Leaders & Notable People
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The Art of Clear Thinking: A Stealth Fighter Pilot's Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions
Based on a career of making high-stakes, split-second decisions as a U.S. fighter pilot, The Art of Clear Thinking teaches readers to apply Hasard Lee's combat-tested techniques in everyday life.
The training to become a fighter pilot is among the most competitive and difficult in the world with fewer than one in a thousand succeeding. Pushing a cutting-edge jet to its limits at over 1,000 mph means that every split-second decision can have catastrophic consequences. This extreme environment has forged a group of warriors who for the last fifty years have been considered at the apex of decision-making theory and practice.
In The Art of Clear Thinking, Hasard Lee distills what he's learned during his career flying some of the Air Force's most advanced aircraft. With gripping firsthand accounts from his time as a fighter pilot and fascinating turning points throughout history, Hasard reveals powerful decision-making principles that can be used in business and in life, including:
• HOW TO LEARN BETTER AND FASTER
• CULTIVATING MENTAL TOUGHNESS
• DEVELOPING THE SKILLS TO QUICKLY ASSESS, CHOOSE, AND EXECUTE
• AND MUCH, MUCH MORE
Hasard has used and taught these techniques across the full spectrum of human endeavors and proven their effectiveness in both the cockpit and the boardroom. Those who have already benefited include CEO's, astronauts, CIA agents, students, parents, and many others. The Art of Clear Thinking is a book that will change how you interact with the world around you.
The training to become a fighter pilot is among the most competitive and difficult in the world with fewer than one in a thousand succeeding. Pushing a cutting-edge jet to its limits at over 1,000 mph means that every split-second decision can have catastrophic consequences. This extreme environment has forged a group of warriors who for the last fifty years have been considered at the apex of decision-making theory and practice.
In The Art of Clear Thinking, Hasard Lee distills what he's learned during his career flying some of the Air Force's most advanced aircraft. With gripping firsthand accounts from his time as a fighter pilot and fascinating turning points throughout history, Hasard reveals powerful decision-making principles that can be used in business and in life, including:
• HOW TO LEARN BETTER AND FASTER
• CULTIVATING MENTAL TOUGHNESS
• DEVELOPING THE SKILLS TO QUICKLY ASSESS, CHOOSE, AND EXECUTE
• AND MUCH, MUCH MORE
Hasard has used and taught these techniques across the full spectrum of human endeavors and proven their effectiveness in both the cockpit and the boardroom. Those who have already benefited include CEO's, astronauts, CIA agents, students, parents, and many others. The Art of Clear Thinking is a book that will change how you interact with the world around you.
Editorial Reviews
"The Art of Clear Thinking pulls you in like the G-forces of a fighter jet. Entertaining and profound, Hasard takes you on a heart-pounding journey through life-or-death stories woven with the critical, decision-making tips taught to elite fighter pilots. This book will sharpen your ability to stop, see clearly, and make the key choices that may change the entire course of your future." ―Harvey, Karp, MD, FAAP, CEO, Happiest Baby, Inc., Author
"Hasard's great service with this book is to put the reader in the seat of the 5th generation fighter pilot, the world's foremost laboratory for high pressure, high consequence human decisions, and then share their sophisticated and proven decision insights in an easy to read and apply manner. All with stories that take place at Mach speed and will have you turning the page. As someone who spent decades leading special operations, pursuing high-risk sports like BASE jumping and speedflying but also as a business entrepreneur, I've incorporated Hasard's incredibly valuable decision-making tools into the complex world I experience daily, and you will too." ―Dan Schilling, Lt. Col. USAF (ret.), Black Hawk Down veteran, Guinness world record extreme athlete, and New York Times bestselling author
"As a former fighter pilot with two tours in Vietnam, I loved this book. For over a hundred years aerial combatants have shared their death defying stories. The examples Hasard shares, though, are more than simply exciting flying stories. When he describes rolling in with his gun and raining down 100 rounds per second on the bad guys to save U.S. lives, it's not simply for braggadocio. It helps readers learn about resourcefulness and planning when lives are on the line. And it also helps the executive to deal with adversity in a fluid situation where millions of dollars are at stake in the C-Suite. This book is replete with examples from aviation and industry that will help you to make better decisions. I relished reading this book and wholeheartedly recommend it without reservation." ―George Nolly, 315 combat missions over Vietnam, 24 Air Medals and 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, last pilot to complete 100 missions over North Vietnam, Author
"This book brought me right back to my days flying fighters, but also to my time in space. I couldn't put it down. Even more than the heart-pounding fighter pilot stories, Hasard has some powerful and practical words of wisdom for any leader, on Earth or in space!" ―Terry Virts, NASA Astronaut, Internatio...
"Hasard's great service with this book is to put the reader in the seat of the 5th generation fighter pilot, the world's foremost laboratory for high pressure, high consequence human decisions, and then share their sophisticated and proven decision insights in an easy to read and apply manner. All with stories that take place at Mach speed and will have you turning the page. As someone who spent decades leading special operations, pursuing high-risk sports like BASE jumping and speedflying but also as a business entrepreneur, I've incorporated Hasard's incredibly valuable decision-making tools into the complex world I experience daily, and you will too." ―Dan Schilling, Lt. Col. USAF (ret.), Black Hawk Down veteran, Guinness world record extreme athlete, and New York Times bestselling author
"As a former fighter pilot with two tours in Vietnam, I loved this book. For over a hundred years aerial combatants have shared their death defying stories. The examples Hasard shares, though, are more than simply exciting flying stories. When he describes rolling in with his gun and raining down 100 rounds per second on the bad guys to save U.S. lives, it's not simply for braggadocio. It helps readers learn about resourcefulness and planning when lives are on the line. And it also helps the executive to deal with adversity in a fluid situation where millions of dollars are at stake in the C-Suite. This book is replete with examples from aviation and industry that will help you to make better decisions. I relished reading this book and wholeheartedly recommend it without reservation." ―George Nolly, 315 combat missions over Vietnam, 24 Air Medals and 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, last pilot to complete 100 missions over North Vietnam, Author
"This book brought me right back to my days flying fighters, but also to my time in space. I couldn't put it down. Even more than the heart-pounding fighter pilot stories, Hasard has some powerful and practical words of wisdom for any leader, on Earth or in space!" ―Terry Virts, NASA Astronaut, Internatio...
Readers Top Reviews
Moose in NZ
A better book than most in this area. As a veteran, a life and resilience coach, and now Enterprise Change Leader for a financial services company I can attest to the need to have minimal and relevant approaches to decision-making. I say minimal because any damn fool can complicate things, and many do. I've purchased hard copies of this for each of my team
Von SudderthMoose
Hazard Lee has written an incredible book and his insightful perspective on life and how to get to the solution set. His reflection on life and how it applies to us everyday brings new meaning to how to live and get what you want out of life. Seems to me we will be getting a sequel to this incredible book on how to make those tough decisions that get us to where we need to be. It's an incredible read that propels you to the next phase of his timeless rules. I have known Hazard for over fifteen years and he never ceases to amaze me on how I should be living the American Dream. I am waiting for the next book to come out.
Michael C.Michael
Hasard Lee has written a true classic. Weaving exciting stories from both training and combat into clear concepts and lessons learned - this book represents a sum of knowledge and insight that, just like the promotional blurb states, can be applied to every day life by everyone. Regardless of your background, career or age, you will find this to be an engaging and fruitful read. Taking the time to absorb what is on these pages may even represent a landmark shift in the trajectory of ones life by giving them the tools to make optimal decisions every day, large or small. This one will always have a spot on my library shelf and is already special to me. Cover to cover, it is already one of my favorite books of all time. "The Art of Clear Thinking", as Hasard states himself, isn't a simple dogma to live by, but it's one hell of a good starting point. The real works starts after you turn the final page.
Bob CoullahanMich
Lee takes you on fast-paced journey through masterful storytelling of real-world events that offer an unparalleled peering point into the crucible that forges world-class tactical fighter pilots. His stories live on the edge of the most advanced systems, tools, and training and he explores how the supersonic pace of decision making can succeed despite fear, instability, and imperfection of novel courses of action. He offers a rare template for more effective use of our mental bandwidth, and how to maintain confidence while fighting the demons of perfectionism and doubt. In a world overpopulated with critics and character assassins, he helps the reader explore ways to make precision decisions during unfolding real-world events while surrounded by uncontrolled distractions, uncertainties, and risks. He explains how better judgment requires non-linear thinking and offers techniques such as “fast forecasting” and an effects-based approach to analysis that have made a difference in the most intense of life-threatening milieus. As what should be called America’s $50 million man, Hasard Lee, has generously dedicated his professional life and this book to the future success, safety, and survival of not only the forthcoming 5th and 6th Generation fighter pilots, but to anyone challenged with life or death, high risk, and novel choices that must be made in a microsecond -- with limited and often imperfect knowledge. We would be wise to heed his inspiring lessons learned and implement the simple, usable training and techniques in this book. I for one will bring his tools to my work in emergency and crisis management, where capabilities are typically dwarfed by great expectations and ungrateful second guessing. We are blessed to have one of his character, strength, wisdom and talent among us and thankful he has shared his extraordinary experiences with all of us in “The Art of Clear Thinking”.
