Books
Three books on the work and the life behind it.
Two bestsellers, one on the leadership ceiling that breaks high-IQ technical teams, one a memoir on presence and life in the micro, and a definitive playbook (in progress) on medical device cybersecurity from premarket submission through postmarket surveillance.
Coming 2026, in progress
Medical Device Cybersecurity. The Book.
Navigating Premarket Submissions and Postmarket Surveillance
A complete, working playbook for the teams responsible for shipping safe, secure medical devices. Eleven chapters span the Total Product Lifecycle: regulatory landscape, risk management, Secure Product Development Frameworks (SPDF), security architecture views, interoperability, STRIDE threat modeling, third-party software and SOUP analysis, cybersecurity testing, and structured risk assessment. Every chapter closes with useful tips, key terms, and a real case study from the field.
What's inside
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Threat modeling, STRIDE & SBOMs
Trust boundary analysis, entry point analysis, and threat scenario development, with a worked STRIDE case study.
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Risk management & TPLC
Building a cybersecurity risk management report that holds up across the Total Product Lifecycle, premarket through postmarket.
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Secure Product Development (SPDF)
FDA-aligned development, security architecture views, and design controls that actually clear submission.
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Third-party software & SOUP
Managing components, Software of Unknown Provenance, and SBOMs with a SOUP case study in medical imaging.
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Global regulatory alignment
FDA, EU MDR, PMDA (Japan), NMPA (China), TGA (Australia), plus NIST, AAMI, and IEC standards mapped to one program.
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Real case studies
Philips Tasy EMR (2018), SaMD 510(k), wearable health monitoring, and remote patient monitoring testing.
Bestseller
The Smartest Person in the Room.
The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity
Opens with Dick Cheney disabling the wireless on his pacemaker because he feared assassination by hack, and uses that image to argue the root cause of the cybersecurity war is not technology, but the people defending us and the smartest-person-in-the-room ego that keeps them from communicating. Drawn from thirty years in the field and the founding of Alpine Security, the book lays out a seven-step Secure Methodology that turns brilliant individual contributors into leaders who can actually be heard.
What's inside
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01 · Awareness
Notice the habits, stories, and reactions quietly running the room before anything else can change.
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02 · Mindset
Trade ego, posture, and fear of ambiguity for curiosity, ownership, and a growth orientation.
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03 · Acknowledgment
Confirm what was actually heard before replying. The handshake most technical conversations skip.
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04 · Communication
Translate technical depth into language a non-technical executive can act on, without dumbing it down.
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05 · Monotasking
Presence is your ally, distraction is your enemy. Run the conversation in front of you, fully.
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06 · Empathy
Cognitive empathy as the unlock for high-trust technical teams, even for engineers who think it is fluff.
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07 · Kaizen
Compound improvement through honest self-review, retros, and small reps that beat heroic overhauls.
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Growth & contribution
The closing chapter on what happens after the seven steps: leading other smart people through the same arc.
Bestseller · Memoir · 2023
The In-Between.
Life in the Micro
Opens with a chain-reaction car accident on May 9, 2022, where Christian and his partner Vanessa stop to help and everything snaps into focus. From that in-between moment, the book traces a path out of a macro-obsessed life of summits, exits, and chase, into a present-moment way of leading and living. Ten chapters move from rock-bottom to actionable awareness, identity, intention, authenticity, core-value alignment, presence, insight, leadership, and the in-between in action.
What's inside
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Rock-bottom & awareness
The Danish breakdown and the slow turn from macro-chasing to actionable awareness of what is happening right now.
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Resetting identity & intention
Trading a chase-defined self for informed intentions, authenticity, and a way of choosing that holds under pressure.
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Core value alignment
Surfacing the values quietly running the show and re-aligning work, relationships, and ambition around them.
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Presence & insight
The micro-moment practice that turns presence into insight, and insight into better decisions at scale.
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Leadership from the in-between
What it looks like to lead a company, a team, and a partnership from the present moment rather than the next milestone.
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The in-between in action
Field stories from the car crash, climbs, business exits, and partnership where the micro-practice actually got used.
Reader reviews · The Smartest Person in the Room
What readers are saying about TSPITR.
‘Open communication allows us to solve problems and commit to fixing them’
"This book nails what any cybersecurity professional needs to know. It's not all computers and code. You have to delve into the human element. The author's premise that preventing cyber attacks is a two fold strategy is important. The first prong is to have technological safeguards in place. The other component is to realize that people are the real issue at hand. The Secure Methodology involves The Seven Steps - Awareness, Mindset, Acknowledgement, Communication, Monotasking, Empathy, and Kaizen (continuous improvement)."
Informational, but most relevant for cybersecurity employers/employees
"Christian Espinosa’s The Smartest Person in the Room gives readers an internal look at why and how cybersecurity is not as effective as it should be. The author illustrates the importance of communication and people skills, offering valuable methods for improving cybersecurity. It addresses the issue of technical employees lacking required skills as a cause for cybersecurity failures."
The most important thing in cybersecurity [and self]
"Christian passionately leads the reader on a journey of closing the gap and demonstrating beautifully how to seamlessly weave together intelligence and communication through the Secure Methodology. This book sets the reader on a journey, that leads to one’s innermost thoughts and beliefs. It holds valuable information that will change your life and help your employees exceed their goals."
Technology and the Technician
"The writing presents a unique approach to addressing cybersecurity threats. The author illustrates this through real stories, outlining the importance of communication and people skills in cybersecurity. It’s a valuable look for leadership in cybersecurity-holding employees accountable for their egos and effectiveness in roles that require both technical and social skills."
A strong mindset and communication skills as a technical person
"The author outlines the importance of communication and people skills, giving practical steps on how to develop in this area. His approach to cybersecurity emphasizes humility, showing that employee mindsets are crucial in preventing attacks. This broadens applicability to anyone in technology, not just cybersecurity, making it a valuable read."
Reader reviews · The In-Between
What readers are saying about The In-Between.
The impact of ‘micro-moments’ in our lives.
"In 'The In-Between: Life in the Micro,' Christian Espinosa explores the impact of micro-moments in our lives. Espinosa recounts a life-altering incident where a car crash shifted his perspective, emphasizing the importance of appreciating small moments instead of just the big milestones."
A Book About Approaching the World Differently
"This nonfiction account of Christian Espinosa's life emphasizes understanding life's minutiae over big goals. His perspective disrupts conventional success-driven thinking, offering insight for those seeking to reassess their life priorities."
A testament to the power of self-reflection
"Christian Espinosa's book is about noticing the micro-moments in life amidst the chase for bigger goals. His writing reflects personal experiences and encourages readers to appreciate everyday moments."
A thought-provoking journey into self-discovery
"Espinosa effectively communicates the importance of valuing micro-moments in our lives. This inspiring narrative encourages readers to reflect on their lives and appreciate the often overlooked moments, though some parts could be more concise."
Interesting Read
"Espinosa's narrative emphasizes authenticity and insight through personal challenges. The story encourages appreciating small moments while conveying a profound message of self-reliance and mindfulness."
Bulk orders and speaking