Five Must Read Books for Transitioning Veterans

Transitioning out of the military can be an incredibly emotional, scary time in a Soldier’s life as well as a time of amazing freedom, liberation and self-discovery. It all depends on your mindset and the expectations you have for your first few months out of the military. Here are five books that you can read to get you into the right headspace as you get ready to leave the military and jump headfirst into the civilian world.

Mindset by Carol Dweck

This was the first book I read after I decided for sure that I would be leaving the military and it is not an exaggeration to say it was absolutely life changing. Dweck talks about the difference between those who have a fixed mindset in which things are how they are and there’s no changing them and a growth mindset in which all skills can be cultivated and failures are reframed as learning opportunities. It was really eye-opening coming from the Army to see the ways in which my thinking was entrenched in the fixed mindset. Going into the civilian world with my eyes open and my mind in growth mindset allowed me to be open to opportunities and also take the difficulties of transitioning in stride. If there is one book that I would suggest every single transitioning soldier read, it is this one.  

How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen

Leaving the military is a major life change. Beyond a change in daily activities, your priorities will shift too. No longer do you have a unit or soldiers to take care of, so how are you going to fill your time and what will you focus your energy on? If you’re not sure, this is the book to read. Christensen does a great job of forcing you to determine what you truly value without coming across as too preachy. I read this book as I was deciding between two very different post-military career paths and am happy to say that it guided me down a road I am extremely happy to be on.  

The First 90 Days: Proven Success Strategies For Getting Up To Speed Faster And Smarter by Michael D. Watkins

Most soldiers will eventually transition into another job after the military and this is the book to read before you start your first day. It’s written as an action plan for how to position yourself and what actions to take during the first 90 days of any job as you transition into your new position. Watkins identifies the most common pitfalls new leaders encounter and provides the tools and strategies you need to avoid them. Each chapter also includes checklists, practical tools, and self-assessments to help you assimilate key lessons and apply them to your own situation. Use this book as your trusted guide as you transition into your first civilian job, and all others thereafter.  

Self-Compassion by Kristen Neff

This is the book that you are probably the least likely to read but that will have the greatest effect on you. Compassion, particularly for oneself is not synonymous with success in the military, but is absolutely critical to be effective in the civilian world. The problem is after years in zero defect culture where the drill sergeant mentality is reinforced, compassion, and specifically self-compassion is in short supply. This is a straightforward book on why self -compassion is so important, how to get it and how to maintain it even in the face of your toughest critic: yourself. This book will be the most difficult one on this list to read, but also the most transformative. 

?Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K.Rowling 

This may seem like a mistake, but I assure you, I meant to include this fanciful, if somewhat elementary level book on this list. When I was getting out, I experienced a base level of constant anxiety and worry that I think is normal and just part of transitioning. It’s nothing to worry about but is just a by product of going through any new major life change. One thing that really helped was being able to escape into the magical, carefree world of Harry Potter. The books were easy and enjoyable to read and I went through the entire series within a month. It was really great and healthy way to escape from my constant worries and I highly recommend that everybody find themselves a series to get invested and lose themselves in. Whether it’s a classic like The Chronicles of Narnia, something fanciful like Harry Potter or something more dystopian like The Hunger Games, find yourself a good series that you can throw yourself into.