Hey WPSN, as part of the "poet" side of being warrior poets, what do you all think of having a section for Recommended Books or a book club so that we can get better at having our minds strengthened too? Maybe you could do interviews with the authors and make that video available on the website? Just a thought. Thanks! And keep up the great work you're doing!

I love it

Just saw a video where this list was included, putting it here if anyone wants some of John Lovells reading list.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/johnlovell275?listId=2EVTKX9M93LJN&ref=idea_share_inf

Does Audible count? I don't have a whole lot of time to just sit and read a book so I typically listen to them while I work out or drive.

Nothing wrong with audio books. Listening through "the red badge of courage" while doing mindless chores recently. You can't beat the efficiency.

Since I live in Ar, I mostly read Lousi L'lamor cowboy books. Nothing really related to guns anymore. But audiobooks are great too.

Check with your local library; TN has a “TN Reads” program where you can download an app, input your library card info, and listen to audio books they have available. I’ve been surprised at the selection; Bill O’Reilly, Jack Carr, Vince Flynn, Marcus Arelius, Jocko Willink, Ayn Rand, Gavin De Becker, Stephen Pressfield, John Eldridge, and MANY more. I can find most book recommendations I come across there.

Also, I would recommend “The Awakening of H.K. Derryberry” by Jim Bradford and Andy Hardin. A GREAT true story.

I like the idea too. Maybe a curated list of 12 books a year? Each month would have a designated book (and forum thread) for anyone who's reading along.

I'm in... I just finished "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, and "FBI Miami Firefight" by Edmundo and Elizabeth Mireles.

This sounds like a great idea, I would love to see an initial static list of personally meaningful books curated by John, that could be expanded in an interactive way with the community as others have suggested.

Pending such a thing, for anyone looking for some good reads, a really good place to start looking for books that can help develop the warrior spirit and inspire thought are the various officially and unofficially curated military reading lists, like the USMC Commandant's list, the AFSOC recruit and professional development lists, the Army Chief of Staff's professional reading list, Three Ranger Foundation's ranger list, and One's Ready's and BeAPJ's USAFSW list. Mark Divine's SEALFIT reading list also has some really good Eastern texts like Musashi that you won't find on many other US military themed lists, but it also has some kind of woo-woo Deepak Chopra type stuff that isn't really up my alley so I feel the need to add this brief disclaimer.

For some general erudition, I really like what Brett from The Art of Manliness compiled in his "100 Books Every Man Should Read" list. As exciting as so many of the war books from the aforementioned lists are, time spent reading the classics and great contemporary fictional literature is seldom wasted.

Edit: just saw a link to John's reading list on Amazon, I'm eager to delve into something from it once I finish my current read.

I'm in! Note: I write post-apoc under a pen name, so most of my fiction recommendations will be in that genre. No, I will not list my own books—only the other authors I have read and recommend.
For fiction, you cannot go wrong starting with The Borrowed World series from my friend, Franklin Horton. It does have realistic "salty" language.
If you want the same kind of exciting, well-written "prepper" fiction with a Christian flare, check out Jeff Motes' Once Upon an Apocalypse.
I have one fiction and three non-fictions I'm reading right now. I'll post a report on each as I finish. They include:
Mission Possible by Tim Tebow
Endure by Cameron Hanes
Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe
and Goose Truman by Don Carey, another author friend of mine.

For a good time the Monster Hunter International (at least the first several) is great fiction for gun guys. Baen publishing offers the first as a free download.

Terry Pratchett's discworld is also a great time and the order doesn't matter too much. Plenty to disagree with him about but he's also one of the few authors that actually makes me laugh out loud. I started with Hogfather on a whim and I didn't regret it. Been working my way (off and on) though his discworld novels over the last decade.

I've been listening to Cameron Hanes' "Endure" while getting my fat butt on the elliptical. It is hard to quit with that guy barking in my ears. 10/10.

I'm reading through "Republic" by Plato translated by Robin Waterfield, and loving it! In chapter 3, Socrates is creating, in his mind, good guardians for an all-morale society in. He is describing what I understand Warrior Poets strive to be. Socrates, and those he's debating, have trouble imagining a person that has a passionate temperament, but is gentle (these qualities being necessary in a good guardian). It is my opinion that a "good guardian" or "Warrior Poet" have these characteristics simply because we have God. Being a good guardian is a gift that comes from knowing and understanding our God.

"Think Like a Warrior" by Darrin Donnelly. A fable type fiction, the main character is a coach who has hit rock bottom personally and professionally. Over the course of a season, he gets "ghost of Christmas past" type visits from five famous coaches, learning important lessons in leadership and mindset. Excellent. 10/10.