Soldiers need to know much more than just how to pull a trigger.
They need to respond quickly to chaotic situations — often with limited information — and effectively lead and inspire others.
In essence, being a good soldier means being physically and mentally prepared.
To help in this latter area, the Army's top officer, the Army Chief of Staff, publishes a list of books each year to help soldiers improve their "minds through reading and critical thinking."
Unlike the Marine Corps' reading list which is broken down by rank or topic, the Army's reading list is broken down into three categories: "Armies at War: Battles and Campaigns,""The Army Profession," and "Strategy and the Strategic Environment." The Army explains that the sublists are appropriate for any rank and that they allow the reader to choose the topics that best suit their interests.
The list is published annually, and the current list can be seen in full here. We've picked thirteen of our favorites and offer a brief glimpse into each.
"Leading Change" by John P. Kotter
To be effective, the Army must adapt to an ever-changing environment. However, change in the military can be very difficult as the change of strategy led by General Petraeus in Iraq demonstrates.
"Leading Change" is a classic known by many people in the business world. The book provides an eight-step guide to implementing change and monitoring the process. It also details the dangers leaders face by staying stagnant.
Kotter's book is also applicable for military leaders looking to be proactive in solving problems. Although change in the military can be fraught with difficulty, this book provides a useful tool for those soldiers looking to improve.
"On China" by Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger is well-known as one of America's foremost diplomats and strategic thinkers who played a pivotal role in the opening of relations between the U.S. and China. His work "On China" would be a fascinating read if just for the historic glimpse and background information on the negotiations he led as a statesman.
However, "On China" is much more than a memoir by Kissinger. It looks at the history of China's relations with the world since forming as a nation. It also attempts to provide the reader insights into how China views international relations and how this shapes their strategic moves.
With the ever-growing importance of China on the world stage and all the talk about the U.S. pivot to Asia, this book is an excellent view into how China's leaders think. However, the insights into how to conduct diplomacy and understanding strategic partners make this a must-read.
"The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century" by Thomas Friedman
"The World is Flat" is billed as history book as its title suggests, but Friedman's book is a more focused work on the causes behind globalization's rapid spread. He also outlines the consequences of globalization, both good and bad, and describes how to navigate our new flat world.
Over the last 13 years of war, the Army has increasingly found itself involved in missions beyond merely fighting battles. Today's Army must adapt quickly to differing cultures, and soldiers can find themselves responding to multiple crises. Understanding globalization is crucial to operating in the current environment, and this book does an outstanding job of providing that understanding.
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