Jack Carr’s 2025 Summer Reading List
From timeless classics to gritty thrillers and military nonfiction, this curated list offers a glimpse at the books stacked on Jack Carr’s nightstand—and the stories that fuel his writing.
War In The Congo – Jim Hawes Danger Close Podcast
Jim Hawes, a Navy SEAL and CIA paramilitary officer, whose covert maritime missions in the 1960s helped shape the early fight against communism in Vietnam and Africa. Jim is the author of Cold War Navy SEAL: My Story of Che Guevara, War in the Congo, and the Communist Threat in Africa. Today, six decades after BUD/S, he lives in Africa - now telling the stories that shaped a generation.
Jack Carr Father’s Day Gear Guide 2025
Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? Jack has you covered in this 2024 Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide.
Gates of Fire – The Jack Carr Book Club
GATES OF FIRE is a modern classic of historical fiction that immerses readers in the grit, blood, and brotherhood of the Battle of Thermopylae. Told through the eyes of a wounded Greek survivor, the novel chronicles the heroism and sacrifice of the 300 Spartans who stood against the Persian Empire in one of history’s most iconic last stands.
The Weight of War: Lessons from Vietnam with Clint Smith
Clint Smith is a Marine Corps veteran, Vietnam combat veteran, former law enforcement officer, and the founder of Thunder Ranch—one of the most respected firearms and tactical training facilities in the country.
Secrets & Standoffs: Vietnam War Spy Networks – Part 2
Larry Serra is a former Naval Intelligence Liaison Officer whose covert missions along the Vietnam-Cambodia border placed him at the heart of one of the Vietnam War’s most dangerous fronts.
Secrets & Standoffs: USS Pueblo Crisis, Vietnam War, Cambodia Border Clashes – Part 1
Larry Serra is a former Naval Intelligence Liaison Officer whose covert missions along the Vietnam-Cambodia border placed him at the heart of one of the Vietnam War’s most dangerous fronts.
The Unvanquished – The Jack Carr Book Club
THE UNVANQUISHED pulls back the curtain on a little-known shadow war that raged alongside the Civil War’s better-known battles. At its center: Lincoln’s special forces, the Jessie Scouts—Union soldiers who disguised themselves in Confederate uniforms to carry out daring raids, intelligence gathering, and high-risk missions behind enemy lines.
China, Cartels, and the Future of War
Jack Carr revisits key insights from past guests to explore the shifting landscape of global power, warfare, and America’s place in what’s to come.
Tough Rugged Bastards
John Dailey is a United States Marine Corps Special Operations veteran and the author of TOUGH RUGGED BASTARDS, a memoir detailing his time as a sniper, Force Recon Marine, and founding member of MARSOC Det One - the first USMC SOCOM unit. After retiring in 2008, after two decades of service, John shaped the future of Marine special operations as Training and Education Branch Director at the Marine Raider Training Center.
