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?"
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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