate environments, but found that the concepts successfully improved teamwork. Additionally, Babin referenced 'The Dichotomy of Leadership' to illustrate the ongoing balance leaders must maintain between confidence and humility, and he recommended David H. Hackworth’s memoir 'About Face' as a phenomenal book.
Books recommended by Leif Babin
-
Extreme Ownership
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin is a practical leadership guide rooted in military combat experiences that emphasizes personal accountability and execution.
Discussed“I think that understanding this concept that we we call Extreme ownership man our our ego is such a powerful driver in in the world and it wants us to point fingers or cast blame”
Where to get it
-
About face
About Face by David H.
Recommended“this is something that he got from uh a book uh by a US Army a retired Colonel named David hackworth called the bout face and if you haven't read this book it is a phenomenal pH phal book”
Where to get it
-
Bible
The Bible is a foundational anthology of sacred texts shaping Western culture, law, and morality through historical narratives, poetry, and theological teachings.
Discussed“and I remember just reading the Bible having Bible study um me you were having Bible study totally in buds totally yeah wow Andrew Paul and I on our team uh several others you know”
Where to get it
-
Rogue Warrior
Rogue Warrior by Richard Marcinko is a bestselling 1992 autobiographical account detailing the founder's turbulent career and his time leading the elite United States Navy SEAL Team Six.
Discussed“the marcinko books uh came out red Rogue Warrior you probably read it probably about the same time I did and uh that was that was one that really I started reading about the seals”
Where to get it
-
The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win
The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win is a leadership guide by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin that explores the principles of military command and business management.
Discussed“you know the dichotomy of leadership right you got to try to find that balance you got to be confident but not cocky right”
Where to get it
Books Leif Babin wrote
- Extreme Ownership
- The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| #162 Leif Babin - What Leadership Looks Like in the World’s Deadliest Warzones | The Shawn Ryan Show | 2025-01-22 | 9 |
Other mentions (6: passing, ad reads, own books)
“this was the 101st Brigade or the 101st Airborne Division um this was the uh the first of 506 Task Force Red Curry and this I mean they they live that the the the celebrated Band of Brothers a tradition you know from the the book that Stephen Ambrose wrote”
“it's kind of cliche right the uh Charles Dickens um Tale of Two Cities right the best of times it was the best of times it was the worst of times but I think it's important to say that man”
“not everybody needs to know everything that you know you would spend all your time trying to communicate things to people all the time that's that's not a good use of your time as as the owner of a company but if that's one of the biggest lessons and the most humbling lessons that I brought back with me um”
“and I could tell you that when I start pointing fingers and casting blame and making excuses my wife reminds me that I wrote a book called Extreme ownership and I should start taking some”
“this month marks the uh the 9th anniversary of the publication of extreme ownership um and uh the fall Dy leadership that was published in 2018 was now been been re-released but there's still people driving the sales of that book through Word of Mouth”
“the fall Dy leadership that was published in 2018 was now been been re-released but there's still people driving the sales of that book through Word of Mouth people are people are reading it”