Space Force Reading List for 2026: CSO and CMSSF Libraries
The Space Force reading list 2026 brings together 23 books from two senior leaders: the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF). Ten titles come from the CSO’s Leadership Library, while thirteen come from the CMSSF’s February 2026 edition. Below is every book, with a short note on each.
Want the books in your hands? DODReads puts military reading list sets together for Guardians, 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 Space Force reading list 2026?
The Space Force is the newest U.S. armed service, and its Guardians are building a reading culture of their own. Two of its top leaders publish leadership libraries. The CSO is the service’s senior uniformed officer, while the CMSSF is its senior enlisted leader. So together the two lists reach officers and enlisted Guardians alike.
Chief Master Sgt. John F. Bentivegna released the second edition of his CMSSF Leadership Library in February 2026. He says Guardians need strong thinking as well as technology, and he added a few lighthearted picks. The CSO library takes a similar view, because it says how you read matters more than what you read.
You can see the official CMSSF Leadership Library: February 2026 and the CSO Leadership Library on the Space Force site. DODReads is not affiliated with the U.S. Space Force or the U.S. government.
How the Space Force reading list 2026 is organized
The list has two parts. The CMSSF library has 13 books, and the CSO library has 10. Neither official page sorts its books into formal categories, so DODReads grouped them by theme to make them easier to browse.
Each title below links to Amazon. Because DODReads is an Amazon Associate, it earns a small commission on qualifying purchases.
CMSSF library: leadership and culture
Six titles focus on leading people and building teams. They suit Guardians at every level, so start here if you want practical ideas.
- Turn the Ship Around! by L. David Marquet: a Navy captain’s true story of turning followers into leaders aboard the USS Santa Fe, so any team can borrow the method.
- Make Your Bed by Adm. William H. McRaven: ten lessons from Navy SEAL training, because they grew out of his well-known commencement speech.
- First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman: what great managers do differently, because it rests on a Gallup study of more than 80,000 managers.
- The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: argues that leaders should play for long-term strength, so they stop chasing short-term wins.
- Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson: the four types of human behavior, so you can learn how to communicate with each one.
- Lincoln on Leadership for Today by Donald T. Phillips: shows how Abraham Lincoln’s approach could handle twenty-first century issues, so past lessons still apply today.
CMSSF library: history and strategy
Four nonfiction titles look at history, strategy and rivals. First comes the founding era, then survival at sea, and finally modern competition.
- 1776 by David McCullough: tells the story of the year Britain decided to fight, while Washington’s army struggled to survive.
- Endurance by Alfred Lansing: the true story of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition and then his crew’s fight to survive.
- War Without Rules by Robert Spalding: examines China’s Unrestricted Warfare, then explains how Americans can push back.
- Strategy Strikes Back by Max Brooks, John Amble, M. L. Cavanaugh and Jaym Gates (editors): more than 30 experts use Star Wars to explain strategy, so the art of war becomes easier to grasp.
CMSSF library: fiction
Three novels round out the list, and the CMSSF says it also includes a few lighthearted picks.
- 2034 by Elliot Ackerman and Adm. James Stavridis: imagines how a clash with China could spiral into world war, so it works as a warning.
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir: a science-based thriller about a lone astronaut who must save Earth, so it doubles as a fun read.
- Paradox Bound by Peter Clines: a science-fiction adventure that starts when a man meets a mysterious woman he first saw years earlier.
CSO library: decisions and thinking
Four titles teach leaders how people and groups make choices, so they help officers and staff alike.
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: explains two modes of thought and the biases that distort decisions.
- Groupthink by Irving L. Janis: shows how close-knit groups make poor decisions, and it also uses policy fiascoes as case studies.
- Essence of Decision by Graham Allison and Philip Zelikow: explains the Cuban Missile Crisis while testing three models of decision-making.
- Thinking in Time by Richard E. Neustadt and Ernest R. May: shows decision-makers how to use history while avoiding false analogies.
CSO library: history and character
Two titles look at military character and the human side of command.
- The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara: the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel of Gettysburg, so readers see the battle through the commanders’ eyes.
- Nineteen Stars by Edgar F. Puryear Jr.: a study of military character and leadership, so it compares four famous Army generals.
CSO library: science and innovation
The last four titles cover science, space and how organizations change. Because the Space Force is a technical service, they fit it well.
- A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson: explains how science came to understand the universe, then turns to the Earth and life itself.
- Moon Shot by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton: the inside story of America’s Apollo moon landings, told by two astronauts.
- Longitude by Dava Sobel: the true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time.
- The Age of Heretics by Art Kleiner: a history of the radical thinkers who reinvented corporate management.
How to use the Space Force reading list 2026 in your unit
Guardians can use the Space Force reading list 2026 as a starting point for a unit reading program. First, choose one title from each theme and assign it for a quarter. Next, pair a CSO title on decision-making with a CMSSF title on leadership, so officers and enlisted Guardians read in step. Finally, rotate who leads the discussion. The CMSSF also points to the Perigee Podcast and The B-Line as companion resources.
Get the Space Force reading list 2026 books from DODReads
Collecting the full set yourself means chasing titles across publishers. A few are out of print 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.
- Request a quote. Tell us which books you need and where they are going using our quote request form.
- Review your quote. We email an itemized quote for the books you picked.
- Approve and pay. Pay online or by phone, and we order and ship the books.
Space Force reading list 2026: frequently asked questions
How many books are on the Space Force reading list 2026?
The list has 23 books. Thirteen come from the CMSSF Leadership Library of February 2026, and ten come from the CSO Leadership Library.
Who issued the Space Force reading list 2026?
Chief Master Sgt. John F. Bentivegna, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, issued the second edition of his library in February 2026. The Chief of Space Operations publishes the other library on the Space Force site.
Is there an earlier CMSSF list?
Yes. The first edition appeared in March 2025 with five titles: Slow Productivity, Drive, Culture Is the Way, Weaponized Lies and The Bomber Mafia. The official page is still online.
Is the Space Force reading list 2026 mandatory?
No. Both leaders present their libraries as guides for professional growth, and the CMSSF calls his a fluid list that will be updated periodically.
How is this different from the 2024 Space Force list?
Our 2024 Space Force Reading List collected top picks from the 2022 through 2024 lists. This post covers the current CSO and CMSSF libraries.
Where can I buy the Space Force 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.
