CJCS Reading List for 2026: Gen. Caine’s 35 Books

The CJCS reading list 2026 is a 35-book library from Gen. Dan Caine, the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It spans seven categories, from philosophy and leadership to fiction and human performance. Below is every title, with a short note on what each one offers.

Want the books in your hands? DODReads puts military reading list sets together for individuals, units and commands. Request a quote for the whole list or any part of it, then order and we handle the rest.

What is the CJCS reading list 2026?

The Chairman is the nation’s highest-ranking military officer and the principal military adviser to the President. So the books he recommends carry weight in every service. Gen. Caine says reading and learning are essential for understanding people, leadership, the military and the current moment in history. He offers the library as a guide for anyone who wants to broaden their understanding.

You can see the official list on the Air University Library CJCS Reading List page. Air University also hosts reading lists from Air Force and Space Force leaders. DODReads is not affiliated with the Joint Staff, Air University or the U.S. government.

How the CJCS reading list 2026 is organized

The list has seven categories: Philosophy (5 books), Leadership (6), History (5), Fiction (4), Modern Defense Studies (6), Entrepreneurship (5) and Human Performance (4). Because it mixes classics with recent releases, it suits new leaders and seasoned ones alike.

Each title below links to Amazon. Because DODReads is an Amazon Associate, it earns a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Philosophy: think clearly about duty and meaning

These five titles ask what a good life and a good leader look like. They also push readers to ask better questions.

• The Emperor’s Handbook by Marcus Aurelius (translated by C. Scot Hicks and David V. Hicks): a Roman emperor’s private notes on duty and self-control, now in plain English.
• From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks: shows how to find success and purpose in the second half of life, so it suits senior leaders.
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: a psychiatrist explains how purpose helps people endure suffering, because he lived it in Nazi camps.
• A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger: argues that asking better questions leads to better ideas, so it helps any team.
• When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi: a neurosurgeon faces terminal cancer, so he asks what makes a life meaningful.

Leadership: classic and modern advice

Leaders will find both timeless and current ideas here, so the six titles suit every rank.

• The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman and Kaley Klemp: a framework for leading with ownership and candor instead of blame.
• The Art of Command by Harry S. Laver and Jeffrey J. Matthews: essays on how leaders from George Washington to Colin Powell commanded, so readers see many styles.
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: timeless advice on communication, so it still helps leaders build trust and influence.
• The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: argues that leaders should play for long-term strength, not short-term wins.
• Legacy by James Kerr: leadership lessons from the New Zealand All Blacks, one of rugby’s winningest teams.
• Words That Work by Frank Luntz: shows how word choice shapes what audiences hear and believe.

History: learn from the founders and the field

First come the founding documents, then the lives and decisions that tested them.

• The Constitution of the United States of America as Amended; Unratified Amendments; Analytical Index: a free official edition from the Government Publishing Office, with the amendments and a full index.
• The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay: the essays that argued for ratifying the Constitution and also explained how it works.
• George Marshall: A Biography by Debi Unger and Irwin Unger: follows the Army chief of staff who built the World War II force, then gave his name to the Marshall Plan.
• Grant Takes Command by Bruce Catton: follows Ulysses S. Grant as he took command of the Union armies, then drove the war toward its end.
• Thinking in Time by Richard E. Neustadt and Ernest R. May: shows decision-makers how to use history while avoiding false analogies.

Fiction: war and command up close

Four novels bring war and command to life, while each one shows leaders under pressure.

• Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield: a novel of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, told by a survivor, so readers see the battle through a soldier’s eyes.
• Ghost Fleet by August Cole and P. W. Singer: a novel of the next world war, because it is built on real emerging technology.
• The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara: the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel of Gettysburg, told from the commanders’ viewpoints.
• Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer: contrasts a selfless Army officer with an ambitious careerist across several wars.

Modern defense studies: strategy, industry and threats

These six titles look at the strategy, industry and rivals that shape today’s force.

• Creativity in Military Complexity by Cara Wrigley and Murray Simons: applies design thinking to help defence forces tackle complex problems. It is an academic hardcover, so it costs more than most.
• The Dragons and the Snakes by David Kilcullen: explains how rivals learned to fight the West, while avoiding its strengths.
• Freedom’s Forge by Arthur Herman: tells how American industry mobilized to win World War II, so it ties business to national security.
• The New Makers of Modern Strategy by Hal Brands (editor): essays on strategy from the ancient world to the digital age.
• On the Psychology of Military Incompetence by Norman F. Dixon: examines why military leaders fail, using famous blunders as case studies.
• The Twilight War by David Crist: a history of America’s thirty-year conflict with Iran.

Entrepreneurship: business ideas for military leaders

Business thinking appears here because military leaders also manage people, money and change.

• The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt and Jeff Cox: a business novel that also teaches process improvement through the theory of constraints.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter F. Drucker: practical principles, so readers can find and act on new opportunities.
• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel: shows that behavior matters more than knowledge when people make financial choices.
• Secrets of Sand Hill Road by Scott Kupor: explains how venture capital works, so readers see the deal from the investor’s side.
• Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle: the leadership methods of Bill Campbell, who coached top Silicon Valley executives.

Human performance: focus, judgment and people

The last group focuses on attention, judgment and reading people. Together, these four titles help leaders think and act under stress.

• Peak Mind by Amishi P. Jha: a neuroscientist’s plan to build focus, so leaders can start with twelve minutes of daily practice.
• The Road Less Stupid by Keith J. Cunningham: advice on slowing down to think before making costly decisions.
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: explains two modes of thought and the biases that distort decisions.
• What Every BODY Is Saying by Joe Navarro and Marvin Karlins: a former FBI agent’s guide to reading nonverbal behavior.

How to use the CJCS reading list 2026 in your command

The CJCS reading list 2026 works well as a starting point for a unit reading program. First, pick one title from each category and assign it for a quarter. Next, rotate who leads the discussion so that everyone has a turn. Finally, pair a Philosophy or Human Performance title with a History or Fiction title, so the group practices both judgment and context.

Get the CJCS reading list 2026 books from DODReads

Collecting the full set yourself means chasing titles across publishers. A few come from small presses or run between printings, so DODReads sources those through a secondary distributor. You can order every book on the list or only the ones you need.

1. Request a quote. Tell us which books you need and where they are going using our quote request form.
2. Review your quote. We email an itemized quote for the books you picked.
3. Approve and pay. Pay online or by phone, and we order and ship the books.

CJCS reading list 2026: frequently asked questions

How many books are on the CJCS reading list 2026?

The list has 35 books in seven categories: Philosophy, Leadership, History, Fiction, Modern Defense Studies, Entrepreneurship and Human Performance. One of them, the Constitution, is a free government publication.

Who issued the CJCS reading list 2026?

Gen. Dan Caine, the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued it. Air University Library hosts the list, and its page was last updated in September 2026.

Is the CJCS reading list 2026 mandatory?

No. The Chairman offers it as a guide for anyone who wants to broaden their understanding, and the page does not require any title.

How is it different from the earlier Joint Chiefs list?

Our earlier Joint Chiefs of Staff reading list covers the 2012 list from Gen. Dempsey. The CJCS reading list 2026 is Gen. Caine’s own library, with 35 titles in seven categories.

Where can I buy the CJCS reading list 2026 books?

DODReads can supply the full set or any part of it. Request a quote and we will send an itemized price.