Chuck Holton
Politics • Culture • News
Chuck Holton is an American war correspondent, published author, and motivational speaker.
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Six Unlikely Books to Help You Be A Better Man

Five years from now, the person you will become depends on the people you meet and the books you read.

According to the Pew Research center, more than a third of young men have not read any book, in whole or in part, via any medium (electronic, audio or paper) in the past year.

The average book takes about 5 hours to read. To read one book a month, that means you’d have to devote only ten minutes each day to reading. Or multitask by listening to audiobooks in the shower or on the way to work. We aren’t talking home dentistry here, people.

I like to think I’m getting a little bit better as a human being every year I walk this earth. As I think about the influences that have shaped me in the past, I’m drawn to a collection of books that don’t exactly fall into the category of self-help, but they changed me just the same. I am a better man today because of the books on this list, and if you want to be better too, I highly recommend them.

I am not including the Bible in this list because it does not fit the title of this article. But it goes without saying that if you want to be a better person at the end of the year than you were at the beginning, read the Bible every day. It’s a living, breathing document, and as such is the only book ever produced that you can never truly finish reading. It speaks to me, whatever my situation, every time I pick it up.

The following books made me a better man as well, sometimes to my complete surprise.

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand — This massive 800-page tome was an accomplishment just to finish. And while I don’t subscribe to all of Rand’s objectivist philosophy, there are some real nuggets in this book that have stuck with me. Her voluminous thoughts on the meaning of life, the role of politics, the duty of man and the nobility of work have strongly impacted me since I read it almost 20 years ago.

A Helmet For My Pillow by Robert Leckie — War matures a man. The real-life combat I’ve faced has undoubtedly shaped me, but it’s a crucible I cannot recommend. But with this book, Leckie pulls the reader so deeply into the realities of war that I believe you will come out of it a more seasoned, mature person, wiser to the fact that evil does exist in this world. You’ll be more aware of the incredible bubble in which most Americans exist. Add to that the fact that the book contains some of the most eloquent and well-written prose I’ve ever laid eyes on, and you’ll wish Leckie had done much more writing in his lifetime.

The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz — If you ever thought you had a difficult life, after reading this book you will be ashamed you ever thought you had something to complain about. Not only is this one of the most epic adventure stories I’ve ever picked up, but it also taught me something about the power of the human will to keep pushing, and the incredible ability of the human body to withstand the most grueling conditions imaginable. It is a book that sticks with me, one I think about often whenever life gets difficult.

Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper — This is the only overt self-help book on the list, but it packs such a powerful punch I had to include it. Piper’s theme that a man should never actually retire — that if I woke up this morning then I have something important to accomplish — has truly shaped the man who I am today. His chapter about “entertaining ourselves to death” was a major catalyst in my giving up television and other passive activity and those decisions have made my life a thousand times better.

Dominion by Randy Alcorn — All of Randy Alcorn’s writing is powerful, but this second of his Ollie Chandler novels had a profound impact on how I understand race relations in the United States. After finishing the book I would never be able to look at a black man the same way for the rest of my life. Alcorn is so skillful at describing black culture and experience that many people simply can’t believe he is white. Through reading this book I gained a much deeper understanding of the importance of research and accuracy in my writing as well.

Mover of Men and Mountains by R.G. LeTourneau — This autobiography of the man who invented most of the machines that made America what it is today is one of the most compelling books I’ve ever read. There is a reason it’s been around for decades. LeTourneau failed over and over again, starting his last business after the age of 40. He started it on his knees, promising God to give not ten percent, but 90 percent of his earnings away. He kept that promise and still died a billionaire. This is an incredible story of grit, hard work, and hustle that every young man should read.

I think every book is a classic in one sense or another. Unfortunately, so few young people read at all anymore. But this presents an opportunity for the guy who wants to outperform his peers. Reading a book a month will put you so far ahead of your competition you will likely never want for a way to put a roof over your head or provide for your family. Couched in those terms, ten minutes a day seems like a pretty high-yield investment.

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Is the U.S. Training Syria’s New Jihadist Army?

Very few media outlets are talking about this, but they should be — urgently.

While most of the world is distracted, U.S. troops are conducting live training exercises in Syria with the forces of the country’s new interim government, now led by Ahmed al-Sharaa — a man widely known as a former Al Qaeda affiliate.

Let that sink in.

Recent reports confirm that U.S. personnel at the Al-Tanf garrison have been training members of the so-called 70th Division, a unit formed from remnants of the Syrian Free Army, which now pledges loyalty to this new government. This comes right on the heels of a massacre of Druze civilians, allegedly carried out by those very same government-aligned forces.

Aiding the Next Generation of Jihadists?
This isn’t just a questionable policy — it could be morally catastrophic.

Druze communities, who have long sought neutrality in Syria’s civil war, were brutally attacked.

Christian populations in the region are living in fear, as radical factions become emboldened ...

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Debunked

Debunked: Following several accusations that Israel is causing famine in Gaza, COGAT has released drone footage of the hundreds of truckloads of supplies waiting to be delivered to Gaza by the UN. A statement accompanying the footage claims that 'There is enough food here to feed all of Gaza, if the UN ever came to pick it up.

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Did Jewish Settlers Burn a Church?

See for yourself

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Episode 622 - Field Producer Dennis Azato and Chuck Reminisce

My erstwhile field producer and cameraman Dennis Azato has accompanied me on ten years of adventures across the globe. Today he joins me in Ukraine and we spend some time remembering our many trips together.

Episode 622 - Field Producer Dennis Azato and Chuck Reminisce
200k Giveaway and Thank You!

We just hit 200,000 subscribers on YouTube, and I want to say thank you. Every view, comment, prayer, and share has helped build this mission. The Hot Zone is about truth on the front lines, and you’ve helped carry it forward.

To celebrate, we’re doing a 200K giveaway. I’m giving out PDF copies of my books, including Making Men. To enter, comment when you started watching and your favorite Hot Zone moment under the video linked below.

Winners will be announced in one week. Watch here to enter:
Winners will email [email protected] to claim their prize.

Thank you for standing with us.

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Hamas Releases Images of Starving Hostage

Palestinian Islamic Jihad just released a video of Rom Braslavski.
He looks like he is in Auschwitz.

The ONLY images I’ve seen of starving men in Gaza… are the Jews held in terrorist dungeons.

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Good Morning Zonnies!!! I hope each of you are having a blessed day! Let us Pray for Israel and Chuck and Connie on their travels!

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Weaponizing Aid: Why Gaza’s Suffering Persists

Well folks, I was supposed to be on my way to Thailand right now to cover the war there. But thankfully, that war ended before I had to board a plane—praise God for that. Not just because it spared me 24 hours of cramped flights, but because it spared countless people the devastation of another conflict. So instead, I get a few extra days here in northern Armenia with my grandbaby before Nathan and I take off on our next adventure.

But let’s get to it—the big headline today is humanitarian aid. Everywhere you look, the narrative is the same: “More aid must go to Gaza. People are starving. Israel is to blame.” That’s what the media wants you to believe.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: aid is rarely just about saving lives. Too often, it’s a weapon—used to control populations, prop up corrupt regimes, and advance political agendas.

Billions of Dollars, Decades of Aid – No Change

Global humanitarian aid tops $60 billion a year, yet places like Gaza, Haiti, Afghanistan, and much of sub-Saharan Africa remain locked in poverty and dysfunction. Why? Because aid has become an industry, not a solution.

As Graham Hancock writes in Lords of Poverty, it’s a “self-perpetuating complex” that feeds salaries, conferences, bureaucracy—and never gets judged on results. Billions pour in, but nobody asks, “Did this actually help anyone?”

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Armenia: A Love Story — Special Feature

Chuck is back in Armenia right now, and it is more than just another assignment. The couple featured in his documentary Armenia: A Love Story — Nathan and Rubina — are now expecting their second child. That means Chuck is about to welcome his sixth grandbaby, making this trip a deeply personal and memorable one.

To celebrate, we’re posting a special feature today. It is like an extended trailer for the full documentary and gives you a taste of the powerful story behind it.

If you are a paying supporter, you can watch the full version right now by searching Armenia: A Love Story in the content library.

If you are not a supporter yet, now is the perfect time to join and experience the full journey for yourself. This is a story of faith, resilience, and love in one of the world’s most complex regions.

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Israel at a Crossroads: Conquer, Besiege, or Capitulate?

Hey folks, Chuck Holton here—coming to you one last time from this balcony in Jerusalem before I head to Tel Aviv and then on to the next frontlines. But before I leave, I want to break down some of the most critical developments from the past week in Gaza and beyond. And believe me, there's a lot to unpack.

Three Roads for Israel

Let’s talk strategy. An analysis in Israel Hayom outlines three main options Israel faces in Gaza:

  1. Conquer Gaza: Full military occupation, boots on the ground, control every inch. But that comes at a high cost—thousands of IDF troops deployed indefinitely.

  2. Besiege Gaza: Maintain pressure without full occupation. This could include arming anti-Hamas factions—like Abu Salai’s clan in Rafah—and continuing selective strikes.

  3. Status Quo: Keep doing what they’re doing—limited incursions, hostage negotiations, and intelligence gathering. But this risks being perceived as weak and prolonging the conflict indefinitely.

As I said on Newsmax, the idea of a ceasefire right now is fantasy. Hamas still believes it’s winning—happy to let their people starve if they can pin the blame on Israel. President Trump nailed it:

“You’re gonna have to fight. You’re gonna have to clean it up. You’re gonna have to get rid of them.”

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