Inside the Five-Sided Box: Lessons from a Lifetime of Leadership in the Pentagon by Ash Carter

Few figures in United States history understand the inner workings of the Pentagon better than former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. During his tenure as Secretary of Defense under former President Barack Obama, Carter was responsible for leading the military, the Department of Defense, and all its associated programs.

Carter's new book, Inside the Five-Sided Box: Lessons from a Lifetime of Leadership in the Pentagon, delves into his unique perspective of leading the Pentagon during a time of great transition. Carter takes readers behind the scenes and reveals his thoughts on complex foreign policy questions and leadership inside one of the most important institutions in the world.

The book begins with a quick look at Carter's personal journey to leading the Pentagon. Raised in Philadelphia and educated at Yale, Carter quickly picked up an aptitude for mathematics and science, which he applied first to nuclear weapons. Carter soon became a top nuclear weapons scientist and gained notoriety for his knowledge both inside and outside the Pentagon.

When Carter was appointed as Secretary of Defense in 2015, he took charge at a time of great transition. As both America's strategic policy and the nature of combat constantly shifted, Carter was forced to confront new questions and make bold decisions about the Pentagon's direction. Throughout the book, Carter chronicles the various changes and defines the key principles of American leadership. He advocates for a strong and capable military but also emphasizes the need for smart diplomatic and technological solutions.

In particular, Carter discusses the Pentagon's struggle to maintain a global presence while also adapting to the ever-changing strategic landscape. He explains that the Pentagon must constantly reassess its strategies and adjust its operations according to new threats and allies. He also highlights the importance of working with other countries to combat terrorism and the need for a strong intelligence base.

Carter's tenure at the Pentagon was also characterized by historic advances in technology. As he notes in the book, America has been building weapons and information systems faster than ever before. This has brought with it great benefits but also exposed the nation to serious security threats. In this regard, Carter discusses how the Pentagon helped develop and secure cyber tools that both protect the nation and maintain its technological edge.

Finally, Carter wraps up the book by taking a look at the future of the Department of Defense. He stresses the need for continued investment in the nation's defense and for enough resources to fund all of the Pentagon's operations. He argues that the nation must remain vigilant against radical forces and invest in policies that protect national security.

In Inside the Five-Sided Box,Ash Carter brings a lifetime of experience to bear and outlines his approach to forging a more secure and powerful America. He succeeds in laying out a compelling vision of the future while also providing unique insight into the inner workings of the Pentagon. Any reader curious about America's defense capabilities or the role of the Pentagon in modern society should surely pick up Carter's latest work and be prepared to learn something new.