Chapter 5: Marine Corps Professional Reading Program

Overview of the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program: The Marine Corps Professional Reading Program began as the Commandant's Reading List in 1988, although recommended reading lists have been generated for Marines since the 19th century. Each Commandant since 1988 has placed his personal stamp on the program, but many of the books have remained constant. Great books will always remain a staple of informal, self-paced professional development, but technology promises greater convenience and flexibility for today's Marine. MCU is exploring books on tape (CD) and downloadable audio files for the iPod (c). The list is heavily weighted towards "classics", and has been streamlined to five titles and one capstone doctrinal publication per grade, and is only one part of a larger professional reading program for Marines. There are hundreds of books published annually that are important to Marines. The Marine Corps Professional Reading Program website offers an opportunity to recommend numerous readings across a variety of subjects. Lists have been or will be created by function (combat arms, intelligence, logistics), world region/culture (Middle East, Asia, Africa), and topic (irregular warfare, leadership, biography). The Commandant of the Marine Corps Reading List should be limited to those titles that reflect his planning guidance. A smaller list is more manageable and has a realistic expectation of actually being attempted by busy Marines. Reading List by Grade: Recruit / Poolee First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak Im Staying with My Boys by J. Proser and J. Cutter The United States Marines: A History by E. Simmons Private / Private First Class 1984 by G. Orwell A Message to Garcia by E. Hubbard Blink by M. Gladwell First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak No True Glory by B. West Rifleman Dodd by C. Forester The Gift of Valor by M. Phillips

53

Lance Corporal First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak My Men are My Heroes by N. Helms Starship Troopers by R. Heinlein The 360 Degree Leader by J. Maxwell The Afghan Campaign by S. Pressfield The Ugly American by E. Burdick and W. Lederer We Were One by P. ODonnell Corporal Afghanistan by S. Tanner All Quiet on the Western Front by E. Remarque Chosen Soldier by D. Couch First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak Flag of Our Fathers by J. Bradley Ghost Soldiers by H. Sides Marines in the Garden of Eden by R. Lowry Noble Warrior by J. Livingston, C. Heaton and A. Lewis Once a Marine by N. Popaditch and M. Steere The Defense of Duffers Drift by E. Swinton Sergeant A Soldiers Load and the Mobility of a Nation by S.L.A. Marshall American Soldiers by P. Kindsvatter Common Sense Training by A. Collins Counterinsurgency Warfare by D. Galula First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak From the Horses Mouth by Major T. McKeldin Storm of Steel by E. Junger The Killer Angels by M. Shaara The Village by B. West Tip of the Spear by G. Michaels With the Old Breed by E. Sledge

54

Staff Sergeant A Bell for Adano by J. Hersey American Spartans by J. Warren Attacks by E. Rommel Battle Cry by L. Uris First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak McCoys Marines by J. Koopman On Killing by D. Grossman Soldiers of God by R. Kaplan The Arab Mind by R. Patai The Defense of Hill 781 by J. McDonough The Face of Battle by J. Keegan The Last Stand of Fox Company by B. Drury and T. Clavin The Speed of Trust by S. Covey Gunnery Sergeant Afghan Guerilla Warfare by A. Jalali and L. Grau First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak Islands of the Damned by R. Burgin and B. Marvel Killing Ground on Okinawa by J. Hallas On Combat by D. Grossman and L. Christensen Ride the Thunder by R. Botkin The Mission, the Men, and Me by P. Blaber The Savage Wars of Peace by M. Boot Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and War by M. Sallah and M. Weiss Victory at High Tide by R. Heinl We Were Soldiers Once and Young by H. Moore and J. Galloway Master Sergeant / First Sergeant Courageous Follower by I. Chaleff Fields of Battle by J. Keegan First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak Forgotten Warriors by T. Hammes Ghost Wars by S. Coll Seven Deadly Scenarios by A. Krepinevich Technology and War by M. Van Creveld The Accidental Guerilla by D. Kilcullen The Guns of August by B. Tuchman The Lexus and the Olive Tree by T. Friedman The Passion of Command by B. McCoy The Sling and the Stone by T. Hammes

55

Master Gunnery Sergeant / Sergeant Major A Peace to End All Peace by D. Fromkin Achilles in Vietnam by J. Shay At the Waters Edge: Defending Against the Modern Amphibious Assault by T. Gatchel Crisis Leadership by G. Klann First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak No Bended Knee by M. Twining On War by C. Von Clausewitz The Coldest Winter by D. Halberstam The Crisis of Islam by B. Lewis The General by C. Forester The Mask of Command by J. Keegan Officer Candidate / Midshipman First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak My Men are My Heroes by N. Helms On Infantry by J. English The Armed Forces Officer, DoD 2006 The United States Marines: A History by E. Simmons 2nd Lieutenant / Warrant Officer / Chief Warrant Officer 2 A Tactical Ethic by D. Couch Blink by M. Gladwell Counterinsurgency Warfare by D. Galula First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak Leadership: The Warriors Art by C. Kolenda, W. Ulmer Jr., and B. McCaffrey Soldiers of God by R. Kaplan Storm Landings by J. Alexander The Art of War by S. Tzu The Mission, the Men, and Me by P. Blaber The Savage Wars of Peace by M. Boot The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. Covey The Village by B. West

56

1st Lieutenant / Chief Warrant Officer 3 (the first seven books should be read in order as they trace the evolution of warfare from the first to the fourth generation) The Enlightened Soldier by C. White Seeds of Disaster by R. Doughty Stormtrooper Tactics by B. Gudmundsson Command or Control by M. Samuels The Breaking Point by R. Doughty Fighting Power by M. Van Creveld Transformation of War by M. Van Creveld Attacks by E. Rommel Battle Leadership by A. Von Schell First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak The Last Stand of Fox Company by B. Drury and T. Clavin The Peloponnesian War by D. Kagan Captain / Chief Warrant Officer 4 First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak Lions of Iwo Jima by F. Haynes Lost Victories by E. VonManstein Passion of Command by B. McCoy Sources of Power by G. Klein Starship Troopers by R. Heinlein The Arab Mind by R. Patai The Defense of Hill 781 by J. McDonough The General by C. Forrester The Mask of Command by J. Keegan The Tipping Point by M. Gladwell Victory at High Tide by R. Heinl We Were Soldiers Once and Young by H. Moore and J. Galloway Major / Chief Warrant Officer 5 First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak In the Gray Area by S. Folsom Masters of War by M. Handel Once an Eagle by A. Myrer Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by D. Goodwin The Crucible of War by F. Anderson The Guns of August by B. Tuchman The Landmark Thucydides by R. Strassler The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull and the Battle of Little Bighorn by N. Philbrick The Lexus and the Olive Tree by T. Friedman This Kind of War by T. Fehrenbach Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and War by M. Sallah and M. Weiss Utmost Savagery: The Three Days of Tarawa by J. Alexander Wired for War by P. Singer 57

Lieutenant Colonel A Bell for Adano by J. Hersey A Peace to End All Peace by D. Fromkin At the Waters Edge: Defending Against the Modern Amphibious Assault by T. Gatchel Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak by R. Coram Carnage and Culture by V. Hanson Defeat into Victory by W. Slim First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak Forgotten Warriors by T. Hammes Seven Deadly Scenarios by A. Krepinevich The Accidental Guerilla by D. Kilcullen The Blitzkrieg Legend by K. Frieser The Bottom Billion by P. Collier Colonel to General * Another Bloody Century by C. Gray Decoding Clausewitz by J. Sumida Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies that Led to Vietnam by H. McMaster Diplomacy by H. Kissinger Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World by R. Rajan First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by LtGen V. Krulak How Wars End by G. Rose Poorer Richards America by T. Blair Supreme Command: Soldier, Statesman and Leadership in Wartime by E. Cohen The Coldest Winter by D. Halberstam The Crisis of Islam by B. Lewis Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief by J. McPherson

* Current, topical titles provided by Marine Corps University at each Executive Off-Site.

58

Books and Reading Assignments:

Title: 1984 A Bell for Adano A Message to Garcia A Peace to End All Peace A Soldiers Load and the Mobility of a Nation A Tactical Ethic Achilles in Vietnam Afghan Guerilla Warfare Afghanistan All Quiet on the Western Front American Soldiers American Spartans Another Bloody Century At the Waters Edge: Defending Against the Modern Amphibious Assault Attacks Battle Cry Battle Leadership Blink Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak Carnage and Culture Chosen Soldier Command or Control Common Sense Training Counterinsurgency Warfare Courageous Follower Crisis Leadership Decoding Clausewitz Defeat into Victory Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies that Led to Vietnam Diplomacy Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Fields of Battle Fighting Power First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps Flag of Our Fathers Forgotten Warriors Author: G. Orwell J. Hersey E. Hubbard D. Fromkin S.L.A. Marshall D. Couch J. Shay A. Jalali and L. Grau S. Tanner E. Remarque P. Kindsvatter J. Warren C. Gray T. Gatchel E. Rommel L. Uris A. Von Schell M. Gladwell R. Coram V. Hanson D. Couch M. Samuels A. Collins D. Galula I. Chaleff G. Klann J. Sumida W. Slim H. McMaster H. Kissinger R. Rajan J. Keegan M. Van Creveld LtGen V. Krulak J. Bradley T. Hammes Required Reading: Pvt/Pfc SSgt LtCol Pvt/Pfc MGySgt/SgtMaj LtCol Sgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 MGySgt/SgtMaj GySgt Cpl Cpl Sgt SSgt Col through Gen MGySgt/SgtMaj LtCol SSgt 1stLt/CWO3 SSgt 1stLt/CWO3 Pvt/Pfc 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 LtCol LtCol Cpl 1stLt/CWO3 Sgt Sgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 MSgt/1stSgt MGySgt/SgtMaj Col through Gen LtCol Col through Gen Col through Gen Col through Gen MSgt/1stSgt 1stLt/CWO3 ALL MARINES Cpl MSgt/1stSgt LtCol

59

Title: From the Horses Mouth Ghost Soldiers Ghost Wars How Wars End Im Staying with My Boys In the Gray Area Islands of the Damned Killing Ground on Okinawa Leadership: The Warriors Art Lions of Iwo Jima Lost Victories Marines in the Garden of Eden Masters of War McCoys Marines My Men are My Heroes No Bended Knee No True Glory Noble Warrior On Combat On Infantry On Killing On War Once a Marine Once an Eagle Passion of Command Poorer Richards America Ride the Thunder Rifleman Dodd Seeds of Disaster Seven Deadly Scenarios Soldiers of God Sources of Power Starship Troopers Storm Landings Storm of Steel Stormtrooper Tactics Supreme Command: Soldier, Statesman and Leadership in Wartime Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Author: Maj T. McKeldin H. Sides S. Coll G. Rose J. Proser and J. Cutter S. Folsome R. Burgin and B. Marvel J. Hallas C. Kolenda, W. Ulmer Jr. and B. McCaffrey F. Haynes E. Von Manstein R. Lowry M. Handel J. Koopman N. Helms M. Twining B. West J. Livingston, C. Heaton and A. Lewis D. Grossman and L. Christensen J. English D. Grossman C. Von Clausewitz N. Popaditch and M. Steere A. Myrer B. McCoy T. Blair R. Botkin C. Forester R. Doughty A. Krepinevich R. Kaplan G. Klein R. Heinlein J. Alexander E. Junger B. Gudmundsson E. Cohen D. Goodwin

Required Reading: Sgt Cpl MSgt/1stSgt Col through Gen Recruit/Poolee Maj/CWO5 GySgt GySgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 Capt/CWO4 Capt/CWO4 Cpl Maj/CWO5 SSgt LCpl OC/Midshipman MGySgt/SgtMaj Pvt/Pfc Cpl GySgt OC/Midshipman SSgt MGySgt/SgtMaj Cpl Maj/CWO5 Capt/CWO4 Col through Gen GySgt Pvt/Pfc 1stLt/CWO3 MSgt/1st Sgt LtCol SSgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 Capt/CWO4 LCpl Capt/CWO4 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 Sgt 1stLt/CWO3 Col through Gen Maj/CWO5

60

Title: Technology and War The 360 Degree Leader The Accidental Guerilla The Afghan Campaign The Arab Mind The Armed Forces Officer The Art of War The Blitzkreig Legend The Bottom Billion The Breaking Point The Coldest Winter The Crisis of Islam The Crucible Of War The Defense of Duffers Drift The Defense of Hill 781 The Enlightened Soldier The Face of Battle The General The Gift of Valor The Guns of August The Killer Angels The Landmark Thucydides The Last Stand of Fox Company The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull and the Battle of Little Bighorn The Lexus and the Olive Tree The Mask of Command The Mission, the Men, and Me The Passion of Command The Peloponnesian War The Savage Wars of Peace The Sling and the Stone The Speed of Trust The Tipping Point The Ugly American The United States Marines: A History

Author: M. Van Creveld J. Maxwell D. Kilcullen S. Pressfield R. Patai DoD 2006 S. Tzu K. Frieser P. Collier R. Doughty D. Halberstam B. Lewis F. Anderson E. Swinton J. McDonough C. White J. Keegan C. Forester M. Phillips B. Tuchman M. Shaara R. Strassler B. Drury and T. Clavin N. Philbrick T. Freidman J. Keegan P. Blaber B. McCoy D. Kagan M. Boot T. Hammes S. Covey M. Gladwell E. Burdick and W. Lederer E. Simmons

Required Reading: MSgt/1stSgt LCpl MSgt/1stSgt LtCol LCpl SSgt Capt/CWO4 OC/Midshipman 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 LtCol LtCol 1stLt/CWO3 MGySgt/SgtMaj Col through Gen MGySgt/SgtMaj Col through Gen Maj/CWO5 Cpl SSgt Capt/CWO4 1stLt/CWO3 SSgt MGySgt/SgtMaj Capt/CWO4 Pvt/Pfc MSgt/1stSgt Maj/CWO5 Sgt Maj/CWO5 SSgt 1stLt/CWO3 Maj/CWO5 MSgt/1stSgt Maj/CWO5 MGySgt/SgtMaj Capt/CWO4 GySgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 MSgt/1stSgt 1stLt/CWO3 GySgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 MSgt/1stSgt SSgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 Capt/CWO4 LCpl Recruit/Poole OC/Midshipman

61

Title: The Village The Peloponnesian War The Savage Wars of Peace The Sling and the Stone The Speed of Trust The Tipping Point The Ugly American The United States Marines: A History The Village This Kind of War Tiger Force: A True Story of Men and War Tip of the Spear Transformation of War Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief Utmost Savagery: The Three Days of Tarawa Victory at High Tide We Were One We Were Soldiers Once and Young Wired for War With the Old Breed

Author: B. West D. Kagan M. Boot T. Hammes S. Covey M. Gladwell E. Burdick and W. Lederer E. Simmons B. West T. Fehrenbach M. Sallah and M. Weiss G. Michaels M. Van Creveld J. McPherson J. Alexander R. Heinl P. ODonnell H. Moore and J. Galloway P. Singer E. Sledge

Required Reading: Sgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 1stLt/CWO3 GySgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 MSgt/1stSgt SSgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 Capt/CWO4 LCpl Recruit/Poole OC/Midshipman Sgt 2ndLt/WO/CWO2 Maj/CWO5 GySgt Maj/CWO5 Sgt 1stLt/CWO3 Colonel through Gen Maj/CWO5 GySgt Capt/CWO4 LCpl GySgt Capt/CWO4 Maj/CWO5 Sgt

62