The books of Dec 2017 and Jan 2018

Zero Day (Mark Russinovich). Fictions account of the perils of nefarious actors using a series of zero day exploits to meet their strategic gains. https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Day-Jeff-Aiken-Novel/dp/1250007305

Countdown to Zero Day (Kim Zetter). Zetter analyzes how computer security specialists diagnosed the cyberspace attack referred to as "Stuxnet." https://www.amazon.com/Countdown-Zero-Day-Stuxnet-Digital/dp/B00P89SN0C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1514524597&sr=1-1&keywords=countdown+to+zero+day+by+kim+zetter

Playing to the Edge (Gen (ret) Mike Hayden). Gen (ret) Hayden provides his insight during his over thirty years of work in the IC. His insight during his time as DIRNSA and DCIA. My favorite read this month. https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Edge-American-Intelligence-Terror/dp/B01AAYINBS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1514524898&sr=1-1&keywords=michael+hayden

Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker (Kevin Mitnick). Mitnick walks the reader through his entire hacking career from high school to his years on the run, to prison and closes with his cyber security role. Great book to describe the pitfalls of social engineering and how it benefits hackers. https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Wires-Adventures-Worlds-Wanted/dp/B005HBO3BY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1514524949&sr=1-1&keywords=ghosts+in+the+wires

The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security (Kevin Mitnick). Some of this is a repeat of Mitnick's Ghost in the Wires, but the social engineering prevention techniques are valuable. Many of our own Airmen are very susceptible to the tricks he highlights. https://www.amazon.com/Art-Deception-Controlling-Element-Security/dp/B002JF132I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1514525073&sr=1-1&keywords=art+of+deception

Future Crimes: Inside the digital underground and the battle for our connected world (Marc Goodman). Mr. Goodman explains what is happening on the "Dark Web," its origin, and concerns about how people can mitigate threats emerging there and in the open. From drones to 3-D printing to malicious code. Informative work. https://www.amazon.com/Future-Crimes-Digital-Underground-Connected/dp/0804171459/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517262273&sr=1-1&keywords=future+crimes

Meditations (Marcus Aurelius). The 12 books of Marcus Aurelius that frame how he approached everyday life. These are based on lessons introduced as a child and forged through battle. Many different translations. According to Dr. Cohen, our current SecDef has read most of the translations. https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/1503280462/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517262122&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=meditations+marcus+aurelius&psc=1

Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution (Steve Levy). This book sheds light on the history of hackers starting in the 1950s, through the ARPANET, into video games to the last ten years. Many common household names (Jobs, Wozniak, Gates) and those lost to the annals of history are analyzed and presented. https://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Heroes-Computer-Revolution-Anniversary/dp/B017RV1I3C/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517261925&sr=1-1&keywords=hackers+heroes+of+the+computer+revolution

Lights Out: A Cyberattack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath (Ted Koppel). Excellent book based on concerns over how secure is our electrical grid from cyber-attack. Mr. Koppel interviewed many senior governmental officials to include the Secretary of Homeland Security, Director of FEMA and more and found that we are not ready. With over 3,200 companies running the grid, we lack a consistent approach to cybersecurity. Moreover, we do not have the supplies on hand anywhere to take care of major cities.  Worth reading before the lights go out! https://www.amazon.com/Lights-Out-Cyberattack-Unprepared-Surviving/dp/B0143RYF9W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517261725&sr=1-1&keywords=lights+out+ted+koppel

The Stick Soldiers (Hugh Martin). This book is a requirement for Stanford course on war writing. This class partners veterans with classics students to give them insight into the life of the military and war. This book is a collection of poems written by an enlisted soldier following his Iraq deployment.

Public Policy (Kraft and Furlong). This book was the required textbook for doctoral class on public policy.  Great book with plenty of examples of policy issues. Comparisons on whether a policy is effective (meets its stated purpose), efficient (cost of the policy vs. execution of the policy) and has equity (fairness for those subordinate to the policy). https://www.amazon.com/Public-Policy-Politics-Analysis-Alternatives/dp/1506358152/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517261564&sr=8-1&keywords=public+policy

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