There was an interesting interview of Lt. Col John Nagl
on the July 22, 2008 NPR Fresh Air:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92750254

“Brave New War” is very high on my list of books to read, I’ve become a huge fan of Robb’s Global Guerrillas blog. I’ve had others recommend “On Killing” as well, so I’ll have to check it out.

And to answer your question, yes, I actually read Nagl’s “Learning to Eat Soup With A Knife” a couple months ago. Great book, solid arguments on why the U.S. military struggles to be a learning organization. Also, a great education on effective COIN ops.

I’m looking forward to reading van Crevald’s “Transformation of War”, but will probably read Frans P.B. Osinga’s “Science, Strategy and War (The Strategic Theory of John Boyd)” first, now that it has a more affordable paperback edition.

Coming up are Dave Grossman’s “On Killing” and “On Combat”, which I’ve heard very good things about, and then possibly a stack of H. John Poole’s books. I found Poole’s “Phantom Soldier: The Enemy’s Answer to U.S. Firepower” and “Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods” very interesting, so I’m looking forward to reading his “Terrorist Trail”, “Tequila Junction”, and “Dragon Days”, and I just saw he had a new book come out in July, “Homeland Siege: Tactics for Police and Military”.

Have you read John Nagl’s “Learning To Eat Soup With A Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam”? The paperback edition preface describes his experience in Iraq 2003-4.

I didn’t know about Kilcullen’s “The Accidental Guerrilla”, thanks for pointing it out!

Next is Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions by Mark Driscoll. In this book, Driscoll answers the top 10 questions as voted on by his congregation at Mars Hill Church a few years ago. In typical Driscoll fashion, the book is filled with timeless biblical truths and tons of laughs.

Finally, a book I started and need to get back to called How People Change by Tripp and Lane. This book explains the root cause of sin, God’s redemptive work through Jesus, and the process of sanctification where the Holy Spirit transforms our lives to be more like Jesus. It addresses idolatry of the heart and how we are in need of heart transformation rather than behavior modification. This book will be very applicable in my own life and lives around me as I continue to follow Jesus.

I enjoyed your summaries, and this definately gave me some ideas for my next read.

I’ve been chipping away at Beating Goliath, but my main focus right now is on Chinese Electronic Warfare (Thesis). Most of my reading has been journals lately…

The Capps article is fantastic at relaying what the tech culture is all about. The consumers are still a small (and young) proportion of the economy, so “revolutionary” change gets dramatized. The young always want to be revolting against something.

However you label it, everyone needs to get involved. There’s certainly a niche for the young training the old. Currently, human capital arbitrage has allowed younger folks to take over power positions in companies or start their own just because the older generations are clueless. This will narrow out over time. Business really is as usual, just the tools have changed.

Taleb’s commentary is always insightful. It’s scary how much debt we’re in and worse we’re cruising like nothing’s wrong. “Putting it off” will become less of an option soon.

I’d be interested to see that report on The Naked & The Dead sometime, sounds interesting. Haven’t read Donald Miller yet, but many of my friends and family have — better check out one of his books before I become a social outcast.

@ Brett,

Sounds like you’ve been really digging in this summer. You’ll have to let me know what you thought of the Greek tragedies and comedies — unfamiliar subject for me.

I always feel like somehow my education completely left out anything in the Ancient Greek arena. Seems like everybody else knows the time and the characters and I’m left on the sidelines waving a crumpled up Iliad and the Odyssey flag. Someday….

Also, reading Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Familiar with many of the books you mentioned. Read some of them when I attended Command & Staff College as a young Army Captain.

Love, The Jesus I Never Knew. Blew me away!

I did a report at my officer advanced course on The Naked & The Dead.

I’m on a Donald Miller kick right now…

Blue Like Jazz and A Million Miles In A Thousand Years are what I’m reading currently.