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
-
Threat modeling, STRIDE & SBOMs
Trust boundary analysis, entry point analysis, and threat scenario development, with a worked STRIDE case study.
-
Risk management & TPLC
Building a cybersecurity risk management report that holds up across the Total Product Lifecycle, premarket through postmarket.
-
Secure Product Development (SPDF)
FDA-aligned development, security architecture views, and design controls that actually clear submission.
-
Third-party software & SOUP
Managing components, Software of Unknown Provenance, and SBOMs with a SOUP case study in medical imaging.
-
Global regulatory alignment
FDA, EU MDR, PMDA (Japan), NMPA (China), TGA (Australia), plus NIST, AAMI, and IEC standards mapped to one program.
-
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
-
01 · Awareness
Notice the habits, stories, and reactions quietly running the room before anything else can change.
-
02 · Mindset
Trade ego, posture, and fear of ambiguity for curiosity, ownership, and a growth orientation.
-
03 · Acknowledgment
Confirm what was actually heard before replying. The handshake most technical conversations skip.
-
04 · Communication
Translate technical depth into language a non-technical executive can act on, without dumbing it down.
-
05 · Monotasking
Presence is your ally, distraction is your enemy. Run the conversation in front of you, fully.
-
06 · Empathy
Cognitive empathy as the unlock for high-trust technical teams, even for engineers who think it is fluff.
-
07 · Kaizen
Compound improvement through honest self-review, retros, and small reps that beat heroic overhauls.
-
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
-
Rock-bottom & awareness
The Danish breakdown and the slow turn from macro-chasing to actionable awareness of what is happening right now.
-
Resetting identity & intention
Trading a chase-defined self for informed intentions, authenticity, and a way of choosing that holds under pressure.
-
Core value alignment
Surfacing the values quietly running the show and re-aligning work, relationships, and ambition around them.
-
Presence & insight
The micro-moment practice that turns presence into insight, and insight into better decisions at scale.
-
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.
-
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. It is well written, easy to read and understand, and doesn't read like a dry Cisco book. The information covers both practical examples as well as the human psychology behind it. Instead of focusing on what is wrong with computer systems, the author delves into the psychology of self. Highly recommended."
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 security is not as effective as it should be. The book explores common attitudes, traits, and mindsets of cybersecurity employees, and how these lead to failures and shortcomings, providing a guide for improvement."
The most important thing in cybersecurity [and self]
"In a world of ever-increasing knowledge and technology, it is imperative to close the door to the enemy through effective communication. Christian passionately leads the reader on a journey of closing the gap and demonstrating beautifully how to seamlessly weave together intelligence and communication through his brilliant Seven Step Secure Methodology."
Good
"Good book that provides insights into the cybersecurity field and emphasizes the necessity of communication skills in technology roles. It helped me see the human angle behind technical work, which is often overlooked."
A strong mindset and communication skills as a technical person
"The author illustrates this beautifully through examples and stories. He outlines the importance of communication and people skills, providing practical steps to develop these areas. Highly recommended!"
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 effortlessly looks into the challenges of navigating a success-driven world. He beautifully emphasizes the significance of authenticity, core values, and insight. The book feels authentic, including less proud moments, which add depth."
A testament to the power of self-reflection
"This book revolves around living in the moment, highlighting how the author's perspective shifts from focusing on major moments to appreciating minor ones, encouraging readers to value the micro-moments."
A Book About Approaching the World Differently
"The author examines life through the lens of the macro vs. the micro, advocating for a focus on everyday nuances rather than overarching goals, making it a thoughtful read for anyone seeking to reevaluate their priorities."
A thought-provoking journey into self-discovery
"I believe Espinosa effectively communicates the importance of valuing the micro-moments in our lives. His narrative offers valuable insights and encourages readers to reflect on their own lives."
Important reminder of life’s value
"Espinosa explores the impact of a life-altering moment—a car crash—highlighting the importance of appreciating minor moments and urging readers to savor the in-between."
Bulk orders and speaking