32 Books like On the Psychology of Military Incompetence

The March of Folly

by Barbara W. Tuchman • 1984

From Troy to Vietnam, power makes governments ignore the warnings right in front of them.

4.03

7k+

📜 Political History ⚔️ Military History 🤦 Political Folly 🎭 Hubris 👥 Groupthink

The March of Folly 94%

From Troy to Vietnam, power makes governments ignore the warnings right in front of them.

by Barbara W. Tuchman 1984

4.03

7k+ ratings

📜 Political History ⚔️ Military History 🤦 Political Folly 🎭 Hubris 👥 Groupthink

Risk

by Stanley McChrystal • 2021

In 1983, one man's doubt stopped a nuclear war. The lesson for your organization's risk systems.

3.64

799

📊 Risk Management 🧠 Decision Biases 🔄 Systems Thinking 🚨 Crisis Management 🎖 Military Leadership

Risk 94%

In 1983, one man's doubt stopped a nuclear war. The lesson for your organization's risk systems.

by Stanley McChrystal 2021

3.64

799 ratings

📊 Risk Management 🧠 Decision Biases 🔄 Systems Thinking 🚨 Crisis Management 🎖 Military Leadership

Red Team

by Micah Zenko • 2015

Your blind spots are invisible to you. The fix: a team paid to think like the enemy.

3.74

560

🛡️ Red Teaming 🎲 War Gaming 🗣️ Institutional Dissent 🧠 Cognitive Biases ⚠️ Risk Management

Red Team 94%

Your blind spots are invisible to you. The fix: a team paid to think like the enemy.

by Micah Zenko 2015

3.74

560 ratings

🛡️ Red Teaming 🎲 War Gaming 🗣️ Institutional Dissent 🧠 Cognitive Biases ⚠️ Risk Management

Napoleon on Project Management

by Jerry Manas • 2006

Napoleon's battle tested rules for leading projects: speed, simplicity, and knowing when to quit.

3.66

🧱 Project Management 🎖️ Military Leadership 📜 Lessons From History 🗺️ Military Strategy ⚡ Decisive Action

Napoleon on Project Management 93%

Napoleon's battle tested rules for leading projects: speed, simplicity, and knowing when to quit.

by Jerry Manas 2006

3.66

93 ratings

🧱 Project Management 🎖️ Military Leadership 📜 Lessons From History 🗺️ Military Strategy ⚡ Decisive Action

Rommel

by Charles Messenger • 2009

What a general's victories teach about leadership, and his cyanide death about complicity.

3.41

170

🧑‍✈️ Military Leadership 🏛️ World War Ii History 💪 Adversity Leadership 🧠 Strategic Thinking ⚖️ Moral Compromise

Rommel 93%

What a general's victories teach about leadership, and his cyanide death about complicity.

by Charles Messenger 2009

3.41

170 ratings

🧑‍✈️ Military Leadership 🏛️ World War Ii History 💪 Adversity Leadership 🧠 Strategic Thinking ⚖️ Moral Compromise

Tiny Blunders/Big Disasters

by Jared Knott • 2020

History turns on unopened letters, wrong turns, and badly designed ballots, not grand strategy.

4.01

2k+

📖 Narrative History ⚠️ Cautionary History 🔗 Unintended Consequences 💡 Human Error 🏛️ Hubris And Overreach

Tiny Blunders/Big Disasters 93%

History turns on unopened letters, wrong turns, and badly designed ballots, not grand strategy.

by Jared Knott 2020

4.01

2k+ ratings

📖 Narrative History ⚠️ Cautionary History 🔗 Unintended Consequences 💡 Human Error 🏛️ Hubris And Overreach

The Art of Clear Thinking

by Hasard Lee • 2023

Five seconds of calm before every decision: what fighter pilots know about choosing under pressure.

4.17

2k+

🧭 Decision Frameworks 🎖️ Military Leadership 🧠 Cognitive Biases 📈 Power Laws 💪 Mental Toughness

The Art of Clear Thinking 93%

Five seconds of calm before every decision: what fighter pilots know about choosing under pressure.

by Hasard Lee 2023

4.17

2k+ ratings

🧭 Decision Frameworks 🎖️ Military Leadership 🧠 Cognitive Biases 📈 Power Laws 💪 Mental Toughness

The Way of the Warrior

by James F. Dunnigan • 1997

Great generals mastered logistics, talent, and PR. Their playbook works in business.

3.84

🪖 Military Leadership ♟️ Strategic Management 📜 Historical Case Studies 📦 Logistics And Operations 🗣️ Communication Strategies

The Way of the Warrior 93%

Great generals mastered logistics, talent, and PR. Their playbook works in business.

by James F. Dunnigan 1997

3.84

19 ratings

🪖 Military Leadership ♟️ Strategic Management 📜 Historical Case Studies 📦 Logistics And Operations 🗣️ Communication Strategies

Radical Inclusion

by Martin E. Dempsey • 2018

Lead when facts don't matter and your best intel comes from the janitor.

3.96

570

🎖️ Military Leadership 🏢 Organizational Behavior 🌐 Digital Misinformation 🤝 Belonging At Work 🔀 Decentralized Command

Radical Inclusion 93%

Lead when facts don't matter and your best intel comes from the janitor.

by Martin E. Dempsey 2018

3.96

570 ratings

🎖️ Military Leadership 🏢 Organizational Behavior 🌐 Digital Misinformation 🤝 Belonging At Work 🔀 Decentralized Command

The Habit of Excellence

by Langley Sharp • 2021

How the British Army builds trust and character under fire, and why it translates anywhere.

4.12

114

🎖️ Military Leadership 🤲 Servant Leadership 🔄 Decentralized Command ⚖️ Values-Based Leadership 🔁 Leadership Habits

The Habit of Excellence 92%

How the British Army builds trust and character under fire, and why it translates anywhere.

by Langley Sharp 2021

4.12

114 ratings

🎖️ Military Leadership 🤲 Servant Leadership 🔄 Decentralized Command ⚖️ Values-Based Leadership 🔁 Leadership Habits

Call Sign Chaos

by Jim Mattis • 2019

Lead from the squad to the strategy table: a doctrine forged in combat and wide reading.

4.29

14k+

🎖️ Military Leadership 📖 Leadership Memoirs 📚 History And Strategy ⚖️ Military Ethics 🎯 Decentralized Command

Call Sign Chaos 92%

Lead from the squad to the strategy table: a doctrine forged in combat and wide reading.

by Jim Mattis 2019

4.29

14k+ ratings

🎖️ Military Leadership 📖 Leadership Memoirs 📚 History And Strategy ⚖️ Military Ethics 🎯 Decentralized Command

Clausewitz on Strategy

by Tiha von Ghyczy • 2001

Your real competition is the fog, friction, and chaos Clausewitz mapped two centuries ago.

4.05

109

🪖 Military Strategy 🏢 Corporate Strategy ⚔️ Clausewitzian Strategy 🧭 Strategic Thinking 🌫️ Uncertainty Management

Clausewitz on Strategy 92%

Your real competition is the fog, friction, and chaos Clausewitz mapped two centuries ago.

by Tiha von Ghyczy 2001

4.05

109 ratings

🪖 Military Strategy 🏢 Corporate Strategy ⚔️ Clausewitzian Strategy 🧭 Strategic Thinking 🌫️ Uncertainty Management

To Risk It All

by James G. Stavridis • 2022

Nine naval crises and the decision code each reveals for leading when the stakes are catastrophic.

3.98

684

⚓ Naval Leadership 📜 Naval History 🚨 Crisis Decision Making 🛡️ Military Ethics 🦁 Moral Courage

To Risk It All 92%

Nine naval crises and the decision code each reveals for leading when the stakes are catastrophic.

by James G. Stavridis 2022

3.98

684 ratings

⚓ Naval Leadership 📜 Naval History 🚨 Crisis Decision Making 🛡️ Military Ethics 🦁 Moral Courage

How Spies Think

by David Omand • 2020

From a former GCHQ chief: how spies structure their thinking to outsmart lies and cognitive traps.

3.62

832

🕵️ Intelligence Analysis 🧠 Cognitive Biases 📢 Disinformation 🌀 Conspiracy Thinking 📈 Bayesian Reasoning

How Spies Think 92%

From a former GCHQ chief: how spies structure their thinking to outsmart lies and cognitive traps.

by David Omand 2020

3.62

832 ratings

🕵️ Intelligence Analysis 🧠 Cognitive Biases 📢 Disinformation 🌀 Conspiracy Thinking 📈 Bayesian Reasoning

The Challenger Launch Decision

by Diane Vaughan • 1997

The chain of small failures that precedes every disaster, and where to break it.

4.08

459

🔥 Organizational Failure ⚡ Crisis Leadership 📉 Risk Normalization 🎯 Risk Assessment 🛡️ Disaster Prevention

The Challenger Launch Decision 92%

The chain of small failures that precedes every disaster, and where to break it.

by Diane Vaughan 1997

4.08

459 ratings

🔥 Organizational Failure ⚡ Crisis Leadership 📉 Risk Normalization 🎯 Risk Assessment 🛡️ Disaster Prevention

Leadership in War

by Andrew Roberts • 2019

Wartime leaders share a playbook. So why do some become Churchill and others become Hitler?

3.80

2k+

🎖️ Military Leadership 📖 Historical Case Studies 📚 Comparative Biography 👤 Great Man Theory ⚔️ Military History

Leadership in War 92%

Wartime leaders share a playbook. So why do some become Churchill and others become Hitler?

by Andrew Roberts 2019

3.80

2k+ ratings

🎖️ Military Leadership 📖 Historical Case Studies 📚 Comparative Biography 👤 Great Man Theory ⚔️ Military History

The Power of Noticing

by Max H. Bazerman • 2014

The worst failures were visible beforehand; the missing ingredient was never data but attention.

3.40

437

🧠 Cognitive Biases 💰 Behavioral Economics 🏢 Organizational Culture ⚠️ Risk Management 👔 Executive Leadership

The Power of Noticing 92%

The worst failures were visible beforehand; the missing ingredient was never data but attention.

by Max H. Bazerman 2014

3.40

437 ratings

🧠 Cognitive Biases 💰 Behavioral Economics 🏢 Organizational Culture ⚠️ Risk Management 👔 Executive Leadership

The Best and the Brightest

by David Halberstam • 1969

How Washington's most brilliant men led America into Vietnam, and could not stop themselves.

4.27

13k+

🥶 Cold War History 🇻🇳 Vietnam War 🎭 Political Hubris 🏛️ American Foreign Policy 🏠 Presidential History

The Best and the Brightest 92%

How Washington's most brilliant men led America into Vietnam, and could not stop themselves.

by David Halberstam 1969

4.27

13k+ ratings

🥶 Cold War History 🇻🇳 Vietnam War 🎭 Political Hubris 🏛️ American Foreign Policy 🏠 Presidential History

The Concise 33 Strategies Of War

by Robert Greene • 2008

Apply the logic of warfare to daily conflict: outmaneuver rivals without firing a shot.

4.13

657

🎯 Military Strategy 🧠 Strategic Thinking 🤼 Conflict Management ⚡ Power Dynamics 🪞 Self-Awareness

The Concise 33 Strategies Of War Summary

The Concise 33 Strategies Of War 92%

Apply the logic of warfare to daily conflict: outmaneuver rivals without firing a shot.

by Robert Greene 2008

4.13

657 ratings

🎯 Military Strategy 🧠 Strategic Thinking 🤼 Conflict Management ⚡ Power Dynamics 🪞 Self-Awareness

How to Win an Information War

by Peter Pomerantsev • 2024

How do you beat a propaganda machine? One British journalist answered: don't refute it, imitate it.

4.09

2k+

📻 Propaganda Studies 💻 Information Warfare 🧠 Mass Psychology ⚡ Authoritarian Psychology 📰 Disinformation

How to Win an Information War 92%

How do you beat a propaganda machine? One British journalist answered: don't refute it, imitate it.

by Peter Pomerantsev 2024

4.09

2k+ ratings

📻 Propaganda Studies 💻 Information Warfare 🧠 Mass Psychology ⚡ Authoritarian Psychology 📰 Disinformation

The Navy SEAL Art of War

by Rob Roy • 2015

SEAL leadership decoded: trust, adaptability, and putting the team first when pressure peaks.

3.94

193

🎖️ Military Leadership 🏛️ Organizational Culture 🧠 Mental Toughness 🤲 Servant Leadership 🔄 Continuous Improvement

The Navy SEAL Art of War 92%

SEAL leadership decoded: trust, adaptability, and putting the team first when pressure peaks.

by Rob Roy 2015

3.94

193 ratings

🎖️ Military Leadership 🏛️ Organizational Culture 🧠 Mental Toughness 🤲 Servant Leadership 🔄 Continuous Improvement

The Rape of the Mind

by Joost A.M. Meerloo • 1956

Brainwashing follows a precise script, and its gentler forms shape your thoughts every day.

4.18

1k+

🧠 Thought Control 🗳️ Political Psychology 📢 Propaganda Studies ⛓️ Authoritarianism 🏴 Totalitarianism

The Rape of the Mind 92%

Brainwashing follows a precise script, and its gentler forms shape your thoughts every day.

by Joost A.M. Meerloo 1956

4.18

1k+ ratings

🧠 Thought Control 🗳️ Political Psychology 📢 Propaganda Studies ⛓️ Authoritarianism 🏴 Totalitarianism

The Stupidity Paradox

by Mats Alvesson • 2016

The most dangerous idea at work: thinking less makes everything run better.

3.61

530

🏢 Organizational Behavior 🔧 Workplace Dysfunction 🧭 Organizational Culture 🐑 Groupthink 🤔 Cognitive Bias

The Stupidity Paradox 92%

The most dangerous idea at work: thinking less makes everything run better.

by Mats Alvesson 2016

3.61

530 ratings

🏢 Organizational Behavior 🔧 Workplace Dysfunction 🧭 Organizational Culture 🐑 Groupthink 🤔 Cognitive Bias

Masters of Command

by Barry S. Strauss • 2012

Three ancient generals, ten common instincts, and the single rhythm of war that still defines power.

4.02

883

⚔️ Ancient Warfare 🫡 Military Leadership 🔍 Comparative History ♟️ Strategic Thinking 🏛️ Political Ambition

Masters of Command 91%

Three ancient generals, ten common instincts, and the single rhythm of war that still defines power.

by Barry S. Strauss 2012

4.02

883 ratings

⚔️ Ancient Warfare 🫡 Military Leadership 🔍 Comparative History ♟️ Strategic Thinking 🏛️ Political Ambition

The Lucifer Effect

by Philip G. Zimbardo • 2007

Ordinary students, fake prison, abusive in six days. The situation, not character, corrupts.

3.90

27k+

🧠 Social Psychology ⚖️ Power And Corruption 😶 Dehumanization 👥 Conformity 🏛️ State Violence

The Lucifer Effect 91%

Ordinary students, fake prison, abusive in six days. The situation, not character, corrupts.

by Philip G. Zimbardo 2007

3.90

27k+ ratings

🧠 Social Psychology ⚖️ Power And Corruption 😶 Dehumanization 👥 Conformity 🏛️ State Violence

Never Enough

by Mike Hayes • 2021

A SEAL commander on choosing the hard path, leading and following, and finding meaning in work.

4.22

836

🎖️ Military Leadership 🏋️ Resilience Building 🧘 Emotional Control 🧠 Decision Frameworks 🤲 Humility

Never Enough 91%

A SEAL commander on choosing the hard path, leading and following, and finding meaning in work.

by Mike Hayes 2021

4.22

836 ratings

🎖️ Military Leadership 🏋️ Resilience Building 🧘 Emotional Control 🧠 Decision Frameworks 🤲 Humility

My Fellow Soldiers

by Andrew Carroll • 2017

Pershing built an American army; the soldiers' letters reveal a victory that shattered the world.

4.22

379

📜 World War I 🎖️ Military Biography ✉️ Primary Source History 🪖 Soldier Experience ⚖️ Race And War

My Fellow Soldiers 91%

Pershing built an American army; the soldiers' letters reveal a victory that shattered the world.

by Andrew Carroll 2017

4.22

379 ratings

📜 World War I 🎖️ Military Biography ✉️ Primary Source History 🪖 Soldier Experience ⚖️ Race And War

Team of Teams

by Stanley McChrystal • 2015

A general beat a fast-moving insurgency by scrapping his own chain of command.

4.14

14k+

🏗️ Organizational Design 🔀 Decentralization 🎖️ Military Leadership 🔄 Adaptive Organizations 🔍 Radical Transparency

Team of Teams 91%

A general beat a fast-moving insurgency by scrapping his own chain of command.

by Stanley McChrystal 2015

4.14

14k+ ratings

🏗️ Organizational Design 🔀 Decentralization 🎖️ Military Leadership 🔄 Adaptive Organizations 🔍 Radical Transparency

Spies, Lies, and Algorithms

by Amy B. Zegart • 2022

James Bond and Jack Ryan are America's spy professors, and the curriculum is dangerously wrong.

3.95

2k+

🕵️ American Intelligence 🛡️ National Security 🧠 Cognitive Biases 💻 Cyber Warfare 🛰️ Open Source Intelligence

Spies, Lies, and Algorithms 91%

James Bond and Jack Ryan are America's spy professors, and the curriculum is dangerously wrong.

by Amy B. Zegart 2022

3.95

2k+ ratings

🕵️ American Intelligence 🛡️ National Security 🧠 Cognitive Biases 💻 Cyber Warfare 🛰️ Open Source Intelligence

It Doesn't Take a Hero

by H. Norman Schwarzkopf • 1992

He never claimed to be a hero. His command of Desert Storm proved the point.

4.10

3k+

🫡 Military Leadership 📖 Modern Military Memoir 🇻🇳 Vietnam War Reflections ⚔️ Warrior Ethos 🧠 Military Resilience

It Doesn't Take a Hero 91%

He never claimed to be a hero. His command of Desert Storm proved the point.

by H. Norman Schwarzkopf 1992

4.10

3k+ ratings

🫡 Military Leadership 📖 Modern Military Memoir 🇻🇳 Vietnam War Reflections ⚔️ Warrior Ethos 🧠 Military Resilience

The Darker Side of Leadership

by Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries • 2024

The psychological recipe that turns frightened populations into followers of dangerous leaders.

3.40

🗳️ Political Psychology 🧠 Mass Psychology 🐑 Herd Mentality ⚠️ Authoritarianism 📢 Populism

The Darker Side of Leadership 91%

The psychological recipe that turns frightened populations into followers of dangerous leaders.

by Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries 2024

3.40

5 ratings

🗳️ Political Psychology 🧠 Mass Psychology 🐑 Herd Mentality ⚠️ Authoritarianism 📢 Populism

The Art of Critical Decision Making

by Michael A. Roberto • 2009

Data doesn't make decisions. Debate does. The process for designing the right argument in any room.

4.09

573

🧠 Cognitive Biases 📉 Behavioral Economics ⚔️ Constructive Conflict 👥 Team Decision Making 🛡️ High Reliability

The Art of Critical Decision Making Summary

The Art of Critical Decision Making 91%

Data doesn't make decisions. Debate does. The process for designing the right argument in any room.

by Michael A. Roberto 2009

4.09

573 ratings

🧠 Cognitive Biases 📉 Behavioral Economics ⚔️ Constructive Conflict 👥 Team Decision Making 🛡️ High Reliability

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