West Point Books

ThomasJ

USMA Class of 2028
Joined
Jan 14, 2021
Messages
188
I'd like to read some books that will help me prepare for and learn more about USMA. Also, if there are any great books that you have read about leadership or anything at all that you think might be helpful to a freshmen looking to attend West Point. Please give me some suggestions. Thank you all.
 
For fairly recent accounts of WP life:“Duty First” and “Absolutely American.”

For an account of how a particular group of WP cadets evolved into officers and then civilian citizens: “The Long Gray Line,” about the Class of 1966. It’s uplifting, eye opening and tragic.
 
Like MidCakePa said, those two are two great ones to start with.

I’ve accepted my appointment for the Class of 2025 at the USMA, and I’ve been hammering out the books on the USMA Commandant’s Reading list for the past 4 months now and have found those to be helpful in preparing for the beginning of my West Point journey this coming summer. Although not all directly about West Point, these books are the books recommended for USMA cadets to read so I’m sure you can get something out of them as I have. Just ideas :)
 
Read books about the Army profession that give you an idea on what you're getting into (and have to look forward to) once you get out of here. Most of the West Point books are incredibly outdated and didn't personally offer me much value in retrospect. Many of your instructors here will tell you similar stories as to what you will read in the books below and I've found great value in them.

Red Platoon by Clinton Romesha
War by Sebastian Junger (personal favorite)
Night Stalkers by Michael Durant et al (if you like aviation/cool stuff)
Character is Destiny by John McCain
Daughters of Kobani by Gayle Lemmon

Educate yourself on service and character as opposed to the Academy. It will serve you much better, in my opinion. Very little of Academy life is highly reminiscent of Absolutely American anymore (I noted as a female cadet that it included no such perspectives...) aside from the general struggle of cadethood.
 
Like MidCakePa said, those two are two great ones to start with.

I’ve accepted my appointment for the Class of 2025 at the USMA, and I’ve been hammering out the books on the USMA Commandant’s Reading list for the past 4 months now and have found those to be helpful in preparing for the beginning of my West Point journey this coming summer. Although not all directly about West Point, these books are the books recommended for USMA cadets to read so I’m sure you can get something out of them as I have. Just ideas :)
Is this the list? https://www.dodreads.com/west-points-reading-list/
 
There is a tv series from 2001 on amazon prime that follows some plebes through beast and plebe year. It's a bit dated but its pretty informative. We enjoyed watching it. Helped us learn a lot about the traditions and prepare for the expectations.
 
There is a tv series from 2001 on amazon prime that follows some plebes through beast and plebe year. It's a bit dated but its pretty informative. We enjoyed watching it. Helped us learn a lot about the traditions and prepare for the expectations.
Do you remember what it is called?
 
Do you remember what it is called?
 
Thanks for all the information. I just got Absolutely American from the library and it's already super good!
 
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