“The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” – Charles Spurgeon
In stark contrast to GQ’s lists are those of the Commandant of the Marine Corps. For instance, here is the Entry Level Enlsited list:
BATTLE CRY by Leon Uris
CORPS VALUES by Zell Miller
GATES OF FIRE: AN EPIC NOVEL OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE by Steven Pressfield
STARSHIP TROOPERS by Robert A. Heinlein (a far, far different story than the movie of the same name!)
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE by Stephen Crane
There are 11 lists in all. Some of the other recommendations are:
THE FEDERALIST PAPERS by Alexander Hamilton; James Madison, et al.
AFTER THE PROPHET : THE EPIC STORY OF THE SHIA-SUNNI SPLIT IN ISLAM by Lesley Hazleton
JUST AND UNJUST WARS: A MORAL ARGUMENT WITH HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS by Michael Walzer
THE INNOVATORS by Walter Isaacson
ATTACKS by Erwin Rommel
ON KILLING: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL COST OF LEARNING TO KILL IN WAR AND SOCIETY by Dave Grossman
START WITH WHY: HOW GREAT LEADERS INSPIRE EVERYONE TO TAKE ACTION by Simon Sinek
LEADING UP: HOW TO LEAD YOUR BOSS SO YOU BOTH WIN by Michael Useem (Intermediate Level Enlisted list!)
THINKING, FAST AND SLOW by Daniel Kahneman
RIFLEMAN DODD by C. S. Forester