What's on your Recommended Reading List?

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 18:51:02 -0500

Yes, the professional reading list, it seems as if everyone has one these days; so have you considered developing your own? In the late 1980s the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program officially got its start as the "Commandant's Reading List," each CMC since has placed his personal "stamp" on the program, though many of the books have remained consistent; apparently, in some form or another "recommended reading" lists have been generated for marines since the 19th century; today we see that each service, organization, etc. have a recommended reading lists of one sort or another... so, have you considered... what would be your "leaders reading list?"  It could be career-field specific, cover leadership and/or management, training, human psychology/achievement, life planning/financial, or any other subject(s) that you find complementary for a fitting and thorough list. So, the challenge here is to determine... what titles would you put on your own personal version of a "professional reading list?"

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 19 at 2013 7:16 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:16:33 -0500

I'll read anything by Colin Powell. Other than that...the Bible.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 7:27 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:27:27 -0500

Perhaps I should create one, I have a number of books I've got from published reading lists. I stumbled upon this "grandmother" of all reading lists recently. The summary link is an insightful read indeed.

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/12/13/what_to_do_this_weekend_well_here_is_the_grandmother_of_all_military_reading_lists#sthash.GhyVx6Q3.HkJsNzMc.dpbs

What to do this weekend? Well, here is the grandmother of all military reading lists

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 8:31 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 20:31:59 -0500

SSG B, great choices, I'm familiar with and recommend 3, 4, and 5; I haven't heard of "It Worked for Me" or "MBA in a Day," I'm pretty sure folks would be interested in knowing more; so, please feel free to offer any details you think would be useful or "gee whiz" information. Again, great selections... thanks for sharing!

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2013 12:06 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 00:06:17 -0500

Since professional reading and development is one of those topics that we can't talk about enough, here are a few other great threads on the topic; hopefully the discussions will inspire and help generate ideas to help you and your troops' personal and professional development... best wishes for continued success and thank you for all that you do!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2014 12:34 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 00:34:16 -0500

Sir, I have so many books on my reading list, it's not even funny. I would recommend just about anything historical with an occasional dab of fiction (i.e. Vince Flynn, Brad Thor).

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Feb 18 at 2014 7:47 PM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:47:32 -0500

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is an amazing story that I suggest everybody read. it is soon to be made into a movie but for me it was a book that was hard to put down.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2014 3:07 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:07:39 -0500

The following should be required reading for every soldier (in my opinion):

ADP 1: THE ARMY

ADRP 1: THE ARMY
PROFESSION ( required above all others)

ADP 1 is a bare basics guide to the Army mentality, but ADRP 1 is an essential guide as it not only reenforces what soldiers went through in BCT, but it gives and explaination of why the Army conducts the business the way it does.

A soldier that understands why they are doing something will produce much better results than a soldier that is just told to do it.

Not to say that you have to explain to a soldier why you asked them to do something, because if they are required to read these books and you question them about it, they will begin to understand and will start to take the initiative to do tasks with passion instead of distaste.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Feb 19 at 2014 3:43 PM

CSM Michael Poll — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:43:17 -0500

The Noncommissioned Officer and Petty Officer:
Backbone of the Armed Forces

Response by SFC Anabel Cepero made Feb 19 at 2014 10:14 PM

SFC Anabel Cepero — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:14:04 -0500

Sir,

These are some of my choices in no particular order:

Horse Soldiers

Imperial Grunts

The Gift of Fear

FM 7-22.7 The Army Noncommissioned Officer Guide

The Mentor: Everything you need to know about Leadership and Counseling

I have so many more, but these are some that stick out to me.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2014 10:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:18:27 -0500

"One Second After" by William R. Forstchen. A story about a few EMP's going off over the U.S. and the aftermath. Great book, pretty damn realistic. You would be surprised to see what big wigs in Washington help promote it.

Google

Search the world's information, including webpages, images, videos and more. Google has many special features to help you find exactly what you're looking for.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2014 11:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 23:36:45 -0500

Once and Eagle by Anton Myer should be included on any reading list.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2014 12:50 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 00:50:50 -0500

The following books are fiction, but I think they still serve their purpose well being on a military service members reading list. Each has it's own take on leadership, and I learned a lot from reading them.

1 - Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
2 - The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
3 - Enders Game by Orson Scott Card

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2014 4:39 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 16:39:40 -0500

There
are a lot of great books out there to add to one’s professional reading list.
Besides many of the books already mentioned, these are some of what I have on
my bookshelves.

“Crazy
Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors” - Stephen E. Ambrose

“Manhunt:
The Ten Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad” – Peter L. Bergen

“Red
Blood, Black Sand: Fighting Alongside John Basilone” – Chuck Tatum

“Incredible
Victory: The Battle of Midway” – Walter Lord

“Democracy
in America” – Alexis de Tocqueville

“The
First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt” – T.J. Stiles

“At
Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor” – Gordon W. Prange

“Makers
of Modern Strategy from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age” – Peter Paret

“Leadership:
The Warrior’s Art” – Christopher D. Kolenda

“Sherman:
Great Generals Series” – Steven E. Woodworth

“American
Creation: Triumph and Tragedies in the Founding of the Republic” - Joseph J.
Ellis

“Inferno:
The World at War 1939-1945” – Max Hastings

“Midnight
Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War” - Tony Horwitz

“Undaunted
Courage” - Stephen Ambrose

“The
H.L. Hunley” - Tom Chaffin

“Catch-22”
– Joseph Heller

“Watership
Down” - Richard Adams

“American
Sniper” - Chris Kyle

“The
Portable Conservative Reader” – Russell T. Kirk

“War
& Friendship” - Colonel Pill-ki Chung

“Flags
of Our Fathers” – James Bradley

“Fighting
For America: Black Soldiers – The Unsung Heroes of WW2” – Christopher P. Moore

“The
Fourth Star” – David Cloud & Greg Jaffe

“American
Soldier” – GEN Tommy R. Franks

“The
Rape of Nanking” – Iris Chang

“The
Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution” – Brion McClanahan

“Stars
in Their Courses: The Gettysburg Campaign” – Shelby Foote

Response by SFC Don J. made Mar 4 at 2014 9:47 PM

SFC Don J. — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:47:23 -0500

I don't have a personal favorite, but a person should read books on whatever they are interested in. I have not become a better leader by reading a bunch of books someone else recommended.
I lean toward the military history books. Currently studying the War of 1812.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2014 11:08 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 23:08:52 -0500

I am reading a book about Vietnam called 'The Cat From Hue. I love cats so this goes well and in my era which is even better. word!!!

Response by PO1 David Waeschle made Mar 5 at 2014 12:03 PM

PO1 David Waeschle — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:03:49 -0500

I've looked at the responses here and I think it's a wise idea for everyone to read more main stream normal books sprinkled in with all the leadership and combat books. You all are at some point going to step out of uniform. People on the outside (civilians) while they may say "we love our military and we support our veterans" they don't and won't look at you the same as their peers. They need to see some sort of normalcy and constantly reading leadership, military, and combat books will cause you to frighten your civilian counterparts. Because your smarter and more dedicated than they are. And believe it or not that's a threat to those who control whether or not you get hired in a civilian job. All the books I see listed are great examples and I have read some myself. But take it down a notch. I say read The Game of Thrones ( there are 5 books in the series at this point there will be a 6th at some point. And it is a good example of all the political maneuvering you will need to do in life and your career.) Want to start your own business after your career in the military? Read the Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki and Good to Great and How the Mighty Fall both by Jim Collins, Read The Shack by WM. Paul Young, another good read is Dig Your Well Before Your Thirsty by Harvey Mackay this is a particularly good one for those of you still in the service and are looking to retire or leave in the next year or so. And that's my tid bit of advice and suggestions for an effective reading list.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2014 9:32 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:32:06 -0500

The Outpost by Jake Tapper

Response by SSgt James Stanley made Mar 7 at 2014 3:15 AM

SSgt James Stanley — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 03:15:30 -0500

"Herky! The Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace". The story of Col. Herschel Green, a WW11 USAAF fighter pilot, and his 100 missions over North Africa, Italy, and Germany.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2014 7:49 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:49:32 -0400

Here's some recommended reading and resources on the subject of Cyber from SGM Charles Brainard, see the links below for more information; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Cyberpower and National Security (National Defense University): Franklin D. Kramer, Stuart H. Starr, Larry Wentz: [login to see] 233: Amazon.com: Books

Cyberpower and National Security (National Defense University) [Franklin D. Kramer, Stuart H. Starr, Larry Wentz] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The cyber domain is undergoing ex...

RallyPoint | Cyber Domain thinking

Cyber security is like all warfare--the leader assesses risk and identifies key capabilities which will protect or deliver the outcomes necessary to meet an end state.  The first step is understa...

Response by Thomas Rancourt made Mar 22 at 2014 9:57 PM

Thomas Rancourt — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 21:57:24 -0400

An Excellent Question, Major.

Being of a heavy martial arts and hand-to-hand combat background, I find that there are things that people seem to overlook. For example, some might tell you to read an autobiography of some famous General or other- but it unfortunately Americanizes the views of our troops at large. Don't get me wrong, that is all well and good, and sometimes our country needs a bit of patriotism written by some retired General or former Chief of Staff- however, I find that a broader view happens when people look into a broader reading list from people not only in this country, but from countries around the world. My list is as follows:

Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef

Art of War by Sun Tzu

The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

Spetsnatz hand-to-hand combat training guide

Yeager, an Autobiography by General Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos

The Red Circle by Brandon Webb

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

Traveller (A Civil War Novel) by Richard Adams

Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara

and, believe it or not, Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Breakdown:

Son of Hamas goes in-depth like never before from the point of view of a Sheik's Son, who witnesses first hand the horrors of the Hamas regime. The Art of War and The Book of Five Rings both are from famous warriors, and reflect deeply on their philosophies and teachings to a degree of acuteness rarely seen from most perspectives of martial arts and battle tactics, both defensive and offensive. The Spetsnatz combat guide is not just for training purposes, but also to induce a mindset of understanding what most people from other armies and special forces endure in their daily training. It's extremely hard to get a copy of one, but if you have it, it is invaluable as an asset to your combat guide collection. General Yeager's Autobiography explains in detail the rigors of a combat and test pilot, and has more than it's share of points in the story where General Yeager is frank to the point of bluntness. The frankness allows some light-heartedness and will not have you bored out of your skull. The Red Circle deals with the rigors of SEAL training and the personal experiences of a SEAL sniper, who ultimately becomes a focal point in several battles and a Navy SEAL instructor.
All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel of World War I and focuses heavily on the German Army as they struggle- from boot camp to the trenches of blood and mud.
Traveler, Killer Angels, and Gods and Generals are three Civil War Novels, based directly on historical events and records that reflect on the living conditions, battles, and what lead to the outcome of the Civil War. And Finally, I go to Lord of the Rings as (believe it or not) a Psychological evaluation. It was written by J.R.R. Tolkien who began writing The Hobbit in the trenches on the front lines during World War I. I find it to be a valuable example of what horrors or venturous ideas a person might think of while under a high-stress environment and a lot of tension. The very thought that someone created a new storyline and a whole new world just to deal with stress is remarkable in itself, and the details given are nothing short of intriguing and amazing.

The List not only covers our struggles as Americans, but the struggles of those involved in war.

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Mar 23 at 2014 12:03 AM

SPC Michael Hunt — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:03:04 -0400

Proverbs... King David wrote them to pass on wisdom to His son. Read one chapter a day.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 12:24 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:24:26 -0400

"Gates of fire" or any book regarding the Spartan Mentality, Alexander the Great, and a book of Gen. Patten's Quotes

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2014 12:25 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:25:20 -0400

Day by day Armageddon and Muddy Boots Leadership. One of the biggest points I took away from Muddy Boots Leadership is the difference between a sergeant and a Noncommissioned Officer.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2014 11:38 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 23:38:21 -0400

I have listed just a few books that have had a real impact on my life. They vary from military, inspirational, historical, networking, to financial freedom. I feel that we have to be a well rounded individual in order to find true success in life. Happy reading!

Gates of Fire - Steven Pressfield
The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom - Slavomir Rawicz
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
The Men, The Mission, and Me - Pete Blaber
Miracles & Massacres: True and Untold Stories of the Making of America - Glenn Beck
Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2014 10:22 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 22:22:23 -0400

Here's a recent article with the CSAF Reading List, which includes numerous books and films, as well as TED Talks and web resources; very interesting, you can check it out for yourself here:

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2014 2:15 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 14:15:02 -0400

Here are just a few related conversations that you'll find interesting; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by SSG Robin Rushlo made Apr 29 at 2014 2:33 PM

SSG Robin Rushlo — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 14:33:32 -0400

The Art of War
The GO GIVER
GO FOR NO
Who moved my cheese
The Bible

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2014 8:17 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 May 2014 20:17:47 -0400

The Art of War - Sun Tzu. It's a brand new book every time I read it.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made May 3 at 2014 9:04 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Sat, 03 May 2014 21:04:25 -0400

For leaders, I always recommend "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, and "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made May 3 at 2014 9:09 PM

SSG Todd Halverson — Sat, 03 May 2014 21:09:21 -0400

My list would be:
American Sniper by Chris Kyle
Lone Survivor by Mark Luttrell
Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
You Can't Predict a Hero: From War to Wall Street, Leading in Times of Crisis by Joseph Grano

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2014 10:31 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 May 2014 10:31:39 -0400

Catch-22 should be required reading.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 10 at 2014 12:36 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 10 May 2014 12:36:32 -0400

If I can get it on Kindle, I will get it no problem.

Response by MSG Bo Lathrop made May 10 at 2014 1:55 PM

MSG Bo Lathrop — Sat, 10 May 2014 13:55:34 -0400

Lions Of Khandahar
Great book.. and I hate to read..

Response by MSgt Lancia Stewart made Jun 16 at 2014 10:53 AM

MSgt Lancia Stewart — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 10:53:32 -0400

"Vietnam" by Stanley Karnow
"10 Propositions Regarding Air Power" by Col Phillip Mellinger
"The Soldier and the State" by Samuel P, Huntingdon
The Tongue and Quill

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2014 1:26 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 01:26:00 -0400

If there is any book that every leader at every level should read it is "Blackhearts". I was a member of that unit and it tells a pretty haunting tale of how undisciplined Soldiers/Leaders and tyrannical leaders can destroy an organization.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 27 at 2014 2:53 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 14:53:39 -0400

"The Shack"...inspirational. The power of forgiveness and how it frees us from anger.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2014 10:33 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 22:33:07 -0400

Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin.

I started reading this book this weekend while I was at the beach (yes, I'm a nerd, not your typical beach reading). It came highly recommended during the Legacy Journey class that my husband and I just finished facilitating our first session of. It's written by a Jewish rabbi, and Jews are known for their prosperity in business. It's written for people of ALL faiths. Y'all should check it out.

You can also check out a 5 part series on Youtube about this topic. The first session is located here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA-BqYkysiA

It is NOT a "get rich quick" scheme. It debunks the myths about the "sneaky" Jews, and discusses why it's a moral and spiritual obligation to prosper. It's a REALLY REALLY good read.

Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money: Rabbi Daniel Lapin: 9780470485880:...

Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money [Rabbi Daniel Lapin] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A practical approach to creating wealth-based on the established principles of ancient Jewish wisdom-made accessible to people of all backgrounds The ups and downs of the economy prove Rabbi Daniel Lapin's famous principle that the more things change

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 10:13 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 10:13:05 -0500

http://www.pendleton.marines.mil/PendletonNews/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/5440/Article/537692/marine-corps-first-lady-releases-first-edition-recommended-reading-list.aspx

Marine Corps

Camp Pendleton’s Marine Corps Community Services held a First Lady of the Marine Corps Reading List kickoff and book review seminar here Oct. 29.Bonnie Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps’ wife,

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Nov 16 at 2014 10:21 AM

SA Harold Hansmann — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 10:21:16 -0500

Louis lamour

Response by SPC Geoffrey Jenkins made Nov 16 at 2014 11:26 AM

SPC Geoffrey Jenkins — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 11:26:00 -0500

The Long Walk by Brian Castner

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 11:54 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 11:54:20 -0500

Here are a couple of my favorite books but I have a large library full of many more, some already have been mentioned.

"Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise of Western Power" by Victor Davis Hanson
"Once a Warrior King, Memories of an Officer in Vietnam" by David Donovan
"Ghost Soldiers" by Hampton Sides

Response by SPC Clifton Reed made Nov 16 at 2014 2:50 PM

SPC Clifton Reed — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 14:50:36 -0500

Seek books that censors love, indulge in the classics.

a) Anything by Ernest Hemingway, Essentials: "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "A Farewell to Arms".

b) Anything by John Steinbeck, Essentials: "The Grapes of Wrath" and "East of Eden".

c) Anything ever written by Jack London, Essentials: "The Iron Heel", "Martin Eden", "The Call of the Wild", "People of the Abyss".

d) Anything by Fydor Dostoevsky, Essentials: "Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers Karamazov".

e) Alexandr Solzhenitsyn - "The Gulag Archipelago"

f) Any novel written by modernist Kurt Vonnegut.

g) Robert Graves: "I Claudius" and "Claudius the God".

h) T. E. Lawrence: "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom".

i) "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

For fun check out "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler and anything by Dashiell Hammett.

Currently finishing up Shelby Foote's 3 volume Opus on the Civil War, aka "The American Iliad"

Response by PO3 Jim Deming made Nov 16 at 2014 4:34 PM

PO3 Jim Deming — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 16:34:13 -0500

Reading for a purpose, my recomended list includes
How to win friends and influence people, Dale Carnaghie
"Fearless"
Magic of thinking big,
7 habits of highly effective people, Steven Covey
Speed of trust, Steven R Covey
Good to Great, Jim Collins

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2014 7:12 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 07:12:55 -0500

Muddy boots leadership!

Response by Maj Wayne Dahlke made Nov 17 at 2014 8:53 AM

Maj Wayne Dahlke — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 08:53:15 -0500

I recommend military fiction. The truths tend to come through for me a little better in story format, without having to put myself into the places I have been so many times before.

The WEB Griffin Army and Marine stories
The Honor Harrington series By David Weber (military SciFi)
Level Zero Heros by Michael Golembesky
All of the Tom Clancy books

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Nov 17 at 2014 11:06 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 11:06:10 -0500

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Soldiers-Normandy-Beaches-Surrender/dp/ [login to see]
Should be required reading by all ranks!

STOP THE COMING CIVIL WAR,
http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Coming-Civil-War-Savage/dp/ [login to see] /ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=1-1&keywords=michael+savage

This book is not only one man's opinion, but is written with references to back up all statements made. Michael Savage does the current situation justice. A must read for everyone. I've got mine!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 6:11 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 06:11:48 -0500

Great thread...sorry I am so late to the game.

I try to rotate -- 1) a military book, 2) a biography (leader or distinguished person) or non-military history and then 3) an off-topic book (sports, sports leadership, pop-culture bios, or misc)

Here are 20 of my top choices, some found in previous posts or in attached lists (in no particular order):

1) Young Men and Fire -- Norman McLean
2) Once an Eagle -- Anton Myrer
3) Catch-22 -- Joseph Heller
4) When Pride Still Mattered -- David Maraniss
5) On Becoming a Leader -- Warren Bennis
6) Blink, Tipping Point, David and Goliath -- Malcolm Gadwell
7) 1776 and Adams -- David McCoullough
8) The Gold Standard -- Coach K
9) Unbroken --Laura Hillenbrand
10) My Share of the Task -- GEN (ret) McChrystal
11) The Outpost -- Jake Tapper
12) Rikki-Tikki-Tavi -- Kippling
13) Paterno -- Joe Posnanski
14) Legacy of Ashes -- Tim Weiner
15) The Mission, the Men and Me -- Pete Blaber
16) Good to Great -- Jim Collins
17) The Five People You Meet in Heaven -- Mitch Albom
18) The History of Surfing -- Matt Warshaw
19) Bright Shining Lie -- John Paul Vann
20) Dereliction of Duty -- H.R.McMaster

Enjoy!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 27 at 2015 7:53 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 19:53:00 -0400

Google "British Counterinsurgency" and you will see how ours is completely different.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 4:42 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 16:42:00 -0400

Message to Garcia and the things they carried both great books well actually the first is a short story and the second is a collection of short stories

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 8 at 2015 4:35 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 16:35:46 -0400

The American Revolution is a great read about a successful insurgency and the timeless principles.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 28 at 2015 7:42 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:42:42 -0400

Read biographies. I personally enjoy them yet use them as a learning tool.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 29 at 2015 7:33 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 19:33:42 -0400

I am going to try to read about Alexander the Great in Afghanistan.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 7:56 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 19:56:43 -0400

Fantastic read Col Private RallyPoint Member

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Feb 15 at 2018 10:26 PM

MSG John Duchesneau — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 22:26:23 -0500

The Art of War, Good by Darkness, War as I Knew it, Grant's memoirs, Legionnaire by Simon Murray.