The Canadian Army Reading List - Version 1, September 2001
Introduction - Doctrine - Military Theory - Canadian Military Heritage - Military History - Campaign and Battle Studies - Leadership - The Human Factor - Technology - Future Warfare - Peacekeeping - Politics, International Relations and Economics - Ethics, Domestic Issues and Social Trends - Fiction

A Guide to Professional Reading

(Reproduced here by the kind permission of the Managing Editor of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Bulletin.)

Foreword from the Chief of the Land Staff

Among the many challenges confronting soldiers are the complex warfighting, technological and social changes of our times. Numerous “revolutions” in technology, military affairs and other disciplines have added new complexities to military operations. Furthermore, “defence management” has also brought the adoption of new skills. Now more than ever we require a more thorough understanding of a myriad of interrelated subjects, such as doctrine, training, international relations, history and other topics to complete our duties. Although some of these subjects are covered to varying degrees through professional development or training, the onus still remains with the individual to read and study the literature. This is the raison d’etre of the Army Reading List. It is to provide an instructive guide to members of the Land Force to explore the more suitable works on any given subject. The list not exhaustive, nor is it a limit to what we read; rather, for those seeking professional knowledge, it is a start point to enhance professional knowledge. All members of the Land Force are encouraged to use the list, to read the titles presented and to debate these subjects at length, at work, in the messes or through professional journals. Not only will this improve each individual it will also help prepare the Army for the challenges it will face tomorrow.

M.K. Jeffery
Lieutenant-General
Chief of the Land Staff

14 September 2001

Using This List

The aim of the Army Reading List is to provide all ranks of the Land Force with a guide to the better works in a number of professionally related topic areas. It is not meant to be exhaustive, meaning that certain titles were not listed to help keep the list at a reasonable length. Many of the titles presented are timeless, while others are more rudimentary studies that may be displaced by future works. The list may be authoritative but it is also seminal, and the seeds presented here should instill desire to consider even more titles.

Readers should also note that not all editions of certain books are the same. In these cases the most accepted edition of a book is cited. For example, Clausewitz’s On War appears in several editions and the one listed here is considered the best one.

The list is organized by subject area and not by Developmental Period (DP). Course and academic studies for each DP will have their own readings; this list should complement that reading. It is also suggested that titles be revisited as personnel progress in rank as they undoubtedly see certain works with fresh and new perspectives. Future electronic versions of this list will allow one to sort titles by Development Period, course requirement and other categories and with the database created by the regular “Books of Interest” section of the Army Doctrine and Training Bulletin.

Each entry is by subject area and includes author, bibliographic data and a brief synopsis of the book. Subject areas are:

Most titles are in English and French editions are indicated where known.

Maintenance of the Army Reading List is vested with the Army Doctrine and Training Bulletin. New editions will be published in a loose-leaf form as part of the Bulletin. The list will also be available on the World Wide Web at www.army.dnd.ca/ael/. Readers wishing to suggest additional titles should provide the title and bibliographical information plus a brief synopsis to:

Managing Editor
The Army Doctrine and Training Bulletin
Land Force Doctrine and Training System
P.O. Box 17000 Stn Forces
Kingston, ON. K7K 7B4

Obtaining Books on this List

Many of the books on this list are out of print or difficult to locate. Complete bibliographic data is provided for each title, which will provide readers with the necessary information to find a title in a library, obtain a copy through interlibrary loan or purchase. The easiest method of locating a book is through the ISBN or International Standard Book Numbering. This consists of a unique 10 digit and letter code that provides each title with an international identity number used by publishers, booksellers and libraries. ISBN came into use in the 1970s and took some time before being adopted by the entire publishing trade, so is not found on earlier published books and most privately published titles. It is found on subsequent editions of older titles.

The most economical means of obtaining a title is through a library. If your particular branch does not have the title, then it can probably be obtained through Inter-Library Loan. Consult with your librarian for more information on gaining books through this means. Books still in print can be ordered from larger bookstores, while many out of print titles can be obtained from used book shops or dealers on the world wide web.

From the Editor of the Army Doctrine and Training Bulletin: Each book on the list can be found at the library of the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College (CLFCSC) in Kingston. They may be borrowed by inter-library loan. The library's address is as follows:

The Army Library
Land Force Doctrine and Training System
PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Kingston, ON, K7K 7B4

[From the Regimental Rogue - Book Title links on the Army Reading List pages on this site link to the applicable book page on Amazon.ca. These links may not be for the edition specified, and where possible point to the less expensive choices at Amazon.]

QUICK LINKS