Battle Creek, Michigan –
President Harry S. Truman said “Not all readers are leaders but all leaders are readers.” But what books have leaders read that influenced them?
Everyday reading increases your knowledge, develops your personal and professional skills and gives you more chances for a successful career.
For National Reading month some of the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services leaders have shared the titles* that had a lasting impact on them professionally.
Many of the books are available free to DLA associates through LMS SkillSoft or for loan through the personal collections of the directors.*No official Defense Department endorsement implied.
Mike Cannon
DLA Disposition Services Director
The Bible
*A hard copy is available for loan for associates from his personal collection.
In addition to keeping me spiritually grounded and balancing that pillar of resiliency, there are great pearls of wisdom and recommendations for behavior throughout.
19 Stars by Edgar F. Puryear, Jr.
*A hard copy is available for loan for associates from his personal collection.
It provides insight into military character (which translates well to character, in general, especially within DoD) and leadership by looking at four of the most famous and successful U.S. Generals.
Sharing Success Owning Failure; Preparing to Command in the Twenty-First Century Air Force by David L. Goldfein, (then) Colonel, USAF
*A hard copy is available for loan for associates from his personal collection.
Written by the current Chief of Staff of the Air Force back when he was a Colonel. He focuses on command of an Air Force unit, but contains universal leadership truths. He delves into expectations at all levels, developing a vision and building the environment, how to “walk the walk,” handling discipline and accountability through a justice lens, and some of what he calls “Great Ideas,” that includes fostering fun, sponsoring new people, rewarding people, mentoring, etc. It really helped get me prepared for my first big leadership challenge, squadron command. Oh and it’s only about 100 small-sized pages.
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
*A hard copy is available for loan for associates from his personal collection.
Although some of the language has been updated for easier reading and the author does some character interpretation, it is a very accurate story of the Battle of Gettysburg. It provides historical insight into the most tumultuous time in our nation’s history and shows how and why some very difficult decisions were made.
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
*A hard copy is available for loan for associates from his personal collection.
Although a work of science fiction, it’s a great book on small unit leadership. It shows, in mostly relatable terms, how a person can go from a new teammate with some initial disciplinary issues, to a dynamic and valued team leader.
Why CEOs Fail by David L. Dotlich and Peter C. Cairo
*Available through LMS/Skillsoft for DLA associates. A hard copy is available for loan to associates from his personal collection.
Easy read that outlines 11 behaviors that can derail any leader. They focus on CEOs, as their failures are well known and tend to be more spectacular. However, the 11 behaviors transcend the spectrum of leadership.
Pete Foreman
Chief of Staff, DLA Disposition Services
Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead by Jim Mattis and Bing West
Call Sign Chaos is about retired Gen. Jim Mattis' career and provides great insight into effective leadership at all three levels: tactical, operational and strategic. It is the best book on leadership that I have read.
Ben Waller
Director, DLA Disposition Services North East
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The book is fiction and depicts a dystopian United States where private business is overwhelmed by stifling bureaucracy, laws and over regulation. The book explores several philosophical themes to include the advocacy of common sense, individualism, and the merits of capitalism.
Deputy Director, DLA Disposition Services North East
12 Rules for Life. An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
12 Rules for Life is a best seller by a Canadian clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Peterson explains some things we already knew to be true and offers a guide to people who are striving to improve their lives in meaningful ways.
Childhood favorite: Fox in Sox by Dr. Seuss
Arthur M. Welsh
Director, DLA Disposition Services Operations Support Directorate
Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson
See what you are doing wrong, laugh at it, change and do better. If you do not change, you can become extinct! Change is not always because of something bad. Change can be for the better. Releasing yourself from the precious “cheese” is hard but the hopes of new “cheese” always has an upper hand. Prepare your mind for a change. Don’t sir back and become comfortable in the old “cheese.” Dr. Spencer Johnson summarized his book with “anticipate change, adapt to change quickly, enjoy change and be ready to change quickly again and again.”
Tracy Hart
Director, DLA Disposition Services Contacting
The Right to Lead – Learning Leadership Through Character and Courage by John C. Maxwell
*A hard copy is available for loan to associates at HDIFC from her personal collection.
This is one of my favorite books on leadership and it’s a short read. I read it in 2011 as a branch chief in contracting, during a time when we were struggling with overcoming some long-standing issues that were negatively impacting our organizational culture. Reading the book help reinforce my leadership beliefs and reinvigorate my pursuit of growing a top-notch team despite differences.
The book provides inspiring examples of true heroic leaders that faced adversity and excelled on bringing people together to achieve success. Even if you can’t read the book, abiding by the following tips identified by the author will help the reader grow as a leader:
- Let go of your ego – you’re not in it for personal gain.
- Become a good follower first – how can you be a good leader if you first aren’t a good follower?
- Build positive relationships – leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.
- Work with excellence – No one respects and follows mediocrity.
- Rely on discipline, not emotion – tough times and how you react earns your place as a leader.
- Make adding value your goal – a leader’s highest calling is helping others live better lives to reach their potential.
- Give your power away – if you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.
Childhood favorites:
- The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
- Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
- Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Professional Military Reading List
For additional reading, view the Professional Military Reading List from the National Defense University.
This reading list has been constructed to support the renewal of our commitment to our Profession of Arms and the development of Joint Force 2020. The books selected capture the values and ethos of our military profession, promote innovative thinking to prepare for the operational realities of an uncertain future, and provide insights into the foundations of our service cultures.
The Army List is compiled for leaders. The Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) views it as a pillar for his leadership development efforts. Titles are included that will provoke critical thinking about Professional soldiering and the unique role of land power; analysis and reflection on the past and the future; and a deep understanding of the Army and the future of the profession of arms in the 21st Century.
A list of books from Chief of Naval Operations Reading List that includes history, fiction, inspirational and patriotic titles, biographies and the classics on military strategy and theory. The list provides an understanding and analysis of sea power, naval history, naval aviation, and the role of the U.S. Navy in past, present and future conflicts.
The Marine Corps Professional Reading Program began as the Commandant's Reading List in 1988, although recommended reading list have been generated for Marines since the 19th century. Each Commandant since 1988 has placed his personal stamp on the program, but many books remain constant. Great books will always remain a staple of informal, self-paced professional development.
The CSAF Reading list is compiled to inform, analyze, inspire and educate. Titles are selected to inform readers about the history of the Air Force, analyze on-going conflicts and their relevancy to the future, inspire readers with success stories and provide lessons learned from conflicts.
This reading list is designed to offer Coast Guard people recommended books related to leadership. This list is not all-inclusive; the goal is to provide a starting point or expand existing knowledge and skills. The reading list provides a tool for individual leadership growth, taking into account that responsibility for leadership development rests on each individual, his or her unit, and the organization.
The Defense Acquisition Professional Reading List is intended to enrich the knowledge and understanding of the civilian, military, contractor and industrial workforce who participate in the entire defense acquisition enterprise