Document Actions
Developing Strategic Thinkers – a reading list from CDS
Director General Defence Academy was tasked to develop a reading list as part of CDS’ Strategic Thinking Initiative. It is self explanatory, but has a purpose to help educate and inform as part of continuing professional development.
All staff and students should be highly encouraged to engage with the list. It is to be formally recognised within Service libraries and feed into courses and alumni, particularly at ACSC, HCSC and RCDS level. It should become standard consumption for all OF5s, and above (or equivalent), through Service Secs and the Chain of Command.
DG/5000 7 Mar 10
Primers
- Clausewitz: A Very Short Introduction by Michael Howard. Oxford University Press, 2002
- Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by David Miller. Oxford University Press, 2003
- International Relations: A Very Short Introduction by Paul Wilkinson. Oxford University Press, 2007
- Makers of Modern Strategy: From Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age by Peter Paret. Princeton University Press, 1986
Core
Classical Strategy Making
- Masters of War: Classical Strategic Thought by Michael I Handel. Frank Cass, 2001
- The Making of Strategy: Rulers, States and War by Williamson Murray, MacGregor Knox and Alvin Bernstein. Cambridge University Press, 2007
- Strategies of Containment: A Critical Appraisal of American National Security Policy during the Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis. Oxford University Press, 2005
- Strategy: The Indirect Approach by B H Liddell Hart. Faber, 1967
Contemporary
- Swords and Ploughshares: Bringing Peace to the 21st Century by Paddy Ashdown. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2007
- Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World by Rupert Smith. Penguin, 2006
- War Made New: Weapons, Warriors and the Making of the Modern World by Max Boot. Gotham Books, 2007
- Another Bloody Century: Future Warfare by Colin Gray. Phoenix, 2005
Political/Military Relationships
- Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke - War Diaries 1939-1945 edited by Alex Danchev and Dan Todman. Phoenix, 2002
- Masters and Commanders: The Military Geniuses who led the West to Victory in World War II by Andrew Roberts. Penguin, 2009
Thought Provoking
- The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. Penguin Classics, 2004
- The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations by Ori Beckstrom and Rod Brafman. Portfolio, 2008
Mechanics
- Owned by Defence Academy HQ, updated biannually and agreed by CDS.
- Advertised in the DIN bringing the initiative to life.
- Issued through DCDC for the NOTM; to all students and alumni of RCDS, HCSC and ACSC and through Service Secretaries to all OF5s and above through Service Secretaries.
- Accessible through Defence Intranet and DAIS.
