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<p>Many leaders recommend developing a 'professional library' throughout your career. What are those time-honored classics as well as new titles that redefine the subject of (fill in the blank). I'm sure this will be a fun and informative topic that'll spark some discussion on the subject, as well as promote professional reading/development and well rounded "professional library." Of course, today when we speak of "books" we may also include: audio books; videos/ documentaries; mp3s, or any other format or delivery method, the important thing here is content/substance. Here's just a few ideas on subject matter: military/government; business; leadership; success & achievement; human behavior/psychology; philosophy; management; finances; training/systems/ technical, or anything else applicable, and the titles, well... we'll leave those up to you. Hopefully, this helps spur some thought on professional reading and development, and will prove helpful; now let's get this thing started, thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads! </p>
Posted in these groups: 
Military Career
Mentorship
Professional Development
Military History
Professionalism
Military Career Mentorship Professional Development Military History Professionalism
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 85
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I try to mix it up with a wide variety. Some of my favorites are the poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling (I had to memorize it and recite in front of my fifth grade class). The Guerrilla's guide series of business books in particular the guide to negotiation book. The Leadership Principles of Attila the Hun. A few books that look at business through military strategy.
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Col (Join to see)
Great choices Cpl Fernandez, thanks for sharing... also, (and this goes for all) please feel free to share any of the main points or "take aways" you may have learned from any of your top professional reading recommendations!
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Cpl Ray Fernandez
If always stands out kind of how to react in all situations.
If—
By Rudyard Kipling
If—
By Rudyard Kipling
(‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and Fairies)
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
Attlia the Hun's leadership is still useful and cited today ideas like every Hun serves a purpose even if it's only as a bad example.
The Guerrilla series is a great tool for small business and unconventional thinking, it focuses on using a lack of size and resources in different ways to beat the bigger richer competition, ideas like say you have three stores next to each other, the one on the left posts a sign in the window that says huge sale 50% off, then the store on the right posts a huge banner to compete with the first store. Then the store in the middle simply puts up a sign that says enter to beat both stores without having to spend much money to compete.
Attlia the Hun's leadership is still useful and cited today ideas like every Hun serves a purpose even if it's only as a bad example.
The Guerrilla series is a great tool for small business and unconventional thinking, it focuses on using a lack of size and resources in different ways to beat the bigger richer competition, ideas like say you have three stores next to each other, the one on the left posts a sign in the window that says huge sale 50% off, then the store on the right posts a huge banner to compete with the first store. Then the store in the middle simply puts up a sign that says enter to beat both stores without having to spend much money to compete.
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CH (CPT) Heather Davis
CPL Fernandez, that is
also my favorite poem. When I was deployed it provided me with great comfort, and the Bible is my beloved book for guidance.
I want you to know that you are our future, and you are valued and very important. I started out as an E-1, and I believe that what you feed your mind strongly dictates your destiny.
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Major. what kind of leader were you? A people person? I see a lot of humbleness and a positive attitude. I loved to be meticulous but anyone could talk to me. I also had a lot of fun with pilots. The younger ones would ask me what was playing. Ozzie Osbourne, Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath. I really believe trust is something that is won and pretense is a perverse way of attaining it.
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SSG Laureano Pabon
This is a vey interesting question you put here SSgt Olson.
I was going to put a thread with "Who in RP is your favorite person when it come's to posting threads and why".
My personal response was going to be: Major Mark W. Burns, because when he creates a thread, he takes responsibility for it and comments on every post as well as validates every one in that thread. Major Burns, takes command of his threads and that is something I have not seen in to many people here. Most of all his threads show a sense of motivation and great reading.
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Col (Join to see)
Gentlemen, thank you both for the comments, I'm extremely honored and very humbled indeed; it's nice to hear because I'd thought that perhaps I wasn't offering enough (I'm in the middle of final exams week in PME, and about halfway through one essay exam that is due tomorrow morning). So, I've tried to read and comment when possible; this one definitely got me thinking, so I'll definitely return put some more thought to the personal leadership subject. Thanks again gents, your comments are both welcomed and greatly appreciated!
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SFC James Baber
I have to agree with you both, I think Maj Burns is one of my favorite posters as well, as he shows general concern for all who comment on his threads and takes the time to give feedback and positive recognition as well. Great leader and even better man.
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Sir,
I have too many books to even attempt to list them, but I have a varied interest in reading professionally and for pleasure.
I have thousands (Yes I said 1000s) of books in many categories such as military/govt., leadership, psychology, philosophy, management, training as you mention, but also in sociology, security, military history, doctrine related to past and current military, key leader autobiographies, emergency mgmt., and many other disciplines and field.
I am an avid reader, and will read just about anything I can get my hands on.
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Col (Join to see)
Gents, it looks like we're all "cut from the same cloth" on this topic, I have a professional library back home (which I'll actually have to contend with at some point, as it spills out of the home office and into my son's room, taking up from floor to ceiling and an entire wall in there). I've had times in my career when I've digested several titles a week, and other times, well... not so much. lol The subjects that you all bring up are all spot on IMHO, and exactly those subjects that I key in on as well. I prefer these subjects to fiction as well, and although I understand why folks like to read fiction/science fiction, it's just not my preference either. When commuting or traveling, I've also used audio books to help pass the time, and keep up with professional growth and continued learning. Great input SFC B and Cpl F, thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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Sir, here is a list of books that we read to better our Leadership qualities.
Leadership and Self-deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger
Institute
Leadership is an Art by Max DePree
Leadership Without Easy Answers by Ronald Heifetz
Leading Change by John P. Kotter
Managing at the Speed of Change by Daryl R. Conner
The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual by Doc
Searls, Christopher Locke, Rick Levine
The Digital Economy: Promise and Peril in the Age of Networked
intelligence by Don Tapscott
The Digital Estate: Strategies for Competing, Surviving and
Thriving in an international World by Chuck L. Martin Jr.
The Human Side of Intranets: Content, Style, and Politics by Jerry
W. Koehler, et al.
The Leadership Engine: Building Leaders at Every Level by Noel M.
Tichy and Eli B. Cohen
The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization by Thomas
L. Friedman
The Other 90%: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential for
Leadership and Life by Robert K. Cooper
The Power of Alignment: How Great Companies Stay Centered and
Accomplish Things by George Labovitz and Victor Rosansky
Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your
Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson, Kenneth Blanchard
Leadership and Self-deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger
Institute
Leadership is an Art by Max DePree
Leadership Without Easy Answers by Ronald Heifetz
Leading Change by John P. Kotter
Managing at the Speed of Change by Daryl R. Conner
The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual by Doc
Searls, Christopher Locke, Rick Levine
The Digital Economy: Promise and Peril in the Age of Networked
intelligence by Don Tapscott
The Digital Estate: Strategies for Competing, Surviving and
Thriving in an international World by Chuck L. Martin Jr.
The Human Side of Intranets: Content, Style, and Politics by Jerry
W. Koehler, et al.
The Leadership Engine: Building Leaders at Every Level by Noel M.
Tichy and Eli B. Cohen
The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization by Thomas
L. Friedman
The Other 90%: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential for
Leadership and Life by Robert K. Cooper
The Power of Alignment: How Great Companies Stay Centered and
Accomplish Things by George Labovitz and Victor Rosansky
Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your
Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson, Kenneth Blanchard
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SSgt (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) - The Cat From Hue, A cat who survived a famous battle in Vietnam and who was adopted by an American War Correspondent. (John Laurence.
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Easier to show than to tell, here's a small part of my personal / professional library. Should give an idea of the topics I find interesting and valuable.
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FAA books and manuals.
Army Regulations galore.
Leadership Psychology books. (Command Failure in War, Leading Minds: An anatomy of Leadership, Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World: The Psychology of Political Behavior)
Human Interaction books. (The Kindness Diaries, Lonely Planet, Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction)
Lots of World History books.
Management and Process Improvement Books (Six Sigma, Carnegie, etc.)
Army Regulations galore.
Leadership Psychology books. (Command Failure in War, Leading Minds: An anatomy of Leadership, Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World: The Psychology of Political Behavior)
Human Interaction books. (The Kindness Diaries, Lonely Planet, Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction)
Lots of World History books.
Management and Process Improvement Books (Six Sigma, Carnegie, etc.)
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Excellent book recommendations on this forum.
I would also add:
"Creative Problem-Solving" by Donald J. Noone, PhD
"Making the Most of Your Money" by Jane Bryant Quinn
"Crucial Conversations" by K. Patterson, J. Grenny, R. McMillan & A. Switzler
I would also add:
"Creative Problem-Solving" by Donald J. Noone, PhD
"Making the Most of Your Money" by Jane Bryant Quinn
"Crucial Conversations" by K. Patterson, J. Grenny, R. McMillan & A. Switzler
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For me as a history buff and as a former ChemO: "'48" by James Herbert.
It's basically about what might have happened if Hitler had been successful in his biological weapons program.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'48_(novel)
It's basically about what might have happened if Hitler had been successful in his biological weapons program.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'48_(novel)
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