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Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

An Army brigadier general recommends 10 military books for military leaders

Anthony J. Tata graduated from West Point and served 28 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Brigadier General. A master parachutist and graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School, he commanded combat infantry units in the 25th Infantry and 4th Infantry Divisions, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, and the 10th Mountain Division. His last combat tour was as the Deputy Commanding General of the 25,000 strong Allied and Joint Task Force in Afghanistan, overseeing a vast array of combat and logistical operations.

The_Art_of_War-Tangut_script
The_Art_of_War-Tangut_script

By Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Tata, US Army (Ret.)
Best Defense guest reader

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By Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Tata, US Army (Ret.)
Best Defense guest reader

  1. On to Berlin, James Gavin… combat leadership while transforming a force
  2. Prisoner’s Dilemma, William Poundstone… understanding opponent behavior and asymmetrical attack through game theory
  3. The Transformation of War, Martin Van Creveld… evolution of Clausewitizian warfare to the transnational actors of today
  4. Leading with Honor, Lee Ellis… timeless leadership lessons from Vietnam prisoner of war
  5. Patriots: The Men who Started the American Revolution, A.J. Langguth… to know where you’re going you must know where you started
  6. Fiasco, Tom Ricks… replaces Richard Gabriel’s Military Incompetence as a must read for critical self analysis and improving U.S. military operations
  7. The End of History and The Last Man, Francis Fukuyama… philosophical understanding of the underlying machinations of global geopolitics
  8. The Art of War, Sun Tzu… classic, easily understood and enduring tactical to strategic lessons in warfare
  9. The Mission, the Men, and Me, Pete Blaber… superb account of the early days of combat in Afghanistan with enduring leadership lessons
  10. September Hope: The American Side of A Bridge Too Far, John C. McManus… a review of strategic to tactical decision making and being prepared, or not, for opportunity on the battlefield.

Anthony J. Tata graduated from West Point and served 28 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Brigadier General. A master parachutist and graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School, he commanded combat infantry units in the 25th Infantry and 4th Infantry Divisions, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, and the 10th Mountain Division. His last combat tour was as the Deputy Commanding General of the 25,000 strong Allied and Joint Task Force in Afghanistan, overseeing a vast array of combat and logistical operations. He is the author of several books, most recently, Foreign and Domestic.

Library of Congress

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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