The Commander Canadian Army Reading List
January 16, 2025 – Defence Stories
Estimated read time – 2:30
By Steven Fouchard, Directorate Army Public Affairs
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The 2024 edition of the Commander Canadian Army Reading List includes works of fiction and non-fiction that are highly relevant to the current military environment.
Photo: Directorate Army Public Affairs
Discipline is the cornerstone of a soldier's career, and committing to continuous professional development is part of being disciplined. The Commander Canadian Army (CA) Reading List embodies this commitment.
The 2024 edition contains 26 titles ranging from the obvious writings on military history and tactics – to relevant works of fiction.
In addition, the list also includes internal National Defence documents like Trusted to Serve: The Canadian Armed Forces Ethos, and Advancing With Purpose, The Canadian Army Modernization Strategy.
Many are available from the Canadian Forces College Digital Library or in audiobook form.
What they all have in common is that they offer CA members an opportunity for professional development and self-improvement outside of the office or garrison.
Amongst the diverse titles, Lieutenant-General (LGen) Michael Wright, Commander Canadian Army (CCA), has highlighted two of his personal favourites.
“The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare", is a nonfiction book written by Christian Brose. It is insightful, focussing on military strategy and technology by highlighting the challenges of the rise of new technologies and the changing nature of warfare that the United States and other Western militaries are facing in the 21st century.
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Canadian Army members are encouraged to read selections from the Commander Canadian Army Reading List as a complement to more formal training.
Photo: Directorate Army Public Affairs
“As the Canadian Army modernizes its forces, understanding these cyber threats is crucial for maintaining operational readiness and safeguarding national security.”
LGen Wright’s second pick is The War that Ended Peace, in which author Margaret MacMillan traces Europe’s path from its most peaceful era since the Roman Empire to the outbreak of the First World War.
The CCA’s Reading List was compiled by the Canadian Army Command and Staff College (CASC) to encourage and guide self-directed learning to complement the CA’s formal education and training systems.
CASC is part of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre (CADTC). Headquartered in Kingston, Ontario, CADTC leads land operations training for the CA.
Informal, self-directed learning is a foundation of the CA’s Professional Development framework, along with individual and collective training.
“To enhance our readiness, we are prioritizing modernization and reconstitution. This focused approach will improve our interoperability and effectiveness, all the while being supported by a culture of professional development and continuous learning, essential for navigating the complexities of modern warfare”, said LGen Wright.
“The CA Reading List is a tool for self-development that is always available. I encourage our members not only to read, but also discuss, and debate the ideas raised. I want you to feel empowered to bring innovative ideas to your workplace to enable analysis and inspire individual and team development.”