Professional Growth through Reading: Kickstart Your Career with War Books
In the world of military leadership, knowledge is a powerful tool. Two figures who understand this well are retired General James Mattis and infantry officer Tom Dull. Both have recommended a series of books that have shaped their thinking about the profession of arms.
For young leaders, soon-to-be lieutenants, and newly commissioned officers, the reading list is aimed at building a foundation of understanding in strategy, leadership, ethics, and history. One such book is "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown, which tells the story of a team that built trust through shared hardship and overcame adversity to achieve success.
Another book that emphasizes the importance of trust in teamwork and overcoming adversity is "Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest," by Steven Ambrose. This book teaches about cohesion, heroism, tactics, good and bad leadership, and infantry leadership.
"Brief," by Joseph McCormack, assists in communicating clearly and concisely, a crucial skill in the profession. On the other hand, "Infantry Attacks" by Irwin Rommel is an excellent resource for understanding small-unit tactics in large-scale combat operations.
Retired General James Mattis is known for recommending foundational military history and strategic reading to military leaders. Although not directly cited here, Mattis’s well-known reading list from other sources often includes classics like Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, Clausewitz’s On War, as well as biographies and accounts of leadership and combat.
Some relevant parts of professional military reading lists and notable military history works linked to contemporary military leadership and infantry operations that a figure like Mattis and officers such as Tom Dull might align with include "We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah" by Patrick K. O’Donnell, "Future War in Cities: Rethinking a Liberal Dilemma" by Alice Hills, and "Stalingrad" by Antony Beevor.
The book Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life, by James Kerr, discusses how leaders build teams to succeed and encourages reflection on a unit's mindset, values, and purpose. "One Bullet Away," by Nathaniel Fick, depicts the pressure on junior officers in training, preparation, and combat, and emphasizes the importance of critical and creative thinking in battle.
Reading "Infantry Attacks" allows one to practice reflecting on the past to prepare for future battle. The book Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics, by Tim Marshall, explains how geographic and human terrain influence global politics and war, and assists in expanding one's geopolitical field of expertise.
Army Regulation 25-50, Preparing and Managing Correspondence, provides standards for military correspondence in the Army. Tactics matter in combat operations, as demonstrated in "Infantry Attacks." Retired General James Mattis emphasized the importance of reading for professional development in the Army.
It's important to note that the views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense. For a full exact reading list by Mattis and Dull, consulting official military professional development resources or published lists by them directly would be advised.
Tom Dull is an infantry officer in the United States Army and currently the executive officer for the Character Integration Advisory Group at West Point. He is one of the many officers who have served for over thirty years and have presented or recommended these books.
In conclusion, these books offer valuable insights into leadership, teamwork, communication, tactics, geopolitics, and historical understanding. They are a must-read for anyone seeking to develop their professional skills in the military.
- Retired General James Mattis and infantry officer Tom Dull, known for their military leadership and understanding of the profession of arms, recommend a series of books aimed at building understanding in strategy, leadership, ethics, and history.
- "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown is one such book that focuses on building trust, overcoming adversity, and achieving success, making it relevant for young leaders.
- Steven Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" emphasizes the importance of trust in teamwork and overcoming adversity, with lessons on cohesion, heroism, tactics, leadership, and infantry operations.
- "Brief" by Joseph McCormack helps with effective communication, a crucial skill in the military, while "Infantry Attacks" by Irwin Rommel is a resource for understanding small-unit tactics.
- "Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life" discusses how leaders build successful teams, with insights applicable to military team-building.
- "One Bullet Away" highlights the importance of critical and creative thinking in battle, particularly for junior officers, while "Prisoners of Geography" explains how geopolitical and human terrain influences global politics and war.
- Army Regulation 25-50 stresses the importance of proper standards for military correspondence, and retired General James Mattis emphasizes the importance of reading for professional development in the Army.
