What's the best book on leadership you've ever read?

CPT Brian Hughes — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 15:19:28 -0400

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Sep 17 at 2013 4:00 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 16:00:58 -0400

My personal favorite is "Once An Eagle" -- great read. Long, though!

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2013 2:59 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:59:59 -0400

For the focus of leadership in the military I really enjoyed "The Generals". In regards to business and dealing with people "How to Win Friends and Influence People". As an entrepreneur in leadership "Rich Dad Poor Dad".

Response by CPT Marcus Jackson made Sep 26 at 2013 2:02 PM

CPT Marcus Jackson — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 14:02:41 -0400

I've found firsthand combat histories to be better books on leadership than any manual or self-help business leadership book. The insights those leaders developed during and in response to the heat of battle are so much more... insightful.

That said, I'll go with "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young."

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 30 at 2013 3:02 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:02:33 -0400

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein... Don't judge it because of the movie, I promise they are unrelated.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2013 9:51 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 09:51:55 -0400

John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. The stories that illustrate each law are great, and just a fun read. You don't have to agree with all the points...it's enough to make you just think and reflect.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2013 2:13 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:13:39 -0400

I was always a fan of Dale Carnegie "How to Win Friends and Influence People".

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2013 2:17 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:17:43 -0400

Who Moved My Cheese. By DR. Spencer Johnson. It puts how you should view life and change into Perspective and give great advice on how to lead with an open mind while being proactive and adaptable. Not really a military style book but has some eye opening thoughts.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2013 2:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:20:03 -0400

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield.

Response by SFC Josh Watson made Oct 30 at 2013 7:13 PM

SFC Josh Watson — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 19:13:18 -0400

The mission, the men and me - Pete Blaber

If you’ve never read this book, I recommend getting a copy
and doing so. It is a very entertaining
read but at the same time hits a lot of points that we, as leaders bring up
every day. Listen to the guy on the
ground or don’t get treed by a Chihuahua; just two of several things I have
said or heard said in over 17 years in the Army covered in the book.

Response by SSG Ron Davis made Nov 1 at 2013 3:54 PM

SSG Ron Davis — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 15:54:04 -0400

I have read a lot of great leadership books but I keep coming back to Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People". I think leadership works best when the person being "led" buys in because they see the win/win. In the military it is ok to do a task because you were told due to the nature of combat. Yet in leadership traits across the industry spectrum the data in this book seems timeless.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Nov 1 at 2013 4:19 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:19:07 -0400

Sir, I have a curveball for you on this one. I have a good friend of mine, Jeff Figone, we were 1SGs together at Fort Huachuca a few years back. We were both 19Ds back in our younger days and for different reasons, we reclassed over to MI. Anyway, in one of our regular story telling times, he tells me that he once wrote a book. So I pried until he spilled the beans. He told me that he thought that it would be important to not only jot down the important things that you encounter in your day to day engagements, but to expound on them. So he wrote a book. It is called "One Noncommissioned Officer's Philosophies on Leadership" by 1SG Jeffrey Figone. I read it and it is a no nonsense, boots on the ground interpretation of daily interactions, decisions and how they affect the unit. I really enjoyed the read. It may be hard to find, but I do suggest it as a good read...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2013 4:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:36:59 -0400

Small Unit Leadership: A Commonsense Approach by COL Dandridge M. Malone (Ret.). I was sent this book when I was taking classes for a Military Leadership certification through American Military University. Having held squad leader and platoon sergeant positions already, I didn't think there would be a whole lot more to learn from the book but it opened my eyes even more to things I never considered. For the newer SGTs and SSGs, this is a very good read and well worth the time to take reading it. It will prepare you for the small unit level leadership and better your progression toward larger unit responsibilities.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Nov 1 at 2013 4:37 PM

CMC Robert Young — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:37:58 -0400

Sir, I would offer two for your consideration. The first is The Code of the Warrior by Shannon French and the second is Leadership: The Warrior's Art by Christopher Kolenda. Both are cerebral reads which require some focus and concentration but provide a variety of perspectives about leadership and the profession of arms. They are thoughtful works which challenge the reader to think about how he or she approaches leadership.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2013 8:38 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 20:38:15 -0400

Lincoln on Leadership.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2013 12:14 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 12:14:57 -0400

"Once An Eagle" by Anton Myrer. It is long, but Sam Damon and his polar opposite Courtney Massengale show exactly what a leader should and should not be. Probably the best fiction I have ever read and filled with valuable lessons.

Response by MAJ Joseph Parker made Nov 2 at 2013 12:25 PM

MAJ Joseph Parker — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 12:25:21 -0400

"The Killer Angels" is an excellent read on leadership on so many levels.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Nov 2 at 2013 1:34 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 13:34:47 -0400

Just about anything by Col. David Hackworth and "First We Break All The Rules" by Marcus Buckingham.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2013 2:04 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 14:04:37 -0400

One of my older favorites is "Where have all the leaders gone?" by Lee Iacocca and FKSM 17-3-2 "Armor in Battle".

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2013 2:07 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 14:07:24 -0400

Once an Eagle is #1. Resonant Leadership in the Emo Intelligence series is #2 or 1A for its applicability in large complex organizations!

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Nov 3 at 2013 1:10 AM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 01:10:14 -0500

The best book on leadership I've read was The Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wess Roberts. It was an interesting read and many of the principles that he used are still used today like the idea that every Hun has value even if only to serve as a bad example. It's simple clear and easy to adapt to a business or military environment.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Nov 3 at 2013 2:29 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 14:29:00 -0500

Art of War - SUN TZU. I know it is not a new approach, but really this is a great book and needs to be understood. Another great book is ON WAR: The Classic Book of Military Strategy by General Carl Von Clausewitz. Now neither may seem to be about leadership, but really both are nothing but. If you understand the philosophy than you understand the basic leadership they both talk about. Time has not really changer the methods of leadership from then to now, just the way it is implemented. Gene Treants, Command Master Chief, Retired

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2013 4:29 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 04:29:57 -0500

"MCPW 6-11 Leading Marines." Hundreds of years of leadership, tradition, and combat.

And then there's "Marine! The Biography of Chesty Puller," who was the Marine Corps most celebrated combat veteran.

They're both inspirational reads.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2013 10:13 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:13:59 -0500

"It's your Ship". Navy <span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 12 [login to see] 34863px;">Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. The BEST.</span>

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Nov 7 at 2013 10:13 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 10:13:29 -0500

It Worked For Me by Colin Powell

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2013 2:21 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:21:15 -0500

"Once An Eagle" by Anton Myrer, shows what a good leader is and what a good leader is not. It also shows that it's not always the best qualified person that gets promoted. The book ranges from before WWI all the way up to Vietnam, but the lessons are still relevant today.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Nov 27 at 2013 2:34 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 14:34:18 -0500

"Good to Great" by Jim Collins was a good read.

Response by SFC Aaron G. made Dec 6 at 2013 8:42 PM

SFC Aaron G. — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:42:16 -0500

A good quick read is "The Three Meter Zone: Common Sense Leadership for NCOs" by CSM J.D. Pendry (Ret). I am in the process of reading "It Worked For Me" by Colin Powell.

All of these books mentioned will be added to my list of books to read.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Dec 7 at 2013 12:36 AM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 00:36:50 -0500

PT-109: John Kennedy in WWII by Robert J. Donovan

Real life lessons learned in Combat at sea. As I said elsewhere civilians have written great books on Management, but Leadership is learned in the military. For every book written by a civilian on leadership, I have usually found a very good management manual. Great leaders CAN be taught and not just born. If you want to be a great leader, learn to follow first and know what your Mentors mean when they talk abiut the difference between leaders and managers.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 3:35 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 03:35:57 -0500

Very hard question to answer because leadership is so
divers. I've read many of the books discussed so far but here are two I recently
finished. Both are worth your time and effort. The first and in my opinion the
most beneficial to any leader is "Crucial Conversations" by
Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler. The second, "The Leadership
Challenge" by Kouzes and Posner. Kouzes and Posner have written several
books on leadership and they all have merit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 8:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 20:57:53 -0500

The last one I can remember reading was "American Soldier" by Gen Tommy Franks. When war comes, you look for certain special qualities in the people you'll be working with. General Tom Franks embodies those qualities: strength, experience, a keen mind, energy, honor, good humor, and a deep loyalty to his troops and to his country.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2013 4:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 16:56:20 -0500

This is totally corny, but I find a lot of comfort and guidance in FM 6-22 and I keep it on my iPad.<br>

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2013 7:51 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 19:51:44 -0500

Once an Eagle is an outstanding book on soldiering and leadership. It is fiction, but still one of my favorites.

Response by SSG Randall P. made Dec 29 at 2013 7:27 AM

SSG Randall P. — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 07:27:26 -0500

I picked up "Three Meter Zone" when I was at the clothing and sales, I'm still going through it but it did help while I was a small team leader. I also picked up "The Mentor" a long time ago. Both of these have helped a lot during my career (short compared to most who responded above)

Response by CW2 Geoff Lachance made Dec 29 at 2013 3:01 PM

CW2 Geoff Lachance — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 15:01:50 -0500

1. The Bible!

2. Passing of the Armies - Joshua Chamberlain

Response by SSG Darrin Roark made Dec 29 at 2013 8:45 PM

SSG Darrin Roark — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 20:45:42 -0500

If You Survive by 1LT George C. Wilson. This book chronicles the journey of a platoon leader, XO and company commander from Normandy to the end of WWII. This book shows all aspects of small unit leadership and the lessons learned here are things I apply to every job I do right up to this very day.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2013 8:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 20:55:53 -0500

"48 rules of power" it was very helpful when I was a private. "Tell me how this ends" is a really good and inspirational book about Gen. Petraeus during iraq invasion.

Response by SSgt Nolan Hernandez made Dec 29 at 2013 11:14 PM

SSgt Nolan Hernandez — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 23:14:21 -0500

I highly recommend reading "The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell" by Oren Harari.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2013 11:41 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 23:41:59 -0500

"About Face" by COL David Hackworth. He illustrated perfectly that "mission accomplishment" and "the welfare of the Soldier" are not mutually exclusive ideas.

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey is applicable to both leaders and the rank & file Soldier.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2013 12:25 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 00:25:31 -0500

the three meter zone common sense leadership for ncos

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2013 3:16 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 03:16:07 -0500

The Servant by James C Hunter. The bible is number one of course but a lot of people have trouble interpreting it or finding the answers they need. The Servant breaks it down so simple. Amazing book!

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jan 6 at 2014 12:06 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 00:06:00 -0500

It Worked for Me by Colin Powell.<div>Side note: MAJ Burns started this thread a while back.  It has hundreds of responses.</div>

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 13 at 2014 12:07 PM

SFC James Baber — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 12:07:27 -0500

The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), it defined everything I would do throughout my entire career.

Alan, just kidding, I think this is a good question, but I think it also goes hand in hand with the one that MAJ Burns has running about what is in your professional library, and for me to choose one definitive one over all the books I have utilized and read during my career and since, for me would be next to impossible as many have had their individual impacts and influence on me at various times for various reasons.

Thanks for sharing.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2014 9:56 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 21:56:00 -0500

The book East of Chosin: Entrapment and Breakout in Korea,
1950 definitely made me take a hard look at myself as a leader

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2014 9:59 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 21:59:50 -0500

SN West, great question! For me that one book that had--and continues to have--the biggest impact, was actually an audio compilation of speeches, and radio addresses from Napoleon Hill; it was expertly assembled by the Nightingale-Conant company, and represents Dr. Hill's life work, in his own words, with narration that helps guide the listener (or more aptly... student) from one section or idea to the next; IMHO this information is the raw building blocks or foundation on which success is built upon, and I highly recommend it for leaders at all levels. The set is approximately 5 to 6 CDs, and information that anyone can refer back to year in and year out. I often recommend for folks to use the library or other free resources to sample many books, audio, DVDs, etc.; however, in this case I can say without reservation to purchase this program for your professional library, I give this outstanding presentation my highest and strongest recommendation! Thanks for hosting a great discussion... I'm very interested to see what others out there list as their top leadership read! http://www.nightingale.com/products/science-personal-achievement-napoleon-hill/

The Science of Personal Achievement - Nightingale Conant

Follow in the footsteps of the giants of success!

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Jan 14 at 2014 6:10 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 18:10:23 -0500

On Killing - LTC Dave Grossman
Book of Five Rings - Miyamoto Musashi

Neither of them deal directly with leadership, but both help to understand the minds of warriors.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2014 9:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 21:08:27 -0500

I have not been able to finish it yet, but so far it's a spectacular book. "Once an Eagle" by Anton Myrer

Response by CMC Robert Young made Feb 3 at 2014 9:51 PM

CMC Robert Young — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 21:51:24 -0500

SSgt, I haven't been able to narrow it down to one, but I strongly recommend Leadership; the Warriors' Art and The Warrior Politic.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Feb 7 at 2014 9:41 AM

SSG Gerhard S. — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 09:41:30 -0500

A little while back I read "Turn the Ship Around" by Cpt. David Marquet USN.

Cpt. Marquet was given command of the WORST rated Nuclear Submarine in the USN fleet the USS Santa Fe. It was literally the WORST ship by every metric. When Cpt. Marquet realized he had a problem, he took some Militarily unorthodox steps and within 1 year he had the HIGHEST rated ship in the Nuclear Submarine Fleet. His concept was to throw out the top down, by the manual solution to resolving problems, and to first ensure his team was competent, largely they were. He then resolved to make EACH service member on his ship personally responsible for their actions. The result was phenomenal.

An example I remember. There is a policy that if one makes a noise when the ship is running quiet, someone is supposed to find an officer and report that person for making the noise. Furthermore, disciplinary action would follow. Cpt. Marquet turned things around. He changed the policy and addressed the crew telling them that each member will be responsible for reporting THEMSELVES for making a noise, and NO disciplinary action would follow the self-report. One would suspect the number of reports went down following this action. Amazingly, self-reported noise reports went UP. Crew members were reporting themselves for noises that likely would have gone unnoticed. Now here's the key. Instead of continuing with business as usual, crew members, collaborated on ways to ensure common noises were eliminated. New, and innovative means were developed to keep the ship quiet.

The gains didn't end there, the crew, understanding they were responsible for making things work better, collaborated with each other on all levels to ensure that the ship ran better, quieter, and more efficiently in general. In a fitness report where evaluators come on board and run scenarios designed to result in specific problems the evaluators stated that the crew of the Santa Fe TRIED to make all of the intended errors, but had somehow em-placed (non by the book) safeguards in place and recognized the error for what it was and corrected the issue before it actually became a mistake.

In short, Cpt Marquet's crew owned responsibility for their actions, their part in the running of the ship, and in the overall mission accomplishment. This concept resulted in the BEST rated ship in the fleet, the highest reenlistment rate, and after a 5 year study, the highest promotion to command rate for the Ships officers in the Navy.

A success story by any measure. A great read, and one I would recommend.

http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Ship-Around-Turning-Followers/dp/ [login to see]

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders: David Marquet: [login to see] 406: Amazon.com: Books

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders [David Marquet] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <DIV><b>Leadership should mean giving control rather than ta...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 5:42 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 05:42:58 -0500

Sir,<div><br></div><div>I read Coach Pete Carroll's book it is filled with great leadership philosophy's.</div><h1 id="title" class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion</h1><div><br></div><div>V/R</div><div>1SG Haro</div>

Response by PO3 Bill Bruzdowski made Mar 11 at 2014 4:27 PM

PO3 Bill Bruzdowski — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 16:27:20 -0400

"The seven habits of highly effective people" has always been a favorite among leaders. If you are looking for professional and personal growth, I recommend going to GetAbstract.com for a good read. The site takes the most popular business books of today and condenses it to a few pages. Kinda like cliff notes for business books

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 11 at 2014 5:03 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:03:35 -0400

Starship Troopers... It really emphasizes service over self..

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 3:15 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 03:15:52 -0400

Leadership and Training for the Fight by. Paul Howe

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 11:49 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 23:49:25 -0400

Here are two that you should add to your library; Leadership and Training for the Fight by. Paul Howe and The Mission, The Men and Me by. Pete Blaber

Response by TSgt Brian Herman made Mar 16 at 2014 12:53 PM

TSgt Brian Herman — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 12:53:10 -0400

Sun Tzu, the art of war. Still the most relevant book on the subject.<br>

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Mar 20 at 2014 8:01 AM

SPC Michael Hunt — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:01:51 -0400

"Proverbs" and "A Purpose Driven Life"

Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made Apr 9 at 2014 5:31 PM

CW2 Jonathan Kantor — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 17:31:11 -0400

I suppose a movie would be ok for the discussion as well. I think that Platoon and Casualties of War are both examples of what to do and what not to do in a combat zone.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2014 8:31 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 20:31:22 -0400

The best book I have read was We Were Soldiers once and young. That is for the current leader. Another great book for history lesson is The Gamble about Gen Petraus.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2014 10:12 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 22:12:57 -0400

I am a regular guy so I don't want to come off as a careerist or like I am talking from some true position of authority, but I am going to give this a shot because I think you pose a really good question. I joined "The Guard" for the college money, initially, because I came from a poor family and I was trying to change my life. After I graduated from college I did a brief stint as an outside sales rep, but then I was hired by Travelers Property Casualty and I was recruited for their leadership development program. While in their program I met a man than changed my life.....somewhat cliche I know, but true. The guy had me read "Oh the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss. He said, "Read that book tonight and come back and tell me what it meant to you." Of course I thought the book to be elementary, but I also knew that there is always hidden meaning in well written work. Eventually we discussed the book and I told him that I thought the book was about hope, and promise, and about doing something with your life, and that sometime bad things may happen, but ultimately your life is up to you. And he said, "Okay, good news, you are ready for leadership development." He went on to describe two kinds of people: those with an internal locus of control and those with an external. Those with internal believe that they control and shape their own lives, while the opposite believe that they are victims of circumstance and that their lives are already predetermined. After that, the reading was heavy. These are the books that got me here:

- The One Minute Manager, by Ken Blanchard. This book is a quick read and shows you that managing (whiled not true leadership), while complex, can be made simple, using his method of One Minute Goal Setting, One Minute Praising, and the One Minute Reprimand. [This concept, coupled with the Situational Leadership Model, will make you effective quickly, without the requirement for a lot of experience or educational depth.

- Sharing Success and Owning Failure, by Col David Goldfein. This book is written by an Air Force Squadron Commander who basically tells his story of what he learned and when, and how it made him successful. It is somewhat of diary, but it taught me a lot.

- The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien. A Vietnam story of what soldiers hung on to, when they were going through one of the most controversial wars of our time. It will teach you about people...your people, before you just 'roll in hot' and order them to take a hill. This book will touch you, or should, about soldiers on a personal level.

- The Courageous Follower, by Ira Chaleff. This book teaches the reader about the power of the follower, and reminds all of us, to include leaders, that we need to have people rally around "the purpose" and not "the man". Power is seductive, but when the purpose is the focus, you can lead and manage mission and morale with verve and enthusiasm.

- American Generalship: Character is Everything/The Art of Command, by Edgar Puryear. This book is heavy and it has a history focus, but it's message is clear in the title. It has endorsements by Generals Powell and Schwarzkopf, but it is a bit hard to get through.

The thing about leadership, especially principal centered leadership, is that there is always someone out there repackaging and reselling what's been out there for hundreds of years. You simply need to look a these things as "tools for the toolbox" and figure out what works for you, because as we we all know, LEADERSHIP is personality driven....and we are all different.

Best of luck to you!

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Oct 7 at 2014 1:43 PM

PO3 Shaun Taylor — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 13:43:26 -0400

How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath.

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 8 at 2014 10:15 PM

SPC David S. — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 22:15:26 -0400

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders

Response by LTC Scott O'Neil made Oct 10 at 2014 12:11 PM

LTC Scott O'Neil — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 12:11:33 -0400

General Patton's Principals for Life and Leadership. Old Blood and Guts may have been arrogant, confident, and self absorbed, but he lead his command from the front for all his men to see. He was honest to a fault often speaking from his heart without thinking. The soldiers of Third Army displayed courage and fortitude often executing the un-executable. He may have instilled fear in his men, but that fear often morphed into respect and admiration. The Germans feared him, the Russians feared him and our allies respected his audaciousness and confidence. No other Army Commander could have turned his Army 90 North and force marched them to a small town called Bastogne to save the remnants of Airborne Division encircled by the Germans in their last offensive. These principals of leadership are worth the read and worth adoption by future leaders.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2014 12:41 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 00:41:08 -0400

Start with why by Simon sinek

Response by SSgt Lucas Dyer M.S. made Nov 14 at 2014 4:20 PM

SSgt Lucas Dyer M.S. — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:20:26 -0500

A Battle Won by Handshakes: The Story of Alpha Company 1/5. It's about a small Marine Corps Infantry unit in Afghanistan utilizing Counterinsurgency (COIN) to eliminate the Taliban and gain the trust of the local nationals.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 8:38 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 20:38:34 -0500

The Gallic War: Seven Commentaries on The Gallic War by Julius Caesar

Beware of references to corn sir.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Jan 25 at 2015 11:18 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 23:18:59 -0500

Turn the Ship Around! - By L. David Marquet.

Innovative approach that turned one of the Navy's worst performing boats into one of the best!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/ [login to see] /?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid= [login to see] &ref=pd_sl_2pny2usoba_e

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 7:27 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 07:27:01 -0500

One of my favorites is "The Mission, The Men, and Me" by Pete Blaber. Mr. Blaber is a former SpecOps leader who describes both the good and bad of leadership in todays technological world. Interesting stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mission-Men-Me-Commander/dp/ [login to see]

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2015 3:31 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:31:58 -0500

wish i could remember all of the leadership books i read for research in my Master's program. All of them are gems w/ specifics to pull from & apply to real life.

Who Moved My Cheese
Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun
21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Book of 5 Rings
Art of War
How to Win Friends & Influence People

I know I'm forgetting about 10 others...

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Mar 20 at 2015 9:52 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 09:52:59 -0400

This might be a great place to start:

http://www.rallypoint.com/topics/books

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Mar 20 at 2015 10:21 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 10:21:22 -0400

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 20 at 2015 10:33 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 10:33:01 -0400

Please add tag "Books" to the group (you can edit original post to do this)! we're started the RP Book Club, and this thread will appear in there.

Additionally, by editing your interests, anytime someone tags "Books" these threads will show up!

Response by SPC Jesse Akers made Mar 20 at 2015 11:14 AM

SPC Jesse Akers — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 11:14:29 -0400

Definitely the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. He has written some other great ones, but as far as working on yourself first to become the best leader you can be, I would pick that book.

The West Point Way of Leadership is also something I remember having a profound influence on me.

http://www.amazon.com/The-West-Point-Way-Leadership/dp/ [login to see]

Finally, Co-Active Coaching, this is more specific towards particular methods of effective coaching, this can relate to leadership and even effective peer and follower-ship relations.

The West Point Way of Leadership: Larry Donnithorne: 9780385417037: Amazon.com: Books

The West Point Way of Leadership [Larry Donnithorne] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. West Point has bred more CEOs than any business school, and the leadership skills taught there are truly matters of life and death.Bolder than Sun Tzu

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 20 at 2015 11:26 AM

SPC David S. — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 11:26:50 -0400

Turn Your Ship Around - A good read infused with a military perspective.

http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Ship-Around-Turning-Followers/dp/ [login to see]

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders: L. David Marquet, Stephen...

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders [L. David Marquet, Stephen R. Covey] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Leadership should mean giving control rather than taking control and creating leaders rather than forging followers. David Marquet

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Mar 20 at 2015 1:00 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 13:00:22 -0400

In my opinion, leadership is not something that can be learned from a book. I think it is something that is learned when you are thrown into it. When one is pushed into a position where they need to lead, one of two things will happen. One the person will thrive, and show that they are a leader. Two the person will falter, and another individual will step up to lead.

My favorite book on leadership, is the Sagas of the Icelanders. It is not technically a book on leadership, but in cataloging the line of the families, there are many examples of both exceptional and lackluster leadership. Additionally, it catalogs the aftermath for good or for bad.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Mar 21 at 2015 9:22 AM

MAJ Jim Steven — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 09:22:43 -0400

It's Your Ship is a good one!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Mar 30 at 2015 2:06 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 02:06:50 -0400

I've been retired for a long time, and haven't really done any formal leadership reading for even longer.

In a humorous vein, Scott Adams' Dilbert collection, "Don't Step in the Leadership"

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Mar 30 at 2015 7:20 AM

SPC James Mcneil — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 07:20:58 -0400

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership would have to be my favorite.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Mar 30 at 2015 7:59 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 07:59:38 -0400

Gates of Fire, for demonstrating that the opposite of fear is love.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Mar 30 at 2015 8:04 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 08:04:27 -0400

Also:
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-best-professional-military-fiction

What is the best professional military fiction? | RallyPoint

Of the options offered? Warning: mentioning the movies without having read the books is a down-votable offense. Offering an alternative professional military fiction is acceptable, but six answers to a survey is not supportable.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 8:18 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 08:18:32 -0400

Infantry Attacks: by Erwin Rommel. It is his personal account of his career throughout World War 1.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 9:15 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 09:15:08 -0400

I agree with others on this page and say the Bible

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 9:16 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 09:16:50 -0400

thank you for asking this

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Mar 30 at 2015 12:30 PM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:30:48 -0400

"Marine" by 'Chesty Puller' I think it was my favorite, simply because my father served with him twice, in the south Pacific and Camp Pendelton, and he could be nudged into telling me a few nuggets of memory now and then.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 12:58 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:58:57 -0400

CPT Brian Hughes does the FM 6-22 counts as a book?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 2:29 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 14:29:30 -0400

Beyond Band Of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters by himself
At the end of the book he has a list: Leadership at the Point of the Bayonet which essentially boils down the whole book

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 7:51 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 19:51:20 -0400

I was given "The Diamond", written by Sergeant Major Bobby Owens, by my CSM. I just started reading it, but I like what I've read already. It gives a time line and very good points on what to do prior to the 1SG position, what to go and expect when becoming the 1SG and guidance on the months ahead.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 11:23 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:23:08 -0400

Once an Eagle

Response by LTC Scott O'Neil made Mar 31 at 2015 9:32 AM

LTC Scott O'Neil — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 09:32:30 -0400

Heroic Leadership: Leading with Integrity and Honor by William Cohen : A book with proven leadership strategies used by combat and business leaders to accomplish impossible goals.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 10:04 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 22:04:52 -0400

Meditations. Marcus Aurelius.

Response by SFC Charles S. made Apr 8 at 2015 1:43 PM

SFC Charles S. — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 13:43:30 -0400

"We Were Soldiers Once… And Young" by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and war journalist Joseph L. Galloway

Response by LTC Patrick Turner made Apr 8 at 2015 4:18 PM

LTC Patrick Turner — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 16:18:46 -0400

I have read many historical and military books over the years. I thoroughly enjoyed Doris Kearns book entitiled TEAM OF RIVALS. This book undertook to explain how Lincoln, during the Civil War, coordinated his cabinet of competing interests and fashioned them into a cohesive unit. In some cases, former adversaries who ran for President. He had a unique way of bringing people together to do the very best job.

Response by SSgt Tim Maddock made Apr 8 at 2015 5:29 PM

SSgt Tim Maddock — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 17:29:16 -0400

West Point Leadership: Profiles of Courage
By Daniel E Rice

Response by SSG Chris Watson made Apr 8 at 2015 5:44 PM

SSG Chris Watson — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 17:44:28 -0400

"The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership" by Steven Sample

Response by 1SG Gary Cooper made Apr 8 at 2015 6:32 PM

1SG Gary Cooper — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 18:32:45 -0400

My men are my heros by Brad Kasal

Response by Sgt Mike Sarris made Apr 8 at 2015 9:49 PM

Sgt Mike Sarris — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 21:49:42 -0400

Every Man A Tiger by General Chuck Horner.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2015 9:56 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 21:56:38 -0400

The way of the shepherd and anything written by john maxwell

Response by CPT Jonathan Wickham made Apr 8 at 2015 11:10 PM

CPT Jonathan Wickham — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 23:10:22 -0400

Before I went to OCS, I read The Journals Of Lewis and Clark. I really admire what those Army captains and their enlisted soldiers were able to accomplish. It is an inspiring example of Army leadership.

Response by 1SG Angel Cruz made Apr 9 at 2015 5:42 AM

1SG Angel Cruz — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 05:42:33 -0400

New Testament and Yeshua

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made Apr 9 at 2015 10:33 AM

1SG Patrick Sims — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:33:42 -0400

The Martin Group & Courage of the Lions---At Amazon.com Electronic books. it was written by a 1st Sergeant Mike Valerio.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 10:48 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:48:51 -0400

Starship Troopers

Response by 1LT Richard C. made Apr 9 at 2015 11:00 AM

1LT Richard C. — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 11:00:48 -0400

Burden of Command: A Tale of Extraordinary Leadership in Afghanistan by LTC Raymond Millen.

I had the pleasure of serving with LTC Millen at the beginning of my military career. The few lessons he was able to impart stayed with me...most importantly, 'what are you going to do now?'

The personality conflicts and lessons learned throughout this story are great take-aways for anyone.

Response by CPL David Salazar made Apr 11 at 2015 10:50 AM

CPL David Salazar — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 10:50:27 -0400

The Servant by James Hunter

Response by SFC Unkl Byl made Apr 14 at 2015 1:53 PM

SFC Unkl Byl — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:53:37 -0400

Green Eggs and Ham with Sam I Am.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Apr 14 at 2015 3:00 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:00:13 -0400

No Excuse Leadership. I found it highly motivating, especially the chapter by the Private who went through Ranger School.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 10:07 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 10:07:44 -0400

Band of Brothers and MAJ Winter's bio. Never a better leader..... Ever. Deciding to countermand an order to send your Soldiers to their death for no real payoff demonstrates both an epic pair of spheres and a level of loyalty to ones Soldiers that exceeds the total combined level of care today's senior leadership shows for their troops.... Across all branches.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 18 at 2015 11:38 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 11:38:35 -0400

It was not a but a movie about the travails of George Washington's endeavor to command the Continental Army and Militia when it looked like all odds were against them.

Response by SSG Donald Haley made Apr 19 at 2015 2:06 AM

SSG Donald Haley — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 02:06:29 -0400

Patton's. Principles

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 22 at 2015 5:06 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 17:06:51 -0400

Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion by Pete Carroll because it focuses more on you vs. what you do to other people. Nothing worse than being around miserable leaders.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 6:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 18:42:55 -0400

The "best book" has changed for me as my career progressed, but as a LT, I found Platoon leader by James McDonough to be the most helpful for understanding my impact on those I lead in trying circumstances.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 28 at 2015 11:16 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 11:16:25 -0400

Colin Powell's biography. He mentions some great personal leadership quotes. The book illuminates a great example of passion. He lost his service revolver on a train loaded with military equipment and vehicles as a LT. His leadership showed compassion by punishing him, picking him up, and pushing him to go forward.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 28 at 2015 12:32 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 28 May 2015 12:32:59 -0400

Colin Powell's book and readings on Carl Von Clausewitz and his Trinity. You can apply his theories with the failures in Iraq.

Response by LTC Patrick Turner made Aug 27 at 2015 4:10 PM

LTC Patrick Turner — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:10:24 -0400

I really enjoyed TEAM OF RIVALS by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Lincoln was able to coordinate and manage difficult personalities into his Cabinet, many of who were former rivals for the Presidency. He was not very well like in the beginning but ultimately they all loved his style- and results.

Response by MAJ Michael Bressler made Aug 27 at 2015 9:33 PM

MAJ Michael Bressler — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 21:33:16 -0400

The Bible

Response by SSgt Lucas Dyer M.S. made Aug 28 at 2015 12:52 AM

SSgt Lucas Dyer M.S. — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 00:52:46 -0400

A Battle Won by Handshakes: The Story of Alpha Company 1/5! Semper Fi!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 28 at 2015 3:46 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:46:15 -0400

For strategic thinking Carl Von Clausewitz.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 28 at 2015 3:47 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:47:32 -0400

For fomenting a successful revolution Mao Tse Tung. Pardon my spelling.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 5:38 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 17:38:48 -0500

Captain, in all seriousness, books are all about someone's theories and probables. I think that most times, these books are written by researchers who then write a book with "no street time." When I graduated from Boot Camp and went to my first ship, my Chief said, "Forget what those books told you in Boot Camp." That was on a destroyer. When I went carriers, my Chief said, "Forget how they do things on Tin Cans, this is the Big Boy Navy." My point is this: EVERYTHING I learned about good, sound, effective leadership - what's good, what's not, what's right, what's wrong - came from observing the many and varied leaders that I had in my life, whether they worked directly or indirectly with me. I watched their physical interactions, I listened to their verbal interactions, I especially listened to their mumblings!!! Maybe there are people who get something from books. But, when I was a police detective, for example, no amount of book learning would have helped me at the Hyatt Skywalk collapse in KCMO in 1981, 114 people killed in about 30 seconds. How I acted and reacted throughout that entire days-long tragedy came from years of observation and interactions, not books. My leadership style and mannerisms in the military were the result of the exact same thing, the product of watching and listening to countless Senior NCOs and Officers whose paths crossed mine over the years. Though retired, I'm still picking up a few things I missed. I believe no one ever stops learning...if they're paying attention, that is.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 3 at 2015 2:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 14:07:48 -0500

George Washington to include a move about him. He grew an army when he had little tangible to give back. He fought a world class enemy, and he created a strategic alliance with the French.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 3 at 2016 11:57 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 11:57:55 -0500

CPT Brian Hughes the best books on leadership that I have read are
The Bible by about 60 authors under the inspiration of God [concur with CW4 Gary S.
Attacks by Erwin Rommel
On Infantry by John English,
The Face of Battle by John Keegan
Crusades in Europe by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Scipio Africanus: Greater Than Napoleon; Great Captains Unveiled; T.E. Lawrence in Arabia and After by CPT H. H. Liddell Hart,
Brave Men; Here is Your War by Ernie Pyle
The Art of War by Sun Tsu
Panzer Battles by F.W. von Mellenthin
Bible and Sword; A Distant Mirror by Barbara S. Tuchman

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 19 at 2016 6:45 PM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:45:53 -0500

Small Unit Leadership - A Common Sense Approach by Col Dandridge Malone. It is a great book for how to relate to people in and out of the service.

Response by SSgt Nolan Hernandez made Mar 30 at 2016 9:22 PM

SSgt Nolan Hernandez — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 21:22:41 -0400

"The 5 Levels of Leadership" by John C. Maxwell.