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The Diary of a West Point Cadet: Captivating and Hilarious Stories for Developing the Leader Within You
Let's be honest. A lot of books about West Point or leadership can be very dry. Learning doesn't have to be that way.
In "The Diary of a West Point Cadet," by Captain Preston Pysh, the author teaches essential West Point leadership through the most fun and unique reading of any book in its class. Each intriguing firsthand account of Preston's top 12 enthralling and hilarious stories from attending West Point, will capture your interest and imagination. The stories walk the reader down a personal journey many outsiders never see behind the thick stoney walls. As an added bonus, Preston efficiently summarizes how each gripping story taught him a vital leadership lesson that prepared him to be a combat commander with the renown 101st Airborne Division. If you are an aspiring cadet, a small-group leader, or even an emerging leader in corporate America, this book is for you.
If you like twists and turns while reading and learning, you are in for a treat. Learning about leadership and the United States Military Academy has never been this fun. Prepare to be glued to your seat and the text as you experience unforgettable stories and lessons from "The Point."
In "The Diary of a West Point Cadet," by Captain Preston Pysh, the author teaches essential West Point leadership through the most fun and unique reading of any book in its class. Each intriguing firsthand account of Preston's top 12 enthralling and hilarious stories from attending West Point, will capture your interest and imagination. The stories walk the reader down a personal journey many outsiders never see behind the thick stoney walls. As an added bonus, Preston efficiently summarizes how each gripping story taught him a vital leadership lesson that prepared him to be a combat commander with the renown 101st Airborne Division. If you are an aspiring cadet, a small-group leader, or even an emerging leader in corporate America, this book is for you.
If you like twists and turns while reading and learning, you are in for a treat. Learning about leadership and the United States Military Academy has never been this fun. Prepare to be glued to your seat and the text as you experience unforgettable stories and lessons from "The Point."
238 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 25, 2022
After having a breakup 6-months ago with my first love who graduated from West Point Military Academy. I realized that after the relationship ended - I really didn’t know anything about the academy. All I had were photos of the ring, yearbook, and more. I was blind-sided and searching for answers to figure out what happened during my exes years at West Point.
I took it upon myself to learn about the academy to find some answers behind this broken heart of mine. Not only did Preston’s story bring a smile to my face that I hadn’t had in months. I felt like I was walking beside Preston every step of the way learning about West Point. Not only did Preston explain everything. But it did give me some light hearted revelations about the behaviors at the academy. Everything made perfect sense to me with my exes behaviors and I was able to find the closure that I needed.
If I didn’t find this book I think I would have been searching for any book on West Point to learn of the academy and the mental breakdowns our cadets go through. I give this book 5 stars and I know I will listen to this again.
Thank you Preston for sharing your story. I know your book will help a lot of people learn about this great academy.
I took it upon myself to learn about the academy to find some answers behind this broken heart of mine. Not only did Preston’s story bring a smile to my face that I hadn’t had in months. I felt like I was walking beside Preston every step of the way learning about West Point. Not only did Preston explain everything. But it did give me some light hearted revelations about the behaviors at the academy. Everything made perfect sense to me with my exes behaviors and I was able to find the closure that I needed.
If I didn’t find this book I think I would have been searching for any book on West Point to learn of the academy and the mental breakdowns our cadets go through. I give this book 5 stars and I know I will listen to this again.
Thank you Preston for sharing your story. I know your book will help a lot of people learn about this great academy.
February 1, 2018
This book had been on my list to read since my daughter received her USMA appointment. As someone completely unfamiliar with West Point and military life, that list contained dozens of other books on the subjects and it was the middle of her Cow year before I worked my way through to this title. By this time I knew a thing or two about the life of a West Point Cadet but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of Cpt. Pysh’s story at all. In fact, it enhanced it.
It was fun to read about things my daughter was currently experiencing and see how they compare to Cadet Pysh’s time. Seems like things haven’t changed much in the last 15 years.
It was helpful to hear his perspective as an officer now looking back. It seems life at West Point has a lot of “gray days” for those currently living it and it’s good to know that graduates could have a positive memory once the blood, sweat, tears and rules are in the past.
I like that each chapter ends with a BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front). These are helpful summaries of the key lessons learned. Each chapter draws you in to the story which is great fun to read on its own, but then you get the bonus of the BLUF.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was pleasantly surprised to read that Cadet Pysh was in the same company as my daughter (GO ‘CANES) and even had the same branch preference. That made the book feel a bit more personal.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those aspiring to attend West Point.
It was fun to read about things my daughter was currently experiencing and see how they compare to Cadet Pysh’s time. Seems like things haven’t changed much in the last 15 years.
It was helpful to hear his perspective as an officer now looking back. It seems life at West Point has a lot of “gray days” for those currently living it and it’s good to know that graduates could have a positive memory once the blood, sweat, tears and rules are in the past.
I like that each chapter ends with a BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front). These are helpful summaries of the key lessons learned. Each chapter draws you in to the story which is great fun to read on its own, but then you get the bonus of the BLUF.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was pleasantly surprised to read that Cadet Pysh was in the same company as my daughter (GO ‘CANES) and even had the same branch preference. That made the book feel a bit more personal.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those aspiring to attend West Point.
March 3, 2020
I thought this was an enjoyable read, but I did have one complaint. I listened on audio and didn't immediately notice when Pysh attended the Academy, But as I progressed, I felt sure it was long before my husband (Class of 1992) and sister-in-law and brother-in-law (Class of 1996) attended. I came to this conclusion because he never mentions female cadets. In fact, the only remotely female references I caught were of tampons and a blow-up doll as gag gifts at a Christmas party.
As tuned my ears to catch the dates for Pysh's time at West Point, I was surprised. He had attended the Academy at a time when women are an intricate part of West Point and have held the highest leadership roles there. I have no way of knowing why Pysh chose to write his story this way. Maybe it's a genuine reflection of his lack of interaction with women at the Academy. Or perhaps it was a conscious choice to leave them out of a conversation about vital leadership. Either way, I feel he missed an opportunity to present a full picture of life and leadership at West Point and think his book would have been much better if it included them.
My BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) When you're writing a book about leadership for those attending West Point or those in the military or corporate America--it should really be written to include women. Huah!
As tuned my ears to catch the dates for Pysh's time at West Point, I was surprised. He had attended the Academy at a time when women are an intricate part of West Point and have held the highest leadership roles there. I have no way of knowing why Pysh chose to write his story this way. Maybe it's a genuine reflection of his lack of interaction with women at the Academy. Or perhaps it was a conscious choice to leave them out of a conversation about vital leadership. Either way, I feel he missed an opportunity to present a full picture of life and leadership at West Point and think his book would have been much better if it included them.
My BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) When you're writing a book about leadership for those attending West Point or those in the military or corporate America--it should really be written to include women. Huah!
June 22, 2020
This book was awesome. Harry Potter meets Space Force.
Preston Pysh now has a very successful podcast on investing, so I was surprised to see that he’d written a book. I loved it!
It was super entertaining and had the right amount of story-to-lesson ratio.
This book had me hooked, and I finished it in less than a week. The stories were so entertaining, I could see this being a popular Netflix series.
Preston paints such a great picture of what it’s like at this exclusive military academy, I felt like I was there with him.
The journey that he went through had such a great arc, I haven’t been this entertained by a business book since “Reminiscences of a Stock Operator”
Well done!
And yes, it really did have a few quite hilarious moments.
Preston Pysh now has a very successful podcast on investing, so I was surprised to see that he’d written a book. I loved it!
It was super entertaining and had the right amount of story-to-lesson ratio.
This book had me hooked, and I finished it in less than a week. The stories were so entertaining, I could see this being a popular Netflix series.
Preston paints such a great picture of what it’s like at this exclusive military academy, I felt like I was there with him.
The journey that he went through had such a great arc, I haven’t been this entertained by a business book since “Reminiscences of a Stock Operator”
Well done!
And yes, it really did have a few quite hilarious moments.
May 3, 2022
Mostly fun stories about leadership
Enjoyable read that tells stories from the daddy's perspective, as well as lessons learned and how those lessons can be applied to leadership..The author graduated in 2003 and walks through all four years of the Academy. Interesting for leadership development, as well as interest in what life is like at one of the service academies. Entertaining and informative.
Enjoyable read that tells stories from the daddy's perspective, as well as lessons learned and how those lessons can be applied to leadership..The author graduated in 2003 and walks through all four years of the Academy. Interesting for leadership development, as well as interest in what life is like at one of the service academies. Entertaining and informative.
September 13, 2020
This was a great book. I think it’s well worth reading. It has some really good lessons in it. I think if more elementary & high schools taught like the academy we’d have a better educated society.
June 5, 2014
I just finished reading this book and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. I feel there is so much things Pysh left out in the book that would have been so great. Maybe I'm a jackass and I expect too much of everything, but it feels like a missed opportunity.
For example, the anecdote about his experiment at the end of the book is really nice and enjoyable. His stories about the early years and funny and all. But all in all, there is not a lot to remember and you don't really get the ''feel'' of West Point, as I thought it would. Maybe I expected a little of Harry Pother of his story, less the magic.
All in all, you can approach the book as an light an easy reading that is pretty enjoyable. If you don't expect too much out of it, you'll have a good time.
For example, the anecdote about his experiment at the end of the book is really nice and enjoyable. His stories about the early years and funny and all. But all in all, there is not a lot to remember and you don't really get the ''feel'' of West Point, as I thought it would. Maybe I expected a little of Harry Pother of his story, less the magic.
All in all, you can approach the book as an light an easy reading that is pretty enjoyable. If you don't expect too much out of it, you'll have a good time.
May 5, 2016
Unexpected Gem
As my son is contemplating accepting an offer to play football at USMA....a dream come true for him...I decided to finally read this book which he read years ago. I was expecting the typical R-day and Beast Barracks horror stories. However, I was not expecting to laugh as much as I did or to come away with such valuable concepts for leadership which are applicable not only for the military and corporate worlds but also for my life as the mother of four children. This was excellent.
As my son is contemplating accepting an offer to play football at USMA....a dream come true for him...I decided to finally read this book which he read years ago. I was expecting the typical R-day and Beast Barracks horror stories. However, I was not expecting to laugh as much as I did or to come away with such valuable concepts for leadership which are applicable not only for the military and corporate worlds but also for my life as the mother of four children. This was excellent.
June 23, 2012
Great first person on the life of a modern West Point cadet, but with every anecdote explained as it pertains to leadership development. Tremendous insight from a person who has seen both sides of the training and leadership equation.
April 14, 2014
Great book, it really exposes some of what the cadets go through during their college life at West Point. It also gives insight into a very bright, very smart young man's mind.
January 16, 2015
Provided some insight into life at West Point, but structure of book seemed forced
June 4, 2018
A great first-hand account of life at USMA.
July 14, 2015
A great resource for leaders in the private sector as well as the military. It also provides a good picture of what to expect if choosing to attend a military academy.
January 31, 2017
Helpful for understanding a certain mindset, and the experiences that shape them. Your mileage may vary.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews