Tear along perforated 

lines for the Csa’s 

Professional Reading 

List bookmark

The U.S. Army Chief of Staff’

s

Professional 

Reading 

List

A course of personal study 

and contemplation is an essential 

component for the individual 

development of every Army 

professional. Each of us faces busy 

schedules every day and finding 

time to read and think is a recurring 

challenge. But even as we train our 

units and physically condition our 

bodies, we must improve our minds 

through reading and critical thinking. 

Our Army operates in a complex 

strategic environment that demands 

each of us improve our knowledge 

of not only military affairs, but 

economics, politics, and international 

affairs. We must know how to train 

for new types of missions, how 

to deploy forces rapidly to distant regions around the world, and how 

to pursue innovation and change while preserving the Army’s core 

capabilities in an era of fiscal constraint. The books on this list can 

sharpen our understanding of strategic landpower as an instrument 

of national power, the indispensable role of ethical leadership, and the 

extraordinary demands of land combat. I challenge each of you to read 

these books and to discuss, debate, and think critically about the ideas 

they contain. 

Since 1775 our Army has safeguarded the United States, its allies, 

and our interests and served as an example of professional excellence. 

We have succeeded because our Soldiers, families, veterans, and 

civilians have selflessly trained and prepared themselves in both peace 

and war. Our Army heritage is distinguished. As we read and study our 

profession, we create new opportunities to serve our nation today and 

in the years ahead. 

General Raymond T. Odierno, 38th Chief of Staff, Army

THE u.S. Army CHIEF OF STAFF’S

PROFESSIONAL READING LIST

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The U.S. Army Chief of Staff’s Professional Reading List is divided 

into three categories: Armies at War: Battles and Campaigns; The 

Army Profession; and Strategy and the Strategic Environment. These 

sub-lists are intended to steer readers to topics in which they are most 

interested. Each of these books is suitable for readers of any rank or 

position. 

The books included in this list offer entry points into the many 

publications available regarding military art and science. They are 

provided as selected works that can help Soldiers, Department of the 

Army Civilians, and anyone interested in the Army to learn more about 

the Army profession and to sharpen their knowledge of the Army’s 

long and distinguished history, as well as the decisive role played by 

landpower in conflicts across the centuries. 

A sustained personal commitment to critical study of a wide range 

of readings constitutes an essential professional responsibility for 

members of the Army profession. The U.S. Army today confronts 

extraordinary complexity in the strategic environment with new and 

emerging missions competing with core warfighting requirements to 

challenge Army professionals. This reading list is intended to serve 

as a guide to the many topics worthy of professional consideration, 

contemplation, and serious discussion. 

The appearance of a title on this reading list does not imply that 

the Chief of Staff endorses the author’s views or interpretations. 

Nevertheless, these books contain thought-provoking ideas and 

viewpoints relevant to our Army.

The AEF Way of War: The American Army and Combat 

in World War I

Mark E. Grotelueschen // New York: Cambridge University 

Press, 2007

This exemplary case study of doctrinal and tactical innovation 

under fire shows how four divisions of the American Expeditionary 

Forces adapted, or failed to adapt, to conditions on the Western Front 

during World War I. The 1st and 2d Divisions perfected artillery-infantry 

liaison so that by November 1918 they had achieved “state-of-the-art” 

tactical skills. Both the 26th and 77th Divisions failed to achieve this 

level of proficiency. How and why each unit approached change and 

innovation underscores this examination of the Army at war.

American Military History, vol. 2, The United States 

Army in a Global Era, 1917–2008

Richard W. Stewart, ed. // Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army 

Center of Military History, 2010

Created initially as a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps textbook, 

this second volume in a two-volume overview of the Army’s story 

covers the period from World War I to the early days of the wars in 

Afghanistan and Iraq. Written in an engaging style and enhanced by 

sophisticated graphics and recommended readings, the work is an 

excellent source of general service history in the modern world. 

ARMies at War

BAttles and Campaigns
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

James M. McPherson // New York: Oxford University 

Press, 1988

McPherson has written a brilliant account of the American Civil 

War—the war that made the country what it is today. He discusses in 

clear, incisive detail the causes of the war, the military operations, the 

Soldiers, the leaders, and the political, economic, and social aspects 

of life in the Union and the Confederacy before and during the conflict. 

A book many experts judge to be the best one-volume history of the 

Civil War, it provides an excellent introduction to the most significant 

war fought by the American Army.

Cables from Kabul: The Inside Story of the West’s 

Afghanistan Campaign

Sherard Cowper-Coles // London: HarperCollins, 2011

The author, who was the British ambassador to Afghanistan from 

2007 to 2010, wrote this pessimistic view of the war in Afghanistan at 

the conclusion of his tenure. In his opinion, the military continually gave 

overoptimistic assessments. Covering more than just Afghanistan, this 

book furnishes insights on Western diplomacy and the way the North 

Atlantic Treaty Organization operates, particularly in hostile territories.
The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare: The 

Triumph of the West

Geoffrey Parker, ed. // Rev. ed.; New York: Cambridge 

University Press, 2008

Writing in a digestible, compelling manner, Parker’s authors 

cover the gamut of Western warfare from antiquity to the present, 

including the development of warfare on land, sea, and air; weapons 

and technology; strategy, operations, and tactics; and logistics and 

intelligence. Throughout the book, there is an emphasis on the 

socioeconomic aspects of war and the nature of the West’s military 

culture that enabled its global dominance.

Counterinsurgency: Exposing the Myths of the New 

Way of War

Douglas Porch // New York: Cambridge University Press, 

2013 

This book reviews American, British, and French experiences with 

counterinsurgency operations since the nineteenth century and argues 

that the strategy of winning “hearts and minds” has never worked as 

advertised. Porch demonstrates that force, rather than benevolent 

social engineering and nation building, has historically been the key 

to successful counterinsurgency operations. This book is a stimulating 

and thought-provoking counterpoint to existing U.S. Army doctrine, 

which in Porch’s opinion is simply wishful thinking wrapped in myth.
Crucible of War: The Seven Years’ War and the Fate of 

Empire in British North America, 1754–1766

Fred Anderson // New York: Knopf, 2000

From the forests of frontier Ohio to the streets of London, 

Anderson provides rich detail and insightful analysis to explain how 

Great Britain, France, Spain, the Colonies, and Native Americans 

battled for supremacy in North America. The Seven Years’ War, 

often called the first world war, featured a cast of state and non-state 

actors who competed in complex ways while commercial, diplomatic, 

and military interests maneuvered to seek advantages. The resultant 

security challenges of the eighteenth century are remarkably similar 

to those of today’s global environment. 

The Endgame: The Inside Story of the Struggle for 

Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama

Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor // New York: 

Pantheon Books, 2012

Clausewitz concluded that war is a continuation of politics by other 

means. War also requires an understanding of the human domain. 

The Endgame is an exhaustively researched account of the war in Iraq 

that seeks to explain the political dynamics underlying the conflict, the 

motivations of the actors who took part, and the social fabric against 

which a violent struggle for power took place. This is an essential work 

for any Army leader who wishes to grasp the complex character of any 

war in the contemporary age.
The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo, 

and the Somme

John Keegan // New York: Viking, 1976

One of the classics of modern military history, The Face of Battle 

brings to life three major battles: Agincourt (1415), Waterloo (1815), 

and the first battle of the Somme (1916). Keegan describes the sights, 

sounds, and smells of combat, providing a compelling look at what it 

means to be a Soldier and how difficult it is to understand the dynamics 

of combat.

Grunts: Inside the American Infantry Combat 

Experience, World War II Through Iraq

John C. McManus // New York: NAL Caliber, 2010

Historian John C. McManus covers six decades of warfare, from 

the fight on the island of Guam in 1944 to today’s counterinsurgency 

in Iraq. He demonstrates that despite advances of weaponry, the 

foot Soldier has been the most indispensable and overlooked factor 

in wartime victory. McManus stresses that the importance of the 

human element in protecting the United States is too often forgotten, 

and he advances a passionate plea for fundamental change in our 

understanding of war.

Pacific Blitzkrieg: World War II in the Central Pacific

Sharon Tosi Lacey // Denton: University of North Texas 

Press, 2013

Lacey closely examines the planning, preparation, and execution 

of ground operations at the corps and division level for five major 

invasions in the Central Pacific: Guadalcanal, Tarawa, the Marshall 

Islands, Saipan, and Okinawa. The commanders had to integrate 

the U.S. Army and Marine Corps into a single operational force, 

something that would have been difficult enough in peacetime, but 

was a monumental task in the midst of a great global war. Yet, ultimate 

success in the Pacific rested on this crucial, if somewhat strained, 

partnership and its accomplishments.
Personal Memoirs: Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant // 1885; Reprint, New York: Modern 

Library, 1999

This classic and honest account by one of America’s greatest 

generals is among the finest military commander autobiographies ever 

written. It offers valuable insights into leadership and command that 

apply to all levels and in all times. The personal strength and strategic 

insight Grant demonstrated under almost unimaginable stress during 

critical junctures of America’s bloodiest war makes him a fascinating 

case study of the “epitomized” Soldier.

Refighting the Last War: Command and Crisis in 

Korea, 1950–1953

D. Clayton James with Anne Sharp Wells // New York: 

Free Press, 1993

This readable study diverges from the usual chronological narrative 

of the Korean War. Instead, it devotes individual chapters to assessing 

key American senior leaders and their important command decisions. 

Author D. Clayton James, the foremost authority on General Douglas 

MacArthur, teamed with his long-time research assistant to produce 

a work that will give the reader insight into the role of personalities 

during the war as well as the complexities of some of the decisions 

with which the leaders wrestled.
Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944–45

Max Hastings // New York: Knopf, 2008

This is a sweeping account of the closing years of World War II in the 

Pacific, when the fate of Japan was largely sealed, yet massive armed 

forces continued to fight across the region, inflicting horrific casualties. 

How and why the killing proceeded and what it meant to people on all 

sides caught in the war’s fury makes a compelling and illustrative story of 

the sheer violence of war and the ways that rational military planning can 

lead to uncontrollable destruction. Hastings creates a riveting portrayal 

of combat largely overlooked until now that serves as both a warning 

and a lesson for operational and strategic leaders.

Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton

Martin van Creveld // New York: Cambridge University 

Press, 1977

Surveying four centuries of military history, the noted historian 

Martin van Creveld clearly points out the reasons “amateurs study 

tactics; professionals study logistics.” Most battlefield results would 

not have been possible without the careful organization and allocation 

of logistical resources. Leaders who fail to consider logistics in all of 

their plans and operations do so at their peril.
The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier’s Education

Craig M. Mullaney // New York: Penguin, 2009

U.S. Army Capt. Craig Mullaney recounts the hard lessons that 

only war can teach while fighting al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. This is a 

portrait of a junior officer grappling with the weight of war and coming 

to terms with what it means to lead others in combat.

Washington’s Crossing

David Hackett Fischer // New York: Oxford University 

Press, 2006

This meticulously researched and superbly written study of military 

operations and leadership recounts a time during the Revolutionary 

War when America nearly lost, but then saved, its recently declared 

independence. The title alludes not just to General George 

Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River in December 

1776, but also to his maturation as a leader and to the Continental 

Army’s transformation into a competent military force. In analyzing the 

1776 campaign, the author reflects on the development of a uniquely 

American way of war and the values that continue to guide our Army. 
Westmoreland’s War: Reassessing American Strategy 

in Vietnam 

Gregory A. Daddis // New York: Oxford University Press, 

2014

A half century after the United States committed ground combat 

troops to Vietnam, Americans still have a lot to learn—or unlearn—

about the nation’s first war that it lost. In this stimulating reappraisal 

of the conflict, Daddis argues that America’s failure owed less to the 

much maligned “strategy of attrition” than to broader flaws in national 

policy, to include the belief that America could transform South 

Vietnam. In taking a fresh look at U.S. strategy during the Vietnam 

War, this book enhances our understanding both of the war itself and 

of the challenges that continue to face Soldiers and policy makers 

when intervening in the internal conflicts of foreign countries.

THE Army ProfessioN

19 Stars: A Study in Military Character and Leadership

Edgar F. Puryear Jr. // Novato, Calif.: Presidio Press, 2003

This valuable book examines the lives and careers of Generals 

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, George C. Marshall, and 

George S. Patton through their own eyes as well as the recollections 

of hundreds of others who worked with and knew them personally. 

This is a great study for up-and-coming officers to better understand 

the fundamentals of leadership, preparation, and the need for luck.

The Echo of Battle: The Army’s Way of War 

Brian McAllister Linn // Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard 

University Press, 2007

Linn argues that the Army since its early years has had three 

enduring and often antagonistic intellectual traditions—that is, three 

different ways of war—reflecting assumptions and concepts that have 

remained remarkably consistent. He surveys the assumptions and 

errors of each tradition throughout the Army’s history, noting in each 

the tendency to discourage critical thinking and thereby to enforce 

complacency. The result has been an Army often ill-prepared for the 

wars it was called on to fight.

The GAMe: Unraveling a Military Sex Scandal 

Robert D. Shadley // Edina, Minn.: Beaver’s Pond Press, 

2013

In this book, a retired Army major general writes about a scandal 

in which a number of Army drill instructors colluded and competed to 

sexually assault female trainees. This gross violation of Army ethics 

and values was uncovered in 1996 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground—

the post where the author commanded the U.S. Army Ordnance 

Center and School.
Grey Eminence: Fox Conner and the Art of Mentorship

Edward Cox // Stillwater, Okla.: New Forums Press, 2011

Because Fox Conner’s name was synonymous with mentorship, 

he was nicknamed the “Grey Eminence” within the Army. His influence 

and mentorship helped shape the careers of George S. Patton, George 

C. Marshall, and, most notably, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

Fox Conner’s four-step model for developing strategic leaders still 

holds true today. First, be a master of your craft. Second, recognize 

and recruit talented subordinates. Third, encourage and challenge 

protégés to develop their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. 

Fourth, do not be afraid to break the rules of the organization to do it. 

The Invisible Wounds of War: Coming Home from Iraq 

and Afghanistan

Marguerite Guzmán Bouvard // Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus, 

2012

Wartime experiences do not simply go away when a Soldier returns 

home. The demands of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have 

been particularly high because the small size of the Army required 

many Soldiers to go on multiple deployments, which caused them 

and their families greater stress and damage. Through interviews with 

many veterans and their loved ones, the author examines the causes 

of post-traumatic stress disorder and addresses the sometimes 

lamentable care veterans have received at home.
Kevlar Legions: The Transformation of the U.S. Army, 

1989–2005

John Sloan Brown // Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center 

of Military History, 2011

Former Chief of Military History Brig. Gen. John S. Brown brings his 

formidable analytical skills to bear in a detailed study of how the senior 

Army leadership formulated, managed, and executed a multiyear 

transformational effort after the end of the Cold War. A consistent 

vision from the senior leadership allowed the Army to cope with the 

changed international environment after the collapse of the Soviet 

Union, with high operational tempo contingency operations, and with 

the opening salvos of the Global War on Terrorism and still craft an 

Army that is the premier ground force in the world today. 

Leading Change

John P. Kotter // Boston: Harvard Business School 

Press, 1996

In this classic book on leadership, Kotter describes a proven eightstep change process: establishing a sense of urgency, creating the 

guiding coalition, developing a vision and strategy, communicating 

the change vision, empowering others to act, generating short-term 

wins, consolidating gains and producing even more change, and 

institutionalizing new approaches in the future. Leaders across the 

Army can benefit from an examination of Kotter’s methodology. 

Lincoln and His Generals

T. Harry Williams // New York: Vintage Books, 2011

First published in 1952, Lincoln and His Generals remains one of the 

definitive accounts of President Abraham Lincoln’s wartime leadership. 

In it, Williams dramatizes Lincoln’s long and frustrating search for an 

effective leader of the Union Army and traces his transformation from a 

politician with little military knowledge into a master strategist. Explored 

in-depth are Lincoln’s often fraught relationships with generals such as 

George B. McClellan, John Pope, Ambrose E. Burnside, Joseph Hooker, 

John C. Fremont, and of course, Ulysses S. Grant. 

A Message to Garcia

Elbert Hubbard // Lexington, Ky.: Seven Treasures 

Publications, 2009

This classic essay from 1899, based on the true story of Lt. Andrew 

Rowan, is a notable testament of initiative and responsibility. It provides 

commonsense advice on the importance of personal responsibility, 

loyalty, hard work, and enterprise. 
On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill 

in War and Society

Dave Grossman // Rev. ed.; New York: Back Bay Books, 2009

The book investigates the psychology of killing in combat and 

stresses that human beings have a powerful, innate resistance to the 

taking of life. The author examines the techniques developed by the 

military to overcome that aversion during the Vietnam War, revealing 

how an American Soldier was more lethal during this conflict than at 

any other time in history.

Once an Eagle

Anton Myrer // New York: Harper Perennial, 2013

A historical novel, Once an Eagle traces the career of a fictitious 

Soldier from World War I to Vietnam. The book portrays the confusion 

of combat, the bonds that form between fighting men, the tensions 

between line and staff officers, and the heavy responsibility of 

command. This work was first published in 1968 and is great for young 

leaders contemplating a career in the profession of arms and looking 

for a deeper understanding of Army culture. 
Partners in Command: George Marshall and Dwight 

Eisenhower in War and Peace

Mark Perry // New York: Penguin, 2007

This book is a balanced biographical view of the relationship 

between Generals George C. Marshall and Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

It provides an illustrative glimpse at the connection between the two 

men as they developed a grand alliance and forged the strategies that 

led to victory in Europe in World War II. It is a good read for strategic 

leaders who wish to better understand the complexities of coalition, 

joint, and civil-military relations. 

Strategy and the

Strategic Environment

The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World 

Disorder Constantly Surprises Us and What We Can 

Do About It

Joshua Cooper Ramo // New York: Back Bay Books, 2010

This book challenges conventional assumptions, world views, 

and thinking in an increasingly complex world. The author proposes 

controversial ways of considering global issues, such as studying 

why Hezbollah is the most efficiently run Islamic militant group. Ramo 

uses economics, history, complexity theory, and network science to 

describe an ambiguous reality that has many innovative possibilities.

The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World

Niall Ferguson // New York: Penguin, 2008

Economic historian Niall Ferguson provides a historical narrative on 

the ascent of money and how it has both contributed to the expansion 

of the global market place and caused conflict. This is a cautionary tale 

and an important read for those who want to understand how global 

fiscal and economic crises could impact our defense strategy and 

defense force structure.

A Choice of Enemies: America Confronts the Middle East

Lawrence Freedman // New York: PublicAffairs, 2008

A leading professor from the United Kingdom provides an objective 

study of U.S. engagements in the Middle East. This volume looks at 

U.S. strategies from President Jimmy Carter to President George W. 

Bush, evaluating the evolution of U.S. policy toward the region and 

offering thoughtful analysis of how and why the United States has 

confronted regional issues with global impact during five presidencies. 
The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See 

Themselves—And Why It Matters

B. R. Myers // New York: Melville House, 2010

In this candid and compelling work, B. R. Myers provides an 

incisive and important interpretation of North Korea’s regime. He 

explains how a race-centric ideology operates in P’yongyang to inform 

regime decision making that requires successive provocations on the 

Korean peninsula. As American foreign policy turns to the Asia-Pacific, 

U.S. forces in Korea are at the center of an increasingly dangerous 

confrontation, now including the prospect of weapons of mass 

destruction. Myers’ book provides necessary context for Army leaders 

to better comprehend this potential adversary.

The Cold War: A New History

John Lewis Gaddis // New York: Penguin, 2005

Preeminent historian John Lewis Gaddis distills a lifetime of 

scholarship in this penetrating history of the Cold War, a long contest 

that shaped the affairs of all the world’s nations for half of the twentieth 

century by pitting great powers against each other around the globe. 

This critical period challenged U.S. foreign policy by demanding 

leaders to devise new strategies to accommodate all forms of national 

power, including the potential use of nuclear weapons. How American 

foreign policy evolved and how the Army changed its doctrine and 

organization to meet the changing threats, including hot wars in Korea 

and Vietnam, are central to the story and applicable to the development 

of military thinking today. 
Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to 

Know

P. W. Singer and Allan Friedman // New York: Oxford 

University Press, 2014

This is a fascinating and well-written examination of the technology 

that supports our society and much of the world. The authors discuss 

how cyberspace and security work, how they affect us, and what every 

citizen, and especially every Soldier, should know. 

Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical 

Threats

Joseph Cirincione, Jon B. Wolfsthal, Miriam Rajkumar // 

2d Ed.; New York: Carnegie Endowment for International 

Peace, 2005

This volume provides an informative assessment of global nuclear, 

biological, and chemical arsenals and the risks associated with their 

potential proliferation and employment. Presented in clear terms, the 

technical information about the growing dangers of weapons of mass 

destruction is timely and compelling. Future war will likely involve 

increased use of these terrible weapons, a subject deserving much 

more attention from Soldiers and policy makers alike.

Descent into Chaos: The United States and the Failure 

of Nation Building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and 

Central Asia

Ahmed Rashid // New York: Viking Penguin, 2008

Rashid, a Pakistani writer, describes how the war against Islamic 

extremism was being lost in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and central Asia. 

He examines the region and the corridors of power in Washington and 

Europe to see how the promised nation building in these countries 

was progressing. His conclusions are devastating: an unstable and 

nuclear-armed Pakistan, a renewed al-Qaeda profiting from a booming 

opium trade, and a Taliban resurgence and reconquest. He argues 

that failing states pose a grave threat to global security.
The End of Power: From Boardrooms to Battlefields 

and Churches to States, Why Being in Charge Isn’t 

What It Used to Be

Moisés Naím // New York: Basic Books, 2013

This book is an intriguing and provocative analysis of power as it 

is wielded by key institutions around the globe, whether government, 

military, religion, or business, and how these bastions of authority are 

now being tested. The author identifies a three-way revolution of “more, 

mobility, and mentality” to demonstrate how changes in population, 

wealth, migration, and information are fundamentally challenging 

traditional hierarchies and stirring ferment in societies around the 

world. The security implications are tremendous, and Soldiers who will 

operate in such a mutating environment must consider how their roles 

must change as well.

The Fate of Africa: A History of the Continent Since 

Independence

Martin Meredith // Rev. ed.; New York: PublicAffairs, 2011

This classic history has been revised to incorporate recent 

developments such as Darfur, Sudan; Robert Mugabe’s longevity; 

developmental aid; the influence of China; and the Arab Spring in 

North Africa. Africa is remarkably diverse, complex, and challenging to 

understand, and even more difficult to influence. To date, the potential 

for the peoples and states of the continent to take their rightful place 

on the world’s stage has not been met. This will likely change in the 

coming decades. The implications for U.S. policy are significant.

Flawed by Design: The Evolution of the CIA, JCS, and 

NSC

Amy B. Zegart // Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999

Zegart looks at the interagency process and challenges the 

traditional opinion that the key national security institutions (the 

Central Intelligence Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and National Security 

Council) operate as the National Security Act of 1947 intended. The 

reality has been that politics and bureaucratic and budgetary turf wars 

effectively impair the original purpose of these organizations and 

have caused systematic failures. However, proposals for reform of 

the entire interagency process must be carefully considered. This is 

an important read for those who wish to learn how key institutions 

were intended to work and how they actually work today in an era of 

increasing uncertainty.
Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America’s 

Soul

Michael Reid // New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 

2009

Reid argues that Latin Americans’ efforts to build more equitable and 

more prosperous societies make that region one of the most dynamic 

places in the world. Today’s leaders are attempting to lay the foundations 

for faster economic growth while addressing the region’s seemingly 

intractable problems of poverty, inequality, and social injustice. Failure 

will not only increase the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants, but also 

will jeopardize the stability of a region rich in oil and other strategic 

commodities and threaten some of the world’s most majestic natural 

environments. The study provides a vivid, current, and informed account 

of a dynamic continent and its struggle to compete in a globalized world.

Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on 

Terror

Mary Habeck // New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 

2007

In this primer on a small splinter group of Islam, Habeck traces 

current jihadism from an early-fourteenth-century scholar and 

the eighteenth-century founder of the harshly restrictive Islam 

(predominantly in Saudi Arabia) to four twentieth-century figures who 

inspired a host of radical reactionary organizations, including Hamas 

and al-Qaeda. By revealing the origins of jihadism, she contributes with 

admirable clarity an important volume for Army leaders to understand 

what drives people to attack democracies.
Makers of Modern Strategy: From Machiavelli to the 

Nuclear Age

Peter Paret, ed. // Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1986

This is a deeply significant anthology on the evolution of strategic 

thought. Moving from Machiavelli to the present in twenty-eight 

insightful essays, the authors examine such topics as the role of 

doctrine, the genius of Napoleon, the limits of airpower, and nuclear 

strategy. A primer for all military leaders who must think strategically 

on a variety of issues, Makers of Modern Strategy summarizes the 

classic military thinkers, underlining the enduring lessons that remain 

relevant today.

Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of 

American Power

Robert D. Kaplan // New York: Random House, 2010

Kaplan provides a sweeping examination of the countries that 

compose “Monsoon Asia”—China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Burma, 

Oman, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Tanzania. This book is a mustread for Army professionals, especially those whose focus has been 

weighted toward the challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan over the 

past decade. As the United States pivots strategically to the Pacific, 

Kaplan’s unique perspective on the implications of rising powers, the 

shifting global balance, and the potential contingencies that might 

arise is timely and important.
The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom

Evgeny Morozov // New York: PublicAffairs, 2011

Morozov argues against the conventional wisdom that the Internet 

and social media will automatically promote and expand freedom 

around the world. While social networking may enable popular 

mobilization, authoritarian regimes can use the same tools to suppress 

free speech, monitor their opposition, and disseminate propaganda. 

The author asserts that while “digital diplomacy” and “Internet freedom”

sound good rhetorically, foreign policy based on these concepts may 

actually hinder the promotion of democracy, cause dictators to become 

more repressive, and harm the reform efforts of dissidents.

On China

Henry A. Kissinger // New York: Penguin, 2011

This sweeping and insightful history of modern China by a 

distinguished international scholar, diplomat, and statesman provides 

a fascinating historical view of China and its relations with its neighbors 

and the United States over the last forty years. It is useful for readers 

to understand the world’s second largest economy and the rising 

global player, which will influence U.S. national and economic security 

for decades to come.

Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban 

Guerrilla

David Kilcullen // New York: Oxford University Press, 2013

This new book takes a fresh look at what could be the Army’s most 

difficult combat environment—large urban centers. The sprawling 

cities of both the developing and developed worlds pose increasing 

and complex security challenges that governments are struggling to 

address. At the same time, communications technologies are assisting 

those who seek to commit violence amid these spaces that are weakly 

governed. The result is a formidable range of threats that the Army 

must better understand and prepare to meet in the coming years. 

The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the 

Modern World

Daniel Yergin // New York: Penguin, 2011

Yergin, widely recognized as an authoritative voice on the 

geopolitics of energy and resource competition, has produced his most 

comprehensive and balanced work. This volume not only explains 

the deeper history of energy production and the dramatic changes of 

recent years, but also provides valuable policy advice for minimizing 

the potential for catastrophic disruptions in energy security and the 

conflicts this could spawn.
The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern 

World

Rupert Smith // New York: Knopf, 2007

Drawing on his experience as a commander during the Persian 

Gulf war and in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Northern Ireland, Smith, a retired 

British general, gives a probing analysis of modern war and questions 

why we try to use military force to solve our political problems. And 

why, when our forces win military battles, we still fail to resolve the 

problems. He demonstrates that today’s conflicts must be understood 

as intertwined political and military events.

Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in 

the 21st Century

P. W. Singer // New York: Penguin, 2009

P. W. Singer explores robotic warfare as a revolution in military 

affairs on a par with the atom bomb or gunpowder. The author 

discusses the impact of new military technology on the ways war 

is fought and the influence robots will have on the future battlefield, 

as well as the ramifications robotic warfare will have on ethics, law, 

politics, and economics.

CMH Pub 105–5–1

U.S. Army Center of military History

PIN : 000000–000

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