We provide high-quality resources so that every service member has an answer to "What are you Reading?"
DODReads hosts military book reviews on topics of interest to a professional military audience and to readers of military and military-related books. We focus on subjects such as leadership, philosophy, history, biography, military conflict, and personal development. Our reviews follow DODReads guidelines to ensure only authoritative and professionally written opinions appear on our website, in our social media, and in our newsletter.
If you are looking for a specific book, type the title or author in the search bar to the right, or scroll through the archive of book reviews here. Looking for a book synopsis instead? Check out our Back Page Notes section for time-saving, to-the-point readers’ notes.
If you would like to publish a book review on DODReads or are curious about building your reputation as a writer, please review our submission guidelines and send any questions to [email protected].
The book, Combat Engineer, is author John Racoosin’s tribute to his grandfather, Harry Wallis Anderson. He was a railroad engineer and Army reservist born in 1890, who served with the Army Corps of Engineers in Mexico and during both World Wars. The book briefly covers Anderson’s early years but focuses most on his service during WWII.
Read more
The Ordering of Time: Meditations on the History of Philosophy by George Lucas (Edinburgh University Press, 2020, 180 pages) From the
Read more
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni, (Jossey-Bass, April 11, 2002, 229 pages) Captivating and well
Read more
Written by a college professor to his peers, Mark Blaauw-Hara uncovers the harsh realities of the veteran-to-student transition. He offers an overdue and intimate look into the mindset of service members, presenting practical and easy solutions to a problem often ignored. Blaauw-Hara identifies the overwhelming feelings veterans may commonly face when immersed in a collegiate environment.
Read more
Read the complete review here: https://www.dodreads.com/breaking-ice-breaking-glass/
Read more
LtCol (RET) Myers shares stories in American to the Corps about how he commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1992 and his role in some of the biggest intelligence events.
Read more
Churchill’s Band of Brothers – WWII’s Most Daring D-Day Mission and the Hunt to Take Down Hitler’s Fugitive War Criminals,
Read more
The Greek poet Homer was one of the first to illuminate these overlooked aspects of post-war reintegration in his epic poem, The Odyssey. Homer explores this theme through the attempts of his hero, Odysseus, to return to his kingdom on the island of Ithaca after the Trojan War. The Odyssey contains ancient wisdom of enduring value that is once again relevant for a country that has deployed and redeployed hundreds of thousands of service members during twenty years of expeditionary conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. The battles for Fallujah and the Pech Valley may have ended, but many soldiers are still fighting.
Read more
When the Greek poet Homer penned The Iliad nearly three thousand years ago, he explored trauma and resiliency through the lens of his civilization at war. Set in the tempest of combat, The Iliad’s deeper story about the human condition is found in the contrast between two opposing generals, Achilles and Hector. Surrounded by death and violence, Homer’s two heroes engage the world with strikingly different approaches. Through their contrasting values and motivations, Homer makes strong assertions about the sources of psychological resilience.
Read more
James R. Holmes opens his book, A Brief Guide to Maritime Strategy, writing, “This book is a tutorial for my younger self”. This notes the prior existence of a strategic gap in the naval education of his youth. Like most young naval professionals, training was in the technical and tactical aspects of his trade, but not in its strategic purpose. In this slim volume, Holmes explains a logical, readable, and useful primer on a maritime strategy that will close this gap for any newcomer to the field.
Read more
Fleet Tactics and Naval Operations is focused on analyzing naval tactics rather than weapons capabilities.
Read more
Dr Heidi Squier Kraft is the author of Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital. This book shows an honest view of an operating environment in the initial stage of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM with the marines and sailors who served alongside her and the patients she helped triage and treat. Dr. Kraft transfers from a Navy Medical Center practicing medicine in a calm and controlled environment to a chaotic combat atmosphere. Staying flexible, engaged, and always mission ready is key. This is applicable not only to military members, but to anyone who desires to be ready for any and everything.
Read more
The real-life experiences portrayed in Breaking Ice and Breaking Glass: Leading in Uncharted Waters by Vice Admiral (Ret.) Sandra Stosz is filled with humor, candor, and enlightening leadership lessons. This book is eye-opening and articulately well-written with a touch of impressive female iconoclasts. It easily connects and inspires readers to approach success with a different perspective.
Read more
There is an age-old truism in office etiquette. Don’t talk about politics, religion, race, or any polarizing issues. Times are changing and the progressive nature of the millennial generation challenges these rules. We Can’t Talk About That at Work by Mary-Frances Winters is the guide for successful conversations in the office about these exact topics. Before diving right into bold and inclusive dialogue, be sure to follow Winter’s steps and prep the office for uncomfortable interactions.
Read more
Based on actual events, A Gathering of Men is a moving story of three childhood friends from small-town Candor, North Carolina. Their desire to become pilots eventually leads them to the US Army Air Force 100th Bomb Group stationed at Thorpe Abbotts, England, in 1944. The unit flies dangerous bombing missions over Europe, often facing staggering losses from enemy fighters and anti-aircraft guns.
Read more