Summer has a way of slowing things down—at least a little.

Maybe you’re sitting on the beach. Maybe you’re waiting for your kid’s baseball game to start. Maybe you’re enjoying a rare weekend without a packed schedule. Whatever your summer looks like, it’s a great time to pick up a book.

And no, we’re not talking about another leadership manual that feels suspiciously like homework.

This list includes a little bit of everything: inspiring memoirs, military history, personal development, fiction that will keep you up too late, and a few books that might change how you think about life after service.

Whether you’re transitioning from the military, building your civilian career, or just looking for a good read by the pool, these books deserve a spot on your summer reading list.

Pro Tip: Before you buy, check your local library. Most libraries allow you to reserve books online, and many offer free digital borrowing through apps like Libby and Hoopla.

1. The Wager

By David Grann

If you loved Killers of the Flower Moon, this should be your next read.

Based on a true story, The Wager follows a British naval shipwreck in the 1700s that descends into mutiny, survival, betrayal and political scandal. It reads like an action movie but is meticulously researched.

Veterans will appreciate the leadership challenges, difficult decisions and human dynamics that emerge when everything goes wrong.

Why you’ll like it: It’s one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll read one more chapter and suddenly it’s 1 a.m.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or request through your local library.

2. Endurance

By Alfred Lansing

Some books stay with you forever.

This is one of them.

The true story of Ernest Shackleton’s failed Antarctic expedition is arguably one of the greatest leadership and survival stories ever written. Facing impossible conditions, Shackleton somehow keeps his entire crew alive.

Sound familiar?

Veterans often connect with this book because it explores resilience, teamwork and leadership under pressure better than almost anything else ever written.

Why you’ll like it: It’s basically a masterclass in leadership disguised as an adventure story.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local library.

3. Project Hail Mary

By Andy Weir

Not every summer read has to be serious.

From the author of The Martian, this science-fiction adventure follows a lone astronaut on a mission to save humanity.

Before you write it off as a “space nerd” book, know this: it’s funny, clever and packed with problem-solving.

Veterans who enjoy figuring things out, adapting under pressure and overcoming impossible odds will likely love it.

Why you’ll like it: One of the most entertaining books released in the last decade.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, audiobook platforms or your library.

4. Tribe

By Sebastian Junger

This book is only about 150 pages, but you’ll probably think about it long after you finish.

Junger explores why so many veterans miss certain aspects of military life—not the deployments or field exercises, but the sense of belonging and shared purpose.

It’s insightful without being preachy and often sparks conversations that many veterans have had but struggled to put into words.

Why you’ll like it: You’ll probably find yourself highlighting entire pages.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or reserve a copy at your library.

5. Atomic Habits

By James Clear

Let’s be honest.

Most New Year’s resolutions are long gone by summer.

Atomic Habits focuses on small, practical changes that lead to meaningful results over time.

Unlike many self-help books, this one offers actionable strategies rather than motivational clichés.

Whether you’re working toward a promotion, fitness goal, certification or career transition, the principles are easy to apply.

Why you’ll like it: It feels more like a field manual than a self-help book.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, local bookstores and libraries.

6. The Things They Carried

By Tim O’Brien

Part fiction. Part memoir. Entirely unforgettable.

This modern classic explores the Vietnam War through interconnected stories that focus on the emotional burdens soldiers carry alongside their gear.

While experiences differ across generations of service, many veterans find pieces of themselves somewhere in these pages.

Why you’ll like it: It’s one of the most powerful books ever written about military service.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your library.

7. The Comfort Crisis

By Michael Easter

Modern life is convenient.

Maybe too convenient.

Easter argues that many of our physical and mental challenges stem from the fact that we’ve become too comfortable. He explores adventure, resilience, challenge and personal growth in a way that resonates with many veterans.

The message isn’t that everyone should go climb a mountain tomorrow.

It’s that growth often happens when we’re willing to embrace discomfort.

Why you’ll like it: It scratches the itch many veterans feel when civilian life starts feeling a little too predictable.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble or local libraries.

8. The Boys in the Boat

By Daniel James Brown

Trust us.

This true story follows a group of working-class college students who overcome tremendous odds to compete in the 1936 Olympics.

It’s a story about teamwork, perseverance and believing in something bigger than yourself.

Why you’ll like it: It’s impossible not to root for these guys.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, bookstores and libraries.

9. Greenlights

By Matthew McConaughey

If you’re looking for something lighter, this is it.

Part memoir, part life advice and part collection of hilarious stories, Greenlights is surprisingly thoughtful and incredibly entertaining.

The audiobook, narrated by McConaughey himself, is especially popular.

Why you’ll like it: Sometimes summer reading should simply be fun.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible or your library.

10. The Splendid and the Vile

By Erik Larson

History fans, this one’s for you.

Larson tells the story of Winston Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister during the darkest days of World War II.

Rather than focusing solely on military strategy, the book examines leadership, communication and resilience under extraordinary pressure.

The parallels to modern leadership challenges are hard to miss.

Why you’ll like it: It feels remarkably relevant despite taking place more than 80 years ago.

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble or reserve through your local library.

One More Recommendation: Visit Your Library

Here’s a challenge.

Before ordering your next book online, check your local library first.

Many libraries now offer:

• Online reservations
• E-books through Libby
• Audiobooks
• Digital magazines
• Instant downloads to your phone or tablet

You might be surprised how much great content is available for free.

And if a title isn’t available immediately? Put it on hold. Summer reading season is exactly why library reservation systems exist.

Military service teaches us that continuous learning doesn’t stop after formal training ends.

The same principle applies after the uniform comes off.

Whether you’re looking for leadership lessons, inspiration, personal growth or simply a great story, the right book can challenge your thinking and make your summer a little more meaningful.

So grab a chair, find some shade, and start reading.

Just don’t blame us when “one chapter” turns into four.