The Red Teamer's Bookshelf, 2017 edition

It’s been a couple of months since we first announced that Red Team Journal, redteams.net, and OODA Loop would be compiling the latest “Red Teamer’s Bookshelf” jointly. For those of you who’ve been waiting, the list is finally here. It’s larger than previous years, so we’ve organized the titles by category (and yes, some of these titles would fit in more than one category). The titles address a range of red teaming activities and skills, with a noticeable increase in special operations books this year. Thank you to everyone who submitted titles.

Business (5)

Billion Dollar Lessons: What You Can Learn from the Most Inexcusable Business Failures of the Last 25 Years, Paul Carroll and Chunka Mui https://www.amazon.com/Billion-Dollar-Lessons-Inexcusable-Business/dp/1591842891/

How Google Works (2014), Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg, https://www.amazon.com/How-Google-Works-Eric-Schmidt/dp/1455582344/

Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman (2006), Yvon Chouinard https://www.amazon.com/Let-People-Surfing-Education-Businessman/dp/0143037838/

The Seventh Sense (2016), Joshua Cooper Ramo https://www.amazon.com/Seventh-Sense-Fortune-Survival-Networks/dp/0316285064/

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future (2014), Peter Thiel with Blake Masters https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/

Counterterrorism (4)

Brave New War: The Next Stage of Terrorism and the End of Globalization (2008), John Robb https://www.amazon.com/Brave-New-War-Terrorism-Globalization/dp/0470261951/

Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield (2014), Jeremy Scahill https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Wars-Battlefield-Jeremy-Scahill/dp/1568589549/

Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide (2008), Gary Berntsen https://www.amazon.com/Human-Intelligence-Counterterrorism-National-Leadership/dp/1597972541/

Red Teams and Counterterrorism Training (2011), Stephen Sloan and Robert J. Bunker https://www.amazon.com/Counterterrorism-Training-International-Security-Affairs/dp/0806141832/

Deception (4)

The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security (2003), Kevin Mitnick https://www.amazon.com/Art-Deception-Controlling-Element-Security/dp/076454280X/

The Art and Science of Military Deception (2013), Hal Rothstein and Barton Whaley https://www.amazon.com/Military-Deception-Intelligence-Information-Operations/dp/1608075516 /

Practise to Deceive: Learning Curves of Military Deception Planners (2016), Barton Whaley https://www.amazon.com/Practise-Deceive-Learning-Military-Deception/dp/1612519822/

Unweaving the Web: Deception and Adaptation in Future Urban Operations (2002), Scott Gerwehr and Russell W. Glenn https://www.amazon.com/Unweaving-Web-Deception-Adaptation-Operations/dp/0833031597/ (Also available to download from the RAND website: http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1495.html

Decision Analysis/Thinking/Creativity (7)

The Applied Critical Thinking Handbook, 7.0, TRADOC

Black Box Thinking: Why Most People Never Learn from Their Mistakes—But Some Do (2015), Matthew Syed https://www.amazon.com/Black-Box-Thinking-People-Mistakes-But/dp/1591848229/

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration (2014), Ed Catmull https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012/

Risk Savvy: How to Make Good Decisions (2014), Gerd Gigerenzer https://www.amazon.com/Risk-Savvy-Make-Good-Decisions/dp/0670025658/

Shortcut: How Analogies Reveal Connections, Spark Innovation, and Sell Our Greatest Ideas (2015), John Pollack https://www.amazon.com/Shortcut-Analogies-Connections-Innovation-Greatest/dp/1592409474/

Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction (2015), Philip E. Tetlock and Dan Gardner https://www.amazon.com/Superforecasting-Prediction-Philip-E-Tetlock/dp/0804136696/

Intelligence (6)

The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service (2013), Henry A. Crumpton https://www.amazon.com/Art-Intelligence-Lessons-Clandestine-Service/dp/0143123378/

Man in the Shadows: Inside the Middle East Crisis with a Director of Israel’s Mossad (2006), Efraim Halevy https://www.amazon.com/Man-Shadows-Inside-Director-Israels/dp/B001G8W71U/

Open Source Intelligence Techniques, 5th edition (2016), Michael Bazzell. https://www.amazon.com/Open-Source-Intelligence-Techniques-Information/dp/1530508908/

Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence, 3rd editon (2002), Abram N. Shulsky https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Warfare-Understanding-World-Intelligence/dp/1574883453/

Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel’s Secret Wars, 2nd edition (2014), Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman https://www.amazon.com/Spies-Against-Armageddon-Israels-Updated/dp/0985437898/

The Volunteer: The Incredible True Story of an Israeli Spy on the Trail of International Terrorists (2011), Michael Ross with Jonathan Kay https://www.amazon.com/Volunteer-Incredible-Israeli-International-Terrorists/dp/1616082518/

Military/General (5)

Five Years to Freedom: The True Story of a Vietnam POW (1984), James Rowe https://www.amazon.com/Five-Years-Freedom-Story-Vietnam/dp/0345314603/

Out of Captivity: Surviving 1,967 Days in the Colombian Jungle" by Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell, and Tom Howes with Gary Brozek https://www.amazon.com/Out-Captivity-Surviving-Colombian-Jungle/dp/0061769533/

Phantom Soldier: The Enemy’s Answer to U.S. Firepower (2001), H. John Poole https://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Soldier-Enemys-Answer-Firepower/dp/0963869558/

Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods (2004), H. John Poole https://www.amazon.com/Tactics-Crescent-Moon-Militant-Methods/dp/0963869574/

The Tiger’s Way: A U.S. Private’s Best Chance for Survival (2003), H. John Poole https://www.amazon.com/Tigers-Way-Privates-Chance-Survival/dp/0963869566/

Military/Special Operations (11)

Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World’s Most Elite Counterterrorism Units (2009), Aaron Cohen and Douglas Century https://www.amazon.com/Brotherhood-Warriors-Behind-Commando-Counterterrorism/dp/0061236160/

Chosen Soldier (2008), Dick Couch https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Soldier-Making-Special-Warrior/dp/0307339394/

Inside Delta Force: The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit (2007), Eric Haney https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Delta-Force-Americas-Counterterrorist/dp/038573252X/

Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America’s Most Secret Special Operations Team (2007), Michael Smith https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Elite-Americas-Special-Operations/dp/0312362722/

Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life (2014), Patrick Van Horne https://www.amazon.com/Left-Bang-Marine-Combat-Program/dp/1936891301/

The Mission, the Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander (2010), Pete Blaber https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Men-Me-Lessons-Commander/dp/0425236579/

Navy SEAL Sniper: An Intimate Look at the Sniper of the 21st Century (2017), Glen Doherty and Brandon Webb https://www.amazon.com/Navy-SEAL-Sniper-Intimate-Century/dp/1510714154/

Relentless Strike: The Secret History of the Joint Special Operations Command (2016), Sean Naylor https://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Strike-History-Special-Operations/dp/1250105471/

Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era (1988), Steven Emerson https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Warriors-Inside-Military-Operations/dp/0399133607/

Powerful Peace: A Navy SEAL’s Lessons on Peace from a Lifetime at War, J. Robert DuBois https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Peace-SEALs-Lessons-Lifetime/dp/1614481881/

The Red Circle (2014), Brandon Webb https://www.amazon.com/Red-Circle-Americas-Deadliest-Marksmen/dp/1250055091/

Miscellaneous (8)

The Martian (2014), Andy Weir https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025/

Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life (2009), Neil Strauss https://www.amazon.com/Emergency-This-Book-Will-Save/dp/0060898771/

The Rock Warrior’s Way: Mental Training for Climbers (2006), Arno Ilgner https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Warriors-Way-Training-Climbers/dp/0974011215/

A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas (2016), Warren Berger https://www.amazon.com/More-Beautiful-Question-Inquiry-Breakthrough/dp/1632861054/

Trying Not to Try: Ancient China, Modern Science, and the Power of Spontaneity (2015), Edward Slingerland https://www.amazon.com/Trying-Not-Try-Ancient-Spontaneity/dp/077043763X/

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful (2007), Marshall Goldsmith https://www.amazon.com/What-Got-Here-Wont-There/dp/1401301304/

1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created (2012), Charles C. Mann https://www.amazon.com/1493-Uncovering-World-Columbus-Created/dp/0307278247/

On Bullshit (2005), Harry G. Frankfurt https://www.amazon.com/Bullshit-Harry-G-Frankfurt/dp/0691122946/

Psychology/Social Engineering (4)

The Science of Social Influence: Advances and Future Progress (2007), Anthony Pratkanis (academic and informative) https://www.amazon.com/Science-Social-Influence-Frontiers-Psychology/dp/1138006157/

Techniques of Social Influence: The Psychology of Gaining Compliance (2015), Dariusz Dolinski https://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Social-Influence-psychology-compliance/dp/1138815195/

Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking (2010), Christopher Hadnagy https://www.amazon.com/Social-Engineering-Art-Human-Hacking/dp/0470639539/

Just Listen: Discover the Secret of Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone (2015), Mark Goulston https://www.amazon.com/Just-Listen-Discover-Getting-Absolutely/dp/0814436471/

Strategy (7)

KODO: Ancient Ways: Lessons in the Spiritual Life of the Warrior/Martial Artist (1996), Kensho Furuya https://www.amazon.com/KODO-Ancient-Lessons-Spiritual-Literary/dp/0897501365/

Deciphering Sun Tzu: How to Read the Art of War (2014), Derek M. C. Yuen https://www.amazon.com/Deciphering-Sun-Tzu-How-Read/dp/0199373515/

The Future of Strategy (2015), Colin Gray https://www.amazon.com/Future-Strategy-Colin-S-Gray/dp/0745687946/ The Unfettered Mind: Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman (2012), Takuan Soho, translated by William Scott Wilson https://www.amazon.com/Unfettered-Mind-Writings-Master-Swordsman/dp/1590309863/

The Art of War: Sun Zi’s Military Methods (2008), translated by Victor H. Mair https://www.amazon.com/Art-War-Military-Translations-Classics/dp/0231133820/

The Essence of Aikido: Spiritual Teachings of Morihei Ueshiba, compiled by John Stevens https://www.amazon.com/Essence-Aikido-Spiritual-Teachings-Morihei/dp/1568364695/

The Kautiliya Arthashastra (2014), translated by R. P. Kangle https://www.amazon.com/Kautiliya-Arthasastra-Vols-Sanskrit-English/dp/8120800427/

The Book of Five Rings (ca. 1645), Miyamoto Musashi https://www.amazon.com/Book-Five-Rings-Miyamoto-Musashi/dp/1935785974/

Security/General (3)

Escape the Wolf: Preemptive Personal Security Handbook for the Traveling Professional (2012), Clinton Emerson with Lynn Walters https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Wolf-Preemptive-Personal-Security-ebook/dp/B0099BJENU/

Schneier on Security (2008), Bruce Schneier https://www.amazon.com/Schneier-Security-Bruce/dp/0470395354/

Red Team: How to Succeed by Thinking Like the Enemy (2015), Micah Zenko https://www.amazon.com/Red-Team-Succeed-Thinking-Enemy/dp/0465048943/

Skills/Miscellaneous (2)

A Burglar’s Guide to the City (2016), Geoff Manaugh https://www.amazon.com/Burglars-Guide-City-Geoff-Manaugh/dp/0374117268/

Practical Lock Picking: A Physical Penetration Tester's Training Guide (2010), Deviant Ollam https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Lock-Picking-Physical-Penetration/dp/1597496111/

Skills/Tech (11)

The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders, and Deceivers, Kevin Mitnick (2005) https://www.amazon.com/Art-Intrusion-Exploits-Intruders-Deceivers/dp/0471782661/

Unauthorised Access: Physical Penetration Testing For IT Security Teams (2009), Wil Allsopp https://www.amazon.com/Unauthorised-Access-Physical-Penetration-Security/dp/0470747617/

The Practice Of Network Security Monitoring, Richard Bejtlich (2013) https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Network-Security-Monitoring-Understanding/dp/1593275099/

Metasploit, The Penetration Tester’s Guide (2011), David Kennedy, Jim O’Gorman, Devon Kearns, and Mati Aharoni https://www.amazon.com/Metasploit-Penetration-Testers-David-Kennedy/dp/159327288X/

Violent Python: A Cookbook for Hackers, Forensic Analysts, Penetration Testers and Security Engineers (2012), TJ O'Connor https://www.amazon.com/Violent-Python-Cookbook-Penetration-Engineers/dp/1597499579/

Rtfm: Red Team Field Manual (2014), Ben Clark https://www.amazon.com/Rtfm-Red-Team-Field-Manual/dp/1494295504/

Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition (2008), Jon Erickson https://www.amazon.com/Hacking-Art-Exploitation-Jon-Erickson/dp/1593271441/

Hacking Exposed 7: Network Security Secrets and Soluytions, Stuart McClure, Joe Scambray, and George Kurtz https://www.amazon.com/Hacking-Exposed-Network-Security-Solutions/dp/0071780289/

Nmap Network Scanning: The Official Nmap Project Guide to Network Discovery and Security Scanning (2009), Gordon “Fyodor” Lyon https://www.amazon.com/Nmap-Network-Scanning-Official-Discovery/dp/0979958717/

The Shellcoder’s Handbook: Discovering and Exploiting Security Holes, 2nd Edition (2007), Chris Anley, John Heasman, Felix “FX” Linder, Gerardo Richarte https://www.amazon.com/Shellcoders-Handbook-Discovering-Exploiting-Security/dp/047008023X/

Snort IDS and IPS Toolkit (Jay Beale’s Open Source Security) (2007), Jay Beale, Andrew Baker, Joel Esler, et al. https://www.amazon.com/Snort-Toolkit-Beales-Source-Security/dp/1597490997/