A few more I would add ( not sure if they are "professional" enough but all very insightful and similar to the existing ones on that list ).<p>1. Boyd ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Fighter-Pilot-Who-Changed-ebook/dp/B000FA5UEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413663919&sr=8-1&keywords=boyd" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Fighter-Pilot-Who-Changed-ebook/d...</a> ) - Came up with the EM theory that gave the air force the analytical framework to analyze dog fighting maneuvers and aircraft. Known for authoring the OODA loop and leading the infamous Fighter Mafia that gave us the F-16 and F/A-18<p>2. Warfight ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Warfighting-M-Gray-ebook/dp/B00DPTK4ZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664039&sr=8-1&keywords=warfighting" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Warfighting-M-Gray-ebook/dp/B00DPTK4ZE...</a> ) Boyd' OODA ideas distilled into a book<p>3. The American Way of War ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-American-Way-War-University/dp/B006Q2J5U2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664077&sr=8-2&keywords=the+american+way+of+war" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/The-American-Way-War-University/dp/B00...</a> )<p>4. Engineers of Victory ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Engineers-Victory-Problem-Solvers-Turned-ebook/dp/B004J4WNMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664110&sr=8-1&keywords=engineers+of+victory" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Engineers-Victory-Problem-Solvers-Turn...</a> ) - a decent account of how middle level officers solve problems that allowed strategies to be realized<p>5. Makers of Modern Strategy ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Makers-Modern-Strategy-Machiavelli-Nuclear/dp/0691027641/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0H50REC7PKWGTQWQ6HP3" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Makers-Modern-Strategy-Machiavelli-Nuc...</a> )<p>6. The German Army ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/German-Army-1933-1945-Matthew-Cooper/dp/0812885198/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664230&sr=8-1&keywords=the+german+army" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/German-Army-1933-1945-Matthew-Cooper/d...</a> ) - A great account of the rise and fall of the German army, including its innovations caused by the constraints imposed on it and its fall<p>7. Panzer Battles ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panzer-Battles-Major-General-von-Mellenthin/dp/1862274592/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664290&sr=8-1&keywords=panzer+battles" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Panzer-Battles-Major-General-von-Melle...</a> ) - a great account how the various battles fought by the German army and where they excelled and where their shortcomings are and vice versa for their enemies.<p>8. The Second World War( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Second-World-War-Antony-Beevor-ebook/dp/B007ME5BUG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664362&sr=8-1&keywords=beevor+second+world+war" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Second-World-War-Antony-Beevor-ebook/d...</a> ) - Great "summary" of the Second World War, including the civilian dimension.<p>9. Panzer Leader ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Panzer-Leader-Heinz-Guderian/dp/0306811014/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664476&sr=8-3&keywords=panzer+attack" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Panzer-Leader-Heinz-Guderian/dp/030681...</a> ) - a history of the development and deployment of the German panzer armies by the father of tank warfare himself.<p>10. Six Days of War ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Days-June-Making-Modern-Middle/dp/B0042NKD4Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664552&sr=8-3&keywords=six+days+of+war" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Days-June-Making-Modern-Middle/dp/B004...</a> )<p>11. The Yom Kippur War ( <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yom-Kippur-War-Encounter-Transformed-ebook/dp/B000XUBECU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413664580&sr=8-1&keywords=the+yom+kippur+war" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Yom-Kippur-War-Encounter-Transformed-e...</a> ) - an account of the Yom Kippur War and how the Israelis were blind to the innovations of the Egyptian army that upended its defense strategy based on tanks and aircraft and also how a near victory for the Egyptians allowed them to negotiate a peace with Israel.
What is scary to me is that Michael Scheuer[0] is not mentioned at all [1], judging from my first obvious search for his groundbreaking Imperial Hubris.<p>Now, I know he does not count as military professional, but as a 20+ year counter-terrorism and counter-intel officer who lays out clearly our policy is fucking us and how we will inevitably lose the so-called GWoT.<p>He wrote it anonymously, at the time. So if you like Snowden, you will love him. I would hope a reading list about the most important combat operation of the 21st century for USG armed forces would read harsh criticism in an attempt to win something so important.<p>[0] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Scheuer" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Scheuer</a><p>[1] <a href="http://militaryprofessionalreadinglists.com/search?keywords=hubris" rel="nofollow">http://militaryprofessionalreadinglists.com/search?keywords=...</a>
I'd also have to add the companion to Grossman's book "On Killing," "On Combat." [0]<p>[0] <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964920549/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944579862&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0316040932&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1N78PE5PQC6H1TFB1JQB" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964920549/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_d...</a>
Let's not forget the timeless classic by Major General Smedley Butler: War Is A Racket[0].<p>[0]<a href="http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html</a>
So much of how you decide to lead comes down to your philosophy, so I'm surprised they didn't include<p>Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: <a href="http://classics.mit.edu/Antoninus/meditations.html" rel="nofollow">http://classics.mit.edu/Antoninus/meditations.html</a>
I never know how to approach massive (meta)-lists like this. I'm sure a lot of those books are worth reading, but I have no idea how to pick the good from the bad. (And how to prioritize the good).
Interesting but what are you guys making out of it? Are you trying to get towards a more strategic mindset? Or what are the main take aways for you reading military literature?