Books - What are you reading?

[cardboard_killer]

I didn't even know that was a myth to be exposed.

[Rodwonder]

Rereading this at the moment... 

[cardboard_killer]

Got this cheap on kindle two days ago. May get to it this month.

 

[Enceladus828]

This will be a very interesting read

 

 

Scapegoat (emiliocorsetti.com)

Edited June 2, 2022 by Enceladus

[cardboard_killer]

Fiction, just got,

 

Non-fiction, just finishing.

 

[cardboard_killer]

I've had a couple people recommend this to me recently, but not sure I will get it as I would have to buy it--the library system doesn't have it available even with inter-library loan. Anyone have an opinion?

 

[busdriver]

3 hours ago, cardboard_killer said:

Anyone have an opinion?

 

I read the description on Amazon. Sounds like a counter to this.

 

 

I had a copy of this but donated it to my library system right after I read it. Flying Camelot's description sounds like the author has a bit of an ax to grind with Boyd (the pejorative messianic). IMO Boyd's rise of the Fighter Mafia (guys that worked in the Pentagon actually had that on their business cards) was the pendulum swinging the other direction away from the USAF's Vietnam era institutional and doctrinal approach that dogfighting and air-to-air training was a huge waste of resources (taking away form nuke and conventional sorites), plus flying safety trumped realistic training. F-105s were primarily tactical nuclear bombers that couldn't turn for shit against MiGs, and USAF F-4s (not invented here) were gunless fleet interceptors with no need to learn BFM when hosing off AIM-7s and AIM-9s.

 

I would recommend this to understand the events, tactics and technological problems that lead to the rise of the Fighter Mafia. This is one of the books I will never give away. I've read it several times.

 

Edited June 11, 2022 by busdriver

[ITAF_Rani]

Sameone know a book about Heinz Bar in english language?

Many thanks in advance..

[LukeFF]

On 6/10/2022 at 6:57 PM, busdriver said:

Flying Camelot's description sounds like the author has a bit of an ax to grind with Boyd (the pejorative messianic). IMO Boyd's rise of the Fighter Mafia (guys that worked in the Pentagon actually had that on their business cards) was the pendulum swinging the other direction away from the USAF's Vietnam era institutional and doctrinal approach that dogfighting and air-to-air training was a huge waste of resources (taking away form nuke and conventional sorites), plus flying safety trumped realistic training. F-105s were primarily tactical nuclear bombers that couldn't turn for shit against MiGs, and USAF F-4s (not invented here) were gunless fleet interceptors with no need to learn BFM when hosing off AIM-7s and AIM-9s.

 

The host of the Fighter Pilot Podcast had a short interview with Hankins a few months ago, and yes, it does sound a bit like he has an axe to grind. 

[Bremspropeller]

 

Another interview.

 

Edit: Sounds very interesting to me.

Edited June 13, 2022 by Bremspropeller

[busdriver]

13 hours ago, Bremspropeller said:

Edit: Sounds very interesting to me.

 

It was interesting. Not a hint of anti-Boyd dogma. What I found interesting having been on active duty 1979-1989, the emphasis at squadron and wing level wasn't opposed to cool new features, it was having them work. Meaning we were very pumped to get the all-aspect AIM-9 Lima and Mike after the frustration of the rear-aspect Papa. Hankins talks about policy level stuff that guys in the squadrons didn't associate with the Fighter Mafia, we were well aware that Strategic Air Command had been the driving command of USAF aircraft & weapons procurement. Now TAC (and USAFE/PACAF) were in the driver's seat.  I'll probably get his book, and perhaps Fino's Tiger Check when the price re-enters near earth orbit (sheesh!).

Edited June 13, 2022 by busdriver

[Gambit21]

 

Then on to this....

 

 

 

Recently finished this....

 

 

 

All research for an upcoming project.

 

[DerNeueMensch]

19 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

 

Then on to this....

 

 

 

Recently finished this....

 

 

 

All research for an upcoming project.

 

Just ordered "Clashes: Air Combat over North Vietnam" - really looking forward to it...

[Gambit21]

53 minutes ago, DerNeueMensch said:

Just ordered "Clashes: Air Combat over North Vietnam" - really looking forward to it...

I’ll have to order that next.

[cardboard_killer]

Two new from interlibrary loan coming in:

 

Fiction

 

Non-fiction

 

[Heliopause]

To be released later in the year

 

[cardboard_killer]

Still waiting for The Forgotten Air Force (above), but got this instead. May be too general for me, but I might get something from it.

 

[Irishratticus72]

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61925862

 

If anyone is interested, I highly recommend "Last stand of the Tin Can sailors", my favourite book on a world war two naval engagement.

[cardboard_killer]

Currently on sale for kindle, US for $2.99.

 

And $4.99

[Vig]

I am in money-saving mode after installing flooring and carpets, so I am reading all the ERB Barsoom books in order courtesy of Project Gutenberg.  They are surprisingly good!  Thuvia or Dejah Thoris, what do you think?

Edited June 30, 2022 by Vig

[cardboard_killer]

They're great books.

[cardboard_killer]

I got The Forgotten

On 6/15/2022 at 7:18 PM, cardboard_killer said:

 

 

 

Non-fiction

 

 

I got this from ILL two days ago and was less than impressed. I gave in after two chapters. It read disorganized, and some of the grammar was atrocious. I don't normally give my opinion here on books unless I really like them or really don't like them. This is from column B for me. Shame as I was really looking forward to it.

[Vig]

Thanks for the review, that book tempted me.  The French Air Force of the era fascinates me.

[SYN_Ricky]

[Bremspropeller]

Looking forward to having that thing on my table:

 

[cardboard_killer]

On 6/11/2021 at 4:57 AM, cardboard_killer said:

My next non fiction. However, I'm thinking I won't finish it. I don't think I'm ready to tackle an 850 page book right now.

 

 

I've been reading chunks of this over the past year (got it first at the library, returned it and saw it on sale on Kindle for $3 so bought it) and am now nearly finished. It's the go to when I'm in between page turners. It's actually very good, but so many threads to track that it gets rough. The good is that it takes some of the most complicated ideas/trends/schools of the mid-20th century and explains them (consistently) as clearly and concisely as I've read. So, if you are looking for a 850 page survey of art and thought during the 1940s-80s, this is a good one--don't know if there's any competition!

[cardboard_killer]

Picked up for $0.25 at the thrift store.

 

[Vig]

I'm just finishing the Barsoom series, almost ready for another.

[ACG_Bobo]

Wow, you guys read all that Army Man stuff...I tried to improve my artisticness after retireing by learning the piano with these two excellent tutor books.
 

Edited July 10, 2022 by III./SG77-K_Bobo

[cardboard_killer]

You need to broaden yourself. I suck at many, many things.

[Vig]

Boy, me too.  I do not yet suck at piano, although I hope to advance to that level with this:

 

 

[Trooper117]

Anything from the Jack Reacher series...

[Irishratticus72]

13 hours ago, Trooper117 said:

Anything from the Jack Reacher series...

If you like Reacher books, check out "The Terminal List" on Amazon prime, then chase down the first three books in the series, very, very good.

[ST_Catchov]

Reacher's okay but I like books about the history of Morris Dancing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

 

 

[easterling77]

This one just arrived?

[busdriver]

16 hours ago, Irishratticus72 said:

If you like Reacher books, check out "The Terminal List" on Amazon prime, then chase down the first three books in the series, very, very good.

I wrote a scathing review of Terminal List, $hitty writing, revenge murder porn, laughable cartoon bad guys. I stopped reading when the hero strapped a suicide vest on a fellow and sent him in to see the USN Admiral in charge of Seals Teams at North Island. I removed it from my library with that killing. Fortunately for me Amazon let’s you return kindle editions within a couple days. This guys writing “blows dead goats.” The only thing missing from the hero’s arsenal is an “I wish you were dead missile or magic potion.”

[cardboard_killer]

8 hours ago, busdriver said:

revenge murder porn

 

I really dislike that stuff in the movies. In books, it can be a little more subtle, but when it smacks you in the face it makes me drop a book faster than I get shot down flying a Po in a dog fight.

[Majpalmer]

Gunther Rall: Luftwaffe Ace & NATO General: Amadio, Jill: 9781732656024: Amazon.com: Books

 

Just started. I'm not crazy about the writer he chose to work with, but we'll see. I did not realize that almost 90% of German single seat fighter pilots bought the farm. That's worse than the U-Waffe!

[cardboard_killer]

I've been putting off Toll's trilogy for awhile now. My library only has vol III, so I'm gonna start there. A fiction is coming in tomorrow to split time.

 

 

[ROCKET_KNUT]

Stephen Bungay: "The Most  Dangerous Enemy" Aurum Press 2015