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SAF Professional Reading Programme


SAF Professional Reading List

The SAF Professional Reading Programme introduced in 1998, is one effort to build the professional base of our leaders at their own time and pace. Now into its 4th edition, 100 books have been carefully selected to provide a structured approach for SAF leaders to navigate the landscape of military-related literature. It covers fields of professional knowledge in Security and Regional Studies, National Security, Military Operations, Organisation and Management, and Leadership. Through such professional study and reflection, we can tap into the collective wisdom of an international community of experts and experienced practitioners to learn from history, understand the present and shape the future.

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1.Security & Regional Studies

General Readings:
  1. “Hearts and Minds in Guerrilla Warfare: The Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960”, Richard Stubbs, 2004.[Hard copy]
  2. “Militant Islam in Southeast Asia: Crucible of Terror”, Zachary Abuza, 2003.[Hard copy]

Stage I:OCT to CPT 1 & 1WO-2WO

  1. “Government and Politics in Malaysia”, Abdul Rashid Moten, 2008.[Hard copy]
  2. “Malaysia-Singapore Relations: Troubled Past and Uncertain Future?”, Andrew Tan, 2001.[Hard copy]
  3. “Understanding International Conflicts: An Introduction to Theory and History”, Joseph Nye, 2009.[Hard copy]

Stage II:CPT 2 to MAJ 1 & MWO-SWO

  1. Beyond Vulnerability?: Water in the Singapore – Malaysia Relations”, Kwa Chong Guan, 2002.[Hard copy]
  2. “Inside Terrorism”, Bruce Hoffman, 2006.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  3. “International Relations in Southeast Asia: The Struggle for Autonomy”, Donald Weatherbee, 2014.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  4. “Military Politics, Islam, and the State in Indonesia: From Turbulent Transition to Democratic Consolidation”, Marcus Mietzner, 2009.[Hard copy]

Stage III:MAJ 2 to LTC 1

  1. “Arms and Influence”, Thomas Schelling, 2008.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  2. “Conflict After the Cold War: Arguments on Causes of War and Peace”, Richard Betts, 2008.[Hard copy]
  3. “Divided over Thaksin: Thailand's Coup and Problematic Transition”, John Funston, 2009.[Hard copy]
  4. “Jihad in Paradise: Islam and Politics in Southeast Asia”, Mike Millard, 2004.[Hard copy][E-Book]

Stage IV:LTC 2 and above

  1. “Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment, Readings and Interpretations”, Russell D. Howard, 2009.[Hard copy]
  2. “The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century”, George Friedman, 2009.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  3. “The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Maritime Security in the Asia-Pacific”, Joshua Ho and Catherine Zara Raymond, 2005.[Hard copy]
  4. “Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis”, Robert F. Kennedy, 1969.[Hard copy]

2.National Security

(SAF Mission & Purpose / Homeland Defence, Total Defence, SAF History)

General Reading:

  1. “Care of Soldiers: Our Commitment to Soldiers in the Army”, G1 Army, 1994.[Hard copy]
  2. “Defending Singapore: 1819-1965”, Kwa Chong Guan, 1996.[Hard copy]
  3. “Distinction: A Profile of Pioneers”, Koh Jee Leong and Lo Mun Hou, 1993.[Hard copy]
  4. “SAF and 30 Years of National Service”, Mickey Chiang, 1997.[Hard copy]
  5. “SAF Professional Reading Programme”, Singapore Armed Forces, 2009.[Hard copy]
  6. “Shoulder to Shoulder : Our National Service Journal : Commemorating 35 years of National Service”, Koh Boon Pin and Lee Gok Boi, 2002.[Hard copy][ ECopy]
  7. “The Defence and fall of Singapore 1940-1942”, Brian P. Farrell, 2005.[Hard copy]
  8. “The SAF Core Values: Our Common Identity”, SAFTI Military Institute, 1997.[Hard copy]

Stage I:OCT to CPT 1 & 1WO-2WO

  1. “Malayan Campaign 1941-42: Lessons for ONE SAF” in Pointer Monograph No. 6, Brian P. Farrell, 2008. : Lessons for ONE SAF[Hard copy]

Stage II:CPT 2 to MAJ 1 & MWO-SWO

  1. “1826 Days: A Diary of Resolve: Securing Singapore Since 9/11”, National Security Coordination Secretariat, 2006.[Hard copy]
  2. “Between Two Oceans: A Military History of Singapore from 1275 to 1971”, Malcolm H. Murfett, 2011.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  3. “The Undeclared War: The Story of the Indonesian Confrontation 1962-1966”, Harold James and Denis Sheil-Small, 1971.[Hard copy]

Stage III:MAJ 2 to LTC 1

  1. “Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore”, Tim Huxley, 2000.[Hard copy][ E-copy]
  2. “Realism and Interdependence in Singapore's Foreign Policy”, Narayanan Ganesan, 2005.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  3. “The Singapore story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew”, Lee Kuan Yew, 1998.[Hard copy][E-Book]

Stage IV:LTC 2 and above

  1. “From Third World to First: The Singapore Story, 1965-2000: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew”, Lee Kuan Yew and Henry Kissinger, 2000 [Hard copy]

3.Military Operations

(Military Studies, Military Intelligence, Military Technology, International & Operations Laws, Information Campaign Studies, Military Medicine)

General Reading:

  1. “Joystick Soldiers: The Politics of Play in Military Video Games”, Nina Huntemann and Matthew Thomas Payne, 2010.[E-Book][Hard copy]
  2. “Lifting the Fog of War”, William A. Owens and Edward Offley, 2000.[Hard copy]
  3. “Rethinking the Principles of War”, Anthony Mc Ivor, 2005.[Hard copy]
  4. “Understanding International Conflicts: An Introduction to Theory and History”, Joseph S. Nye, 2009.[Hard copy]
  5. “What Every Person Should Know about War”, Chris Hedges, 2003.[Hard copy]

Stage I:OCT to CPT 1 & 1WO-2WO

  1. “21st Century Soldier: The Weaponry, Gear, and Technology of the Military in the New Century”, Frank Vizard and Phil Scott, 2002.[Hard copy]
  2. “Information Operations: Warfare and the Hard Reality of Soft Power”, Leigh Armistead, 2004.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  3. “Law on the Battlefield”, A.P.V. Rogers, 1996.[Hard copy]
  4. “Realising Integrated Knowledge-Based Command and Control: Transforming the SAF”, Jacqueline Lee, 2003.[E-Article]
  5. “Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence”, Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt, 2002.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  6. “The Essential Art of War”, translated by Ralph D. Sawyer, 2005.[Hard copy]
  7. “The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO's Contribution to Warfare”, H.J. Poole, 1998.[Hard copy]
  8. “The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World”, Rupert Smith, 2008.[Hard copy][E-Book]

Stage II:CPT 2 to MAJ 1 & MWO-SWO

  1. “Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam: Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife”, John A. Nagl, 2002.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  2. “Integrated Knowledge-Based Command and Control for the ONE SAF: Building the 3rd Spiral, 3rd Generation SAF”, Edward Chen, 2008.[E-Article]
  3. “Intelligence in War: The Value and Limitations of What the Military can Learn about the Enemy”, John Keegan, 2004.[Hard copy]
  4. “Masters of War: Classical Strategic Thought”, Michael Handel, 2001.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  5. “Multinational Military Forces: Problems and Prospects”, Roger H. Palin, 1995.[Hard copy]
  6. “Science Goes to War: The Search for the Ultimate Weapon, from Greek Fire to Star Wars”, Ernest Volkman, 2002.[Hard copy]
  7. “The Conduct of Hostilities Under the Law of International Armed Conflict”, Yoram Dinstein, 2004.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  8. “The New Face of War: How War will be Fought in the 21st Century”, Bruce Berkowitz, 2003.[Hard copy]
  9. “To Seek, To Save, To Serve: Issues in Military Medicine”, Singapore Armed Forces, 1997. [Hard copy]

Stage III:MAJ 2 to LTC 1

  1. “Beyond Shock and Awe: Warfare in the 21st Century”, Eric L. Haney and Brian M. Thomsen, 2006.[Hard copy]
  2. “Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq”, Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor, 2006.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  3. “Combat Stress Injury: Theory, Research, and Management”, Charles R. Figley and William P. Nash, 2007.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  4. “Humanitarian Intervention: The United Nations in an Evolving World Order”, Sean D. Murhpy, 1996.[ Hard copy]
  5. “INTEL: Inside Indonesia's Intelligence Service”, Ken Conboy, 2004.[Hard copy]
  6. “Makers of Modern Strategy: from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age”, Peter Paret, 1986.[ Hard copy]
  7. “The Sources of Military Change: Culture, Politics, Technology”, Theo Farrell and Terry Terriff, 2002.[Hard copy]
  8. “War and Media Operations: The U.S. Military and the Press from Vietnam to Iraq”, Thomas Rid, 2007.[Hard copy][ E-Book]

Stage IV:LTC 2 and above

  1. “34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon”, Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, 2009.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  2. “Bioethics and Armed Conflict: Moral Dilemmas of Medicine and War”, Michael L. Gross, 2006.[Hard copy]
  3. “Buying Military Transformation: Technological Innovation and the Defense Industry”, Peter Dombrowski and Eugene Gholtz, 2006.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  4. “Cyber-Threats, Information Warfare, and Critical Infrastructure Protection: Defending the U.S. Homeland”, Anthony H. Cordesman and Justin G. Cordesman, 2002.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  5. “Military Orientalism: Eastern War Through Western Eyes”, Patrick Porter, 2009.[Hard copy]
  6. “New Wars, New Laws? Applying the Law of War in 21st Century Conflicts”, David Wippman and Matthew Evangelista, 2005.[Hard copy]
  7. “The Impenetrable Fog of War: Reflections on Modern Warfare and Strategic Surprise”, Patrick M. Cronin, 2008. [Hard copy]
  8. “Thinking Effects: Effects-Based Methodology for Joint Operations”, Edward C. Mann III, 2002.[Hard copy]

4.Organisation and Management

(Military Logistics, Military Human Resources, Military Security, Finance Management, Military Law & Justice, Organisational Excellence)

General Reading:

  1. “Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step for Government and Non-Profit Agencies”, Paul R. Niven, 2008.[Hard copy]
  2. “Enabling Knowledge Creation: How to Unlock the Mystery of Tacit Knowledge and Release the Power of Innovation”, Georg Von Krogh, 2000.[Hard copy]
  3. “Understanding Global Security”, Peter Hough, 2004.[Hard copy][E-Book]

Stage I:OCT to CPT 1 & 1WO-2WO

  1. “Creating the Capacity to Change: Defence Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century”, Choy Dawen, 2003.[E-Article]
  2. “Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports”, Thomas R. Ittelson, 2009.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  3. “Four Hours in My Lai: A War Crime and its Aftermath”, Michael Bilton and Kevin Sim, 1992.[Hard copy]
  4. “Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton”, Martin Van Creveld, 2004.[Hard copy]
  5. “The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security”, Kevin D. Mitnick and William L. Simon, 2002.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  6. “The Emotionally Intelligent Manager: How to Develop and Use the Four Key Emotional Skills of Leadership”, David R. Caruso and Peter Salovey, 2004.[Hard copy][ E-Book]

Stage II:CPT 2 to MAJ 1 & MWO-SWO

  1. “Force Protection in Peace Operations”, Louis A. Traverzo, 1997.[Hard copy]
  2. “Military Logistics Made Easy: Concept, Theory, and Execution”, James H. Henderson, 2008.[Hard copy]
  3. “Not-for-Profit Budgeting and Financial Management”, Edward J. McMillan, 2003.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  4. “The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization”, Peter M. Senge, 2006.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  5. “The Impact of Human Rights Law on Armed Forces”, Peter Rowe, 2006.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  6. “Treat People Right! : How Organizations and Individuals can Propel Each Other into a Virtuous Spiral of Success”, Edward E. Lawler III, 2003.[Hard copy]

Stage III: MAJ 2 to LTC 1

  1. “Activity-Based Management: For Service Industries, Government Entities, and Non-Profit Organizations”, James A. Brimson and John Antos, 1994.[Hard copy]
  2. “Fish! : A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results”, Stephen C. Lundin, 2001.[Hard copy]
  3. “Looking to the Future: What Does Transformation Mean for Military Manpower and Personnel Policy?”, Beth Asch and James R. Hosek, 2004.[Hard copy]
  4. “Surviving Security: How to Integrate People, Process, and Technology”, Amanda Andress, 2003.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  5. “The Case of General Yamashita”, Adolf Frank Reel, 1949.[Hard copy]
  6. “The Lifeblood of War: Logistics in Armed Conflict”, Julian Thompson, 1991. [Hard copy]

Stage IV: LTC 2 and above

  1. “Evolving Military Justice”, Eugene R. Fidell and Dwight H. Sullivan, 2002.[Hard copy]
  2. “Military Logistics and Strategic Performance”, Thomas M. Kane, 2001.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  3. “Security Education, Awareness, and Training: From Theory to Practice”, Carl Roper, 2006.[Hard copy]
  4. “U.S. Military Program Management: Lessons Learned and Best Practices”, Gregory A. Garrett and Rene G. Rendon, 2007.[Hard copy]
  5. Winning the Next War: Innovation and the Modern Military”, Stephen Peter Rosen, 1991.[Hard copy]
  6. “Workforce Wake-Up Call: Your Workforce is Changing, Are You?”, Robert P. Gandossy, 2006.[Hard copy][ E-Book]

5.Leadership

Stage I:OCT to CPT 1 & 1WO-2WO

  1. “Junior Leadership on the Battlefield”, George Mansford, 1994.[Hard copy]
  2. “Leader to Leader: Leadership Breakthroughs from West Point”, United States Military Academy, 2005.[Hard copy]
  3. “SAF Leadership Competency Development Handbook (provisional), Ministry of Defence, 2004.[ Hard copy]
  4. “Small Unit Leadership: A Common-Sense Approach”, Dandridge M. Malone, 2003.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  5. “The Three Meter Zone: Common Sense Leadership for NCOs”, James D. Pendry, 1999. [Hard copy][E-Book]
  6. “A soldier at heart : a memoir”, Winston Choo, 2021.[Hard copy]

Stage II:CPT 2 to MAJ 1 & MWO-SWO

  1. “Common Sense Training: A Working Philosophy for Leaders”, Arthur S. Collins Jr., 1998.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  2. “Leadership: The Warrior's Art”, Christopher D. Kolenda, 2001.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  3. “Military Leadership: In Pursuit of Excellence”, Robert L. Taylor and William E. Rosenbach, 2009.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  4. “Spirit and System: Leadership Development for a 3rd Generation SAF”, Chan Kim Yin, 2005.[E-Article]
  5. “The Challenge of Command: Reading for Military Excellence”, Roger H. Nye, 1986. [Hard copy]

Stage III:MAJ 2 to LTC 1

  1. “Coaching and Mentoring at Work: Developing Effective Practice” Mary Connor and Julia Pokora, 2007.[Hard copy][E-Book]
  2. “Commanding Officers”, David Miller, 2001. [ Hard copy]
  3. “It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy”, Michael D. Abrashoff, 2002. [ Hard copy][Audiobook]
  4. “Military Ethics for the Expeditionary Era”, Patrick Mileham and Lee Willett, 2001. [ Hard copy]
  5. “Reflections on Leadership”, Desmond Kuek, 2009. [Hard copy]

Stage IV:LTC 2 and above

  1. “American Generalship: Character is Everything: The Art of Command”, Edgar F. Puryer, 2000. [Hard copy][ E-Book]
  2. “Defeat into Victory: Battling Japan in Burma and India, 1942-1945”, William Slim, 2000.[Hard copy]
  3. “Full Leadership Development: Building the Vital Forces in Organizations”, Bruce J. Avolio, 1999. [ Hard copy]
  4. “Leadership Without Easy Answers”, Ronald A. Heifetz, 1994.[Hard copy][ E-Book]
  5. “Supreme Command: Soldiers, Statesmen, and Leadership in Wartime”, Eliot A. Cohen, 2002. [Hard copy]