Posted on Dec 19, 2013
Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
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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?"
Edited >1 y ago
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MSG Observer   Controller/Trainer (Oc/T)
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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.
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MSgt Lancia Stewart
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"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
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SSG (ret) William Martin
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If I can get it on Kindle, I will get it no problem.
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SSG Todd Halverson
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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
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SSgt Investigative Analyst
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The Art of War - Sun Tzu. It's a brand new book every time I read it.
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
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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!
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LCDR Jeffery Dixon
LCDR Jeffery Dixon
11 y
The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey Jr. I was at the conference where he released this novel. His father wrote the 7 Habits of ... This book explains why trust can bridge time and develop relationships that enable any organization.
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
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LCpl Rick Ponton
LCpl Rick Ponton
>1 y
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE BY RICK WARREN
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
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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: 
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
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SSG Maurice P.
SSG Maurice P.
>1 y
Every couple of years i reread MARINE! the true life story of the greatest marine to ever live
CHESTY PULLER besides Dan Daly and John Basilone...........And Mad Dog Mattis
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SGT Team Leader
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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
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Thomas Rancourt
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Edited >1 y ago
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. 



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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
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A1C Rancourt, excellent list, diverse and well thought out, with insightful commentary... very well assembled, thank you for sharing!
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Thomas Rancourt
Thomas Rancourt
>1 y
No problem Major. 
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SSgt James Stanley
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Col. herschel green
"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.
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SFC Don J.
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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.
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SFC Brigade Career Counselor
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Once and Eagle by Anton Myer should be included on any reading list.


 

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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
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SFC Pederson, thanks for sharing, excellent choice!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38876.Once_an_Eagle

 

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SFC Anabel Cepero
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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.

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SSgt Gregory Guina
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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. 
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SSG General Services Technician And State Vehicle Inspector
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I've heard it's a great book but haven't read it yet.
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SSG General Services Technician And State Vehicle Inspector
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SSgt Guina, just saw this earlier today.

 

http://undertheradar.military.com/2014/02/a-first-look-at-unbroken/?comp= [login to see] 70&rank=3

 

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SSG Robert Burns
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I'll read anything by Colin Powell.  Other than that...the Bible.
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SSG Robert Burns
SSG Robert Burns
>1 y
Here's 5 in no particular order.
1. It Worked For Me
2.  MBA in a Day
3.  Seven Habbits of Successful People
4.  Rich Dad Poor Dad
5.  Purpose Driven Life

More to follow

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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
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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!
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CPT(P) Company Commander
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Small Unit Leadership by (Marine) COL (ret) Malone. Absolutely great piece of reading for any young leader! 
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
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1LT Ginestar, excellent... thanks for sharing!

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MSG John Duchesneau
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The Art of War, Good by Darkness, War as I Knew it, Grant's memoirs, Legionnaire by Simon Murray.
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SPC Clifton Reed
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Edited >1 y ago
Foote
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"
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
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SSG Maurice P.
SSG Maurice P.
>1 y
1.GREENSIDE OUT
2.BROWNSIDE OUT both are good books to read they tell the stories of 2 marine corps friends and their marine corps careers korean war and vietnam war veterans............
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MSG(P) Michael Warrick
MSG(P) Michael Warrick
>1 y
The Road and The Sparrow, two great books to read !
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SSG Maurice P.
SSG Maurice P.
>1 y
SFC Warrick HOW IS OMAHA say on 26th and leavenworth is the FOXHOLE gym still there.
2 Feb 1974 i was omaha city golden glove champion i trained out of that gym i got beat in the mid west finals at the civic auditorium it was on the street over from farnam if i remember right...
14th and Douglas i think was where it was at hehehehehehehehe i left omaha with the carnival in feb 1975 and enlisted in the marines in north dakota july 1975 so my memory is vague take care my friend..........
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
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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!
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PO2 Maxwell Jones
PO2 Maxwell Jones
>1 y
Take Command by Jake Wood. It's the only book I've read cover to cover in a day. It was excellent. I sent a copy to my dad, who has been a business owner for over 30 years and he made changes based on the ideas and philosophies in the book.
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
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Edited >1 y ago
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!
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
>1 y

SPC Walden, excellent choices... thanks for sharing!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78127.On_Killing

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88431.On_Combat

 

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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Klinger's New Dress? The feasibility on long dresses in war zone. Camo?
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Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
Col (Join to see)
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LTC Haines, great reading list and resources, thanks for taking the time to share it with us all... outstanding!

 

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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
11 y
You have to be very careful with On War by Clauswitz. Essential to get a good translation...Parret translation is the one used by the war colleges. Recommend Masters of War by Michael Handel formerly of the Naval War College who also writes on other strategic classics like Mahan and Sun Tzu. Explains the nuance behind the often misquoted and misunderstood.
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