CPT Private RallyPoint Member 1126368 <div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-69178"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fif-you-were-a-commander-or-a-leader-of-soldiers-in-general-which-books-would-you-include-on-your-commander-s-reading-list%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook' target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=If+you+were+a+commander%2C++or+a+leader+of+Soldiers+in+general%2C+which+books+would+you+include+on+your+Commander%27s+Reading+List%3F&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fif-you-were-a-commander-or-a-leader-of-soldiers-in-general-which-books-would-you-include-on-your-commander-s-reading-list&amp;via=RallyPoint" target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AIf you were a commander, or a leader of Soldiers in general, which books would you include on your Commander&#39;s Reading List?%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/if-you-were-a-commander-or-a-leader-of-soldiers-in-general-which-books-would-you-include-on-your-commander-s-reading-list" target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a> </div> <a class="fancybox" rel="21d47802670a7209b444509483620428" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/069/178/for_gallery_v2/e98a2808.jpg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/069/178/large_v3/e98a2808.jpg" alt="E98a2808" /></a></div></div>I'm constantly on the search for new things to share that encourages the personal, mental, and emotional growth of Soldiers. <br /><br />I personally like to include books that aren't necessarily military in nature, to encourage a broader understanding of the world around us. <br /><br /><br />Some of mine:<br /><br />"The End of Power" by Moisés Naím <br />"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius<br />"The War of Attrition" by William Philpott<br />"The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman <br />"The Iliad" by Homer (worth revisiting for those who never have outside of a high school classroom) If you were a commander, or a leader of Soldiers in general, which books would you include on your Commander's Reading List? 2015-11-23T08:06:05-05:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 1126368 <div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-69178"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fif-you-were-a-commander-or-a-leader-of-soldiers-in-general-which-books-would-you-include-on-your-commander-s-reading-list%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook' target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=If+you+were+a+commander%2C++or+a+leader+of+Soldiers+in+general%2C+which+books+would+you+include+on+your+Commander%27s+Reading+List%3F&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fif-you-were-a-commander-or-a-leader-of-soldiers-in-general-which-books-would-you-include-on-your-commander-s-reading-list&amp;via=RallyPoint" target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AIf you were a commander, or a leader of Soldiers in general, which books would you include on your Commander&#39;s Reading List?%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/if-you-were-a-commander-or-a-leader-of-soldiers-in-general-which-books-would-you-include-on-your-commander-s-reading-list" target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a> </div> <a class="fancybox" rel="0dd9e9d8863fd25b2b025c5654232973" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/069/178/for_gallery_v2/e98a2808.jpg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/069/178/large_v3/e98a2808.jpg" alt="E98a2808" /></a></div></div>I'm constantly on the search for new things to share that encourages the personal, mental, and emotional growth of Soldiers. <br /><br />I personally like to include books that aren't necessarily military in nature, to encourage a broader understanding of the world around us. <br /><br /><br />Some of mine:<br /><br />"The End of Power" by Moisés Naím <br />"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius<br />"The War of Attrition" by William Philpott<br />"The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman <br />"The Iliad" by Homer (worth revisiting for those who never have outside of a high school classroom) If you were a commander, or a leader of Soldiers in general, which books would you include on your Commander's Reading List? 2015-11-23T08:06:05-05:00 2015-11-23T08:06:05-05:00 MAJ Bryan Zeski 1126378 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Ender&#39;s Game Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Nov 23 at 2015 8:11 AM 2015-11-23T08:11:50-05:00 2015-11-23T08:11:50-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 1126400 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Stackpole Books NCO Guide &amp; Guide to Personal Financial Planning for the Armed Forces, and FM 7-22.7, FM 6-22.<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://golivelively.com/2015/07/06/stackpolebooks/">http://golivelively.com/2015/07/06/stackpolebooks/</a> <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> <img src="https://d26horl2n8pviu.cloudfront.net/link_data_pictures/images/000/029/981/qrc/20150425_112047.jpg?1448284732"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="http://golivelively.com/2015/07/06/stackpolebooks/">Military Related Reading – Stackpole Books</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">Stackpole Books is the publisher of many of those books you see in Military Clothing and Sales stores. Many of them are worth the money, in my opinion, for any “Leader.” For just over t…</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 8:20 AM 2015-11-23T08:20:25-05:00 2015-11-23T08:20:25-05:00 SGT David T. 1126410 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Clausewitz On War. I found no better work that describes the nature of war. Response by SGT David T. made Nov 23 at 2015 8:25 AM 2015-11-23T08:25:30-05:00 2015-11-23T08:25:30-05:00 Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS 1126442 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The US Constitution.<br />The collected works of Robert Heinlein.<br />Sharpe&#39;s Rifles by Bernard Cornwell<br />Phule&#39;s Company (et al) by Robert Asprin<br />Guards Guards by Terry Pratchett<br /><br />Those are my top 5. I have a long running list over at RP Book Club though. Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Nov 23 at 2015 8:55 AM 2015-11-23T08:55:10-05:00 2015-11-23T08:55:10-05:00 Col Joseph Lenertz 1126524 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Great topic!<br /><br />For younger minds: Fun fiction with a point.<br />Once an Eagle, The Forever War, and Killer Angels<br />For more experienced warfighters: Strategy, concepts and ways of thinking. <br />On War, Art of War, and Strategy by Svechin Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Nov 23 at 2015 9:46 AM 2015-11-23T09:46:50-05:00 2015-11-23T09:46:50-05:00 LTC Stephen F. 1126548 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="563768" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/563768-12a-engineer-officer-310th-en-mrbc-365th-en">CPT Private RallyPoint Member</a> I would recommend: <br />&quot;Attacks&quot; by Erwin Rommel<br />&quot;A Perspective On Infantry&quot; by John English<br />&quot;Brave Men&quot; by Ernie Pyle<br />&quot;Crusade in Europe&quot; by Dwight D. Eisenhower <br />&quot;The Face of Battle&quot; by John Keegan<br />&quot;On Way&quot; by Carl von Clausewitz<br />&quot;The Real War 1914-1918&quot; by Capt B.H. Liddell Hart<br />&quot;A Distant Mirror&quot; [the Calamitous 14th Century] by Barbara W. Tuchman<br />&quot;Bible and Sword&quot; [England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour] by Barbara W. Tuchman<br />&quot;The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici&quot; by Christopher Hibbert<br />&quot;Canterbury Tales&quot; by Geoffrey Chaucer<br />the &quot;Bible&quot; <br />the &quot;Koran&quot;<br />Which book would you recommend <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="138758" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/138758-col-mikel-j-burroughs">COL Mikel J. Burroughs</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="8894" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/8894-col-jon-thompson">COL Jon Thompson</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="331654" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/331654-9110-military-police-officer">COL Jean (John) F. B.</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="67210" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/67210-25a-signal-officer">LTC Stephen C.</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="381269" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/381269-ltc-bink-romanick">LTC Bink Romanick</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="203177" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/203177-maj-robert-bob-petrarca">MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca</a> CPT L S CW5 Charlie Poulton <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="347395" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/347395-351l-counterintelligence-technician">CW5 Private RallyPoint Member</a> SSG James J. Palmer IV aka &quot;JP4&quot; <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="520566" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/520566-11b2p-infantryman-airborne">SGT Private RallyPoint Member</a> SGT Randal Groover <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="182753" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/182753-sgt-robert-hawks">SGT Robert Hawks</a> <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="673920" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/673920-sgt-forrest-stewart">SGT Forrest Stewart</a> Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 23 at 2015 10:02 AM 2015-11-23T10:02:01-05:00 2015-11-23T10:02:01-05:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 1126646 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The Art of War - Sun Tzu<br />Tactics of the Crescent Moon - H John Poole Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 10:35 AM 2015-11-23T10:35:34-05:00 2015-11-23T10:35:34-05:00 SPC David S. 1126673 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Command Failure in War: Psychology and Leadership<br />The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli<br />The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Response by SPC David S. made Nov 23 at 2015 10:44 AM 2015-11-23T10:44:30-05:00 2015-11-23T10:44:30-05:00 LCDR Private RallyPoint Member 1126680 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>There are so many good books out there many mentioned here but I would add <br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Straight-Gut-Welch/dp/">http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Straight-Gut-Welch/dp/</a> [login to see] <div class="pta-link-card answers-template-image type-default"> <div class="pta-link-card-picture"> </div> <div class="pta-link-card-content"> <p class="pta-link-card-title"> <a target="blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Straight-Gut-Welch/dp/0446690686">Jack: Straight from the Gut: Jack Welch, John A. Byrne: 9780446690683: Amazon.com: Books</a> </p> <p class="pta-link-card-description">Jack: Straight from the Gut [Jack Welch, John A. Byrne] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. They called him Neutron Jack. They called him the world&#39;s toughest boss. And then Fortune called him The Manager of the Century. In his twenty-year career at the helm of General Electric</p> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 10:46 AM 2015-11-23T10:46:24-05:00 2015-11-23T10:46:24-05:00 CSM Carl Cunningham 1126731 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The Mission, The Men, and Me by Pete Blaber. Excellent read. Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Nov 23 at 2015 11:11 AM 2015-11-23T11:11:11-05:00 2015-11-23T11:11:11-05:00 SP5 Private RallyPoint Member 1126815 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>"How teh War Was Won" by Phillips Payson O'Brien. A statisticians view, interleaved with some new insights of the leaders at the very top of the military and civilian organizations. Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 12:11 PM 2015-11-23T12:11:04-05:00 2015-11-23T12:11:04-05:00 Capt Brandon Charters 1126870 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>A recent one I just read was "Team of Teams" by GEN McChrystal. I highly recommend it for a team of any size. Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Nov 23 at 2015 12:32 PM 2015-11-23T12:32:20-05:00 2015-11-23T12:32:20-05:00 MSgt Daniel Attilio 1126973 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>"War is a Racket" by Major General Smedley Butler<br />"GUNSHIP ACE: The Wars of Neall Ellis, Helicopter Pilot and Mercenary" by Al Venter<br />"Horses Don't Fly: A Memoir of World War I" by Frederick Libby<br />"The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805" by Richard Zacks Response by MSgt Daniel Attilio made Nov 23 at 2015 1:22 PM 2015-11-23T13:22:56-05:00 2015-11-23T13:22:56-05:00 SSgt Alex Robinson 1127108 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Sometimes book knowledge is not helpful. It is better to speak to those around you who are good leaders and pick their brains. Anyone can be book smart but not anyone can be common sense smart Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 23 at 2015 2:18 PM 2015-11-23T14:18:39-05:00 2015-11-23T14:18:39-05:00 SSG Todd Halverson 1129243 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Here are some that I have read and highly recommend:<br />1. History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. <br />2. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford<br />3. On War by Carl von Clausewitz. <br />4. Sherman: Soldier, Realist, American by B.H. Liddell Hart.<br />5. Company K by William March<br />6. Knight’s Cross: A Life of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel by David Fraser<br />7. What It Is Like To Go To War by Karl Marlantes<br />8. Charlie Wilson’s War by George Crile * A must read to understand the history behind the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.<br />9. The Heart and the Fist: The education of a humanitarian, the making of a Navy SEAL by Eric Greitens<br />10. On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Dave Grossman<br />11. WAR by Sebastian Junger.<br />12. Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose<br />13. Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell<br />14. American Sniper by Chris Kyle<br />15. The Reaper by Nicholas Irving<br /><br />Some are long reads but worth the time. Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Nov 24 at 2015 11:05 AM 2015-11-24T11:05:44-05:00 2015-11-24T11:05:44-05:00 2015-11-23T08:06:05-05:00