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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 don't think I've seen this book on here yet, but Taking the Guidon by Nate Allen & Tony Burgess is a MUST read for any LT or young CPT. I read this book too late and I still regret it. Quick, easy, and you'll mark it up like a college book.
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Col (Join to see)
CPT Brundage, excellent post and recommendation, I think our up-and-coming leaders will certainly appreciate it. Also, please feel free to share any "take aways" from your read of the material and/or any salient lessons you gleaned from the book. Again, great post... thanks for sharing!
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MAJ(P) (Join to see)
Very true, Patrick! This is definitely a must read for all junior officers. Great recommendation!
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Col (Join to see)
For those leaders interested in "Taking the Guidon: Exceptional Leadership at the Company Level," here's just a few book reviews (btw all outstanding marks); Amazon lists this book as 4.5 stars and has numerous copies (new and used) available for purchase... thanks again CPT Brundage and CPT Walker for your outstanding recommendations!
Taking the Guidon: Exceptional Leadership at the Company Level [Nate Allen, Tony Burgess] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Significance of the title: The unit guidon serves to iden...
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users.
Book Review of Taking the Guidon, a popular book for aspiring Company Commanders.
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CPT (Join to see)
I must second this recomendation. Taking the Guidon is an excellent reference! I have it myself. Company Command: The Bottom Line is another good one to help LTs and CPTs prepare for command.
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Professional reading and development is one of those topics that we just can't talk about enough. So, to make sure we're all learning, sharing and growing together, here's a few other similar discussions going on in the RallyPoint universe:
https://www.rallypoint.com/questions/15636-what-professional-journals-blogs-websites-do-you-read
I try to read Small Wars Journal, Air and Space Power Journal, Parameters, Infinity Journal, and the Journal of Military History fairly regularly. I also like MHQ and sometimes managed to find t...
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Col (Join to see)
I just finished "Taking the Guide On" and i think its a good book to give during an initial counseling!
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Col (Join to see)
Ah yes, the reading list... everyone's got one, so what's yours? In the late 1980s the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program officially got its start as the "Commandant's Reading L...
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Col (Join to see)
I am currently reading "Ulysses Grant In War and Peace" by H. W. Brands. Very well written. A couple years ago, I read "Lions of Kandahar" and more recently "Lone Survivor." What oth...
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Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War
This is a fascinating book and I had never heard of Col Boyd. He influenced Marine Corps doctrine even more than AF doctrine. The AF still barely acknowledges his work in any PME course but the Marines took notes.
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War - Kindle edition by Robert Coram. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking...
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CMSgt Mark Lutz
Self taught mathematician and engineer. Developed the energy maneuverability theory. Father of the F-16 and F-15. Weapons school instructor and plank member of the Fighter mafia. A lot of contributions to the cause of air power (for all services) but like most visionaries, it wasn't his message but his approach that got him ostracized. On the tactical side, he's why guys at the bar shoot their watches.
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Capt Sergio De La Garza
Col. Boyd is also the author of the OODA Loop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop
The OODA loop (for observe, orient, decide, and act) is a concept originally applied to the combat operations process, often at the strategic level in military operations. It is now also often applied...
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CMSgt Mark Lutz
Col Boyd was also insrumental WRT "Pattern of Conflict". You can download a powerpoint version @ http://www.ausairpower.net/JRB/patterns.ppt . Its a pretty deep read and best to be taken a few bites at a time
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CMC Robert Young
The OODA Loop is still taught today as a critical thinking and decision making tool for leaders. It's good stuff!
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I have 5 books that I consider my "professional library" staples:
*Philosophy/Self-Awareness: These 2 books were good for me with respect to cultural awareness, and really made me think about how to approach being (essentially) a guest in another country. I was glad to have read them prior to my partnerships with Iraqis, Afghans, Jordanians, Czechs, etc.
(1) "The Ugly American" by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer, takes place in a fictional Asian country called Sarkhan (though it is pretty easy to see it alludes to Vietnam), but the lessons are still pertinent. It's a classic and you can even watch the movie (starring Marlon Brando), which is also very good.
(2) "The Places in Between" by Rory Stewart is specific to Afghanistan, but you can still get some good lessons. Plus, it's just a good read with a cup of coffee.
* Library Must Haves: I think every Soldier should read these 2 books.
(3) "If You Survive..." by George Wilson, and (4) "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien are, of course, staples.
* Human Psychology/Leadership: This book is not widely known, but I still recommend it.
(5) "Influence: Science and Practice" by Cialdani is a short and easy read, but helps to scope your mindset with respect to influencing people, be it your peers, subordinates, or superiors. The novel covers 6 types of influence: reciprocation, consistency, liking, social proof, scarcity, and authority. It's not, by any means, an instruction novel, but I think it helps the reader take a look at how they approach influencing those around them.
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SGT Robert Riley
Hi Ma'am,
We used parts of that book "The Ugly American " in both our multi-cultural psychology and abnormal psychology classes.It is indeed a very excellent book...and the movie(though dated) should be used as a training film on how not to act overseas.
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I think leadership begins with connecting with people. So some of the best books I've read in leadership and people skills are...
- "How to Win Friends and Influence People" - Dale Carnegie
- "Bringing Out the Best in People" - Allan Loy McGinnis
- "The Art of Dealing with People" - Les Giblin
- "5 Levels of Leadership" - John C Maxwell
- "How to Win Friends and Influence People" - Dale Carnegie
- "Bringing Out the Best in People" - Allan Loy McGinnis
- "The Art of Dealing with People" - Les Giblin
- "5 Levels of Leadership" - John C Maxwell
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Col (Join to see)
Great titles SSgt Ritter, thanks for sharing, all are absolutely essential to developing military leaders... excellent top-picks list!
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SSgt Christopher R.
@ Cpl Fittizzi - Definitely one of the best books I have read and continue to re-read at least once per year. It covers a broad variety of areas in which you can improve your influence and therefore your effectiveness as a leader. <br><br>I also really enjoy "The Art of Dealing with People", it is a much shorter book (about 65 pages) than Carnegie's--but not a substitute--that I read about once a month. It offers great tips and reminders when you deal will people on a daily basis. <br>
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SFC Stephen Hester
Leadership:
This is a bit lengthy but these are some of my favorites. I've have a large library so if anyone wants to know about other titles I have I'll be happy to share them with you.
"Leadership 2.0" (Travis Bradberry, Jeane Greaves)
"Mindsight" (Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.)
"The 5 Levels of Leadership" (John C. Maxwell)
"Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn" (John C. Maxwell)
"15 Invaluable Laws of Growth" (John C. Maxwell)
"21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" (John C. Maxwell)
"How Successful People Think" (John C. Maxwell)
"Everyone Communicates, Few Connect" (John C. Maxwell)
"Developing the Leaders Around You" (John C. Maxwell)
"Failing Forward" (John C. Maxwell)
"Leadership 101" (John C. Maxwell)
"Start With Why" (Simon Sinek)
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" (Dale Carnegie)
Military Leadership:
"Grant Takes Command" (Bruce Catton)
"Napoleon's Marshals" (David C. Chandler)
"The Pursuit of Victory: The Life and Achievement of Horatio Nelson" (Roger Knight)
Business:
"The Wisdom of Titans" (William J. Ferguson)
"The Compound Effect" (Darren Hardy)
"Trump 101" (Donald Trump)
"Rich Dad, Poor Dad" (Robert Kiyosaki)
"The Cash Flow Quadrant" (Robert Kiyosaki)
Happy Reading!
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PFC Thomas Graves
I have grammars and teach yourself books on about 200-300 languages, as well as many history books. It might be because I have a PH.D. in Linguistics.
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ADP 6-22 (Army Leadership) and ADRP 6-22 (Army Leadership)
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John Maxwell books and Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University, whether people are religious or not learning how to maximize your financial resources can benefit anybody at any stage again and if people's finances are in order at home, they will probably follow the same principles with military spending.
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CMC Robert Young
Anything Maxwell writes has easily applied information in it. Simple things that make us better at what we do.
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A new book I just downloaded a little while ago called: The Noncommissioned Officer and Petty Officer: Backbone of the Armed Forces. Just from flipping through the pages I can say every NCO and Petty Officer should read it. You can find it at http://www.ndu.edu/press/nco.html
We are the academic publisher for National Defense University and our mission is to support the advancement of Joint Professional Military Education and national security policy for the Chairman of th...
The National Defense University, our nation's premier joint professional military education institution, educates military and civilian leaders through teaching, research, and outreach in national se...
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There are many reading lists out there to help focus and jump start personal libraries. For instance, there is the Army's Chief of Staff's list at http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/105/105-1-1/CMH_Pub_105-5-1_2013.pdf or the NCO reading list from AUSA at http://www3.ausa.org/webpub/DeptNCOStuff.nsf/byid/KCAT-6DBPYK . Also, you don't need to have a personal copy of everything you read. Check the post library. Look over a book. If it looks useful, add it to your library or put it on your Christmas List.
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History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides in the original Attic Greek. Loeb Classical Library.
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Col (Join to see)
Sgt Silva, thanks for posting, for those interested the Link for the Harvard University Press, Loeb Classical Library page is http://classics.mit.edu/Thucydides/pelopwar.html. Also, below is another resource for Thucydides' "The History of the Peloponnesian War." Great choice... thanks again for sharing!
The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, part of the Internet Classics Archive
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MSG Mitch Dowler
"The Book of Five Rings" by Miyamoto Musashi, and "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. "The Bible" by God.
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