HarperCollins Leadership
Darkhorse
Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life
By AJ Pasciuti with Neil McGinness
May 19, 2026
HarperCollins Leadership
Darkhorse
Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life
By AJ Pasciuti with Neil McGinness
May 19, 2026
A Note from AJ
About The Book
Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life is a memoir about service, war, leadership, and the people who shape us along the way.
I did not write this as a traditional leadership book. I wrote it as a memoir and leadership allegory, a way to take readers through my 21-year Marine Corps career and to explore leadership at the human level.
Throughout that journey, leadership was not always found in titles, rank, or position. More often, it was shaped by shared service, problem-solving, sacrifice, and the responsibility of placing the needs of others above your own.
Darkhorse moves through moments of uncertainty, high-stakes decisions, and vivid descriptions of combat, including the pursuit of “Juba,” America's deadliest sniper adversary. But at its core, this is not simply a story about conflict. It is a story about people.
It is about the Marines I served alongside, the friends I lost along the way, and what we carried together. It reflects on the trust we earned, the mistakes that taught us, and the people who showed me what leadership looked like when there was no easy answer.
This book is for anyone who wants to better understand leadership not as a theory but as something lived, tested, and shaped by experience.
My hope is that Darkhorse helps readers reflect on their own journey, purpose, and the potential they may still have left to discover.
One book. Dozens of stories. Every one of them real.
Darkhorse
Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life
Available May 19, 2026
The Author
AJ Pasciuti
AJ Pasciuti spent twenty-one years as a Marine, including seven deployments as a Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer. He served with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines — the unit whose call sign gives this book its name — and 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. He holds master's degrees from USC and the University of San Francisco and is a PhD candidate at the University of San Diego.
He is the host of Combat Story, one of the top military podcasts in the world with over 232 episodes and 46 million downloads. Darkhorse is his first book.
AJ did not write this book because he had all the answers. He wrote it because he lived the question: what happens when someone who was never supposed to make it refuses to stop?
Co-Author
Neil McGinness
Neil McGinness is a New York Times bestselling author and collaborator of James Patterson on THE SHADOW series. His ability to bring powerful stories to life on the page made him the ideal partner for Darkhorse.
Neil worked alongside AJ to shape the raw, unfiltered experiences of combat and leadership into a narrative that honors every person in the story.
Praise for Darkhorse
What People Are Saying
"Darkhorse isn't just about combat. It's about leading from the front, learning from failure, and showing up every day to be useful. If you want an example of true strength, read this."
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Actor, Former Governor of California
"This is a once-in-a-generation story. After 200+ Combat Story interviews, AJ's is the first with the force to spark a positive leadership movement. It doesn't just inspire; it calls you to be better and do more."
Ryan Fugit
CIA Specialized Skills Officer, Podcast Host
"Dark Horse didn’t just change how I think about leadership; it changed how I show up for people. It pushed me to lead with intention, humility, and purpose, and reminded me that true leadership is about building others, not just leading them. As a Chief of Staff, that shift has shaped how I lead, mentor, and decide, always putting people at the center. The lesson that will stay with me is that leadership isn’t what you do, it’s what you leave in others."
Lam Nguyen
Chief of Staff, San Jose City Council
Audiobook
Hear the stories in the voice of the man who lived them.
AJ Pasciuti narrates every word of Darkhorse. You hear it in the weight of the words when he talks about the men he lost. In the silence between sentences. In the moments where the voice changes and you realize this is not someone reading a story, But a man sitting across from you remembering it.
Where to Buy
Get Your Copy
Hardcover. eBook. Audiobook. Choose your format.
Join the Community
Stay Connected
Be first to hear what’s next with Darkhorse.
Updates, reflections, and news from AJ.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.