Kindle
$7.97
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$30.02
Paperback
$14.97
Kindle Price: $7.97

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $13.64

Save: $6.15 (45%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Christian Espinosa
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity Kindle Edition

by Christian Espinosa (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 321 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
Cyberattack—an ominous word that strikes fear in the hearts of nearly everyone, especially business owners, CEOs, and executives.

With cyberattacks resulting in often devastating results, it’s no wonder executives hire the best and brightest of the IT world for protection. But are you doing enough? Do you understand your risks? What if the brightest aren’t always the best choice for your company?

In The Smartest Person in the Room, Christian Espinosa shows you how to leverage your company’s smartest minds to your benefit and theirs. Learn from Christian’s own journey from cybersecurity engineer to company CEO. He describes why a high IQ is a lost superpower when effective communication, true intelligence, and self-confidence are not embraced. With his seven-step methodology and stories from the field, Christian helps you develop your team’s technical minds so they become better humans and strong leaders who excel in every role. This book provides you with an enlightening perspective of how to turn your biggest unknown weakness into your strongest defense.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    282 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    February 2, 2021
  5. File size
    5491 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next page

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Christian is a tremendous leader and visionary. His grasp of the cyber ecosystem and how it impacts our ability to defend our networks and protect our data is truly inspiring. He's a charismatic thought leader and lecturer with the ability to capture an audience while breaking down incredibly complex technologies into simple building blocks. As a coach and trainer, he arms his clients with the knowledge required to truly be successful by offering a path into a brave new world where we truly are the masters of our networks and data."
--Chester "Chet" Ratcliffe, Chief Scientist and Cyber Strategist at Booz Allen Hamilton

"Christian is the subject matter expert's SME, and a natural teacher--making the complex simple to understand at all levels, from deep tech to business strategy and finance. When I want a point of view and a plan I can trust is deeply informed--he's a go-to."
--Mike Reavey, Vice President, Enterprise Security at Electronic Arts

"Developing people skills can be a challenge. Developing people skills in the cybersecurity field in a way that drives mission effectiveness is another. In The Smartest Person in the Room, Christian Espinosa brilliantly merges his decades of leadership training and experience with his cybersecurity expertise to craft an approach to winning the cybersecurity war. And he makes a clear and compelling case for why all cybersecurity professionals should embrace his approach--starting today. If you're a cybersecurity expert, you'll read this book in one sitting because it directly addresses the challenges you struggle with daily. And if you have no direct connection to the cybersecurity field, you'll read it in one sitting as well...only because it speaks to the greater truths of what it is that enables any organization to achieve mission success."
--Robert "Cujo" Teschner, Founder, CEO, and Chief Consultant, VMax Group Consulting, Bestselling Author of Debrief to Win: How America's Top Guns Practice Accountable Leadership...and How You Can, Too!

"Christian Espinosa has worked with many highly trained, highly skilled, and highly educated people over the course of his career. In the process, he has learned that a high IQ (intelligence quotient) without an equally high EQ (emotional quotient) can put your business at risk when it comes to your communication and client service. As the founder of Alpine Security, he wanted to disrupt the world of business by developing top talent with both intelligence and empathy to help companies recognize and reduce their cybersecurity risk, and to protect the lives and livelihoods of people in both local and global communities. Cybersecurity is, at its core, all about the recognition, understanding of, and reduction of risk. Christian has delivered this message to hundreds of public and private cybersecurity students, and developed strategies and techniques for his company to go beyond the surface and address the root causes of risk.
Christian has worked as a subject matter expert in almost every area of cybersecurity, from securing aircraft to building security plans for new regulations and security frameworks. As a leader in the field and an expert on cybersecurity, he is constantly scanning the horizon to identify new threats and new risks that face companies both large and small. In this industry it isn't about if you will face a cybersecurity threat, it is about when. Companies can no longer afford to not have a cybersecurity plan or fail to identify the risks to their organization. There is simply too much at stake. This book is a good first step to building your own successful cybersecurity plan, starting with finding the right people to be a part of your team."
--Jana White, COO, Alpine Security

"In his book, Christian brilliantly illustrates the 'interpersonal skills deficit' crippling the cybersecurity profession(al) every day. How the need for certainty and significance--to be the smartest person in the room--leads to inflated egos (essentially just a guise for deeply rooted insecurities), and dare I say toxic (often bullying) behaviour. Christian's story of self-discovery is inspiring and couldn't come at a better time. But be warned: There is no silver bullet. Change takes time and starts by you getting honest with yourself. Can you honestly say that you are living your best life today?"
--Marilise de Villiers, Founder and CEO, Marilise de Villiers Basson Consulting Ltd, Bestselling Author of ROAR!: How to tame the bully inside and out

About the Author

Christian Espinosa is the Founder and CEO of Alpine Security, a cybersecurity engineer, certified high-performance coach, professor, and lover of heavy metal music and spicy food. He's also an Air Force veteran and Ironman triathlete. He used to value being the "smartest guy in the room," only to realize that his greatest contribution to the fight against cybercrime is his ability to bring awareness to the issue through effective communication. Christian is a speaker, coach, and trainer in the Secure methodology, helping to make the smartest people in the room the best leaders in the field. For more information, visit christianespinosa.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08T6QK6FN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lioncrest Publishing (February 2, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 2, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5491 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 282 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 321 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Christian Espinosa

Christian Espinosa

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Christian Espinosa, an esteemed thought leader, is most known as the bestselling author of "The Smartest Person in the Room," which explores the limitations of seeking validation through achievement and the desire to be the brightest intellect in any room.

With a deep desire to inspire others to harness their innate wisdom, overcome perceived barriers, and summon the courage to tread new paths, Christian authored his latest book, "The In-Between: Life in the Micro." This book chronicles his remarkable transformation—from a "me against the world" mindset cultivated during his tumultuous upbringing to his evolution as a compassionate global citizen committed to uplifting humanity.

A dynamic entrepreneur, Christian built and successfully sold Alpine Security, a cybersecurity business. He founded and currently leads Blue Goat Cyber. He also has an array of professional and personal development certifications.

His expertise extends beyond the confines of the corporate world: he's a white hat hacker, a captivating keynote speaker, a perceptive real estate investor, and a connoisseur of heavy metal music and fiery cuisines. He’s also spent time in the Mexican jungle with Mayan Shamans, is a C-License skydiver, and is a PADI divemaster. Whatever Christian tries, he tends to master.

Beyond his impactful professional pursuits, Christian's zest for life knows no bounds. An adventurer at heart, he fearlessly leaps from planes and balloons, conquers towering peaks, explores the globe, imparts wisdom in outdoor wilderness survival, and even takes on the rigorous challenges of Ironman triathlons. Having completed an impressive 24 Ironman triathlons and scaled two of the renowned Seven Summits, Christian Espinosa epitomizes the spirit of transformative leadership and unyielding exploration.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
321 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

The McKenzies
5.0 out of 5 stars The most important thing in cybersecurity [and self]
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book nails what any cybersecurity professional needs to know. It's not all computers and code. You have to delve into the human element. It is well written, easy to read and understand, and doesn't read like a dry cicso book. The information covers both practical examples as well as the human psychology behind it.
Instead of focusing on what is wrong with computer systems, codes, hardware, access points, and the like, the author delves into the psychology of self. How are your people skills? Being able to interact with a client and assuage their needs is more than lines on a paper. The examples given are real world based instead of thrown out like "what if scenarios" in coursework. Methodologies to improve self and taking ownership of your own accountability and actions. The difficulty I can imagine that people in cybersecurity having a growth mindset given how things have always been before, but if they're not willing to grow then the bad guy is going to find a way around their list that they refuse to budge from.
Even if you're not in cybersecurity I would recommend this book. While I do plan on getting into the field eventually - right now my current job doing private security can benefit from this book. It will help you be able to handle any scenario you get into if you are willing to grow and learn how to be better, handle things better, and see the big picture instead of your immediate surroundings. Even with all the planning and prep, things can still happen. The author speaks of the Japanese “Kaizen” or “continuous improvement”. The continuous improvement cycle made me think of the OODA (Observe – Orient – Decide – Act.) loop that I use in my field. Identify – Plan – Execute – Review.

The tldr of it all is make yourself better, be adaptable, and hope for the best but be prepared for the worst while also continually improving. As I said before, definitely a book that can help anyone – regardless of field.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Mary
4.0 out of 5 stars Generally Sound Advice for Technical Leaders and Individuals
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book has messages about ego, self-confidence, and problem-solving in context of a seasoned cybersecurity professional. The book begins with strong attacks on those who seek to feed their self-importance at the expense of cyber security; those who only hire those they are not intimidated by and who may not have any real skills. “Your ego is not your amigo” is a good summary.

While overall the book feels well-intentioned and founded on real-life experience, there are a few instances of aggressive cynicism and an interesting focus on a debunked and pseudo-scientific idea that people look in particular directions while creating information rather than recalling it. Without the aggression and "you look up and right when lying" sidetrack, it would be a 5-star book.
What I will take from this book are reminders to have awareness, maintain a growth mindset, acknowledge myself and others, communicate, and stop multitasking. The lessons are practical and the fundamental approach is sound, going beyond the boundaries of the cybersecurity world, making the book an appropriate read for executives and leaders in any technical field.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amy J Hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for techies
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023
Verified Purchase
The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa was unexpectedly a very valuable read for me as a manager and leader. Espinosa addresses root causes contributing to the loss of the war on cybersecurity and addresses the human behavior and communication issues that are outlined there. He maps out each cause by chapter with an explanation, real life example or story and exercises that can help with a solution to eliminating the failing behaviors of each cause. The workbook-like exercises are easy to manage and beneficial to anyone willing to learn.
This book can benefit any leader or individual in any field because it explains how to communicate effectively and how to best work with different types of personalities to achieve like-minded goals. I highly recommend Espinosa's guide to a better workplace and safer digital world.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Elizabeth Weatherford
5.0 out of 5 stars Do You Have an Appetite for Change and Growth? Then This Book is for You!
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
In a world of ever-increasing knowledge and technology it is imperative that we close the door to the enemy through effective communication. Intelligence alone can’t save the day. However, knowledge that is effectively communicated to the potential client can thwart the enemies' plans. Distraction creates doorways for the enemy to infiltrate your world. That’s all the enemy really needs.

In his book, Christian passionately leads the reader on a journey of closing the gap and demonstrating beautifully how to seamlessly weave together Intelligence and communication through his brilliant Seven Step Secure Methodology. He keeps the book relevant, personal and challenging. This book sets the reader on a journey, maybe the most difficult one, that leads the reader into one’s innermost thoughts and beliefs. He challenges the reader to honestly evaluate themselves. His passion is to connect people back to what really matters, human connection. We are not an island. We work better and more effectively when we are bridging the gap between expertise and delivery. This book holds valuable and rich information that will forever change your life and even help your employees exceed their goals and job expectations. If you are ready to push yourself towards change and growth, I highly recommend diving into this incredible read.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Steve
2.0 out of 5 stars not technical useful
Reviewed in Canada on June 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book seems written by a chatbot. Pages and pages filled with non-related logorrhea. Quotes Bruce Lee instead of von Goethe. Was surprised by cheap price but there are many reasons for that. Go get a real cyber security book instead!
One person found this helpful
 Report
Pipsy
5.0 out of 5 stars The power of people skills for technical minded
Reviewed in Germany on January 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
While I expected this book on cyber security to talk about technical things, it actually is the opposite. It talks about the people skills and mindsets needed to combat security challenges such as working better as a team, losing the arrogance of thinking you’re the best, and a continuous improvement mindset.
It is well written and the anecdotes from bring it to life and make it more relevant.
Report
Gilbert Eijkelenboom
5.0 out of 5 stars A strong mindset and communication skills as a technical person
Reviewed in the Netherlands on April 29, 2021
Verified Purchase
A technical job is so much more than the technical work.

The author illustrates this beautifully, through examples and stories. He outlines the importance of communication and people skills, and gives practical steps how to develop in this area. The practical framework helped me to convert the lessons to my own life - personal and business. Throughout the book, the author shows how important humility is, and how to adopt such a mindset.

This book is written by a cybersecurity engineer, but it's widely applicable to any people in the technical room.

Highly recommended!
Report
Margaret
5.0 out of 5 stars How to Choose the Red Pill
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Christian Espinosa has over 30 years of experience in the Cyber security industry. Yet, this book refrains from using technical jargon, which makes it more understandable for the reader.

This insightful book provides valuable methods for improving cybersecurity, team relations, and how to develop leadership skills.

The Smartest Person in the Room also points out the issue of technical employees who lack the required skills could be a cause of any cybersecurity quandaries. The author demonstrates, from personal experience, that some personalities are not fit for the technical position, despite being "paper tigers".

What is great about the book is that Christian Espinosa does not just list a number of issues to solve, he provides detailed solutions to each problem. While evaluating the system as a whole, he designed the Secure Methodology that includes seven different steps. Each step is thoroughly described and explained. He also offers teamwork activities for developing essential skills in fighting cybercriminals.

The title of the book refers to employees who focus solely on being the smartest person in the room, and how they will not be a valuable addition to the team. Why? The book will explain everything.

"The Secure Methodology is a surefire way to ignite the people skills of your technical team so we can beat the cybercriminals and win the war." - Christian Espinosa, The Smartest Person in the Room.
Report
Anastasia Styles
4.0 out of 5 stars Your "starter pack" for being able to understand (and thus manage) your cybersecurity team's work.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
While I’m not generally a fan of red pill / blue pill metaphors (as they tend to be quite laboured in this century), Espinosa’s not wrong in his use of such here—you can bury your head in the digital sand, or you can learn at least enough about what’s going on to work to change things for the better.

To give an idea of the composition of this book: the largest part of it is quite general management strategies, exercises, and advices, interwoven with personal stories and the like, as many such books are. The advice there was nothing I found groundbreaking, but it was mostly sensible advice. To that end, it stands on its own two feet already simply as a management book unrelated to cybersecurity.

Espinosa does periodically return to the topic of cybersecurity more specifically, and those parts are definitely helpful for a reader who wanted to learn more about that.

It can be difficult, as a manager, to manage people whose job you don’t understand enough about to direct them usefully (or have any way of measuring the impact of their work in a way that isn’t misleading or wildly open to interpretation), so viewing this as even just 20% “cybersecurity primer” could be useful.

Bottom line is: this book will probably give at least some extra tool (or reminder) that’ll help you generally as a manager, and when it comes to cybersecurity, it’ll give you enough understanding to be able to hold your end of a conversation with your actual cybersecurity staff. They will still be the experts and you will still need them, but you’ll now be able to meaningfully manage them.
2 people found this helpful
 Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report