Moving from one phase of life to another is not always easy, and it is especially true when transitioning from military to civilian life. Many veterans have gone into depression, and some have committed suicide because they could not adjust to their new environment. Unfortunately, most civilians lack the empathy to feel the pains of these veterans because, in earnest, civilian life is quite different from military life. Hence, Resilient Transition by Sa’eed Mustafa seeks to guide veterans to make a successful transition to civilian life despite the obstacles on the way.

Mustafa joined the army in 1984 and eventually became a command sergeant major before his retirement in 2014. Despite the challenges after his retirement, Mustafa became the first elected African-American councilman in his hometown. He is also involved in other meaningful activities that point to his successful transition from military to civilian life. He, therefore, shares his experience with us in this book and gives invaluable tips and practical steps to guide veterans to win in life after they transition to civilian life, regardless of the challenges they would come across.

I always commend authors who aim to change the negative narratives in society through their books. Mustafa is one such author! Do you know that about twenty veterans commit suicide every day in the US? We all know that veterans are vulnerable to mental health issues like PTSD and depression, so I love how relevant this book is in helping them to live purposeful and successful lives after service. This 178-page book is a concise but insightful guide that teaches tried and trusted methods like music therapy, the universal law of attraction, steps to building a resilient mindset, amongst others, to ensure that the reader makes a successful transition.

What I like most about this book is the author’s friendly and conversational tone. I even started feeling like a veteran; no disrespect to the gallant veterans out there. Perhaps it’s because the book’s content can also apply to civilians transitioning from one phase of life to another. The author’s tone is so optimistic and motivating, but I especially loved how I could feel his intention to help the reader in his writing. The book is also well organized, and I love how it follows a step-by-step approach to inspire the reader to have a successful transition.

Furthermore, this book is engaging and fun to read. I enjoyed the author’s use of personal stories to inspire readers, as it provided a good mix of intriguing narrations and life-changing lessons. And the icing on the cake is that the author’s language is simple and easy to understand.

As much as I especially and highly recommend this book to veterans and soldiers nearing their retirement, I urge readers who are transitioning from one stage of their lives to another to read this title. For example, I enjoyed the author’s advice for students graduating from school. Many graduates don’t cope well with life after school, so I am sure they’ll also find the book beneficial.

There’s nothing I disliked about this insightful masterpiece. The author even provides the reader with his playlist to inspire them to be resilient in their doings through music, and I must thank him for his gift to readers at the end of the book, as I intend to use them. The book’s editing is almost flawless, as I found only a minor error throughout the publication. Hence, I am rating Resilient Transition a well-deserved four out of four stars.