“Who The F*ck Is Michael?!” A No-BS Take on Leadership from an Israeli Air Force Chief

Okay, so I just finished this book, and can we talk about that title for a second? When’s the last time you saw a serious leadership book drop an F-bomb right on the cover? That’s your first clue that this isn’t your typical “7 habits of successful whatever” kind of read.

The author, Elyezer Shkedy, is the real deal – former commander of the Israeli Air Force, which means he’s probably forgotten more about leadership than most of us will ever know. And get this – the book was such a hit in Israel that 30,000 copies flew off the shelves, and it became the most-read book among Israeli military personnel in 2022. That’s like having the Navy SEALs give your workout book five stars.

What’s Inside?

Who the F*ck is Michael?!: An Israeli Air Force Chief’s Uncompromising Code for Achieving Greatness shares over a hundred stories from his life and career, and each one hits differently. We’re talking real situations, real decisions, real consequences – not those made-up scenarios you get in most leadership books.

The Good Stuff:

• Zero fluff. This guy doesn’t waste your time with corporate buzzwords
• Stories that’ll stick with you (seriously, you’ll be thinking about them days later)
• Advice you can actually use, not just theory
• It’s like getting mentored by someone who’s been through the fire

My Take:

Look, I’ve read enough leadership books to fill a library, and most of them start blending together after a while. This one’s different. It’s like the difference between learning about boxing by reading a textbook versus getting advice from someone who’s been in the ring.

The best part? Shkedy writes like he’s talking directly to you. No pretense, no “thought leadership” garbage, just straight talk about what works and what doesn’t. And unlike a lot of leadership authors who’ve maybe managed a department or two, this guy was responsible for an entire air force. When he tells you how to handle pressure or make tough decisions, it comes from real-life experience.

Bottom Line:
This book is like that friend who always tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. It’s refreshing, it’s real, and it might just change how you think about leadership. Plus, you get to say you’re reading a book with the F-word in the title – how cool is that?

Rating: 4.5/5

Worth every penny, especially if you’re tired of leadership books that feel like they were written by ChatGPT. This is the real deal, folks.

Nicole Killian