A much-sought-after geopolitical commentator, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis comes to the Kentucky Author Forum to talk about his book “Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character.” His chosen 10? He goes full speed ahead past David Farragut to that noblest of nobles, Lord Nelson, earns a not-surprising place — as does China’s resilient explorer Zheng He. You probably can’t get much more of a polar dynamic between great leaders than Sir Francis Drake and Grace Hopper, and that’s an example of why you might make the bold choice of giving this book as a gift. A quote from Hopper herself sums it up: “Everyone is playing it safe. We’ve lost our guts. It’s much more fun to stick your neck out and take chances.” NPR’s Melissa Block hosts the event. —T.E. Lyons