The 2025 War on the Rocks Holiday Reading List

The 2025 holiday reading list from War on the Rocks presents a diverse collection of book recommendations for strategic thinkers and history enthusiasts. Recommended titles delve deep into military history, exploring everything from the brutal Aleutian Islands campaign of World War II to the anatomy of air force failures across different eras. Several selections offer compelling insights into leadership and intelligence, examining the psyche of Saddam Hussein and the mysterious disappearance of Rudolf Diesel before World War I. Beyond warfare, the list also features surprising reads on the history of Caribbean piracy, the epic Taiping Civil War, and finding purpose in the second half of life.