“A great read by a great guy. Brace Barber was a superb leader, Ranger and Great American. I was proud to serve with him. This book is a must on every Ranger or those who wish to be’s…coffee table”  – Colonel David Hunt, Fox News Military Analyst.  

“So, you wish to learn a thing or two about being a leader? A great compilation of U.S. Army Ranger School vignettes designed to demonstrate how one can achieve the mental toughness to succeed...no matter what the adversity. Though exceptionally diverse in background and experience, the Ranger students chronicled in this book reveal that they all had one thing in common...tenacity, perseverance and a desire to be one of the best. NO EXCUSE LEADERSHIP is an excellent addition to any leadership or business manager development program and should become as worn, tabbed and dog eared as any well read ‘-10’ equipment maintenance manual. RLTW!  – JD Lock; Author, “To Fight With Intrepidity, History of US Army Rangers.” And “The Coveted Black and Gold.”

“A superb book for anyone about to begin an arduous training program. The challenging demands of US Army Ranger School training as well as the resulting career and lifetime benefits that accrue to those who have the heart and courage to persevere are vividly recounted in this enlightening and very motivating book.”   – USMC Major General (Ret.)Ted Hopgood; Commandant, Corps of Cadets, Texas A & M University

“I would place it on the recommended reading list for those going to Ranger School and those looking for a study in leadership. Although no book can fully prepare one for the adjures of Ranger School – one must be mentally prepared, for the body will be constantly testing the mind.  You must be prepared for this in order to be successful in the most arduous of tasks – US Army Ranger School and ultimately – Life. It is about life – setting high goals and then pushing yourself to the limit and beyond to achieve those goals.”   – Colonel Thomas H. Aldrich; Professor of Military Science, Norwich University

“Brace Barber has done a great job of capturing the essence of what Ranger School is all about. I can tell you that it was the most difficult and stressful activity I have ever encountered in my life, including combat in Vietnam. I learned that teams are the only way to really get things done and that ADVERSITY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.”   – Major General Stewart W. Wallace; Commanding General, US Army Cadet Command

“Brace E. Barber compiles and organizes some amazing stories of life in the U.S. Army Ranger School.  Mr. Barber has done a valuable service for those who are interested in exploring the premiere leadership in the U.S. Army.  If your desire is to understand the dynamics of how one goes about leading and succeeding in difficult circumstances, this could be the book for you.”   – Captain Russell Perkins; Military Instructor, North Georgia Military College

“Damn...I love your book!  Talk about flashbacks...holy cow!  I couldn’t believe I had forgotten so many things about ranger school (especially how miserable I was at times).  But the first three chapters have brought it all back to me...!  Vivid imagery like that is scary.     “And that paragraph about the size of the MRE turd had me laughing so God damn hard I was crying!  Holy shit!  My wife thought I was on drugs. It took me about 10 minutes to calm down to the point where I could read it to her without going into hysterics.  Then SHE went into uncontrollable laughter...  “Great stuff.”  
 – Brad Denham USMA 1982; Ranger Class 5-83; 2d Bn (ABN) 504th PIR, 82nd Abn Div. ‘83-’86; 3rd Ranger Co/USAIS (Department S1) ‘86-’87

 “Great Book! Really believable stories from people going through the roughest time of their life. Combat only compares because you could get killed, in my opinion. I finished your great book and was inspired again (at my age, 69, that’s probably significant, since I don’t seem to be easily inspired by anything these days in our country, although I still wouldn’t put up with anyone who tried to trash it). The tales the Rangers told took me back to those cold days in the mountains of North Georgia and the continual wetness in the Florida swamps. Having made it through the school, I actually enjoyed the long Ranger and Special Forces patrols in Southeast Asia, since everything was a snap after going through the course. One thing I learned was to travel light. I never used C-rations. I took my own rice in banana leaves and a little bottle of Nuk Mahm. Also, used to wear a little Buddha on a pendant, hoping the VC wouldn’t shoot me right away if I ever got caught. I saw a lot of that area; Laos, the Plain De Jarres, Luang Prabang, a valley called Sala Pou Koun, the Ho Bo woods (Hqs for the VC, we later found out), the Michelin Rubber Plantation, Tay Ninh Mountain on the skyline, Duc My, Ninh Hoa, the real boonies.”
– Paul Merola; Advisor to Vietnamese Ranger companies at Trung Lap and Duc My in 1963-64.

 “You’ve done a great job with this book.  I’m telling everyone I know about it.  You’re also doing a great service to the nation…!”
– Lieutenant Colonel, George Greenlee, Staff Leader, Combined Arms and Services Staff School.

 “Actually, I’m half way through the book, and I find it to be an extremely valuable resource.  Honestly, when I first picked it up, I was expecting to simply read “war stories,” but instead, I was pleasantly surprised to see

how you took stories from Ranger School and transformed it into a leadership lessons. Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned was to NOT ever feel sorry for yourself, and do whatever possible to help the patrol out, be it carrying special equipment or keeping your buddies awake during patrol base activities. To that end, I think that your book stresses the importance of lessons like this to your readers.   

“Your book is gaining a lot of popularity at USMA, and has been the topic of many discussions.  Hopefully, cadet’s leadership abilities will be strengthened from this book, and when faced with similar circumstances, be it at Ranger School or in life in general, they will do what is right!”
– West Point Cadet, Brandon Edlefsen

 “I started reading it that evening and, once started, could not put it down. I liked the way you “unfolded” the individual’s experiences and thoughts by allowing them to “tell their story.” A very interesting read. As you know, the WWII Rangers (I was with the 5th Bn) did not go to a “Ranger school” but we did have our training in the U.S., with veterans of the 1st Ranger Bn as our “mentors.” The training time was about 2 months at Camp Forrest, TN. Following that, we did amphibious training at Ft. Pierce, FL at the UDT School. That took about 3 weeks. Then to England and thence to Scotland to train with the Commandos and back to England to the Army Assault Center just prior to the Normandy Invasion.

 “As I read the book I compared our WWII training to Ranger School and saw the similarities, even with almost totally different equipment. I guess good training practices are difficult to scrap.”  – Tom Herring, 5th Rgr Bn, WWII

 “Good book Brace.  I was laughing pretty hard at parts. Read it on a flight from Seattle to Orlando.  People next to me thought it was a comedy book. “Sorry folks, you’d have to have been there to see these things as funny.” And the thing is, I’ll probably re-read it too.” – Rob Hulett, West Point Class of 1987.

 “I’ll tell you what, I really love the book. I’m about halfway through it right now, and can barely put it down. This is the first book in a very long time that has engaged me so fully. And I’ll tell you what really makes the book: the immediateness of the scenarios, and the language. I believe that I am correct in saying that you ghost-wrote (wrote) each ranger’s story; I say that because of the vivid similes and extraordinary metaphors used in the text. As you know, I’ve got my MA in English, so I am a fairly well-educated “reader.” I can differentiate pretty well between “good” and “not so good” writing, and I’ll tell you what, you are one great writer. I ‘gotta tell you, man, I can’t put the book down and I’m going to hate the minute I finish, ‘cause it’ll be all over but the re-reads.” – Major Kubik, Chris,  Professor of English, West Point

 “I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Matter of fact: had a tough time putting it down.”   – Colonel Hazen L. Baron; Commander, Ranger Training Brigade.

“Great book I laughed a lot. Rangers can truly appreciate this book. Non Rangers can catch a spec of an idea as to what its really like. As a sales Manager I try to use what I learned in Ranger School and what I learned from the Leaders themselves people like MG Leuer, CSM Gentry and so many others. Who had an influence on me. RANGERS DO LEAD THE WAY.” – Sergeant David F Stockwell Jr. 1st Ranger BN. 1974 to 1977. Ranger Class 10-74.

 “Your book is outstanding. I’ve been an instructor of Traditional Shotokan Karate for 35 yrs and recommend your book to ALL of my students.” – Staff Sergeant George Wilkie, 505 PIR, 82nd Airborne Division

“A friend of mine just joined the Army with his heart set on becoming an Airborne Ranger. I had only a vague idea of what he was talking about. I found your book on Amazon and could not put it down! By far one of the best books I read in 2002.”  – Jo Maeder

“I have just finished your book and found it to be the best I have read yet. I have read several novels on leadership and military aspects of leadership and so on, but none come close to yours. It kept my attention from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down. I want to thank you for your insight within the book because I know that I will use your techniques to become a better officer and one day graduate from Ranger School and live to learn method of No Excuse leadership.”  – Richard Jones, Norwich University Corps of Cadets

 Excerpts of other reviews:

 “Now that increased terrorism is imminent, what are Americans to do – grow beards, don the muslim headpieces, and all convert to Islam? The answer is NO! Tell them, we have Rangers defending our American principles. And get ready – WE’RE COMING!”

 “The author created an excellent book for young people wishing to expand their horizons and tap their potentials. As a former soldier, I highly recommend this book for those wishing to push farther and harder than their peers.” – Michael Yon from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Author, “Danger Close”

 “A terrific, hard-hitting book on Leadership!

 “A terrific book that captures the essence of leadership under the extreme conditions of Ranger School. Brace Barber, a great leader in his own right, has assembled a number of other great leaders to discuss leadership insights from Ranger School and how those lessons applied to tough challenges they faced later in life. Particularly poignant was Dave Stockwell’s courage and calm as he took the right aggressive action under fire in Somalia, returning his comrade and himself, despite serious wounds, to safety.

 “The stories about Ranger School brought back many memories of those long, bitter cold, winter days in the mountains of Georgia, the sands of Utah, (back in 1987 we had a “Desert Phase” in Utah) and the swamps of Florida. The life-lessons that Brace and his comrades so eloquently articulate -- knowing yourself and seeking improvement, persevering through adversity, and mastering yourself and the situation -- are brought to life in this book. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn about leadership, Ranger School, and the human condition under adversity.
– Christopher D. Kolenda, Editor and Co-Author of  “Leadership: The Warrior’s Art.”

 “Exceptional Insight!

 “Finally, After years of trying to give fellow soldiers, family and friends an idea of what “Ranger School” is like and the personal hardships one must commit to, Brace Barber, puts it all into perspective. There are No “Wild Stories” here, just the vision of each soldier and their personal experiences put onto paper to the degree that feel that ‘You are there’. Just reading this book, put me back into RIP, Pre-Ranger and “Hooah School”. My wife read this book, gave me a hug and said, “I finally understand”. Thank you Brace, for letting my Family and Friends finally realize the “Truth” behind the Stories and to see what I could not explain.” – Reader from Boulder, Colorado 

 Must read for future Ranger students. I bought this book to prepare myself for Ranger school and now I feel like I have a much, much better idea of what I am going to encounter. It made me think twice about going to Ranger school, seeing all of the hardships through students’ eyes, but life as a real man is not appealing at all especially after seeing how Ranger school changed each of the students’ lives in a positive way even after they left the army.

- John C. Mooney

 “Best Ranger Book Ever!

"I had the chance to meet the author at Fort Bragg last year and bought the book then out of boredom more than anything. I needed something to read on the plane ride home and the author was a nice (eloquent) guy so I figured the book must also be genuine. I’m glad I did. This is by far the best Ranger book that I’ve ever read. It’s not over the top Hollywood tough guy, but lets you into the inner thoughts of a number of Rangers as they fuel their fire to keep driving on. It’s not a book about killing or being the most macho, but about what drives people to volunteer to serve in this most difficult part of our Army. Reading these stories makes everyone want to just plain be better – just like these heroes.”  – Creighton

 “I attended Ranger School back in 1984. I had no idea what I was getting myself in to. The 19 to 23-hour daily grind forced me to call on every ounce of mental, physical and spiritual strength I had -- and then some. Ranger School taught me never to sell myself short. It showed me that I do not have to give up in the face of seemingly impossible odds. The spirit which Ranger School helped to infuse within me is this: I can, so I will. Leadership begins with mastery of self. Accordingly, self-mastery begins within and is manifested without. Each of us can be great by being all we can be – the former Army slogan, which, frankly, resonates much more powerfully than the more idealistic ‘Army of One.’ It really is true, ‘RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!’”
– Stephen C. Stokes, Esq.; Attorney and Former Army Officer.

 “Most importantly; you did a great job imparting in words alone what the Ranger School is really about. I went through in Feb-Apr of 1961. I taught there in 1963-4 and volunteered to be a Ranger Instructor in all three camps - with different classes. Few have ever had that experience but I think more RI’s should do it. Your works do a great job in giving the reader a realistic view of what goes on. CONGRATULATIONS for a job done in Ranger excellence.”
– Ranger Bill Spies, Member, Ranger Hall of Fame.

 “This book immediately took me back to my days in Ranger School. The stories are vivid to the point of scary. It inspired me to review my perceived limits and set new goals.” 

“Thanks for your consideration and your time and thanks for writing that book! You Rangers reminded me of a steel inside that I had forgotten and neglected. I’ll polish it up and put it to use. There is still time to do some good.”

 “A friend in Singapore, who is a professional trader, sent me this.  Thought you’d be interested...
I have started reading Brace’s book. It is absolutely awesome and I hope I get a chance sometime to meet him. The book is more inspirational than let us say Norman Vincent Peale, even though it is not a “self-help” book but a very real narrative.”

 “In addition I think leaders of all types who don’t have the opportunity to attend Ranger School some ideas on becoming a better leader.”

 “Many thanks for writing this great book.  It’s one that I will read again and again.”

 “This book was really eye-opening. Everyone should know just how fully dedicated our American servicemen are.”

 “Excellent Job! It’s no wonder that Rangers Lead The Way (RLTW). I have always liked working with Rangers because they do tend to be head and shoulders above the rest, and the author of this book did a great job explaining why.”

 “Finally! Real insight into THE school. It’s a series of personal accounts from different guys who made it through the Army’s premier leadership school. But this book is more than just personal anecdotes; as these tales are told, the Rangers explain the lessons they learned and how Ranger School helped them become better leaders in the Army and in civilian life in general.

 “I must’ve read this book about seventy or eighty times sitting on my stuffy bunk at Ft. Benning. If you really want to know what Ranger School is like, this is the ONLY book in town!”

 “Great book; even if you’ve never been to ranger school! What a great narrative! Takes you inside the confines of one of the most difficult schools the military has to offer and inside the minds of the candidates living through it. Sometimes funny, sometimes draining, but always motivating.”

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