The Marine Corps has a long history of encouraging Marines to educate themselves on not just the history of the Corps but about the larger world around them. In 1989, the reading list was codified, and since then, each Commandant has issued their Commandant’s Professional Reading List to improve Marines’ understanding of the military profession, the nature of warfare, and develop decision-making and critical-thinking skills. To support the endeavor for lifelong learning, the list is divided into subtopics: Commandant’s Choice, Heritage, Innovation, Leadership, Strategy, Foundational, Periodicals, and Podcasts.
2025 Commandant’s Professional Reading List
