Establish a unit book review program

Summer brings changes of command and responsibility. Effective leaders will establish leader development programs to purposefully strengthen both individuals and their unit.  Many units will turn to unit reading programs as part of their plan while others may establish unit writing programs. But there's a third way that combines the benefits of both.

Enter the unit reviewing program. 

Unit reviewing programs challenge leaders to read a new book, write a book review, and then publish that review. Book reviews are good places for new writers to start because they have a clear focus (on the book), a simple formulaic structure, and a deadline. Book reviews, often found in the back of our journals or on dedicated web pages, summarize, critique, and recommend newly published books for specific readers. By running a unit reviewing program, you help leaders across the Army identify books of interest while also providing concise summaries of new books.

Book reviews build the critical thinking and writing skills leaders need to succeed, both in their organization and through future challenges like PME or the Command Assessment Program. They also serve as a catalyst for professional writing. Participants obtain experience working with an editor, earn a publication, and expand their knowledge in a relevant field. Book reviews also require less writing experience for both the reviewer and unit leader to administer than a unit writing program, which benefits from leaders with significant professional writing experience. 

However, there are a few considerations leaders should be aware of before creating a reviewing program. First, journals typically only accept reviews of new books. This means that classics from professional reading lists like A Message to Garcia or Gates of Fire are unsuitable. Second, reviewing programs may not be appropriate for all audiences. Battalion-level or higher leaders should consider these programs, but they might not work as well at the company. Know your unit and what will work for you. Third, not all reviews will necessarily be published. Finally, everyone will need their own book, which can limit shared understanding of a particular book or issue.

Did I spark your interest? Read on for some simple steps for creating a reviewing program in your unit. 

The Unit Reviewing Program 

Running a unit reviewing program is pretty straightforward. I ran one while I commanded a company that led to two published reviews.

Steps to running a unit review program: 

1. Talk with a journal. Before you start the program, contact your branch journal or other outlet to let them know what you are planning. They can provide a sense of their capacity and may be able to provide books free of charge to your unit.  

2. Determine unit needs. You might select books related to innovation (drones, kill chains), a particular adversary (China, ISIS), or a region (Eastern Europe). It all depends on your upcoming missions or unit focus. The program is tailorable. With this requirement in mind, challenge your leaders to find a book, look on sites like the New Book Network, or ask a professional journal for their recommendations. 

3. Publish the plan. I drafted a short memorandum (see Figure below) explaining the purpose of our unit reviewing program. This should clearly outline the expectation that each participant will publish a book review and the required timeline for completion. Key milestones might include a class breaking down the book review (perhaps with this article as a guide), book selection, book acquisition, drafting, submission, and publication. Some flexibility may be necessary depending on journal timelines.

Figure. Example unit reviewing program guidance

4. Get started. Brief the plan to your leaders, acquire the books, read, and write. Depending on writing proficiency in your unit, consider hosting a writing workshop or group sessions to discuss each book’s strong and weak parts. These sessions can help reviewers think more critically about their book and share the key insights from each book across the unit. 

5. Highlight your success! As leaders publish reviews, highlight the publication and encourage them to continue professional writing. 

Strengthening the profession

Effective book review programs build critical thinking and writing skills, foster expertise within your unit, and provide the professional service of screening and recommending books. As you take on leadership roles, consider complimenting other leader development activities with a unit reviewing program. The benefits far outweigh the investment.