Posted on Nov 19, 2013
Col Regional Director, Whem/Ssa And Congressional Liaison
22.9K
357
159
9
9
0
What's in your %22professional library %22
<p>Many leaders recommend developing a 'professional library' throughout your career.&nbsp;What are those time-honored classics as well as new titles that redefine the subject of (fill in the blank).&nbsp;I'm sure this will&nbsp;be a fun and informative&nbsp;topic that'll spark some discussion on the subject, as well as promote professional reading/development and well rounded "professional library."&nbsp;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&nbsp;is content/substance. Here's just a few ideas on subject matter: military/government; business; leadership; success &amp; achievement; human behavior/psychology; philosophy; management; finances; training/systems/ technical,&nbsp;or anything else applicable, and the titles, well... we'll leave those up to you. Hopefully, this helps spur some&nbsp;thought on&nbsp;professional reading and development, and&nbsp;will&nbsp;prove helpful;&nbsp;now let's get this thing started, thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!&nbsp;</p>
Edited 10 y ago
Avatar feed
Responses: 85
Lt Col Intelligence
1
1
0
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Intelligence Analyst   Atl
1
1
0
Honorable Treachery. It is a history of U.S Intelligence and related activities from the American Revolution to the creation of the CIA. I believe it to be a must read for any and all IC professionals.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
COL Vincent Stoneking
1
1
0
Physical and within arm's reach without getting up:
Sun Tzu's The Art of War (Griffith translation in hardcopy)
The Prince and Other Works
The Constitution of the United States: Its Sources and its Applications (1960 edition)
Common Sense
On Bullshit - Harry Frankfurt (very short, very highly recommended)
SMCT level 1 and levels 2-4
On War, Clausewitz
Imperial Grunts
We Were Soldiers
Ranger Handbook (multiple editions, the best is June, 1988)
Supreme Command - Cohen
FM 3-13 (printed PDF of most recent edition)
Complete set of ADPs (as of Sept 2012)
The collection of Lightning Press Smartbooks
The Soldier's Handbook (2001 edition)
Jomini's The Art of War
Twice the Citizen
Oxford Companion to American Military History
The Roots of Blitzkrieg - Corum
Decision Points
Obama's War
Bureaucracy - Wilson
Leading Change
(and a few things due to Army War College curriculum that I haven't read yet - Several items above are also on the AWC curriculum, but I had already owned and read them, so I give myself credit!)

This was a good reminder that I need to finish setting up my home office. 2/3 of my physical books are in the workout room (which used to double as my office), including a lot of historical military type stuff and almost all of my professional/business/financial stuff. I may update, if I remember, when I actually move my other bookcase in here....

Things on PDF - to numerous to mention.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
MAJ Bryan Zeski
1
1
0
Fail Safe - not usually on the list, but there are a great many lessons about leadership and consequences in there that it's phenomenal.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CW3 Construction Engineer Technician
1
1
0
I'm not the most avid reader but I will definitely look into some of these titles. Thanks for the recommendations everyone!
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
COL Vincent Stoneking
1
1
0
The Desiderata and Invictus.
One for balance, one for drive. 

It doesn't hurt that they are both short. Though they could use more pictures. /Tanker! 
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
1
1
0
When I was a Senior Network Operations Specialist for Sprint, I had the route map of every SONET Fiber Optic Ring in the Country Also the tech manual for every piece of end term equipment, ADM, REGEN, Telemetry DWDM. Still in my library is a book with the technical specs of a lot of ships and pictures, Since I am a CDR in the VFW I have a couple encyclopedia collections  on Vietnam and Korean War. Of course being a Retired Spook I have, Falcon and the Snowman, Blind Mans Bluff, Puzzle Palace, Body of Secrets, Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Adak: Rescue of Alfa Foxtrot 586 and Deception Point.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
1SG Corrections Officer
1
1
0
The Art of War- Sun Tzu
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Operations Sergeant
1
1
0

"Little America" by Rajiv Chandrasekaran

 

mentions the failures by America 50 years ago trying to teach afghans and provide them with a power plant in the Helmand province and goes in to the failure that were made in some of command decisions involving the Helmand province. Also mention part of my brigade deployment in the book as well.

(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Michael Hunt
1
1
0
"Think and Grow Rich" and  "The Bible"
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close