If you were a commander, or a leader of Soldiers in general, which books would you include on your Commander's Reading List?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:06:05 -0500

I'm constantly on the search for new things to share that encourages the personal, mental, and emotional growth of Soldiers.

I personally like to include books that aren't necessarily military in nature, to encourage a broader understanding of the world around us.

Some of mine:

"The End of Power" by Moisés Naím
"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius
"The War of Attrition" by William Philpott
"The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman
"The Iliad" by Homer (worth revisiting for those who never have outside of a high school classroom)

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Nov 23 at 2015 8:11 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:11:50 -0500

Ender's Game

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 8:20 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:20:25 -0500

Stackpole Books NCO Guide & Guide to Personal Financial Planning for the Armed Forces, and FM 7-22.7, FM 6-22.
http://golivelively.com/2015/07/06/stackpolebooks/

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…

Response by SGT David T. made Nov 23 at 2015 8:25 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:25:30 -0500

Clausewitz On War. I found no better work that describes the nature of war.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Nov 23 at 2015 8:55 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 08:55:10 -0500

The US Constitution.
The collected works of Robert Heinlein.
Sharpe's Rifles by Bernard Cornwell
Phule's Company (et al) by Robert Asprin
Guards Guards by Terry Pratchett

Those are my top 5. I have a long running list over at RP Book Club though.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Nov 23 at 2015 9:46 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:46:50 -0500

Great topic!

For younger minds: Fun fiction with a point.
Once an Eagle, The Forever War, and Killer Angels
For more experienced warfighters: Strategy, concepts and ways of thinking.
On War, Art of War, and Strategy by Svechin

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 23 at 2015 10:02 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:02:01 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member I would recommend:
"Attacks" by Erwin Rommel
"A Perspective On Infantry" by John English
"Brave Men" by Ernie Pyle
"Crusade in Europe" by Dwight D. Eisenhower
"The Face of Battle" by John Keegan
"On Way" by Carl von Clausewitz
"The Real War 1914-1918" by Capt B.H. Liddell Hart
"A Distant Mirror" [the Calamitous 14th Century] by Barbara W. Tuchman
"Bible and Sword" [England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour] by Barbara W. Tuchman
"The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici" by Christopher Hibbert
"Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer
the "Bible"
the "Koran"
Which book would you recommend COL Mikel J. Burroughs COL Jon Thompson COL Jean (John) F. B. LTC Stephen C. LTC Bink Romanick MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca CPT L S CW5 Charlie Poulton CW5 Private RallyPoint Member SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SGT Private RallyPoint Member SGT Randal Groover SGT Robert Hawks SGT Forrest Stewart

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 10:35 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:35:34 -0500

The Art of War - Sun Tzu
Tactics of the Crescent Moon - H John Poole

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 23 at 2015 10:44 AM

SPC David S. — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:44:30 -0500

Command Failure in War: Psychology and Leadership
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 10:46 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:46:24 -0500

There are so many good books out there many mentioned here but I would add

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Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Nov 23 at 2015 11:11 AM

CSM Carl Cunningham — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:11:11 -0500

The Mission, The Men, and Me by Pete Blaber. Excellent read.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 12:11 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:11:04 -0500

"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 Capt Brandon Charters made Nov 23 at 2015 12:32 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:32:20 -0500

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 MSgt Daniel Attilio made Nov 23 at 2015 1:22 PM

MSgt Daniel Attilio — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 13:22:56 -0500

"War is a Racket" by Major General Smedley Butler
"GUNSHIP ACE: The Wars of Neall Ellis, Helicopter Pilot and Mercenary" by Al Venter
"Horses Don't Fly: A Memoir of World War I" by Frederick Libby
"The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805" by Richard Zacks

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 23 at 2015 2:18 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:18:39 -0500

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 SSG Todd Halverson made Nov 24 at 2015 11:05 AM

SSG Todd Halverson — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 11:05:44 -0500

Here are some that I have read and highly recommend:
1. History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.
2. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford
3. On War by Carl von Clausewitz.
4. Sherman: Soldier, Realist, American by B.H. Liddell Hart.
5. Company K by William March
6. Knight’s Cross: A Life of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel by David Fraser
7. What It Is Like To Go To War by Karl Marlantes
8. Charlie Wilson’s War by George Crile * A must read to understand the history behind the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
9. The Heart and the Fist: The education of a humanitarian, the making of a Navy SEAL by Eric Greitens
10. On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Dave Grossman
11. WAR by Sebastian Junger.
12. Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose
13. Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell
14. American Sniper by Chris Kyle
15. The Reaper by Nicholas Irving

Some are long reads but worth the time.