Anthony Paustian, PhD

“On December 2, 1988, I lifted off aboard the Shuttle Atlantis on a top-secret mission to deploy a classified surveillance satellite. We accomplished the mission on the first day, but on the second, Mission Control informed us they had seen something hit our right wing during launch and ordered us to examine it. We saw a major amount of damage to our heat protection tiles. Given it was a classified mission, the Department of Defense would not allow us to broadcast a television signal back to Earth, but they agreed to let us send it encrypted. Mission Control studied it for a day, then cleared us for reentry. The images on the encrypted video were so poor that they had concluded we were only seeing shadows.

Even though the damage was there, I was reluctant to argue—bad form for an astronaut. We survived reentry, but more than 700 tiles were damaged and one was missing. Only a thick metal plate had saved us which had almost melted through.”

Written in his own words, Space Ace is the memoir of Astronaut Robert Lee “Hoot” Gibson, a true master of speed and air. Beginning from his youth growing up in a family of nine and learning to fly from his father, this book chronicles a rich, fascinating, and insightful life, encompassing the full breadth of his storied career while providing leadership lessons along the way. Gibson rose through the ranks from Vietnam combat pilot to Navy Top Gun, from test pilot to NASA Space Shuttle Commander. “Hoot” shares it all, de-classifying some of the most historic moments in aerospace history, first-hand.

Winner of 7 International/National Literary Awards

Drawing inspiration from the epic story of the Apollo Moon Program, collected research, and his own life experiences, Dr. Anthony Paustian outlines the many small steps it takes to achieve anything great in life. With the practical tools described in this imaginative, easy-to-read book, A Quarter Million Steps teaches the reader how to affect change and create success through imagination, creative problem-solving, effective leadership, mental focus, work ethic, teamwork, and an understanding of the role of perception. The reader will learn less about what to think and more about how to think.

FORWARD by Apollo 15 Astronaut Alfred Worden

Standing Strong tells the more than 130-year story of West Bank, an award-winning Midwest regional bank.

Since its simple beginnings on the muddy streets of Valley Junction in 1893, West Bank has seen its share of change. As West Des Moines’ oldest existing business, the bank has survived recessions and a depression, 23 U.S. presidents have come and gone, and improvements to technology have dramatically changed all aspects of human life.

Despite it all, West Bank continues to thrive, regardless of what it faces. Its investment into people and deep-rooted relationships continues to be the strength behind its resilience and ability to weather changes in government policy, unprecedented interest rate hikes, and social expectations.

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Although there are many great books discussing traditional leadership, Beware the Purple People Eaters takes a slightly different view––effective leadership of others begins first with leading yourself. By incorporating personal observations, life experience, and collective history, Beware the Purple People Eaters encourages readers to consider a more introspective view of the necessary attributes of successful leadership, beginning with the lessons our parents taught us. Leadership is more than just buzzwords and metaphors; it’s about the values of imagination, resilience, integrity, self-discipline, and character (attributes sometimes too quickly dismissed as “old-fashioned”). In today’s trying times, this book makes a compelling case that these virtues are worth revisiting. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself reflecting on your personal leadership style, life experiences, and hard-won lessons. Like the characters from The Wizard of Oz, you may discover that what you went looking for in the first place was within you all along.