What are you reading now...? [Archive] - Page 3

wch84

05-30-2010, 21:53

What type of books do you want to read (densely written monographs for eggheads that represent the cutting edge of knowledge or books aimed at a more general audience) and on what topics (politics, diplomacy, strategy, operations, tactics, the experience and conduct of battle, social and cultural aspects) centering around that war?

Are you interested in the Civil War in the context of American history and/or that war in the context of military history?:munchin

Sigaba, I could go for general audience or egghead stuff. As long as the egghead stuff doesn't contain a ton of jargon. If it's anything like biological research, learning that specific research area's jargon is a prerequisite for understanding the material.

Context wise, I'd be interested to know more about the Civil War in relation to American history after the war. Specifically - the Reconstruction effort in the south. I don't know enough about the origins of the region where I've grown up.

I enjoy biographies, any recommendations in relation to the Civil War?

Thanks in advance! :)

wch84

05-30-2010, 21:57

If you are looking for an easy read that will give you some insight into the characters of the era, as well as the battle of Gettysburg, hard to beat "Killer Angels".

TR

Thank you TR, added to my reading list.

George Thomas by Christopher J. Einolf; a biography of one of the finest general officers we have ever had; brevetted three times as a junior officer in Florida and Mexico; unfortunately disliked by Grant, but he was the Rock of Chickamauga, his Army of the Cumberland took Seminary Ridge, and he was the victor at Nashville over Hood. While Grant slaughtered his troops in repeated frontal assualts, Thomas planned carefully and used forces wisely. This book also gives a view of the politicing so common in the Army. An eye opener for anyone who thinks the war was fought solely by Grant and Lee.

Thanks! I like biographies, so this is perfect.

Tuukka

05-31-2010, 10:20

Recently read;

Forgotten Voices of the Falklands War by Hugh McManners

- Very good glimpse to what the Falkland people, British soldiers and Argentinians felt at the time of the conflict.

With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E.B Sledge

- Gripping, straight forward telling of the fight in the Pacific.

akv

06-04-2010, 19:15

Just finished "Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War" by Karl Marlantes

Solid, gritty read. By the end of it, you see the reason for an all volunteer force, and detest political officers, the racial tension of the 60's also complicated things, I would put this book up there with "Fields of Fire".

Bebop

06-09-2010, 15:22

1776 by David McCullough

Dad

06-09-2010, 16:19

Mao, The Untold Story by Jung Chang and John Halliday.

So you think you know what a murderous slime ball Mao was? Did you know the "Long March" was only long because Mao was using his troops for political posturing? Or that it wasn't an issue for Mao and other high ranking Communist officials because they were carried by the undernourished troops in sedan chairs? A really good read with a lot interesting personal facts about Mao. Lots of info that was new to me. There are some areas where I would be interested in others opinions (Richard, Sigaba). Over all very good read. Over 600 pages plus another 100 or so of notes, etc.

craigepo

06-09-2010, 16:32

1776 by David McCullough

Good book. McCullough is fantastic

wch84

06-09-2010, 23:09

Picked up "Horse Soldiers" over the weekend and read it in a few hours. Excellent book. Good example of the ability of SF to adapt to unique situations and characters. Mike Spann grew up in my neck of the woods. Didn't know him personally, but his death made an impact on those in the local area. Thank you to all here who were involved.

Recently finished "A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II" by Gerhard Weinberg. Great coverage of the political and diplomatic angles in all theaters of the war. Weinberg also covered the technological innovations made by both the Axis and the Allies. It's a massive volume, but very much recommended. His sentence structure can make it a bit hard to read at times, but otherwise I have no complaints.

Currently reading "Vicksburg 1863" by Winston Groom.

Dozer523

06-10-2010, 06:25

Context wise, I'd be interested to know more about the Civil War in relation to American history after the war. Specifically - the Reconstruction effort in the south. I don't know enough about the origins of the region where I've grown up.

I enjoy biographies, any recommendations in relation to the Civil War?

Thanks in advance! :) Sig, if I may. . .
Start with Shelby Foote's Civil War Trilogy.
It's sort of the Super Highway to The War of Northern Aggression. Lots of off ramps.

cetheridge

06-10-2010, 23:19

"The De Soto Chronicals, The Expedition of Hernando de Soto to North America in 1539-1543" Volume I & II by Lawrence A. Clayton, Vernon James Knight, Jr., and Edward C. Moore (Editors).

Excellent historical account by historians traveling with the De Soto Expedition (Conquistidors). Documentation of the early Native Americans in the Southeastern US.

wch84

06-20-2010, 09:49

Sig, if I may. . .
Start with Shelby Foote's Civil War Trilogy.
It's sort of the Super Highway to The War of Northern Aggression. Lots of off ramps.

Excellent, thank you. His trilogy was recommended in a book I just finished. Have you read Bruce Catton's trilogy? Saw it on the bargain table at Barnes&Noble recently.

wch84

06-20-2010, 09:59

Vicksburg, 1863 by Winston Groom

Covers the multiple attempts by Union generals to capture Vicksburg - culminating in Grant's siege and the final surrender of the city. Groom's account is very readable and full of insights into the personalities involved in and around Vicksburg ( For example, Grant going on a two day whiskey bender up the river during a lull in the fighting).

He weaves together the thoughts of citizens, officers and the national leadership on both sides. The details surrounding the siege are particularly good. Highly recommended.

Papa Zero Three

06-20-2010, 10:13

Just finished reading "Shit My Dad Says" (http://shitmydadsays.com/). It's number 1 on the NY times list at the moment. Nothing earth shattering about it nor is it related to military history but it is a quick read that will make you laugh out loud every chapter. If you want a good laugh and a change of pace in your reading, I recommend you pick it up.

Richard

06-20-2010, 15:52

Not Fit For Our Society: Immigration And Nativism in America - Peter Schrag

Welcome To Utopia: Notes From A Small Town - Karen Valby

Sigaba

06-21-2010, 18:35

Can anyone recommend any good books on the Revolutionary War, and on the American Revolution overall?Not my area of specialization, so my suggestions are few.

An important, if dated, article is here (http://www.jstor.org/pss/1939664).

Professor Mark Grimsley of (The) Ohio State University has posted a reading list here (http://www.warhistorian.org/war-and-american-experience-1607-1914.rtf) (see pages 10-13).

Also consider:
ISBN-13: 978-0195315882 (http://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Cause-American-Revolution-1763-1789/dp/019531588X/ref=pd_sim_b_6)
ISBN-13: 978-0803281929 (http://www.amazon.com/War-America-1775-1783-Piers-Mackesy/dp/0803281927/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277165770&sr=1-3)
ISBN-13: 978-0300038866 (http://www.amazon.com/Diplomatic-History-American-Revolution/dp/0300038860/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277165703&sr=8-3)
ISBN-13: 978-0674021938 (http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Fifth-Americans-Revolution-Lectures/dp/0674021932/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277166156&sr=1-1)
ISBN-13: 978-0930350444 (http://www.amazon.com/War-American-Independence-Northeastern-classics/dp/0930350448/ref=pd_sim_b_11)
ISBN-13: 978-0679736882 (http://www.amazon.com/Radicalism-American-Revolution-Gordon-Wood/dp/0679736883/ref=pd_sim_b_13)
ISBN-13: 978-0674443020 (http://www.amazon.com/Ideological-Origins-American-Revolution/dp/0674443020/ref=pd_sim_b_2)
ISBN-13: 978-0807846063 (http://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-People-War-Continental-Character/dp/0807846066/ref=pd_sim_b_33)
ISBN-13: 978-1597405317 (http://www.amazon.com/People-Numerous-Armed-Reflections-Independence/dp/1597405310/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1)HTH.

d_helsinger

06-22-2010, 10:29

Haven't finished it yet, but most certainly a page turner. I think I read almost 80 pages in one sitting......I know, I should have been doing PT. I have Kill Bin Laden on deck next, any reviews?

Richard

06-22-2010, 10:36

I have Kill Bin Laden on deck next, any reviews?

Ever think about using the SEARCH function located in the upper right of PS.Com and typing in the title? If you did, you'd have found this:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18708&highlight=kill+bin+laden

And so it goes...;)

Richard :munchin

ZooKeeper

06-22-2010, 20:27

'The Overton Window' by Glenn Beck
‎
meh, I found it kind of bland. It is different, but it didn't excite me.

Backwoods

06-24-2010, 01:32

Can anyone recommend any good books on the Revolutionary War, and on the American Revolution overall?

1776 by David G. McCullough is a good book to start with and build on. While it is a little dry, unless you are history nerd, it will allow you to branch out to other reading.

akv

06-26-2010, 23:22

Recon Scout -Fred H. Salter

An account of a young American Cavalry soldier who specialized in night patrols during WW2 across North Africa and up Italy. Very engrossing and visceral, at times it seems possible he embellishes a few personal experiences, but he is brutally honest about things he did in combat he isn't proud of, net net a very underrated memoir.

d_helsinger

06-29-2010, 11:53

Ever think about using the SEARCH function located in the upper right of PS.Com and typing in the title? If you did, you'd have found this:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18708&highlight=kill+bin+laden

And so it goes...;)

Richard :munchin

I have made a grave mistake, and for that I apologize. Now I think I will smoke myself! Pt this morning was weak anyway. Apologies to Richard and the rest of the PS members and guests.

Truly,

Helsinger

Richard

07-07-2010, 20:08

Dong Xoai, Vietnam 1965 - written and illustrated by one of my favorite comics illustrators, Joe Kubert, who used to do SGT Rock, The Haunted Tank, etc.

The story of ODA-342/313 at Dong Xoai on 9-10 June 1965 and the actions which led to the awarding of the MOH to LT CQ Williams, USSF, and CM3C Marvin G. Shields, USN Seabees; the DSC to PFC M Hand, D Johnson, and SSG J Taylor; six Silver Stars; a number of Bronze Stars; and Purple Hearts to all USSF - 3 USSF and 2 Seabees were KIA.

An excellent read with a detailed and instructive narrative 38 pp. AAR prepared by the remaining members of the ODA in 2009.

Richard :munchin

dualforces

07-18-2010, 19:25

I am reading IDF BG (Ret.) Shimon Naveh: In Pursuit of Military Excellence: The Evolution of Operational Theory (http://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Military-Excellence-Evolution-Operational/dp/0714642770/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279501865&sr=1-1)

For years, I've read his influences for creative "out-of-the-box" thinking. I find it interesting & challenging, however not so sure of the application. Pretty heady stuff. Check out the posted Leavenworth PP presentation (http://ubiwar.com/2009/02/17/shimon-naveh-powerpoint/). His references/reading list is quite vast.

"He is particularly fond of the French philosophers Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, authors of the books "Anti-Oedipus" and "A Thousand Plateaus." He sought to enlist their theory to describe a decentralized, irregular form of military activity, an attempt by an army to emulate guerrilla methods of operation."

Be curious to see if QP's can glean any if from it. Does it have legs? Or is it Bullshito?

LINKS>
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2008/01/csi-interview-bg-ret-shimon-na/

http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/the_art_of_war/

http://www.haaretz.com/magazine/friday-supplement/dr-naveh-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-walk-through-walls-1.231912

http://ubiwar.com/2009/02/17/shimon-naveh-powerpoint/

http://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Military-Excellence-Evolution-Operational/dp/0714642770/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1279501865&sr=1-1

jw74

07-19-2010, 10:13

Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning.
Fascinating read.

Sierra Bravo

07-19-2010, 10:24

Can anyone recommend current and relevant books on intel that they might have found helpful?

I am brushing up on that specific topic as it relates to my new found MOS

Thanks

jw74

07-21-2010, 09:44

Can anyone recommend current and relevant books on intel that they might have found helpful?

I am brushing up on that specific topic as it relates to my new found MOS

Thanks

try these:
http://professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=336877#post336877

JoelBlack

07-21-2010, 10:40

Good read on financial freedom and what it takes to become debt free. The book has different testimonies throughout. You get a chance to read about situations/ struggle people have endured through to become debt free. " Live like no one else so that you can live like no one else"

Stingray

07-21-2010, 21:57

Finishing up "One Second After". Every bite as scary as stated in other threads.

I'm one Chapter in on "Hunting the Jackal".
Mr. Waugh if you see this, thank you for sharing your story.

V/r,

ApacheIP

07-25-2010, 15:28

This past week I finished two very good books and have started a third I have high hopes for. Thought folks here might find them interesting as well.

The first was Scapegoats of the Empire by George Witton. An excellent (and I believe only) first person account of the Bushveld Carbineers and the events that led to the execution of Harry "Breaker" Morant. Witton details his early service in Australia, the events that found him in the Carbineers, the trial and his imprisonment in England. I highly recommend. It gives some fascinating insight into British Military Justice during the Empire as well as the prison system in England at the time. This book was also the impetus for the movie, "Breaker Morant".

The second was The Seychelles Affair by Mike Hoare. Its about his paid for coup attempt in the Seychelles and his subsequent imprisonment for the "hijacking" of an Air India flight after the abortive coup. Good read and I like his style of writing.

I just started Jack Hinson's One Man War by Tom McKenney. Saw it during my vacation and picked it up because I had never heard of the man, his life or his Civil War feats.

Dad

08-02-2010, 13:31

By Joan Waugh

A fresh examination of possibly one of the most underrated US heroes. Lots of myths dispelled about the man. One of those books that, at the end, you are really happy you heard about it and read it.

Richard

08-02-2010, 13:47

Black American Short Stories: A Century of the best Black American short stories.
John Henrik Clark, ed.

Michelangelo
Frederick Hartt

bberkley

08-03-2010, 22:29

I just finished reading War by Sebastian Junger, prior to that I read Armor by John Steakley, The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, and Vorpal Blade by John Ringo.

On deck is Clive Cussler's The Chase, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

I can't believe I hadn't read Haldeman or Steakley before now.

I really enjoyed War, and plan on going to see Restrepo next week or so when it opens in Salem.

Another book I almost forgot to mention (got me started on a summer-long reading binge) was John Ringo's The Last Centurion.

Richard

08-04-2010, 17:16

Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History - Richard Shenkman.

Richard :munchin

dmgedgoods

08-07-2010, 04:38

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Great writer; also recommend Into The Wild.
How To Make War by James F. Dunnigan. Good resource to see how the pieces fit together.
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Heavy read, but great read. Very interesting topics.

Then of course comes the 23&P TMs for every weapon. The TMs manage to make my head hurt.

Mack

rdret1

08-11-2010, 11:49

I just started a book called American Guerrilla, The Forgotten Heroics of Russell W. Volckmann, by Mike Guardia, a young armor officer. He wants to make the case that Col. Volckmann should be given the title of "Father of Special Forces" vs. Col. Bank. So far, I have just finished the introduction. He lists quite a bit of research to support his theory there. It may be an interesting read.

akv

08-12-2010, 22:06

Just finished Dong Xoai, by Joe Kubert, even in this day of multimedia, an old fashioned comic book generates more suspense, less is more.

Next up The Legate's Daughter by Wallace Breem.

Dozer523

08-13-2010, 09:16

I picked up a western by WILLIAM W. JOHNSTONE -- Creed of the Mountainman -- . Mr Johnstone is a prolific writer (but you don't got to read em in order) who spins a durn good yarn. Centers on a character called Smoke Jensen and his mentor "The Preacher", set in the 1830-1880 period and all over the West (especially Colorado and I-dee-ho). Great action, well developed setting and not as predictable as another favorite author. Sorry, Louis . . .

Oh yeah, $5.99 each!

Draco771

08-16-2010, 18:41

Windows XP Command Line by Carolyn Z. Gillay & Bette A. Peat

Electronics and Computer Mathematics, 8th Edition, by Bill R Deem.

CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition (Exams 220-701 & 220-702)

Network+ Guide to Networks (Networking (Course Technology))

CompTIA RFID+ Study Guide: Exam RF0-001

RFID+: CompTIA RFID+ Study Guide and Practice Exam (RF0-001)

CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide: Exam 640-802

CompTIA Security+ All-in-One Exam Guide, Second Edition (Exam SY0-201)

If you're a IT/ET Geek, these will help ya. They are even college text books. :p :munchin

Hooligan

08-17-2010, 01:10

Re-reading

-The Gulag Archipelago Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

-The references that the early communist make to themselves as "progressives" sound all too familiar....:mad:

Thomas Paine

08-17-2010, 18:01

The Post-American Presidency:
The Obama Administration's War on America
Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer
John Bolton (Foreword)

www.amazon.com/Post-American-Presidency-Obama-Administrations-America/dp/1439189307

Bushranger

08-17-2010, 22:15

TACTICAL TRACKING OPERATIONS, David Scott-Donelan
very good, more like a manual

NosceHostem

08-24-2010, 21:02

Just finished:

War Footing: 10 Steps America Must Take to Prevail in the War for the Free World
- Frank Gaffney, foreward by Jim Woolsey, Intro by Victor Davis Hanson

The Haj
- Leon Uris
- Excellent. A fictional story depicting Arab culture that conveys similar themes as Wafa Sultan's non-fiction work A God Who Hates

Currently Reading:

Reliance of the Traveller: A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law
- Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri

On Deck:

The Arab Mind - Patai

Understanding Terror Networks - Sageman

Understanding Jihad - Cook

Surprise, Security, and the American Experience - Gaddis

Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hezbollah terrorists on American soil - Diaz

Saoirse

08-24-2010, 21:08

Just purchased and started: "off the grid: inside the movement for more space, less government, and true independence in modern america" by Nick Rosen. My jury is still out on it. Though, thus far, it has provided some interesting ideas for my chosen lifestyle.

Also purchased "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. It came highly recommended for the last few years, so I figured..what the heck!

Still looking for my copy of "Reliance of the Traveller". Figured it would be easier to find. Can't have it shipped to me because I travel so doggone much I am NEVER home! <shrug> It will find it's way into my hands, I am sure. ;)

Richard

08-24-2010, 21:15

Stieg Larsson - The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

Gypsy

08-26-2010, 21:15

One Soldier's Story by Senator Bob Dole. Some of his actual letters to home are included...so far a great read. Picked it up for a buck at the resale shop. It covers his service during WWII, and the long road to recovery after his near fatal injuries.

Michael_Collins

08-30-2010, 21:30

I like the Turds posting about all the fancy books they have read. Please.

MARSOC 06

Richard

08-31-2010, 05:33

Frederick Forsyth - The Cobra

Nucleusbrains

08-31-2010, 09:48

Currently reading - Horse Soldiers, Doug Stanton
Gone Native, Alan G. Cornett
On The Genealogy Of Morals, Friedrich Nietzsche

Just finished - Shooter, Jack Coughlin
Roughneck Nine - One, Frank Antenori and Hans Halberstadt
We Were One, Patrick K. O'Donnell

akv

08-31-2010, 13:56

Just finished, The Great Siege : Malta 1565 by Ernle Bradford

Excellent history of an incredible battle with fanatical bravery on both sides, the Fort St. Elmo section makes me want to visit Malta.

Next up,

Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes by Tamin Ansary

Sigaba

09-02-2010, 19:36

Special Forum: "Workers, Labor, and War: New Directions in the History of American Foreign Relations," Diplomatic History 34:4 (September, 2010): 641-736.

An introduction, four articles, and three commentaries (one by David Montgomery) that attempt to bridge the gaps among diplomatic, labor, and working class history. The essays are at once compelling, inspirational, and infuriating. The footnotes are interesting.

One illustration inspired hysterical laughter on a crowded train--never a good thing.:o

EasyIan

09-02-2010, 20:19

I finally picked up a copy of Five Years to Freedom, so thats next on the list. School has me locked on so it might be a while before I really get into it. Nevertheless I can't wait to open it up.

kawaishi

09-14-2010, 13:19

I've enjoyed these books during my summer break:

From OSS to Green Beret - Col. Aaron Bank
Inside the Green Berets - Col. Charles Simpson (amazing and very well done book)
Masters of Chaos - L. Robinson
Chosen Soldier - Capt. Couch
The Company They Keep - A. Simons (I'm mixed on my opinion about this one)
The Green Berets - R. Moore
Get Selected! - Maj. Martin & M.Sgt. Dodson
The Only Thing Worth Dying For - E. Blehm

Revolt in the Desert - T. E. Lawrence
No Gun Ri - Maj. Bateman (A must read about 1st Cav history, journalism, and the Korean War.)
The Village - B. West
"The Sword of the Lord and Gideon" - T. Roosevelt (Short story about Sgt. York and what a fine man he was on and off the battlefield)

The Red Badge of Courage - S. Crane
For Whom the Bell Tolls - E. Hemingway
Gates Of Fire - S. Pressfield

Currently reading:
Hunting Al-Queda - Anonymous
Beowulf - for my British Lit Class (back to school!)

I did not know anything about the Army SF until I read some of these books. My hats off to the Quiet Professionals.
Inside the Green Berets by Col. Simpson was easily my favorite read about the SF.
No Gun Ri by Maj. Bateman is my choice for best non-SF/non-fiction read.

KW9598

09-16-2010, 09:00

recently read Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman
Jon Krakauer

some serious "up's" in that story...Cover up's....fuck up's...typical BS from the top leading to men on the ground paying the price.

ZonieDiver

09-16-2010, 09:16

Currently reading: "The Nine, Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court." Interesting so far, if - as you might imagine, a bit dry.

drymartini66

09-17-2010, 00:44

With Fire and Sword, The Deluge, Fire in the Steppe ( The Trilogy): Henryk Sienkiewicz

Nightfall

09-29-2010, 15:44

Currently when shirking work and before bed.

"Phantom Warriors; LRRPs, LRPs, and Rangers in Vietnam" Book 1
by Gary A. Linderer

Not sure how many there are, as this was given to me by a retired Ranger friend.

ksboi

09-30-2010, 05:03

Chosen Soldier
Get Selected
Technical Writing 2 and Microsoft Office 2007 for my college class.

Gypsy

10-01-2010, 17:19

Picked up a couple of books whilst I recover from surgery next week. Just started one... "American Passage, the History of Ellis Island" by Vincent J. Cannato.

I have to admit I didn't know that Ellis Island wasn't the first area where early immigrants were processed in to the country.

Good read so far, with a few personal stories (quick trial and tribulation types) about some of the early folks coming in to the country. Basically the author writes about the politics, prejudices and ideologies surrounding immigration.

On deck: "Atlas Shrugged".

lksteve

10-01-2010, 17:24

Rereading Atlas Shrugged. Funny how much one forgets in 40 years...and the difference life experience makes on perspective and understanding...

Richard

10-01-2010, 19:59

The Source - James Michener.

Penn

10-01-2010, 20:23

How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer
Very interesting Logic/training vs Emotion/loss averison

Stingray

10-02-2010, 01:49

Just started "Not a good day to die." by Sean Naylor. Good reading so far.

Stingray

10-02-2010, 01:56

If you are looking for an easy read that will give you some insight into the characters of the era, as well as the battle of Gettysburg, hard to beat "Killer Angels".

TR

+1 Sir. And I found it entertaining and hard to put down.

Sincerely,

craigepo

10-02-2010, 11:56

Rereading Atlas Shrugged. Funny how much one forgets in 40 years...and the difference life experience makes on perspective and understanding...

Atlas Shrugged should be required reading.

Am presently reading "The Better Angels of Our Nature: Freemasonry in the Civil War". Uplifting stories about humanity during wartime.

dr. mabuse

10-02-2010, 20:25

incarcerated

10-02-2010, 21:05

The Making of OUR Warrior, by our own Jeff Falkel.
I am not a fast reader, and this powerful, magnificent work can be emotionally challenging. Not a book to skim any part of. Required reading for the military parent. Easily, one of the three most insightful books that I have ever read.

lksteve

10-02-2010, 21:42

Atlas Shrugged should be required reading.I agree, along with the Federalist Papers and Democracy in America...read it in high school and then read excerpts in an Environmental Economics course I took 35 years ago...

akv

10-12-2010, 17:34

Just finished The Only Thing Worth Dying For by Blehm. Hard to put down, the difficulty of the truly historic mission these men accomplished is hard to fathom. Their fate is a gut punch to the soul. Brave men who deserved better.

18DWife

10-13-2010, 13:54

CDG

10-13-2010, 19:53

Infiltration:How Muslim Spies And Subversives Have Penetrated Washington
By: Paul Sperry

Chuckarthy

10-19-2010, 20:08

I agree, along with the Federalist Papers and Democracy in America...read it in high school and then read excerpts in an Environmental Economics course I took 35 years ago...

I just recently had to read an excerpt from the Federalist Papers in my College sophomore level political science class. Why they aren't required reading for HS students immediately stunned me. Anyhow, I am currently reading a book called Leaderless Jihad by Marc Sageman. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone and everyone as it helps you to truly understand the mindset and mentality of Al Qaeda in the past and present. However, the information I have reading has been very disconcerting. For example he gives the average profile of all the known AL Qaeda members and if you were to set their stats side by side with those of US Army Officers you couldn't tell them apart if they weren't labeled.

T-Rock

11-13-2010, 03:02

Martin Luther and Islam: A Study in Sixteenth-Century Polemics and Apologetics

By Adam S. Francisco

> http://books.google.com/books?id=SJxuK8TQcaYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Martin+Luther+and+Islam:+A+Study+in+Sixteenth-Century+Polemics+and+Apologetics+%28The+History+of +Christian-Muslim+Relations%29&source=bl&ots=MfBcGHVhDH&sig=NcKUGL_AgP2gch4H-Zj6bG7Hl_c&hl=en&ei=90_eTJT_FIL7lwe2pdHaAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false

> http://www.amazon.com/Martin-Luther-Islam-Sixteenth-Century-Christian-Muslim/dp/9004160434

Richard

11-13-2010, 05:04

Jerusalem: A Passionate History of a Unique and Inspiring City by Leon Uris.

ZonieDiver

11-13-2010, 10:04

The Last Season by Eric Blehm. The story of an NPS back-country park ranger who disappeared while on duty. A good read by a good writer/researcher.

TommyGun

11-13-2010, 11:43

"On Killing"...again...

TG

Gypsy

11-13-2010, 17:22

The Night Eagles Soared by our own S.B. Newman

kgoerz

11-13-2010, 17:38

The Gun
The History of the AK and how it effected History. It also covers other famous Gun Inventions. Boy did our guys get Fu@$kd getting the M16 crammed down their throat. Very disturbing part of the Book.

Decoy_Octopus

11-14-2010, 18:01

The 48 Laws of power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers.

Groleck

11-14-2010, 20:54

I've briefly begun reading Learn the Bible in 24 Hours by Chuck Missler. I'm hoping to use it as a sort of supplement to my study Bible. Not to get too off-topic, but if anyone has any other suggestions for supplemental Bible reading I'm all ears.

I'm also curious if anyone else has read this "48 Laws of Power" mentioned above. The only people I've ever heard of reading it like it's worth its weight in gold, at least so far, are the kids that listened to a little too much "Fiddy Cent." I admit that I'm skeptical about reading something written by someone who collaborated with 50 Cent for a book. I can't put my finger on it, but he just doesn't rub off as someone qualified to dispense "power" advice, or at the very least rubs off as a guy who would write down 48 cliches that sound good/believable to a casual reader. Anyone have any thoughts on this writer or his books?

- Dan P

Dusty

11-15-2010, 05:00

GratefulCitizen

11-15-2010, 12:39

I've briefly begun reading Learn the Bible in 24 Hours by Chuck Missler. I'm hoping to use it as a sort of supplement to my study Bible. Not to get too off-topic, but if anyone has any other suggestions for supplemental Bible reading I'm all ears.
- Dan P

Found multiple study bibles (w/commentaries) and translations to be useful (still primarily use a Scofield and Ryrie, KJV and NIV).
Your local library should have a series of monographs and commentaries on particular books in the Bible.
There are also a great many sermons which have been published over the centuries, though these may take a bit more research.

You'll find something new in it every time you read it.
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
-Hebrews 4:12

GratefulCitizen

11-15-2010, 12:45

Finished How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer last week.
Excellent read.

Tackles decision making at the neuroscience level.
Found the effects of distraction on decision making to be interesting, as well as the issue of irrational economic decisions.

If you liked Blink by Malcolm Gladwell or Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely, you'll like this one.

Jefe

11-15-2010, 15:25

Released December 1, 2009
Stones into Schools
Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan
By Greg Mortenson
VIKING Hardcover 2009 ISBN 0-670-02115-6
PENGUIN Audio 2009 ISBN 0-143-14496-0
www.stonesintoschools.com

This guy wrote 3 Cups of Tea and I found it had alot of useful details for anyone operating in Afghanistan. 3 Cups of Tea is required reading in many units at present and I have yet to read it.

wet dog

11-15-2010, 19:21

Boy did our guys get Fu@$kd getting the M16 crammed down their throat. Very disturbing part of the Book.

Has the M4 w/add-ons changed your mind? Always thought the M14 was a great weapon, in either jungle or desert.

--BT--

Reading a novel, the first in countless years: Steve Pressfield, "Gates of Fire".

Man is weak, greedy, craven, lustful, prey to every species of vice and depravity. He will lie, steal, cheat, murder, melt down the very statues of the gods and coin their gold as money for whores. This is man. This is his nature, as all the poets attest.

Fortunately, God in his mercy has provided a counterpoise to our species’ innate depravity. That gift, is War.

War, not peace, produces virtue. War, not peace, purges vice. War and preparation for war call forth all that is noble and honorable in a man. Do not despise War,…, nor delude yourself that mercy and compassion are values superior to Andreia, to manly valor.

Polynikes, Defender of Thermopylae

XJWoody

11-15-2010, 21:16

Most recently finished MSG Newman's book The Night Eagles Soared. An excellent read, and I can see a couple of my QP buddies in there at times. I passed it along to a co-worker whose sis-in-law is currently dating an 18E or maybe he's an F(?) Standing orders are to read and pass it along. The other copy went to SCC Boyd Library as I sometimes do.

A quick & dirty read I just put down was Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern. Somewhat profane, and pretty close to how I communicate with my own stepkids & eldest grand. About 50% narrative & 50% quotes. IMHO hilarious & reminds me a lot of my own interaction with my WWII/Korea paratrooper father. (If you've ever been called a "free-thinking, idle-minded so & so" you'll "get" this book)

Currently into Pandora's Seed. The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization. by Spencer Wells. The premise is how the transition from a nomadic hunter-gatherer existence to more stationary agrarian societies has altered and continues to affect our path. It's interesting in a GTTC CTTG sorta way, good bedtime reading so far...

Jack Dale

11-15-2010, 21:47

I'm reading The Wave, by Susan Casey, about giant rogue waves thought to be mariner's fairy tales, but recently proven to be not only real, but common.

Just finished The Invisible Gorilla, by Christopher Chabris & Daniel Simons, about how we rarely see what's really in front of us and how our intuitions deceive us.

Also reading Bitch Creek, by William Tappley, and excellent murder mystery about a crime-solving Maine fishing guide. Well written, well plotted, a page turner.

All three are well worth your time.

incarcerated

11-16-2010, 01:17

Also reading Bitch Creek, by William Tappley

What, they made a book about my ex-wife?

Or is it about my Congresswoman…?
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=288103&postcount=45

:rolleyes:

CDG

11-16-2010, 11:07

"Without Hesitation: The Odyssey Of An American Warrior"

GEN (Ret.) Hugh Shelton, 14th CJCS

Very enthralling book so far.

Groleck

11-16-2010, 19:29

Found multiple study bibles (w/commentaries) and translations to be useful (still primarily use a Scofield and Ryrie, KJV and NIV).
Your local library should have a series of monographs and commentaries on particular books in the Bible.
There are also a great many sermons which have been published over the centuries, though these may take a bit more research.

You'll find something new in it every time you read it.
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
-Hebrews 4:12

GratefulCitizen:

Thanks for your suggestions, I hadn't thought of using published sermons or commentaries. I'm using a Zondervan NIV. I'm experimenting with finding a happy medium for skipping over some of the scholarly notes, at least this time through. My goal is retention and understanding, so sometimes the notes really bog me down.

- Dan P

DevilSide

11-16-2010, 21:15

--BT--

Reading a novel, the first in countless years: Steve Pressfield, "Gates of Fire".

Man is weak, greedy, craven, lustful, prey to every species of vice and depravity. He will lie, steal, cheat, murder, melt down the very statues of the gods and coin their gold as money for whores. This is man. This is his nature, as all the poets attest.

Fortunately, God in his mercy has provided a counterpoise to our species’ innate depravity. That gift, is War.

War, not peace, produces virtue. War, not peace, purges vice. War and preparation for war call forth all that is noble and honorable in a man. Do not despise War,…, nor delude yourself that mercy and compassion are values superior to Andreia, to manly valor.

Polynikes, Defender of Thermopylae

I'm just curious, what are your thoughts on that quote?

As for what I'm reading, I'm almost done with a book called "The Perfect Soldier" and is a historical account of elite soldiers throughout the years, from Sparta to modern day SOF's. Pretty much discusses what makes them what they are, how nations, kings, and emperors desired the "perfect soldier". Also has a good section on Commando's of WW2, good for anyone interested in military history, which probably includes almost everyone here :)

tiburon2112

11-20-2010, 11:07

Acquired a used copy of this classic. Will start to read this week and post review.

wet dog

11-20-2010, 11:50

I'm just curious, what are your thoughts on that quote?

As for what I'm reading, I'm almost done with a book called "The Perfect Soldier" and is a historical account of elite soldiers throughout the years, from Sparta to modern day SOF's. Pretty much discusses what makes them what they are, how nations, kings, and emperors desired the "perfect soldier". Also has a good section on Commando's of WW2, good for anyone interested in military history, which probably includes almost everyone here :)

Given it's origin, spoken by a fictional character, 'Polynikes' I found it interesting that the author, arrived at his conclusions that war and the preperation for war create values unmeasured in typical social mainstreams, (i.e., the public).

The complete text is a bit more elaborate, speaking more of murder and killing. I took certain liberties in editing.

What are your thoughts to Polynikes' speach?

Bushranger

11-20-2010, 12:51

One soldier´s war in Chechnya from Arkady Babchenko, it´s unbelievable...

incarcerated

11-20-2010, 22:05

One soldier´s war in Chechnya from Arkady Babchenko, it´s unbelievable...

OK, you‘ve gotten my attention…please elaborate. :D

Bushranger

11-21-2010, 02:03

OK, you‘ve gotten my attention…please elaborate. :D

Well, the guy served there around the year 2000, which is not too long ago. Bullying of conscripts was on its top, throwing the guys out of the windows, breaking their jaws, beating them in sleep etc. When the author went to battalion commander to make official complain, he found out that the guy lies in the quartermaster´s store, wrapped in a pile of old coats, drunk as a skunk for two days already. Soldiers reguarly raided their own armory and sold their weapons (like RPGs, AKs, PKMs) on local bazaar, so they could get some money on food and drugs. If that´s true, that army is in much deeper sh.t than I thought.

Stingray

11-21-2010, 02:10

Reading a novel, the first in countless years: Steve Pressfield, "Gates of Fire".

Man is weak, greedy, craven, lustful, prey to every species of vice and depravity. He will lie, steal, cheat, murder, melt down the very statues of the gods and coin their gold as money for whores. This is man. This is his nature, as all the poets attest.

Fortunately, God in his mercy has provided a counterpoise to our species’ innate depravity. That gift, is War.

War, not peace, produces virtue. War, not peace, purges vice. War and preparation for war call forth all that is noble and honorable in a man. Do not despise War,…, nor delude yourself that mercy and compassion are values superior to Andreia, to manly valor.

Polynikes, Defender of Thermopylae

I am not much of a fiction reader either. But I enjoyed Gates of Fire a great deal. I found a lot of nuggets of wisdom throughout the book. I read the Afghan Campaign by Pressfield after as well. Both on my favorites list now.

Sincerely,

Richard

11-21-2010, 05:26

The Great Trials of Clarence Darrow: The Landmark Cases of Leopold and Loeb, John T. Scopes, and Ossian Sweet by Donald McRae.

DevilSide

11-22-2010, 20:43

Given it's origin, spoken by a fictional character, 'Polynikes' I found it interesting that the author, arrived at his conclusions that war and the preperation for war create values unmeasured in typical social mainstreams, (i.e., the public).

The complete text is a bit more elaborate, speaking more of murder and killing. I took certain liberties in editing.

What are your thoughts to Polynikes' speach?

I mostly agree with it, from my life experience so far, man is weak and greedy, causes conflict, and good comes out of us to make things right with force. Theres nothing more virtuous than dieing for something you believe in or someone/something you love, which comes in war. It can go both ways, I'd just hate to believe that we're all weak and greedy, I think what sets us apart from eachother and other species is that we don't have to be that way. Thats my thoughts on it for now anyway.

afchic

11-28-2010, 19:34

Dusty

11-28-2010, 20:18

Through the first 3 chapters. Just strengthens why I may not have liked some of POTUS Bush's decisions but believe he is a great man who always had the country's best interests at heart.

I think history is going to be kind to the man.

Roger. IMO President G.W. Bush was as close to straight up as we've had since Reagan. Less "grey area" in his policies and a minimum of BS, unlike more recent examples.

I believe he was a fighting man at heart. We need another one as Commander in Chief posthaste.

IGWT

11-29-2010, 16:39

Leadership and Training for the Fight by MSG Paul Howe. Re-reading it actually. It has been circulating around my department for several months. It's a wealth of knowledge.

dr. mabuse

11-29-2010, 17:07

Burger

12-02-2010, 11:48

I've briefly begun reading Learn the Bible in 24 Hours by Chuck Missler. I'm hoping to use it as a sort of supplement to my study Bible. Not to get too off-topic, but if anyone has any other suggestions for supplemental Bible reading I'm all ears.The best I've come across is Unlocking the Bible by David Pawson. You won't finish that in 24 hours, but hey, it's all worth it. No, it is not some fancy shmancy Bible code, it will just help anybody to read and understand the Bible so much better.

You can download e-Sword (http://www.e-sword.net/) off the www for free. You can compare translations side-by-side and lots more useful stuff.

Bushranger

12-03-2010, 09:12

Tracking: A blueprint for learning how, Jack Kearney

Guntry Kong

12-03-2010, 19:10

Lone Survivor

Next up: Danger Close by Gen. Boykin

perdurabo

12-03-2010, 23:57

Shadow Factory by James Bamford
------------------------------------------
Just finished James Bamford's latest, Shadow Factory. Great, great book that focuses on post-9/11 SIGINT.

Lots of meat to the book in terms of history, events, and places, as well as technical descriptions. Things are footnoted and bibliographed well. A bit scathing in parts in regard to Michael Hayden and the outsourcing of SIGINT to private industry.

If you're interested in this and haven't checked out his other books, do so: his first book Puzzle Palace was largely the public's introduction to the folks at Meade; his second book Body of Secrets covers a wide range of events, including pre-9/11 SIGINT.

Came out of these with a much bigger respect for the folks at Meade.

Skunk Works by Ben Rich
-------------------------------
Great book by Ben Rich (R.I.P) who succeeded Kelly Johnson as head of Skunk Works at Lockheed. A great book covering the time period from the U-2 to the SR-71 to the F-117. Again lots of meat.

Obama's War (still working on this) by Bob Woodward
----------------------------------------------------------------
Trying to make it through Obama's War by Bob Woodward, interesting history and info but it's a pretty hard read and sources don't seem to be corroborated or cited much at all. I like to hit Google as I'm reading a book and flesh stuff out.

A Walk In The Woods (still working on this)
---------------------------------------------------
Story about a guy who hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Good so far, a bit too jokey for me, but I've got hiking the PCT and the AT on my bucket list.

Various "How to raise triplets" books
--------------------------------------------
Or more accurately mostly twin books. My wife and I wish we had it so easy.

EX-Gold Falcon

12-11-2010, 13:43

Just started "Operation Dark Heart, Spycraft and Special Ops on the frontlines of Afghanistan- and the Path to Victory, by LTC Anthoney Shaffer."

Can anyone tell me if LTC Shaffer is the real deal and can he be taken seriously? The first 4 chapters feel slightly self serving.
So far not bad (except for the above comment), though lots of blacked out sections.

T.

uplink5

12-11-2010, 16:36

The Savage Wars of Peace, by Max Boot

Boot relates the battles of the past to the world today. It's a great read that starts with the Barbary Pirates and continues through all the undeclared actions, excluding all the major wars except Vietnam, since Boot describes Vietnam as a small war fought from a big war mentaliy. I do like this book and would recommend it.

Also,

Breathless, by Dean Koontz

Not a bad book but over shadowed right now by Boot's.

Recently,I finished Nathan Beford Forrest by Jack Hurst

Great book!!!
....jd

perdurabo

12-11-2010, 16:47

EX-Gold Falcon

12-11-2010, 17:23

The search button is your friend: http://professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=349980

(Better me than TS/TR. I'm a lot less meaner looking ;)

Oops. This just came out!

Though the feet the avatar looks pretty d@mn mean....

T

Hmm, interesting results. A copy of the original 2k published would be verrrry interesting...

incarcerated

12-11-2010, 19:21

Though the feet the avatar looks pretty d@mn mean...

You know, now that you bring that up…Perd, man, what’s up with your dogs? They’re almost as ugly as mine. :D

perdurabo

12-11-2010, 21:01

You know, now that you bring that up…Perd, man, what’s up with your dogs? They’re almost as ugly as mine. :D

Didn't want to use my face as an avatar, so I used something prettier: my feet after a trail ultra. A couple toenails turned black and fell off about a month after that pic, but I wasn't wise enough to snap photos of that.

And good god whats the story behind the foot in your picture? A dead person's, I imagine? Do tell.

Y'all can share pleasantries about each other's feet over cha utilizing the PM function of this BB - Richard

Off Road

12-18-2010, 03:47

ZonieDiver

12-18-2010, 07:28

http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/journal/docs-temp/628-thiel.pdf

This article looks at several key COIN readings and briefly discusses the emphasis of each. Most of our junior officers and NCOs are probably already tracking these books, so I think the real value of this article is the effort to articulate how the various texts may or may not relate to one another in regards to their application (theoretical vs operational) and method of implementation (B,W,T or Primary Counterinsurgent).

DOL,
Off Road

I specifically enjoyed this part:

"Dr. Douglas A. Borer is Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Instruction in the Defense Analysis Department at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He teaches in the SOLIC and IO curricula and writes on the politics of legitimacy in war. He is a retired bear hunter from Montana. " :D

silentreader

12-18-2010, 17:05

Currently reading: The Places in Between by Rory Stewart and rereading Chosen Soldier and Get Selected (thank you Warrior-Mentor!)

Recently finished: A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani, Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson, and Luka and The Fire of Life by Salmaan Rushdie.

Next on the list: Pity the Nation; The Abduction of Lebanon by Robert Fisk.

Always reading: Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-Arabiya... aka the bane of my existence.

I've seen a lot of great reads in this thread (I read all 42 pages), and a few head shakers as well (the politically incorrect guide to Islam comes to mind). If you're interested in Afghanistan or if you like adventure stories, The Places in Between is a great read. It gets a little bogged down at one point and becomes little more than a list of names and villages, but besides that the story is incredible. British dude showed up in Afghanistan in 2001 shortly after the Taliban fell and walked right across the middle of the country. In the middle of winter. If you want motivation for rucking: read this. If you want to get an idea of what it's like to deal with Afghan villagers who have known nothing but war their entire life: read this. If you want to develop an understanding of the tapestry of different ethnic groups and the inter and intra-village politics that dominate the middle of Afghanistan: read this. You get the idea. Next to Stones into Schools, it is the best book about getting things done and thriving as a foreigner in Afghanistan that I have encountered.

As for novels, I don't read a lot of them now, but I will read anything by Salmaan Rushdie. Midnight's Children (for adults) and Haroun and the Sea of Stories (for adults or kids) will be remembered as 2 of the greatest books written in the last half of the 20th century.

Stingray

12-19-2010, 01:39

Working on "Not a Good day to Die" by Sean Naylor.

Good read so far.

dr. mabuse

12-21-2010, 15:37

lindy

12-21-2010, 17:28

Big Boss

12-28-2010, 04:16

Finished:
Operation Dark Heart by Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer
Delta Force by Charlie A. Beckwith
Robert's Ridge: A Story of Courage and Sacrifice on Takur Ghar Mountain, Afghanistan by Malcolm MacPherson
Chosen Soldier by Dick Couch

Currently reading:
Inside Delta Force by Eric L. Haney
The Guts to Try by Col. James H. Kyle
Guests of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden

I very much enjoy this particular thread. Thank you all for the book referrals.

S. B. Newman

12-28-2010, 08:23

I know there has been a couple of mentions of this book on this venue. 'Disregarless' I wanted to revive the conversation, perhaps generate some talk about this book.

I won't clutter this venue with a long drawn out review so if you would please go to my blog and check out the review I wrote. Feel free to post comments on there or in conjunction with this thread.

As many have stated already. "THE MAKING OF OUR WARRIOR" is a must read.

Thanks!

http://thenighteaglessoared.blogspot.com/

Guntry Kong

12-28-2010, 08:39

Currently reading JFires and The Only Thing Worth Dying For. On deck is SOG and Bringing up Boys

TrueBeliever

12-28-2010, 13:08

Currently reading The Secret History of the Mossadby Gordon Thomas also reading - A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World by William J. Bernstein.

Richard

12-28-2010, 13:21

War Plan Orange: The US Strategy to Defeat Japan 1897-1945 by Edward S. Miller

Richard :munchin

chaosjackal

12-28-2010, 14:48

Currently reading:

Leading with a Limp by Dan B. Allender

Up next:

The Ugly American by Eugene Burdick and William J. Lederer
(I get crap from my wife because I keep rereading this one. *lol*)

deepheart

12-29-2010, 09:30

Currently reading:

The Ugly American
The Fate of Africa
The Accidental Guerrilla.

Spmack9

12-31-2010, 12:12

slownugly

12-31-2010, 21:37

Last month:
Engaged Surrender: African American Women and Islam by Carolyn Moxley Rouse
An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shi'i Lebanon by Lara Deeb
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham

Just finished The Gun by C.J. Chivers. This book should be owned. Chivers progresses through the development and evolution of modern machine gun and assault rifle technology and implementation from their earliest American visionaries. The bulk of the book focuses on the Avtomat Kalashnikova and all its dastardly variants. In addition to the history of tactical significance and progeny, Chivers addresses the social, political, and economic repercussions of a true weapon of mass destruction.

akv

12-31-2010, 21:53

The Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt

Stingray

01-01-2011, 07:34

Just finished "The Mission, The Men and Me" by Blaber. I liked it. It was a quick read. I read Not a Good Day to Die before this. The added background information from it helped me understand this book more. Good read.
Now scanning this thread for my next reads.

Sincerely,

219seminole

01-01-2011, 14:33

Currently reading: Chosen Soldier

On Deck:
The Unforgiving Minute, by Craig Mullaney
If Not Now, When?, by Col. Jacobs
The Day of Battle (Italy 43-44), by. Atkinson

I was hoping for some feedback from anyone who has read any of these pieces, thank you and have a safe, prosperous 2011.

Everything I have read by Rick Atkinson has been very good. His book on the Italian campaign opened up that history for me.

I just began Mr Gatling's Terrible Marvel, by Julia Keller. A very readable explanation of Gatling and the impact of his gun.

Recently finished Rocket Men, the story of our race for the moon, told through the lives of the people involved.

SRGross

01-01-2011, 15:20

Viktor Frankl's 1946 book Man's Search for Meaning chronicles his experiences as a concentration camp inmate and describes his psychotherapeutic method of finding a reason to live. According to Frankl, the book intends to answer the question "How was everyday life in a concentration camp reflected in the mind of the average prisoner?" Part One constitutes Frankl's analysis of his experiences in the concentration camps, while Part Two introduces his ideas of meaning and his theory of logotherapy. It is the second-most widely read Holocaust book in the bookstore of Washington's Holocaust Museum.
Excellent read.

11Ber

01-01-2011, 16:44

Currently reading The Mission, The Men and Me. Pretty good so far; I'm about half-way in.

uboat509

01-01-2011, 17:25

Just used my Christmas Barnes and Noble card to download two books that I have been wanting to read for a while. The first is Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration Into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics_of_the_Impossible) by Michio Kaku and the second is called Terminator and Philosophy: I'll Be Back, Therefore I Am (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Terminator-and-Philosophy/William-Irwin/e/9780470730102/?itm=1&USRI=terminator+and+philosophy).

In the first, Dr. Kaku, a highly renowned theoretical physicist with the ability to discuss fairly complex concepts in language that a layman like me can understand, takes various staples of Science Fiction and divides them up into one of three classes of impossibility and then explains the science behind each and what progress we have made or might make towards achieving them or something very like them. It is very readable although it is certainly a niche interest. I am an avowed nerd and things like this are true page turners to me. I have also read Dr. Kaku's excellent biography of Albert Einstein as well as some of Dr. Hawkings works.

The second is part of the The Blackwell Philosophy and Popular Culture Series (http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/seriesbyseries.asp?ref=PPPZ) in which various pop culture icons are used to teach basic philosophical concepts through a series of essays by philosophers and philosophy professors. This is also a niche interest but I just can't get enough of it. I have already read Watchmen and Philosophy and The Matrix and Philosophy. If you have ever tried to read Nietzsche or Kant then you will certainly appreciate the value of using familiar pop culture references to explain the concepts behind their works.

MtnGoat

01-01-2011, 17:46

Currently reading:

Fair Game By Valerie Plane Wilson

Ok reading.. slow

Into the Viper's nest By Stephen Grey. Christmas gift, started it yesterday and good so far.

Finished Descent into Chaos By Ahmed Rashid (Taliban) .. Great reading for anyone going to Afghanistan

aegisnavy

01-02-2011, 21:46

FWIW, my last 5 books, nothing monumental or new here, but I thought I'd share:

The Road - Cormac McCarthy
One of the most poignant books I have ever read. Laid awake all night after finishing it, thinking the "what if..."

The Night the Eagles Soared - S.B. Newman
Thanks, S.B., for an insight into the life of an SF soldier. I couldn't put it down.

Blackwater - Scahill
Got half way through and simply cannot read an ounce more. Pure, unadulterated crap. I like to read stuff that I don't agree with, just to get both sides, but Scahill is a sophmoric writer and a joke journalist. I am sorry I wasted my money and time.

The Men, The Mission, and Me - Pete Blaber
I knew I had to read it after reading Sean Naylor's take on Anaconda. Some great principles that I am applying in my own life/career.

Currently reading Killer Angels - Michael Shaara
I thought I'd better put it on the list.

Sigaba

01-02-2011, 22:13

The Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 2010.

So far, better than the fifteenth edition.

silentreader

01-03-2011, 22:44

Currently reading:

The Accidental Guerrilla.

What do you think of this one? I'm about 1/4 of the way through it, I've found it to be very interesting so far.

PSM

01-03-2011, 23:21

The Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 2010.

So far, better than the fifteenth edition.

You need an intervention, mi amigo. ;)

Pat

incarcerated

01-03-2011, 23:30

You need an intervention, mi amigo. ;)

Pat

Yeah, I was going to say something too, but I thought it best to just move on and let him suffer in silence.

Sig, you have my sincere sympathy.

mpb1335

01-07-2011, 00:26

Just got a copy of The Gun by CJ Chivers. Really interesting read so far if you're into an in-depth look at the evolution of machine gun and the role the AK-47 has played ever since its invention.

Gypsy

01-08-2011, 14:12

Just started Kiss the Boys Goodbye, How the United States Betrayed Its Own POWs in Vietnam By Monika Jensen-Stevenson and William Stevenson

Callsign

01-20-2011, 21:44

Starting "The Last Medal of Honor" by Pete Billac

"The True Story of Green Beret Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez and his six-hour battle in Hell"

The book is also autographed by Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, RIP.

Very privileged to have it.

uplink5

01-20-2011, 22:30

Ride of the Second Horseman; The Birth and Death of War
by Robert L. O'Connell

The author identifies humans and ants as the only species who use war. (I believe bees do as well) Ants are genetically driven to war while in humans, changes in culture and subsistence patterns seem to be our biggest motives. He uses anthropological and archeological evidence to locate and investigate the origins of war and concludes that warfare cannot be separated from the other basic activities involved in the transformation of our species, from hunter gathers to the first civilizations. In other words, we can't ask "why warfare", without asking "why civilization"? The book makes distinctions between warfare and mere feuding, groups rather than individual issues, and political or economic goals...Basically, we learned to wage war based upon the types of societies we lived in and we fought because in time, we were able to....so far, I like it.....jd

ZonieDiver

01-21-2011, 00:35

I finished 'Blackjack-33' by James Donahue. It's about 5th Group's 'Mobile Guerrilla Force' in RVN. I've read 2 of his other books. All are good reads.

Stingray

01-21-2011, 03:31

Finishing up "The Code", extremely good so far.

Started "Patriots: A Novel of Survival In The Coming Collapse." Pretty interesting so far.

mark46th

01-21-2011, 11:13

I haven't read anything since Tony Hillerman died. Guess I should start up again...

NoRoadtrippin

01-23-2011, 18:40

I've just finished We Were Soldiers, and have started The Unforgiving Minute by Mullaney.

So far, I am liking it a lot. I didn't attend USMA, but I can relate strongly to some of his indoctrination experiences and the way he writes about them in order to express them to an audience that might have no context for the military life. Its been really enjoyable to read. He makes excellent points about how shared adversity and "embracing the Suck" becomes something you truly learn to love when sharing it with other men at your side. That's something I can't ever get seem to quite get my wife to grasp the meaning of.

zeke

01-23-2011, 20:50

Halfway through The Grizzly Years by Doug Peacock. Really good read. He was a SF medic in Vietnam then started watching grizzly bears in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks after leaving the military.

He intersperses memories of Vietnam with memories of observing/tracking grizzlies.

Richard

01-23-2011, 20:52

Will Eisner's The Compact With God Trilogy.

Richard

swpa19

01-24-2011, 10:23

Backbone of the Wehrmacht. A comprehensive study into the German K98k Rifle. 1934 - 1945 (Collectors Edition). by Richard D. Law

Bushranger

01-24-2011, 11:06

"Tracking: A blueprint for learning how", Jack Kearney

RUCK NUT

01-24-2011, 15:34

Book 4 of the Dark Tower series by Steven King. I heard they were making movies and wanted to get the jump on the bandwagoneers. Mind blowing sci-fi with a cowboy twist. Very good

ReefBlue

01-24-2011, 18:51

I just picked up two books:

Project Azorian, the CIA and the raising of the K-129. Just started reading it, I'm familiar with the story, but this is supposed to be the most detailed account ever put to paper.

<and>

Notes of a Russian Sniper--Vassili Zaitsev. This seems to be a revamping of the 1971 edition to ensure the translation was correct.

I'll wait until I finish Project Azorian before I start Zaitsev's book.

craigepo

01-24-2011, 22:05

Finished Decision Points by George W. Bush. Pretty damned interesting. I see why presidents leave office with lots of grey hair and more wrinkles.

silentreader

01-24-2011, 22:28

I see why presidents leave office with lots of grey hair and more wrinkles.

There's been a spate of articles in recent years discussing how the modern presidency has become an impossible job. This one (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/opinion/10kristof.html) is somewhat tongue in cheek, but makes the point well.

The national campaign to get President Obama to emote, throw crockery at oil executives and jump up and down in fury has failed. But here’s a long-term solution: Let’s anoint a king and queen.

Our king and queen could spend days traipsing along tar-ball-infested beaches, while bathing oil-soaked pelicans and thrusting strong chins defiantly at BP rigs.

All that would give President Obama time to devise actual clean-up policies. He might then also be able to concentrate on eliminating absurd government policies that make these disasters more likely (such as the $75 million cap on economic damages when an oil rig is responsible for a spill).

Our president is stuck with too many ceremonial duties as head of state, such as greeting ambassadors and holding tedious state dinners, that divert attention from solving problems. You can preside over America or you can address its problems, but it’s difficult to find time to do both.

Other countries often hand over ceremonial duties to a titular head of state with no real powers — sort of a national nanny.

In Japan, the head of state is effectively the emperor. In Germany, it’s the ceremonial president. In Britain, it’s the queen. Canada divides the job of head of state between Queen Elizabeth (a freebie since she’s on the British payroll) and her representative, the governor general.

A figurehead head of state is a nifty foreign policy tool as well. President Obama has twice had to delay his trip to Indonesia and Australia because of the press of domestic policy, but an American king and queen could spend days greeting crowds and cutting ribbons at new schools. And when they aren’t traveling, our king and queen could be kept busy hosting state dinners five nights a week.

Some folks complain that it’s silly to fret that Mr. Obama doesn’t emote. Of course, it is. It’s farcical that we have bullied our president into trash-talking on television about kicking some you know what.

One of the things I admire about this administration is its cerebral, no-drama emphasis on empirical evidence in addressing issues such as health, education and poverty. This is government by adults, by engineers rather than by dramatists.

But Mr. Obama also knows that drama and emotion are the fuel of American politics, and that’s why he’s struggling to feign fury.

As Stephen Colbert observed about the oil spill: “We know if this was Reagan, he would have stripped to his skivvies, put a knife in his teeth, gone down there and punched that oil well shut!”

But let’s be realistic. Most presidents just won’t look that good in their skivvies. And some may accidentally swallow the knives. Thus, the need for a handsome king and queen to lead photo-ops.

Small-minded critics will offer petty objections, complaining that it is undemocratic or inequitable to have royalty. Hmm. Considering that the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans own financial wealth six times greater than the financial wealth of the entire bottom 80 percent, well, we already have an aristocracy.

Critics may also protest the expense of royalty. But we could save on housing by having royals stay in the castles at Disneyland and Disney World. In any case, think of royalty as an investment that could bring in billions of dollars in tourist revenue.

If we choose well and adopt royals who are prone to scandal, we might also give a much-needed boost to the newspaper industry. A particularly fecund couple might offer the prospect of regular royal weddings, with sales of enough commemorative kitsch to balance the federal budget.

How should we choose a king and queen? Frankly, we already have royalty: Hollywood celebrities. And they are well trained to emote and explode on demand.

Just imagine the Nielsen ratings for an Academy Awards-type evening in which Americans would choose a royal family for the first time — live!

Movie stars are mostly rich enough that we wouldn’t have to pay them, and they can often be counted on to indulge in enough adultery to make royalty entertaining and titillating.

They also tend to be gorgeous, and if we’re going to have a king and queen stripped to their skivvies with knives in their teeth, we may as well enjoy the sight.

What? You say that this would be un-American? It’s not who we are as a country?

Well, rage isn’t President Obama either. It’s not who he is any more than a monarchy is America.

So maybe we should just accept that we’re stuck with a presidential system — and with a ruminative and slightly boring president who tries to solve problems rather than fulminate about them.

GratefulCitizen

01-24-2011, 22:38

Currently reading:
The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes.
It's a bit ponderous; probably not going to finish it.

The Drunkard's Walk by Leonard Mlodinow.
Interesting read, not overly technical, broad in application.

On deck:
Euclid's Window also by Leonard Mlodinow.

..

alright4u

01-25-2011, 19:55

Started with the newest edition of Robert's. Next went to another book Nancy Sylvester wrote about the bullies in an organization using Robert's Rules to take control, further agenda, etc. I shoud have started here.

Sigaba

01-28-2011, 23:03

Samuel Watson, "Continuity in Civil-Military Relations and Expertise: The U.S. Army during the Decade before the Civil War," Journal of Military History 75:1 (January, 2011): 221-250.

Doc Diego

01-29-2011, 11:24

Laura Hillenbrand "Unbroken: A World War ll Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption. Very moving account of Louis Zamperini. If you liked "Five Years to Freedom" you'll love this.

TexasEngineer

02-01-2011, 19:34

Sting of the Scorpion by Mike Morgan. For anyone who has read Killing Rommel, this is a good book that goes into more detail about actual missions,raids, recces, and just general info about the LRDG. It is a collection of memoirs and recounts by various members of the LRDG.

Jack Dale

02-02-2011, 00:30

There's a novel from the 70's called "Satan: His Psychotherapy and Cure by the Unfortunate Dr. Kassler, J.S.P.S.

JSPS stands for Just Some Poor Schmuck. Fun, funny novel that makes huge fun of the Freud fraud. I'm re-reading this book. Good, dirty fun.

Another recommendation is Handling Sin, by Michael Malone. If you can get through the first fifty pages, you'll have a great read. Otherwise, the thing burns well and cooks marshmallows just right.

We all have our tolerances.

Jack Dale

02-06-2011, 14:32

The Wave, by Susan Casey, is a must-read. Non-fiction about proving the existence of so-called Rogue Waves, about planetary changes in ocean dynamics and water levels, and all mixed in with a narrative about extreme surfers. Going in I thought "oh please" ut was immediately swept away (pardon the pun) by the prose and the story. Just be glad I didn't use the "food for thought about the drink" pun.

Red Flag 1

02-06-2011, 15:29

Finished Decision Points by George W. Bush. Pretty damned interesting. I see why presidents leave office with lots of grey hair and more wrinkles.

Started the read a few days ago. Just finished the chapter on Bush's stem cell decision. Great read to this point! I'm impressed how well read Pres. George W. Bush is.

RF 1

dr. mabuse

02-06-2011, 17:44

Richard

02-06-2011, 20:14

Great Stories From History Every Day Of The Year by WB Marsh and Bruce Carrick.

Sarski

02-09-2011, 01:53

Like many here, I have a few books I read at a time. Currently:

The Modern Mercenary, Peter Tickler
Japanese Slang, Anne Kasschau and Susumu Eguchi
The Spirit of Aikido, Kisshomaru Ueshiba
and leafing through Cooking the Russian Way, Gregory and Rita Plotkin

Matt B

02-16-2011, 10:57

"Les hommes de Dien Bien Phu" by Roger Bruge.

Solid book so far, especially since it was written after some files were declassified.

Raine_n_Roses

02-16-2011, 12:22

finished Team Sergeant by William T. Craig.
waiting for Give Me Tomorrow by Patrick O'Donnell

Requiem

02-16-2011, 18:35

I'm always open to recommendations and have followed up with many of the books listed in this thread.

Currently reading:

Code-Name Bright Light, The Untold Story of U.S. POW Rescue Efforts During the Vietnam War, by George Veith.

In The Company of Heroes, Michael Durant.

Up next:

Shoot the Moon, The Story of America's Clandestine War in Laos, by Roger Warner.

SOG Medic, Joseph Parnar

Just finished:

In Pharaoh's Army, Memories of the Lost War, by Tobias Wolff

Anatomy of Story, John Truby

Wish List:

Not a Gentleman's War: An Inside View of Junior Officers in the Vietnam War, Jon Milam

silentreader

02-21-2011, 15:58

I just finished Pity the Nation; the Abduction of Lebanon by Robert Fisk. It's the product of a journalist who spent 25 years living in Lebanon from 1976-2001 and it is incredible.

A word of warning, you will become very familiar with what the aftermath of artillery strikes on densely populated civilian areas looks like if you read the whole 700 pages.

Abu Jack

02-21-2011, 16:48

Biography of Allen Dulles. Pretty interesting so far.

Dozer523

02-21-2011, 17:33

Night by Elie Wiesel
Move over Anne Frank. You have nothing on this 15 YO.

afchic

02-21-2011, 18:22

Re-reading the Anti-Christ.

afchic

02-21-2011, 18:25

Night by Elie Wiesel
Move over Anne Frank. You have nothing on this 15 YO.

Dawn is an interesting read as well.

Guy

02-21-2011, 18:52

No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller

Harry Markopolos

No One Would Listen is the exclusive story of the Harry Markopolos-lead investigation into Bernie Madoff and his $65 billion Ponzi scheme. While a lot has been written about Madoff's scam, few actually know how Markopolos and his team-affectionately called "The Fox Hounds" by Markopolos himself, uncovered what Madoff was doing years before this financial disaster reached its pinnacle. Unfortunately, no one listened, until the damage of the world's largest financial fraud ever was irreversible.

Stay safe.

DRock310

02-26-2011, 09:36

Recently read:
Nagl's "Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife,"
"War of the Flea" by Robert Taber,
and "Guerilla Warfare" by Che Guevara.

Just finished "Insurgency and Terrorism" by Bard E. O'Neill.

Concurrently reading RAND's study on COIN via my Kindle.

And of course, studying FMs 6-50 and 6-40.

If anyone has any other suggestions on where to start for an insurgency/COIN novice that aren't already in some of the threads on here it'd be much appreciated.

MAB32

02-26-2011, 11:07

Just bought a book from the above aforementioned author. Very good book, entitled "Whisky Tango Foxtrot" which anybody should recognize the three intials of the book. WTF. Real good book and very interesting. Definately required reading on SOG during the Vietnam War.

Mark

Oh, and by the way. John "Styker" Meyers has a new book coming out anytime now. It is the same book he has released within the last year or so. Just this one has more pictures and more missions. I believe it will be around $29.00.

Mark

charlietwo

02-26-2011, 12:00

Just reread "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield. Inspiring book to say the least!

Also, 8 books into one of my secret pleasures -- "Forgotten Realms" books with Drizzt Do'Urden :) Like Lord of the Rings, only simpler and entertaining. The main character is a great example of leadership though.

R3V3LATIONS

02-26-2011, 13:34

Reading two books at the Moment:

The Mission, the Men and Me - Pete Blaber
Change your Brain, Change your Life - numerous psychologists

Both are stimulating and contain much educational value so far.

f50lrrp

02-26-2011, 14:41

I finished 'Blackjack-33' by James Donahue. It's about 5th Group's 'Mobile Guerrilla Force' in RVN. I've read 2 of his other books. All are good reads.

I served in ther "3rd Mobile Strike Force" that took the place of the "Mobile Guerrilla Force"

akv

02-28-2011, 14:12

Dersu the Trapper by VK Arseniev

Dusty

02-28-2011, 14:44

I served in ther "3rd Mobile Strike Force" that took the place of the "Mobile Guerrilla Force"

:cool:

Sigaba

02-28-2011, 18:40

Re-reading Edward S. Miller, War Plan ORANGE: The U.S. Strategy to Defeat Japan, 1897-1945. A close friend sent me a new copy and recommended that I take another look at it.

I'm glad he did--I missed a significant aspect of the work's historiographical and contemporaneous contexts the first time around.

shooter_250

03-10-2011, 21:36

just finished re-re-re-re-reading.."Reflections of a Warrior" by MOH winner Frank D.Miller...a great humble hero

just started re-re-re-re-reading book 1 ing the LRP trilogy by Gary Linderer..."The Eyes of the Eagle"

my 2nd standby book is.."Last of the Mohicans"...by James Fenimore Cooper

my 1st is,,,"Atlas Shrugged"..by Ayn Rand

WholeManin2010

03-10-2011, 22:02

Leadership and Training for the Fight by MSG (ret.) Paul Howe at night and on days off, and rereading Wind, Sand, and Stars by Antoine De Saint Exupéry at lunch and on the throne.

219seminole

03-17-2011, 22:02

Fighter Pilot, the Memoirs of BG Robin Olds. While it covers his long life, most importantly this is a book about combat leadership.

Robin Olds was probably best USAF fighter wing commander of the VN war. He was a dynamic leader who made the 8th Tac Fighter Wing, at Ubon, second to none, and himself flew 152 missions. I served in the 8TFW after Olds time, but he had made his mark before he left in 1967.

In his memoir, published after his death in 2007, he made frequent mention of extensive pre-mission work in the wing intel shop. In the summer of 1971, Olds was USAF Directory of Safety at the IG, and I was at Ubon on the 1800-0600 shift in the 8TFW intel shop doing post-mission debriefs. Due to bad wx not much was flying that night and I had little work. Around midnight a face appeared in the door and it was BG Robin Olds, coming around see what was happening in intel. If it had been Santa Claus himself I could not have been more surprised or pleased. He was legendary and the few minutes I spent with him are burned into my memory.

All I am sure all of us who have come into contact with true combat leaders will recognize those qualities that made those leaders great. Very quickly I could see those qualities in BG Olds and if he had said, "Follow me", I would have without question.

He was a commander who understood the importance of NCOs in the scheme of things. He would frequently go to the NCO club, buy the beer, and listen.

His memoirs are a good read, covering WWII and VN. Good accounts of shooting down Germans, and of strikes into the North. Good humor, frustrations with HQs and Pentagon, etc.

MK262MOD1

03-17-2011, 22:53

In the last three days I finished

Animal Farm by Orwell

The Emma Gees by McBride

A Rifleman went to War by McBride

Honorable Men by Bill Colby

The Frontiersman by Echardt

I have read them all before and this was a reread.

Richard

03-18-2011, 05:51

Infanterie Greift an von Irwin Rommel. Da ist mein Deutsch ein wenig eingerostet, bin ich mir Zeit es zu lesen. Mein Kopie wurde mir von einem BW Offizier, als ich war der Besuch der NATO CIMIC Kurs in Hammelburg gegeben.

scooter

03-18-2011, 15:03

1984 by Orwell

Gypsy

03-18-2011, 18:09

Finally began reading Atlas Shrugged a couple of nights ago.

ZonieDiver

03-20-2011, 06:49

I just finished 'Flyboys' by John Bradley ('Flags of Our Fathers'). It's about aviation in WWII, focused around the Chi Chi Jima flyers who were executed by the Japanese, with the exception of one who eventually became POTUS.

It was very interesting to be reading this book while all the Japanese disaster was being played out on tv.

MK262MOD1

03-20-2011, 09:43

I read that book at Landstuhl in a day. I found it very interesting. The known cannibalism that went on was something else. Bush came very close to getting rolled up as well.

Tress

03-21-2011, 20:58

craigepo

03-22-2011, 08:31

"A Brief History of Time" - Stephen Hawking

Not exactly the subject matter that one might guess from the title. It is about quantum physics. This will be about the fourth or fifth time that I have read it. Still trying to understand it.

That is a tough book.

Recently finished:
The Mission, the Men, and Me.
The Journey, by Billy Graham (Billy Graham is, in my opinion, one of the top humans of the 20th Century)

Presently reading The Jesus Wars.

ksboi

03-22-2011, 10:04

Finished Special Forces in the VN war great read. I had no idea what one man, some guns and 100 local mountain men could do with proper training. Also about to start CCENT study guide.

Sarski

03-22-2011, 11:11

Started reading "The SAS Fighting Techniques Handbook" by Terry White. My first impression is it is a very basic introduction to a wide range of topics, logistics, and considerations. Pretty interesting so far.

I put a book on hold at the bookstore the other day "Maneuver Warfare," by John Boyd. Leafed through it briefly, it seemed to be a rare book and thus was a bit pricey.

My question: Anyone else read this one, or recomend it?

Dusty

03-22-2011, 11:22

I started "American Assassin", but I'm done with it after a coupla chapters. My hernia can't take the guffawing. :D

WholeManin2010

03-22-2011, 13:43

Finally began reading Atlas Shrugged a couple of nights ago.

I asked for, and received this as a Father's Day gift a couple of years ago ... I've started it at least 6 times. Not that it isn't interesting, but my kiddos don't like me to read unsupervised, and Ayn Rand requires absolute concentration.

Good luck!

Gypsy

03-22-2011, 17:42

I asked for, and received this as a Father's Day gift a couple of years ago ... I've started it at least 6 times. Not that it isn't interesting, but my kiddos don't like me to read unsupervised, and Ayn Rand requires absolute concentration.

Good luck!

You can sneak it into the bathroom. :D And yes, she does...

murphyd1

03-22-2011, 22:33

I am currently reading One Rough Man by Brad Taylor. Brad Taylor is a retired Army LTC and former Delta squadron commander. Great book, currently number 29 on NY Times bestseller list. Check out his blog and website: http://www.bradtaylorbooks.com/

Abu Jack

03-23-2011, 06:11

A Rifleman went to War by McBride

One of my all time favorite books. I have lost count how many times I have read it.

Richard

03-23-2011, 06:23

Best American Plays 1951-1957 which includes Inherit The Wind, The Crucible, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, and No Time For Sergeants, among others.

Richard :munchin

Irish

03-23-2011, 06:56

If Chaos Reigns. by Flint Whitlock

Tampico

03-23-2011, 11:41

Genghis: Bones of the Hills: A Novel
Conn Iggulden

Snaquebite

03-23-2011, 11:48

"Legacy and Honor"
The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts.
Alvin Townley

scooter

03-23-2011, 17:55

In the Graveyard of Empires
by Seth Jones

Tress

03-23-2011, 18:00

Originally Posted by Tress

"A Brief History of Time" - Stephen Hawking

Originally posted by craigepo

That is a tough book.

LOL. Tell me something that I do not already know. Why do you think that I am reading it for the 4th or 5th time. I am still trying to get my head wrapped around some of the concepts in this book.

Horned Frog

03-30-2011, 18:09

As per many exhortations in the thread titled "A survival scenario: What do you do?" posted by nmap, I am currently reading One Second After, by William Forstchen. While I have never been much of a fan of apocalyptic-style fiction, this book provides a compelling, realist approach to the events following an EMP attack on America which cripples a small town in North Carolina. I encourage anyone who has not read it to check it out.

Update: this book is heart breaking.

Requiem

04-04-2011, 00:16

The Impostor's Daughter, by Laurie Sandell.

Laurie's father is a former Green Beret with a law degree, a PhD, speaks several languages and disappears for weeks at a time. He's brilliant, mercurial, and mesmerizing to those who meet him. He's also a fraud.

Laurie Sandell recalls adoring her father and his amazing stories of secret missions and worldwide adventures. But as she grows to young womanhood, she discovers he's not all he claims to be.

It's an interesting look at what a poser's lies do to those nearest to them -- the ones they claim to love yet nearly destroy with their lies.

Susan

(I was not thrilled with the format of the book - it's in a graphic novel format - but the story was compelling enough to keep me reading.)

GratefulCitizen

04-04-2011, 13:19

Received through ILL this week:
Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings by Charles H. Hapgood.

Looking at the record in the jacket, I'm the only the 13th person to checkout this book.
Most of the checkouts occurred well over 30 years ago.

It details the investigation of some ancient maps, including some by Piri Re'is, Oronteus Finaeus, Hadji Ahmed and Mercator.
The investigation and ancillary research deal with questions of ancient technology, exploration, and timelines.

Quite a little treasure.
Will probably buy a copy.

ReefBlue

04-06-2011, 15:17

I mentioned these books earlier, now my reviews are in:

I just finished 'Notes of a Russian Sniper' by Vasili Zaitsev.

I read it during a round trip flight, I thought I would be trapped in a chair on a plane with the only thing to do is to read this book.

It is absolutely incredible, I couldn't stop reading it. I completely recommend it to everyone.

If you saw the movie 'Enemy at the Gates', forget you ever saw that movie. When you read this book, you'll see that the only thing the movie takes from the book is Vasili's and Major Konig's name.

It is such a simplistic movie compared to the book. The foreword even says if Vasili lived to see the movie he'd be ashamed to be associated with it.

Also finished 'Project Azorian'. Very heavy and dry technical stuff in the beginning, so it kind of drags along until about half way through, then it is tough to put down. Pretty incredible story and it shows what can be done when you really want to do it (and, more importantly, have a virtually unlimited budget).

DaveMatteson

04-07-2011, 09:26

My desk books include,
Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles

Half-Track: A history of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles.

Both are by R.P. Hunnicutt and are technical books. They are very well written and researched. There are several in the group including the Sherman and Stuart books, The Sheridan book, The Pershing and Patton books, and the M1 book. There is also a Heavy tank history book as well. I use these books for my web sites and personal reference.

My car books (books I travel with) include, Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anthony Walton and a book I picked up in a Reston, Va. book store about Teddy and the Rough Riders. That is actually still in the bag in the glovebox

Brothers In Arms is very well written and researched well worth the money and the time.

ZonieDiver

04-07-2011, 10:11

Parachute Infantry by David Kenyon Webster. One of the "Band of Brothers" from Easy Company of the 506th. Very interesting viewpoint about those events. (He was one of my favorite characters in the min-series.)

Will find his other book, which I believe I read in high school, about sharks - Myth and Maneater.

Mustang Man

04-09-2011, 21:17

Slaughter House Five
By Kurt Vonnegut

After finishing The Things They Carried, my english teacher assigned us to read Slaughter House Five. Being a member on this sight for a couple of weeks, I noticed Richard would include in most of his posts "So it goes..." I had no idea where that saying came from or what it ment untill I started reading this book a week ago. I'm enjoying it and is definitly a book I'd have to read over again to have a full understanding of everything.

CDG

04-13-2011, 07:40

Just finished "Black Hearts" by Jim Frederick and am now on "On Combat" by LTC Dave Grossman. "They Fought For Each Other" by Kelly Kennedy is on deck.

Streck-Fu

04-13-2011, 08:10

I have finally started Horse Soldiers and am half way through now.

I have also started Jawbreaker.

zeke

04-13-2011, 11:39

Green Berets in the Vanguard, Inside Special Forces, 1953-1963 by Chalmers Archer Jr.

Good so far and talks about the 14th Special Forces Operational Detachment.

Bushranger

04-13-2011, 14:33

Infantry Training Vol.1, Pam.6, "Military Tracking"

mdpatterson

04-13-2011, 22:56

Original translation, not corporate. Only book I bring with me and read daily.

Requiem

04-14-2011, 01:03

"The Junior Officer's Reading Club: Killing Time and Fighting Wars"
by Patrick Hennessey. An account of Hennessey's transformation from arrogant enlistee to seasoned soldier.

The Creepy One

04-16-2011, 00:39

The Ugly American

Now that is an excellent read.

akv

04-16-2011, 15:03

Alaska Bear Tales by Larry Kaniut,

Full of stories of Grizzly Bears vs men in Alaska from Alaska Sportsman over the last century, mostly stories of attacks, survivor accounts, and what not to do in Grizzly country, with some humor as well.

Tress

04-16-2011, 20:35

Originally posted by akv:

Full of stories of Grizzly Bears vs men in Alaska from Alaska Sportsman over the last century......

I always thought the following was humorous and maybe a little too accurate....

The National Park Rangers are advising hikers in Glacier National Park and other Rocky Mountain parks to be alert for bears and take extra precautions to avoid an encounter.

They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them. This might cause a bear to charge.

Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.

It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear scat.

Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur.

Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper. :eek:

Requiem

04-17-2011, 00:50

Full of stories of Grizzly Bears vs men in Alaska from Alaska Sportsman over the last century, mostly stories of attacks, survivor accounts, and what not to do in Grizzly country, with some humor as well.

Those kind of stories make me shiver. But I take 'em seriously, having had a curious (hungry?) Kodiak eye me for waaaaay too long.

Susan

Druid5

04-17-2011, 09:13

I'm currently re-reading "Afghanistan" by Stephen Tanner. It's a good overview of the military history of AF, excluding most of the current events of course, and I could always use a refresher on its contents.

I plan on reading my way through Rommel's "Infantry Attacks", Poole's "Phantom Soldier" and the Bhagavad Gita if I get the chance. May save the last one for the R&R ride.

akv

04-17-2011, 10:56

Those kind of stories make me shiver. But I take 'em seriously, having had a curious (hungry?) Kodiak eye me for waaaaay too long.

That would get my attention too, the stories are not all grim, they reinforce that bears are unpredictable.

My favorite is about a 4 year old named Ella in Sitka in 1921, she told her mom if her mom would bake a blueberry pie she would get the berries. Her father a forest official came home a few hours later, and both parents realized to their horror Ella had wandered off with a pail into Grizzly country two hours prior. I can't imagine the terror in her father's mind as he grabbed his rifle and sprinted into the woods screaming her name and praying. He found her safe and sound, asleep next to an empty pail with fresh bear sign all around her. She woke up asking " Papa what happened to all the berries I picked?"

Team Sergeant

04-17-2011, 11:49

"The French Laundry Cookbook" by Thomas Keller

"Ad Hoc at Home" by Thomas Keller

Requiem

04-17-2011, 11:50

He found her safe and sound, asleep next to an empty pail with fresh bear sign all around her. She woke up asking " Papa what happened to all the berries I picked?"

:eek: She's one lucky kid!

My RFL once insisted on changing the oil in the car while a young grizzly hung around the property. Every time the doofus (the bear, not my husband, although that's debatable...) came too close, hubby would climb out from under the car, shoo it away, and go back to work.

Susan

Team Sergeant

04-17-2011, 11:51

:eek: She's one lucky kid!

My RFL once insisted on changing the oil in the car while a young grizzly hung around the property. Every time the doofus (the bear, not my husband, although that's debatable...) came too close, hubby would climb out from under the car, shoo it away, and go back to work.

Susan

Nah, Bear was probably from Portland and a Vegan.;)

Requiem

04-17-2011, 22:48

Nah, Bear was probably from Portland and a Vegan.;)

Wish they all were! :D

Matt520

04-20-2011, 13:41

Currently reading The Only Thing Worth Dying For; How 11 Green Berets fought for Afghanistan, by Eric Blehm.

It is nice to read the account of SF's participation in the war for southern Afghanistan, but also how it correlated with SF's participation in north.

As I was reading a thread concerning the possible loss of contractors at Ft. Bragg (specifically the possible loss of those employed/volunteering during Robin Sage), I came across and interesting quote by Captain Amerine (page 178, first paragraph):

"Stay with the G-chief, just like in Robin Sage, " said Amerine. "I can't emphasize enough how important that training was. Karzai appreciates being advised and won't think it overbearing. I've been joined at the hip with him since we got here."

I cannot comment on Robin Sage, as I have not yet attended, but felt the above-mentioned quote confirms the need for qualified persons to teach aspiring SF Soldiers; to further provide the necessary skills to those "G-chiefs" out there in need.

Thanks for your service and example.

Flame Magnet

04-20-2011, 13:46

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

swpa19

04-20-2011, 16:19

Backbone of the Wehrmacht. By Richad D. Law

craigepo

04-21-2011, 20:03

Just finished "Heaven is for Real". Finished in about 5 hours. Amazing.

Requiem

04-25-2011, 22:35

The Raid. Benjamin Schemmer. My lucky find at the thrift store this week. :)

S.

wet dog

04-25-2011, 22:59

Jack Dale gave me a copy of Matt Taibbi's book, "GRIFTOPIA".

The detailed history of the current financial situtation of America and the world.

Best chapter so far, "The biggest Asshole in the Universe", a quick glance of Alan Greenspan.

Get a copy, and you can be pissed off, just like me.

Flame Magnet

04-26-2011, 08:20

Just finished "Lone Survivor", about to start reading "The Only Thing Worth Dying For."

Richard

04-27-2011, 18:42

Latest issue of Veritas which came in yesterday's mail - focus is ARSOF in the Korean War and PSYOPs.

My tax dollars at work! ;)

Richard :munchin

Guntry Kong

04-27-2011, 21:10

The Paleo Diet the caveman approach to eating right. Next up is Raising a Gifted Child

Richard

04-29-2011, 07:47

African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study - a study of African American authors from slave narratives and antebellum newspapers into fiction writing which analyzes works of modern African American mystery writers, focusing on sleuths, the social locations of crime, victims and offenders, the notion of doing justice, and the role of African American cultural vernacular.

Hammock

04-29-2011, 08:02

Noticias de un Secuestro and Relato de un naufrago by Garcia Marquez; Do the Work by Steven Pressfield.

Incidentally, I use the Kindle app for my phone for most of the new books I read. Whenever I have downtime or time that would otherwise go to waste (like waiting in line at the supermarket), it's really easy to pull out the phone out and and lose myself in whatever I am reading.

Richard

05-11-2011, 21:05

The Informationist by Taylor Stevens; Sister Wendy's American Masterpieces; Sister Wendy's Impressionist Masterpieces.

Richard

Holyfire23

05-12-2011, 20:54

Just finished:

I just finished a book called Kill or Capture by Matthew Alexander. I really enjoyed this book. It provided a nice glimpse into how an interrogator with the Air Force was able to solicit information from captured Al-Qaeda supporters in Iraq. Most of the book is just recorded interrogations between him and the targets he captured. But it's great because you get an inside look at the different techniques he uses. He's a big advocate of non-enhanced interrogation techniques (I don't know the technical name), but basically building rapport with the target and gaining information through persuasion and psychological slights. I really loved it.

Currently Reading:

The Good Soldiers by David Finkel: I like this book so far. It's kind of giving me a reality check on the reality of war. That's kind of the purpose of this book: to emphasize what this battalion really went through over there. I'm sort of ticked with myself as I read this book. I keep realizing how much I've romanticized war---a negative side effect of all the episodes of The Unit and Call of Duty games that I have seen and played. As mad as I am at myself for being so naive, I'm glad I get to read this book. I'd rather suffer some introspective humiliation and move on with a more informed perspective than live with my head in the clouds.

A Greif Observed by C.S. Lewis

Miracles by C.S. Lewis

On my list:

Brotherhood of Warriors by Aaron Cohen

Counterinsurgency by David Kilcullen (I bought a counterinsurgency book way back by a guy named Leroy Thompson. I heard some opinions about Thompson that led me to conclude he wasn't the best source to be learning about counterinsurgency from. I wondered if David Kilcullen was any better, but I took a chance. If anyone has any info about Kilcullen, I'd love to know. Basically I'm wondering if he's legitimate.)

Sorry for all the talking. I'm done now. :rolleyes:

SCT27

05-13-2011, 18:34

Just finished reading "The Heart and the Fist" by Eric Greitens.

Eric Greitens, a young college student at the time, wanted to help in the humanitarian effort in impoverished countries. He traveled to many third world countries to help in the humanitarian effort, and it made him realize that you can't cure the worlds problem by just having humanitarians that have 'hearts'. You need Strong Men to stand up and fight the causes of these problems. So he became a Seal Officer to 'fight' back.

Great book that shows, as Greitens mentions on the dust jacket, "sometimes you have to be strong to do good, but you also have to do good to be strong".:cool:

craigepo

05-13-2011, 20:56

A Greif Observed by C.S. Lewis

Miracles by C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis was great. Mere Christianity was a heckuva book. It was written from the talks he gave while London was being bombed. Very intelligent guy, very gifted.

Holyfire23

05-14-2011, 13:20

C.S. Lewis was great. Mere Christianity was a heckuva book. It was written from the talks he gave while London was being bombed. Very intelligent guy, very gifted.

I agree. It's taking me a little longer to get through his books compared to others. I have to take it one chapter at a time, chew it over, and then move on.

wildelectric

05-18-2011, 10:09

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield and Critique of Pure Reason by Kant. Both are developing me as a warrior.

Quietus

05-22-2011, 09:44

I'm halfway through a 2000 novel by James Carlos Blake called "Wildwood Boys." It's a sympathetic portrayal of the life and times of a Missouri partisan who we have come to know as "Bloody Bill Anderson."

I'm reluctant to praise the writing talents of fiction writers, but Blake writes well. Besides telling well a story, he is pretty accurate about the making of paper cartridge loads for cap and ball revolvers, and the carrying of spare loaded cylinders for the pistols.

The book does trouble me some, because it makes me think about how thick (or thin) the veneer of what we think of as our USA civilization might be. Knowing of riots and of post-Katrina behavior does not in any way compare to the way participants from both sides of this relatively recent conflict, treated their enemies. I had known from reading, about what a bad place Missouri was during the war between the states. This book gets down in the dirt, regarding what we now call "atrocities", done right here.