Leadership Lessons from the Army Reading List (Part 1)
We’re revisiting the Army Chief of Staff’s picks—combining classic books with fresh insight on drones, risk, and decentralized command.
The U.S. Army Chief of Staff’s Professional Reading List is a great place to find your next book. While the version we’re referencing reflects an earlier format—before the list began favoring shorter articles—we are including a recommended article with each post. For this post, we are adding On War in 2027, which offers some ideas for the Army’s Transformation Initiative, by LtCol Joshua Suthoff, currently the Commander of 3-4 Cavalry.
We are also shifting our focus from History and Military History to Leadership. Some titles in this category may not be recent, but many still resonate today. For those that are (OBE) overcome by events, we will do our best to let them quietly fade. A few months ago, when Phil and I were trying to decide what to work on next, he reminded me of a great quote by General Al Gray that fits perfectly into the aim of mixing the old with the new.
Chief of Staff of the Army Recommended Articles
On War In 2027: Five Principles To Guide The Army Transformation Initiative
By LtCol Joshua Suthoff, Modern War Institute at West Point, May 16, 2025
In “On War in 2027: Five Principles to Guide the Army Transformation Initiative,” Lt. Col. Joshua Suthoff warns that rapid advancements in drone and missile technology are fundamentally reshaping modern warfare, demanding urgent transformation within the U.S. Army.
Using a fictional scenario involving conflict with China over Taiwan, the article illustrates how small, decentralized units will fight in high-risk environments dominated by persistent drone surveillance and strikes.
Suthoff identifies five guiding principles for transformation:
Drone Primacy: Drones will dominate future battlefields, requiring proper resource allocation and the integration of AI for swarm coordination and precision.
The Disadvantage of Mass: Large formations will be increasingly vulnerable, necessitating deliberate efforts to mass forces.
Leader Development: Leaders must be trained to operate in small, isolated teams under constant drone threat, with a focus on basic field skills and decision-making.
Risk: To reduce human exposure, the Army must rethink traditional risk management and embrace unmanned systems for high-risk tasks.
Landpower Will Remain: Despite technological advances, ground forces will still be needed to hold terrain, survive in contested zones, and adapt when tech fails.
He argues that the Army must adopt a leaner, more lethal force posture, emphasizing survivability, adaptability, and the integration of drones and AI into tactical doctrine.
You can find more of the Army COS’s articles here: Chief of Staff of the Army Recommended Articles
Leadership
American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant
By Ronald C. White, Random House (October 4, 2016), Hardcover, 864 pages
American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant by Ronald C. White offers a deeply researched and nuanced portrait of the Civil War general and 18th U.S. president, challenging outdated stereotypes of Grant as a drunkard or a passive leader. Instead, White reveals Grant as a principled, strategic, and empathetic figure whose quiet strength helped preserve the Union and promote civil rights during Reconstruction.
You may also be interested in our review of:
The Anatomy of Courage: The Classic WWI Account of the Psychological Effects of War
By Sir Charles Wilson Lord Moran, Basic Books (January 17, 2007), Paperback, 256 pages
The Anatomy of Courage by Lord Moran is a groundbreaking examination of the psychological toll of combat, based on his experiences as a World War I medical officer. Blending clinical observation with personal reflection, Moran explores fear, morale, and leadership under fire, offering timeless insights into the mental challenges faced by soldiers in war.
Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2003 to 2005
By Thomas E. Ricks, Penguin Books (July 31, 2007), Paperback, 512 pages
Fiasco by Thomas E. Ricks is a searing critique of the U.S. military and political leadership behind the Iraq War, exposing the flawed planning, strategic missteps, and lack of accountability that led to prolonged conflict and instability. Drawing on interviews, official documents, and firsthand reporting, Ricks delivers a compelling account of how optimism and hubris gave way to chaos and insurgency.
You may also enjoy our Desert Storm curation:
Tags: Reading Lists, Army Reading List
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Lord Moran’s book, which I read last year, I found primarily useful as a foundation for the more thoughtful and fact based studies that would follow both world wars. He presents a rather Victorian/Edwardian worldview in my judgment.
Excellent choice of books and a few I intend to read. Thanks!