As leaders, we must continuously strive to improve ourselves in the institutional, operational, and self-
development domains. Although reading is a form of self-development, lessons learned impact us
institutionally and operationally. This reading list has significant pieces of literature that we
handpicked and organized by major overarching themes. Regardless of branch, functional area,
military occupational specialty, or career field, each book can benefit you as a leader and ultimately
improve the organization.


Lisa J. Hou, D.O. Mark A. Leonard
Major General, NJARNG State Command Sergeant Major NJARNG
The Adjutant General


People

Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday (all ranks). Pride and ego have been destructive forces to
many leaders. This book gives many examples of humble leaders who disciplined themselves to
conquer their own ego: George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and
Eleanor Roosevelt. Reading this will give you insight into controlling your own ego.


Rethinking Suicide: Why Prevention Fails, and How We Can Do Better by Craig Bryan (all ranks).
The military has invested heavily into preventing suicides with mandatory training, suicide stand
downs, screenings, and many other initiatives. However, the problem is still significant. The
author deployed as a military psychologist and explains how suicide is a complex problem with
multiple risk factors thereby requiring different approaches. His book will challenge many of your
long-held assumptions about suicide.


If You Survive by George Wilson (Platoon). True account of a 2nd lieutenant in WWII who landed
at Normandy and fought across Europe. He was the only Soldier from his original company to
finish the war.


Company Commander: The Classic Infantry Memoir of World War II by Charles McDonald
(Company). True story of a newly commissioned American Infantry Officer fighting in Europe in
WWII.


Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg Mckeown (Battalion). As we obtain
rank, leadership becomes more challenging, and it can seem like you can’t accomplish all you
need to. If not properly managed this can lead to frustration and burnout. Greg Mckeown
provides some simple strategies to assist you and help you achieve a good work life balance.
Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success by
Gary Vaynerchuk (Battalion). Gary Vaynerchuk provides twelve essential emotional skills for
thriving leaders and how to develop these attributes further. 


A Soldier’s Way: An Autobiography by Colin Powell with Joseph E. Persico (Brigade). The story of
Colin Powell from first generation American to four star general.


Meditations by Marcus Aurelius translated by Gregory Hays (Brigade). Marcus Aurelius was the
emperor of Rome (A.D. 161–180). This is a journal of writings that the most powerful person on
earth at the time wrote to himself. He discusses self -discipline, ethics, humility, self-actualization,
and strength. It is a guide to coping with adversity and interacting with others written by a successful military and political leader. Although written almost 2000 years ago his leadership lessons are pertinent to today.


Readiness


The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni (Squad). Lencioni
reveals the five dysfunctions which go to the very heart of why teams even the best ones-often
struggle. He outlines in a fictional story a powerful model and actionable steps that can be used to
overcome these common hurdles and build a cohesive, effective team.


Leaders Guide to Teambuilding: Building Adaptive High Performing Teams from the Center for
Army Lessons Learned15 Jan 2015 (Squad). All about building teams of leadership teams that
don’t have a habitual relationship between members. Think of this as the military companion to
the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team.


Building Cohesive Teams by Center for Army Lessons Learned (squad). Functioning teams don’t
just happen this book discusses the skills needed to keep your squad successful. Building the
team, resolving conflict and understanding individuals are all topics covered.


The Defense of Duffers Drift, by CPT Ernest Dunlop Swinton (Platoon). This is a classic military
book about how an infantry unit with only 50 men could defend a river crossing during the Boer
War at the turn of the 19th century. It is written in a series of fictional scenarios on how using the
units’ organic resources, the terrain and the political situation the best possible defense can be
accomplished. Although modern counterinsurgency doctrine would be counter to the book’s
recommendations, the use of small arms tactics discussed is fundamentally sound.


Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership,
by Alden Mills (Platoon). This book is for managers at every level, showing managers how to
motivate, inspire, and successfully lead the people around them. 


FM 7-22 Holistic Health and Fitness 10/1/2020 (Company). The goal of the Holistic Health and
Fitness (H2F) System is to build physical lethality and mental toughness to win quickly and return
home healthy. Going beyond just physical readiness this new doctrine includes mental, spiritual,
nutritional and sleep readiness.


Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by Gen. Stanley McChrystal,
Tantum Collins, et al. (Battalion). Former General Stanley McChrystal led the transformation of his
forces into a network that combined centralized communication (“shared consciousness”) with
decentralized managerial authority (“empowered execution”). He shows not only how the military
made that transition, but also how similar shifts are possible in all kinds of organizations. In a
world of rapid change, the best organizations think and act like a team of teams, embracing small
groups that combine the freedom to experiment with a relentless drive to share what they’ve
learned.

DOD Inspector General Report on National Guard Companies that Struggled at CTC Rotations
DODIG -2017-029 (Brigade). Report documents that National Guard units are not properly training
their Soldiers.

Modernization

WAR by Sebastian Junger (squad). The author follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour
of duty at an outpost in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young
men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger daily.


The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper (Platoon). Fifty-three American
Soldiers defended Combat Outpost Keating against four hundred Taliban fighters. This was one
of the deadliest battles in the war for the United States. Reading this book will not only help you
understand the Afghanistan War but also the challenges to forward deployed troops on remote
outposts.


The Men the Mission and Me by Peter Blaber (Company). As a commander of Delta Force Peter
Blaber shares different missions he was on and the lessons he learned while accomplishing them.
Easy read each chapter is a different story.


Leadership Literacies by Bob Johansen (Battalion). Author and futurist Bob Johansen proposes
five new leadership literacies needed to thrive in a VUCA world of increasing volatility, uncertainty,
complexity, and ambiguity. This book shows how to (1) forecast likely futures so you can “look
back” and make sure you’re prepared now for the changes to come, (2) use low-risk gaming
spaces to work through your concerns about the future and hone your leadership skills, (3) lead
shape-shifting organizations where you can’t just tell people what to do, (4) be a dynamic
presence even when you’re not there in person, and (5) keep your personal energy high and
transmit that energy throughout your organization.


The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek (Battalion). Games have definitive rules, endpoints, and
players. Life is different with ever changing players and rules. How do you continue and stay
resilient and driven in a life filled with ups and downs. Even if you achieve your goals the
successful feeling fades as you move on to the next thing. Leaders who embrace an infinite
mindset build stronger, more innovative, more inspiring organizations. This book will change your
perspective and keep you from limiting yourself.


Washington’s Crossing by David Hackett Fischer (Battalion). Six months after the Declaration of
Independence, the American Revolution was all but lost. This book tells the story how in one
short 10-day campaign General George Washington turned the wars outcome around in three
separate battles. We see how the campaign unfolded in a sequence of difficult choices by many
actors, from generals to civilians, on both sides. All the warfighting functions are on display in
these actions. As the definitive book on this campaign, it is an excellent source for staff rides right
in our back yard.


My Battlefield, Your Office: Leadership Lessons from the Front Lines by Justin Constantine
(Battalion). Marine lieutenant colonel Justin Constantine led a team of Marines in Iraq. His book
contains lessons learned in combat and from overcoming a serious gunshot wound that helped
him be a better military and civilian leader. Written primarily for helping first-line supervisors and
mid-level managers. His five guiding principles are 1) Why taking care of your team should be
your number one priority; 2) Defining what it means to lead from the front; 3) How change means
opportunity; 4) Why it’s okay to ask for help; and 5) Why taking responsibility for your actions is
key.

Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War by Robert M. Gates (Brigade). The author was the Secretary
of Defense for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Organizational Development and Reform


Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger (Squad). This book explains why we
are stronger when we come together in the face of adversity, which is crucial in today’s divided
world.


Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (Company). In this book the author describes two
systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is
slower, more deliberative, and more logical. At almost 400 pages much of which explains the
scientific research to explain the authors hypothesis this is not an easy read. However, the benefit
from this book is you will understand your own cognitive biases and be prepared to make better
decisions in the future.


Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business―and What to Do About It by Jason R.
Dorsey and Denise Villa (Battalion). Leaders who are part of the Millennial or Baby Boomer
generation struggle with relating to the latest generation. This book will help you understand the
younger Soldiers in our formation and see the value they bring to the organization. Dr. Denise
Villa and Jason Dorsey from The Center for Generational Kinetics have led more than 60
generational studies, and they have worked with more than 500 companies around the world.
They answer the question: Who is Gen Z? What do employers, marketers, and sales leaders need
to know? And, most importantly, what should leaders do now?


Upstream: The Quest To Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath (Battalion). Too
often as leaders we get so focused on solving day to day problems that we don’t think
strategically. What if we made correct decisions today that will prevent problems from arising
years down the road. The author provides examples of how this can work and how as a leader
you need to change the way you think.


Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins (Battalion).
In a five year study of twenty eight companies the author and his research team discovered why
some companies can go from mediocre to great and others cannot. Leadership, cultures of
discipline and entrepreneurship and restructuring are just some of the topics covered.


Lying to Ourselves : Dishonesty in the Army Profession by Dr Leonard Wong and Dr Stephen
Gerras (Battalion). The authors are both professors at the U.S. Army War College. The thesis
behind this manuscript is that demands on the force has created a culture in the Army of
untruthfulness. Leaders are forced to prioritize which tasks are done to standard and which are
just reported as done to standard. The authors not only define the problem but come up with
suggestions for leaders at all levels to overcome the problem.


The Way of the Shepherd: Seven Secrets to Managing Productive People by Kevin Leman and
William Pentak (Battalion). Based on an interview that William Pentak had with Ted McBride CEO
of General Technologies. The book describes seven management principles: knowing your
people, teambuilding, providing direction, and correction are just some of the topics covered in this
book.

Change Leader: Learning to Do What Matters Most by Mike Fullan (Brigade). The author focuses
on the seven core practices of leadership (Practice Drives Theory, Be Resolute, Motivate the
Masses, Collaborate to Compete, Learn Confidently, Know Your Impact, Sustain Simplicity) that
are vital for leading in today’s complex world.


Turn the Ship Around! By L. David Marquet (Brigade). The author was a commander on a nuclear-
powered submarine. He describes how he empowered subordinates making them leaders and, in
the process, improved the morale, performance and retention rate on his ship.

General Good reading for the NCO

CPL – SGT

  • Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. (335 pages)
  • Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation. New York: Random House, 1998. (412 pages)
  • T. R. Fehrenbach, This Kind of War: A Study in Unpreparedness. Washington, DC: Brassey’s Inc. 1994 (483 pages)
  • Charles E. Heller and William A. Stoft, editors, America’s First Battles: 1776-1965. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. 1986. (416 pages)
  • David W. Hogan, Jr., 225 Years of Service, The US Army 1775-2000. Washington, DC: Center for Military History, 2000. (36 pages)
  • John Keegan, The Face of Battle. New York: Vintage Books, 1977. (354 pages)
  • Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway, We Were Soldiers Once and Young. New York: Random House. 1992. (412 pages)
  • Anton Myrer, Once an Eagle. New York: USAWC Foundation Press, 1995. (817 pages)
  • Michael Shaara, The Killer Angels. New York: Ballantine Books, 1974. (355 pages)

 

SSG -SFC

  • Stephen E. Ambrose, Citizen Soldiers. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. (480 pages)
  • Edward M. Coffman, The War To End All Wars: The American Military Experience in World War I. New York: Oxford University Press, 1968. (412 pages)
  • Samuel P. Huntington, Soldier and the State. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University press, 1957. (534 pages)
  • Gerald F. Linderman, Embattled Courage: The Experience of Combat in the American Civil War. New York: The Free Press, A Division of Macmillan, 1987. (357 pages)
  • Charles B. MacDonald, Company Commander. Springfield, NJ: Burford Books, 1999. (278 pages)
  • S.L.A. Marshall, Men Against Fire: The Problem of Battle Command in Future War. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2000. (224 pages)
  • Alan R. Millett and Peter Maslowski, For the Common Defense, A Military History of the United States of America. New York: The Free Press, 1984. (621 pages)
  • Robert H. Scales, Jr., Certain Victory. Washington, DC: Brassey’s Inc., 1998. (448 pages)
  • Mark A. Stoler, George C. Marshall: Soldier-Statesman of the American Century. Boston, MA: Twayne Publishers, 1989. (252 pages)
  • Tom Willard, Buffalo Soldiers. New York: Forge Press, 1997. (336 pages)

MSG – CSM

  • Roy E. Appleman, East of Chosin: Entrapment and Breakout in Korea, 1950. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1987. (399 pages)
  • Graham A. Cosmas, An Army for Empire: The United States Army and the Spanish American War. Shippensburg, PA: White Mane, 1994. (349 pages)
  • Robert A. Doughty, The Evolution of US Army Tactical Doctrine, 1946-1976. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute, 1979. (57 pages)
  • Antoine Henri Jomini, Jomini and His Summary of the Art of War. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 1965. (161 pages)
  • Charles B. MacDonald and Sidney T. Mathews, Three Battles: Arnaville, Altuzzo and Schmidt. Washington, DC: Center of Military History, 1952. (443 pages)
  • James M. McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988. (904 pages):
  • Roger H. Nye, The Challenge of Command. Wayne, New Jersey: Avery Publishing Group, 1986. (187 pages)
  • Dave R. Palmer, Summons of the Trumpet: US-Vietnam in Perspective. San Rafael, CA: Presidio Press, 1978. (277 pages)
  • Martin Van Creveld, Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1977. (284 pages)
  • Russell F. Weigley, The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1977. (477 pages)

OTHER BOOKS OF INTEREST TO THE NCO

  • William G. Bainbridge, Top Sergeant: The Life and Times of Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge. New York: Ballantine Books, 1995. (357 pages)
  • Roy Benavidez, The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez. San Antonio, TX: Corona Publishing Company, 1986. (293 pages)
  • Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War. New York: Random House, 1998 (reissue). (308 pages)
  • Arnold G. Fisch, Jr., The Story of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps: The Backbone of the Army. Washington, DC: Center of Military History, 1989. (250 pages)
  • Ernest F. Fisher, Jr., Guardians of the Republic: A History of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the US Army. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2001 (475 pages)
  • Mark F. Gillespie et al, The Sergeants Major of the Army. Washington, DC: Center of Military History, 1995. (180 pages)
  • Sun Tzu and Sun Pin, The Complete Art of War. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1996. (304 pages)