MTNTOUGH Book Review - Leaders Eat Last

Leaders Eat Last

Author: Simon Sinek

Review by Ibex Journal Staff

Buy a copy for yourself at Amazon

In the world of leadership books, few titles have the staying power of Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last. The phrase itself comes from the Marine Corps tradition where officers allow their troops to eat first, a simple act that symbolizes a deeper truth: real leaders serve before they are served.

Sinek builds his case on a straightforward but powerful idea. The best leaders create what he calls a “Circle of Safety,” an environment where people trust one another, where individuals know their efforts matter, and where they believe their leaders will protect them rather than sacrifice them to the pressures of the moment. When teams feel safe, they will endure hardship, embrace risk, and commit fully to a mission. When they do not, they unravel.

The book’s strength lies in its blend of storytelling and science. Sinek explains how four key brain chemicals—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and cortisol—shape our reactions to leadership. Leaders who build trust and cohesion encourage serotonin and oxytocin, the chemicals of pride and connection. Leaders who rule by fear and neglect fuel cortisol, the hormone of stress and anxiety. The science is simplified, sometimes overly so, but it gives readers a memorable lens for understanding why leadership decisions affect more than performance—they affect human biology.

Where Leaders Eat Last really shines is in the stories. Sinek draws from Marine officers, corporate executives, and first responders to show how leaders set the tone in crisis. He highlights organizations where trust became the foundation for resilience, and others where selfish leadership corroded morale. At its core, the book is less about theory and more about example: leadership is visible in daily actions, not abstract speeches.

For MTNTOUGH readers, the resonance is obvious. Leadership under weight is a familiar theme here, whether that weight comes from responsibility, risk, or the literal weight of a ruck. Sinek’s message reinforces a principle we believe deeply: leaders carry more so their people can endure. Shackleton did it on the ice, soldiers do it in combat, and strong teams do it in business and family life.

The book is not without flaws. Sinek repeats himself, circling the same ideas multiple times, and some case studies feel cherry-picked for effect. Those looking for a step-by-step guide will not find it here. Leaders Eat Last is a manifesto more than a manual. But its simplicity is part of its strength. By stripping leadership down to service, trust, and sacrifice, it reminds us that the fundamentals matter most.

The final takeaway is clear: people do not give their best because of paychecks or perks. They give their best because they feel valued, protected, and trusted. Leaders who eat last create teams that will go to the edge of endurance for one another, and for the mission.

Article Author: Byron Owen - Ibex Journal Editor, MTNTOUGH Leadership/Military SME

Byron Owen is a former Reconnaissance Marine with tours as both a platoon commander and commanding officer at the elite 1st Force Reconnaissance Company. He also had the honor of commanding several intelligence and cyber units to include Combat Mission Team One, Cyberspace Warfare Task Group 1, and 3d Radio Battalion. He writes about influence warfare and cyber at keyterraincyber.com, and about leadership at broadswordsix.com