March is National Reading Month

Photo By Dana Thornbury | March is National Reading Month. Everyday reading increases your knowledge, develops your personal and professional skills and gives you more chances for a successful career. We receive information in different ways. Sixty-five percent of the populations reads print books, 14 percent listen to audiobooks, 28 percent read digital books and 50 percent of adults read four or more books a year. We all read for different reasons. Eighty-four percent of readers research specific topics, 82 percent read to keep up with current events, 80 percent read for pleasure and 57 percent read for work or school.  

COLUMBUS, OHIO, UNITED STATES

03.01.2018

Story by Dana Thornbury 

Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime

Everyday reading increases your knowledge, develops your personal and professional skills and gives you more chances for a successful career.

DLA Land and Maritime directors and deputies shared their favorite books* that have helped them during their professional career. Many of the books are available free to DLA associates through LMS SkillSoft. *No official Department of Defense endorsement implied.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey
*Available through LMS/Skillsoft for DLA associates.

Robert Boggs
Director, People and Culture Directorate

I recommend this book because it helped me better understand the importance of positive habits that, if practiced, lead to a more balanced life.

Courageous Follower: Standing Up To and For Our Leaders by Ira Chaleff
*Available through LMS/Skillsoft for DLA associates.

Bryon Gerwolds
Deputy Director, DLA Land Warren

This was a reading recommendation when I attended DLA’s Building Your Roadmap to Success (BYR2S) this past summer at DLA HQ. I found the book very descriptive and insightful on how to be a good follower and support our leaders. The book outlined that we need to provide our leaders with the best information and analysis openly and honestly, even if it’s something they may not want to hear. Also, good followers challenge (in a professional manner of course) their leaders especially when followers believe their leader is making a poor decision. However, once a follower presents their case to the leader, the follower then accepts the leader’s decision and carries out the leader’s decision (only if that decision is of course morally, ethically and legally acceptable.) We want our leaders to be successful and this book provides a path on how to do that.

Leading Across Boundaries: Creating Collaborative Agencies in a Networked World by Russell Linden

Eugene Williams
Deputy Director, DLA Land Customer Operations

I recommend this book because of the emphasis on the collaborative environment and dealing with process and people issues. These are two areas that are a common thread in our current culture. Linden offers some very practical solutions that I think are easily adaptable to our current work culture.

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times by Donald T. Phillips

U.S. Navy Capt. Justin Debord
Director, Strategic Acquisition Program Directorate

Fantastic book that separates President Lincoln’s philosophies and leadership techniques into four critical areas: people, character, endeavor and communication. The author does a phenomenal job drawing connections between President Lincoln’s principals and how they apply to modern day leadership issues. Toughness, decisiveness and compassion are all traits that I admire and try to emulate…all three can co-exist!

Vito Zuccaro
Director, DLA Land Warren

“Lincoln on Leadership” is a somewhat older book but it’s packed with very good, applicable and practicable leadership insight. The author explains and presents Abraham Lincoln’s leadership principles and how Lincoln used those principles throughout his life. The author summarizes the main leadership points from each chapter. The principles presented in this book transcend time and are still very relevant today. “Lincoln on Leadership” provides a solid framework for leaders at any level and type of organization.

Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Acceleration by Thomas Friedman

U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Ginnane
Director, Maritime Customer Ops

Great articulation of how we arrived in an age where change is happening quicker than any one individual is able to keep up. We must learn to adapt, stay resilient and identify ways to deal with the age of acceleration.

Professional Military Reading List
For additional reading, view the Professional Military Reading List from the National Defense University at http://www.ndu.edu/Libraries/Professional-Military-Reading-List.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs' Professional Reading List
This reading list has been constructed to support the renewal of our commitment to our Profession of Arms and the development of Joint Force 2020. The books selected capture the values and ethos of our military profession, promote innovative thinking to prepare for the operational realities of an uncertain future, and provide insights into the foundations of our service cultures.

The U.S. Army Chief of Staff’s Professional Reading List
The Army List is compiled for leaders. The Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) views it as a pillar for his leadership development efforts. Titles are included that will provoke critical thinking about Professional soldiering and the unique role of land power; analysis and reflection on the past and the future; and a deep understanding of the Army and the future of the profession of arms in the 21 st Century.

U.S. Navy Professional Reading List
A list of books from Chief of Naval Operations Reading List that includes history, fiction, inspirational and patriotic titles, biographies and the classics on military strategy and theory. The list provides an understanding and analysis of sea power, naval history, naval aviation, and the role of the U.S. Navy in past, present and future conflicts.

U.S. Marine Corps Reading List
The Marine Corps Professional Reading Program began as the Commandant's Reading List in 1988, although recommended reading list have been generated for Marines since the 19th century. Each Commandant since 1988 has placed his personal stamp on the program, but many books remain constant. Great books will always remain a staple of informal, self-paced professional development.

Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) Reading List
The CSAF Reading list is compiled to inform, analyze, inspire and educate. Titles are selected to inform readers about the history of the Air Force, analyze on-going conflicts and their relevancy to the future, inspire readers with success stories and provide lessons learned from conflicts.

Coast Guard Commandant's Reading List
This reading list is designed to offer Coast Guard people recommended books related to leadership. This list is not all-inclusive; the goal is to provide a starting point or expand existing knowledge and skills. The reading list provides a tool for individual leadership growth, taking into account that responsibility for leadership development rests on each individual, his or her unit, and the organization.

The Defense Acquisition Professional Reading List
The Defense Acquisition Professional Reading List is intended to enrich the knowledge and understanding of the civilian, military, contractor and industrial workforce who participate in the entire defense acquisition enterprise.

• Date Taken: 03.01.2018
• Date Posted: 12.17.2018 14:00
• Story ID: 303947
• Location: COLUMBUS, OHIO, US