My Journey through Vietnam, Harvard, the White House, the Department of State, and as Corporate CEO
Charles “Chuck” W. B. Wardell III
“A warmly inviting story of a full life” – Kirkus Starred Review
Charles “Chuck” Wardell III has lived an interesting life in extraordinary times – in fact he wasn’t supposed to live at all, but he did...
He was regularly counted out. Even at the hospital where he was born prematurely, the doctor didn’t think he would make it. But Chuck counted himself in and did more than survive. He rose to the top, through Vietnam, Harvard, the White House, the State Department and beyond. He went on to work at the highest levels of many international companies and he retired as the CEO of a major executive search firm. But "retire" is the wrong word, for Chuck is not stopping anytime soon.
This life story, intersecting with major events in American history over the past 80 years, is told with raw honesty and self-effacing humor. Is an inspiration to all who have been counted out. Over and over, Chuck was cut out, flunked out, and simply underestimated. In his early years, he struggled even to finish his homework on account of his dyslexia. But with grit, determination, creativity and a tireless sense of humor, Chuck worked his way through it all, and as he says, he come up big.
This book is for anyone who has ever been counted out: read it to find out how to Come Up Big.
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“A warmly inviting story of a full life” – Kirkus Starred Review
Charles “Chuck” Wardell III has lived an interesting life in extraordinary times – in fact he wasn’t supposed to live at all, but he did...
He was regularly counted out. Even at the hospital where he was born prematurely, the doctor didn’t think he would make it. But Chuck counted himself in and did more than survive. He rose to the top, through Vietnam, Harvard, the White House, the State Department.
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“The cumulative effect is winningly cheerful. A warmly inviting story of a full life.”
“Come Up Big is a fascinating book about a great American life well lived. Chuck Wardell’s journey from growing up in New York to the jungles of Vietnam, through the halls of power in the White House and corporate America provides a great example of living life with determination, grit and a sense of humor. A joyful read!”
“An exciting and even fascinating life does not always produce an excellent autobiography. In this case it does. The author’s charm and whimsical view of life bleeds pleasurably into the narrative making it a thoroughly and immensely entertaining romp through a remarkable life superbly lived.”
Book Details
IMPRINT: BookGo
PUBLISHED: November 7, 2025
AVAILABLE IN: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook
LANGUAGES: English
About Chuck Wardell
Charles W. B. “Chuck” Wardell III wasn’t supposed to live at all, but he did. At the hospital where he was born, the doctor didn’t think he would make it. But Chuck counted himself in and did more than survive. He rose to the top, over and over, through Vietnam, Harvard, the White House, the State Department and beyond. He went on to run six international companies as their CEO, and now, at 80, Chuck is not stopping anytime soon.
