By Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann
I am busy. But every day, I make time to read.
For me, my dedicated time is early morning before anything else competes for my attention. I also read on flights and on lazy weekends. Most nights, you can catch me curled up with some good fiction before drifting off to sleep. Reading is my entertainment and professional and personal development. I select books that address a situation in my life or work – I read a couple of books about running this year. I read about current events and history. I take recommendations from friends, coworkers, and connections on social media. All told, that added up to about 50 books this year.
Each year, a few books stand out. If you are looking for something to read in 2025, here are my top five:
1. Hope Is Not a Method by Gordon R. Sullivan and Michael V. Harper. This book, written in 1996, was recommended by Jimmie Spencer, the second Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, who held the position in the early 1990s. He led through a period of change following the end of the Cold War and the overwhelming success of Desert Storm. Jimmie has also been a great mentor to me, so when he recommended a book, it immediately rose to the top of my list.
Despite technological advancements and evolving adversaries, this book feels like it could have been written today. General Gordon Sullivan, former Chief of Staff of the Army, recounts how he successfully led the transformation of an Army facing new missions and the dawn of the information age.
He navigated personnel and budget cuts while ensuring the Army maintained readiness and met current demands—all while preparing for future conflicts. Along the way, he encountered a bureaucracy resistant to change, a challenge still familiar to military leaders today.
With the Army now facing a similar crossroads, the lessons General Sullivan shares are particularly relevant. This book is a must-read for anyone serving in the military.
2. What You Do Is Who You Are by Ben Horowitz. This book was NOT what I expected. With a subtitle like “How to Create Your Business Culture,” stories about Toussaint L’Ouverture and Genghis Khan weren’t exactly what came to mind. Yet, Ben Horowitz uses these unexpected historical examples to illustrate what he sees as successful cultures—or at least cultures that were successful in specific ways he connects to modern business lessons.
I didn’t agree with all of the examples or what they represented, but it’s a reminder that we shouldn’t limit our learning to only the ideas we agree with. This book earned a place on my list because it challenged my thinking. It forced me to consider that even if I disagree with the outcomes, there might still be value in the methods used to achieve them.
At the same time, each of these cultures had flaws—flaws that ultimately led to their downfall. And perhaps that’s the most important lesson I walked away with from this book: any culture, no matter how successful, must be adaptable to survive.
3. Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin. I’ve been a fan of Gretchen Rubin since her first book, The Happiness Project. I still use her two-minute rule: that any task that can be completed in two minutes or less should be done immediately. In this latest work, Rubin once again dives into self-experimentation to uncover insights, this time about the five senses. The book is a journey into the joys of the physical world, a world we often overlook in the rush of our busy lives.
When was the last time you truly paused to notice the shades of color around you or savor the taste of your favorite food? Inspired by Rubin, I tried a few of her suggested experiments: listening to Gustav Mahler, collecting small blue items, and really savoring a bite of dark chocolate.
But the book came to life for me during a trip to Iceland this summer. Experiencing a new place, I became much more aware of my senses; paying attention to the sights, sounds, and textures around me. It was a simple yet powerful way to slow down and appreciate the richness of the world.
4. The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. This is my number one read of 2024! Michael Easter writes about one of my personal life rules: Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Through his own story, Easter explores the benefits of taking on challenges—physical, mental, emotional, and even dietary.
In 2009, he embarked on a life-changing trip to the wilderness of Alaska, and throughout the book, he backs his narrative with compelling data: hardship makes us happier, healthier, and more resilient.
The beauty of Easter’s message is that not everyone needs to take on a month-long adventure in the wild. Instead, he introduces the concept of a misogi—a challenge that pushes your own limits. The rules are simple: Make it really hard. And don’t die.
I’m still deciding on my 2025 misogi, but this book has me inspired to embrace the uncomfortable in a whole new way.
5. The Terminal List series. By Jack Carr. For fiction to make my list, it has to do two things: entertain me and make me think. The Terminal List series checked both boxes so well that I read all seven books this year. (Yes, I’m recommending books written by a Navy SEAL.)
While the stories are fiction, Jack Carr uses his deep knowledge of the military and government to give these hyperbolic plots a surprisingly realistic feel. He also weaves in current political themes and adversaries, which kept me reflecting on real-world events.
James Reece, the main character, takes on enemies ranging from Islamic terrorists and Iranians to Russians and the Chinese. I don’t think these scenarios are likely to play out exactly as written, but I couldn’t help pondering the possibilities.
If you love action-packed thrillers that also make you think, this series is a must-read.
This holiday season, I encourage everyone to take a well-deserved break and set aside a little time each day for reading. Over the years, reading has profoundly shaped my personal and professional growth, and I hope it can do the same for you.
Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and the very best as we head into 2025!
CSM JoAnn Naumann, a New Jersey native and graduate of the College of William and Mary, enlisted in the Army in 1996 as a 35P, Voice Language Analyst. She has completed 14 deployments and held senior leadership roles across JSOC, Special Operations Command-Korea, and USASOC. A decorated leader, she is the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of USASOC.
