Read Praise for Gus Lee's New Book Courage:  The Backbone of Leadership

Gus Lee, in this well-written and useful book, demystifies courage and reveals what it is made of: integrity, competence and good-judgment.
- Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, USC

When it comes to leadership, Gus Lee has walked the walk and talked the talk. Now in his latest book, he offers all of us who call ourselves leaders a primer on how to gain and maintain in ourselves and our organizations that critical element that makes the difference -- courage!
- H. Norman Schwarzkopf, General, U.S. Army, Retired, former Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command

Gus Lee's Courage carries a ringing mesage about the power and the obligation for leaders to take a stand for doing the right thing the right way. In an ever more complex world, this message should resonate in each of us, leaders large and small.
- Michael Thieneman, Senior Executive Vice President, CTO, Whirlpool Corporation

Great thanks to Gus Lee for this powerful book about courage that he so correctly calls the backbone of leadership. It is a splendid gem with essential wisdom for everyone, but especially for leaders of character on the battlefield, in the marketplace, in our communities, or for anyone who needs to, as he says, cross the river, to make a positive difference. 
- Fred M. Franks, four-star General, U.S. Army, Retired, co-author with Tom Clancy, Into the Storm, former Commanding General, VII Corps, Desert Storm                                              

Courage: The Backbone of Leadership offers insightful advice for executives who wish to do good, while doing well, showing them how ethics and character can lead to increased profits and loyal customers. But the most important audience for this book may be the rising generation of business leaders, particularly MBA students. Courage offers them an important perspective that's often absent from their course work.  
- Donald L. McCabe, Professor of Management & Global Business at Rutgers Business School and Founding President of the Center for Academic Integrity, Duke University

Gus Lee fans who enjoy curling up with the trademark eloquence of his storytelling will not be disappointed by The Backbone of Leadership. His demand for leading with courage comes not from a suspender-snapping CEO; it comes from a humble immigrant and former soldier whose astonishing achievements were built on guts and integrity. Lee argues for courage with the strong voice of humility. It is his voice...a voice of uncommon power that will embolden every reader.
- Bill Robinson, President, Whitworth College                                                           

Gus and Diane Lee have raised the leadership issues relating to integrity, courage and character to an entirely new level. This book is a must read for anyone who aspires to be a leader of character.
- Dr. Len Marella, President, Center for Leadership and Ethics

 I look at this wonderful book through my combat experiences in Vietnam and thirty years in the FBI. Gus Lee has hit the nail on the head. He's captured the essence of leadership. Want to be a true leader? It's in Courage. 
- Charles Hickey, FBI Special Agent, retired                                                                                                  

The philosophy and intuitions within Courage apply well to any enterprise in which great difficulties and failure loom and fear is the typical response -- including, for this reader, the writing of novels. May we continue to be reminded often why 'character' is what we must establish clearly from the beginning and then keep vital and fresh.
- Amy Tan, author, The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter's Daughter, and Saving Fish From Drowning

I have always enjoyed developing good managers into great leaders. Courage is a superb tool to accomplish that goal. It actually brought tears to my eyes, and I am going to give a copy to my son.
- John Gerdelman, chairman, Intelliden Corporation

I was up before dawn reading this book. I find it an excellent read. It made me reflect on issues we deal with over the years which require us to be courageous; I think we have all stood at the edge looking at the river of fear. Gus Lee's use of stories is powerful.
- General Maureen LaBoeuf, Retired, first female head of department at West Point

In Courage, Gus Lee brings a new perspective to the essence of great leadership. 'Courageous leadership' is an especially practical and powerful tool for the many expressions of leadership. Emerging leaders in politics, business, community, education and faith need to absorb the message Lee conveys.
- Banbang Budijanto, Area Director for Asia, Compassion International

Many great books have been written on leadership, but Gus Lee strikes at the heart of the matter in Courage. He reminds us what we know to be true, but don't want to face and see rejected in everyday life. Most important, he provides us the opportunity to reflect, while we read the stories he tells, on how we might change and become the leaders we know we can be."
- Pat Scully, president and CEO, Kids at Hope, and former EDS Iran Rescue Mission member

Gus Lee has identified the critical element that determines outcomes for executives and for organizations. I've studied, written about, and coached courageous leaders for nearly two decades; this book captures the learnable behaviors they have in common. I look forward to sharing Lee's clear insights with my clients in business, in government, in academia, and the nonprofit world -- with anyone who would be a better leader.
- Ed Ruggero, leadership and ethics guide and co-author of the U.S. Army Field Manual Army Leadership and The Leader's Compass

Gus Lee and I worked together in a start-up technology company for two years. Gus was one of the cofounders. Weak leadership threatened the company's viability and necessitated bold action to preclude failure. Gus had the courage to lead the way for major change and thereby save the enterprise. Gus lives what he teaches. Integrity, courage and character are action words to him, not just theoretical concepts. Courage is a leadership book that demands to be added to your professional library -- but only if you are determined to be successful.
- James R. Ellis, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Retired; cofounder of three technology companies, CEO of a children's charity in Florida; former Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command, Commanding General, Third U.S. Army (Patton's Own), First Captain, Corps of Cadets, U.S. Military Academy

As the Old Sarge said, 'All I want from my officers is bravery. Brave is enough.' Gus Lee is a full-tilt practitioner of the principles in this book. His life has been filled with moments of grave challenge and those who know and have served with him, both in and out of the Army, know he writes of courage from first-hand experience. That is why he can tell just the right story that links Confucius to Aristotle to the gut-wrenchers of daily modern life, and make it ring strong and true.
- James P. Sullivan Jr., president, Sullivan Technology, Inc.; teacher of creativity and problem solving, Purdue University; former infantry officer and Army aviator