General Ray Odierno, Chief of Staff of the US Army, has added Robert Coram’s Boyd, The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War, to the Army Professional Reading List. Incidentally, Boyd is now in its 7th printing.

In his intro, GEN Odierno said: “This reading list is an important element in the professional development of all leaders in the Army. We can never spend too much time reading and thinking about the Army profession and its interaction with the world at large.

‘These readings will deepen our understanding of the history of armies, the critical role of leadership in combat, and the strategic environment of today and the future. There is simply no better way to prepare for the future than a disciplined, focused commitment to a personal course of reading, study, thought and reflection. I challenge each of you to tackle these books and improve your power of critical thinking and understanding of the profession of arms.”

—GEN Raymond T. Odierno

It’s a very thorough and thought provoking list. You can download it from the February edition of Army magazine.