How do people decide which country came out ahead in a war or a crisis? Why, for instance, was the Mayaguez Incident in May 1975--where 41 U.S. soldiers were killed and dozens more wounded in a botched hostage rescue mission--perceived as a triumph and the 1992-94 U.S. humanitarian intervention in Somalia, which saved thousands of lives, viewed as a disaster? In Failing to Win, Dominic Johnson and Dominic Tierney dissect the psychological factors that predispose leaders, media, and the public to perceive outcomes as victories or defeats--often creating wide gaps between perceptions and reality. To make their case, Johnson and Tierney employ two frameworks: "Scorekeeping," which focuses on actual material gains and losses; and "Match-fixing," where evaluations become skewed by mindsets, symbolic events, and media and elite spin. In case studies ranging from the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and the current War on Terror, the authors show that much of what we accept about international politics and world history is not what it seems--and why, in a time when citizens offer or withdraw support based on an imagined view of the outcome rather than the result on the ground, perceptions of success or failure can shape the results of wars, the fate of leaders, and the "lessons" we draw from history.

Have you ever experienced crises, brokenness and failures in your life? Adrian Ghiduc has written a book that passionately addresses the catastrophic moments of suffering, pain, and loss that most every believer will experience at some point in their life. Having gone through the experience of walking with his mother through her struggle with cancer, which "she fought bravely to the end and won," he transparently shares firsthand the emotions his readers have encountered or will encounter. Ghiduc's goal in writing this book was to write a message of hope for those who are in the midst of suffering, depression, failure and feel hopeless in their situations. Using easily understood objects like puzzle pieces, watchtowers, a letter, orange trees, a slingshot, seeds, a train ride, stones, and bones, Adrian Ghiduc sheds light on the unseen plan of God in some of life's most difficult lessons. God chooses to use people as instruments to fulfill His plans. He uses the diligence and obedience of a bitter widow, a prisoner, a barren wife, a prophet, and a judge to bring about His unseen plans. The author draws on his knowledge of history and shares insights from the lives of unsung heroes to reveal His unseen plans. Stories about broken legs, stolen horses, and daring escapes all show the reader that God is working-even when His children cannot see His unseen plans. Instead of wondering and wandering in the land of failure, learn to trust in His unseen plans and live a life of victory. God can turn your failure into a great victory!

He has been through the worst of heart failure and within hours of dying and two very complicated open heart surgeries to save his life. After the second, he set a goal to complete an Ironman race. He had doubters and naysayers, but three years later, he was defying the odds. This story chronicles all of the hardships and successes of a triathlete, husband, and father who puts family and friends first, and who has overcome obstacles that few ever face.Follow Jeremy Woodward's journey from adolescence to adulthood, from athlete to small business owner, from the operating room to the finish line, and from heart failure to victory. Written by Jeremy Woodward with Ben Veilleux- Published by Civin Media Relations

Life is a journey, and most people with the brightest lives began theirs on the darkest paths. Even though many tread uncertain paths, only a few who secure divine help can complete their journey. I don't know where you are on the road to victory, on the path to success, and the grand adventures of life's ups and downs. I have found that there's no mountain too high, valley too low, or destination too far for divine help--the help that I've enjoyed up until now. God is intentional in everything he does. Therefore I invite you on a journey through one of the darkest paths of my life. On my journey, I encountered peaks that caused me to stumble, valleys I had to fall on my knees and crawl through, mountains that God had to carry me over, and even rivers that tried to drown me. For it required the loss of so-called friends, relatives, and even my youngest child. But even after suffering great loss, there is tremendous victory. In truth, it is a path that could only be traveled by one--a narrow and uncertain terrain; a journey I am yet to complete. But as you tag along on this adventure, I have a question: Would you trust God even when you can't trace him? Do you even know what it means?

An examination of how some legal issues are losing cases - but that's okay because advances are still possible.

Why have the major post-9/11 US military interventions turned into quagmires? Despite huge power imbalances in the United States' favor, significant capacity-building efforts, and repeated tactical victories by what many observers call the world's best military, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq turned intractable. The US government's fixation on zero-sum, decisive victory in these conflicts is a key reason why military operations to overthrow two developing-world regimes failed to successfully achieve favorable and durable outcomes. In Zero-Sum Victory, retired US Army colonel Christopher D. Kolenda identifies three interrelated problems that have emerged from the government's insistence on zero-sum victory. First, the US government has no organized way to measure successful outcomes other than a decisive military victory, and thus, selects strategies that overestimate the possibility of such an outcome. Second, the United States is slow to recognize and modify or abandon losing strategies; in both cases, US officials believe their strategies are working, even as the situation deteriorates. Third, once the United States decides to withdraw, bargaining asymmetries and disconnects in strategy undermine the prospects for a successful transition or negotiated outcome. Relying on historic examples and personal experience, Kolenda draws thought-provoking and actionable conclusions about the utility of American military power in the contemporary world—insights that serve as a starting point for future scholarship as well as for important national security reforms.