Prologue: welcome to my world -- A user's guide to the military-industrial complex -- How not to waste $700 billion -- Working at war speed -- A scientist in the Pentagon -- Many hands on the tiller -- The White House is on the line: serving the President while serving the nation -- A board of directors with 535 members: the arts of dealing with Congress -- Communicating with the press and the public -- Troops in action -- Chain of command: how military plans and orders are developed and executed -- Combat readiness in a crisis-prone world -- Clarity of purpose: defeating isis -- The big picture: defense strategy in a time of transition -- Strategic transition: major adversaries on the global chessboard -- The world's hottest hot spots: Iran, Korea, and beyond -- Maintaining America's high-tech edge: a necessity for strategic success -- People matter most -- Choosing leaders -- Force of the future -- The troops deserve the truth -- Epilogue: a to-do list for a future Secretary

The influential former Secretary of Defense presents a memoir that reveals the complex inner workings of the Pentagon and its essential role in global politics, national security, and scientific research