Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey released his reading list today — what can be described as an annual literary roll call of badass military books to promote professional development in the armed forces.

This is the 18th annual list for the general, who has a master’s degree in English from Duke University and taught English at West Point. Noticeably missing from this year’s list: a certain New York Times columnist who got two spots from Dempsey last year. The general included Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat and The Lexus and the Olive Tree in 2011.

A recurring winner, though, is also my favorite book of all time: The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

“I challenge you to read these books with a critical eye,” Dempsey said. “Challenge assumptions, broaden your perspectives, and look for lessons to apply yourself and to your units.”

Here’s the general’s 2012 reading list:

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