War Books: The Marine Corps Commandant's 2026 Reading List

General Eric M. Smith, the Marine Corps Commandant, released a 2026 professional reading list organized into four categories—Heritage, Innovation, Leadership, and Strategy—to guide Marines in their professional development. The list represents a continuing tradition among military services to use books as a key resource for learning, despite the rise of alternative media formats like podcasts and short-form articles. Featured selections include works on Marine Corps history, military leadership, and strategic thinking, with titles like "First to Fight" by Victor Krulak and "The American War in Afghanistan" by Carter Malkasian highlighted as valuable for military professionals across all services.