Human history has always been driven by war.
If people aren’t engaged in war, then they’re either preparing for the next one or rebuilding from the one they just ended.
As awful as wars are, we can learn a lot about human nature, leadership, followership, innovation, sociology, religion, and more when we spend time studying the people and nations that engage in violent conflicts.
The Art of Manliness guys have done us a big favor by sharing this piece written by Ryan Holiday, titled, 43 Books About War Every Man Should Read.
I’ve read and shared several of these books over my years as a student and instructor, but these are the ones that I recommend for anybody who is just getting their feet wet in this genre:
- The Art of War by Sun Tzu
- Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae by Steven Pressfield
- The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece by Victor Davis Hanson
- The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
- On War by Carl von Clausewitz
- The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World: From Marathon to Waterloo by Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy
- Ulysses S. Grant: Memoirs and Selected Letters by Ulysses S. Grant
- Sherman: Soldier, Realist, American by B.H. Liddell Hart
- The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote
- American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day by Robert Coram (Note: I was blessed to have spent many days with Bud Day and his sweet bride, Doris, while conducting research for an essay, which I titled, George E. “Bud” Day: Caged Eagle and Warrior Leader. I also hosted the couple for Day’s fifth of nine appearances as an Eagle for the annual Gathering of Eagles at Maxwell Air Force Base. Having served during WWII and then later in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, Day proved himself to be a true patriot and warrior. This is a great story.)
- Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram
I also recommend these books, which were not included in Holiday’s list:
- Maxims of War by Napoleon Bonaparte
- Killing Rommel: A Novel by Steven Pressfield
- In Extremis Leadership: Leading As If Your Life Depended On It by Thomas A. Kolditz
So that ought to get you started.
Happy reading!