Books - What are you reading?

[cardboard_killer]

I'd recommend

The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command

by Edwin B. Coddington

 

It's 50 years old, but has not been surpassed. The prose is good (not as good as Catton), but the detail and analysis are top rate.

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

[DerNeueMensch]

On 2/27/2020 at 8:36 PM, Plurp said:

The Miraculous Torpedo Squadron by Juzo Mori

 

Torpedo bomber pilot that fought in China; was at Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Guadalcanal. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Miraculous-Torpedo-Squadron-Jūzõ-Mori-ebook/dp/B00THSCSS8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OBWTYFK3C4PN&keywords=the+miraculous+torpedo+squadron&qid=1582831905&sprefix=miraculous+torp%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1

read this two years ago, ever since I want to torpedo ships in a game - hoping for TF 5.0. 

[Tyberan]

Anyone know of decent books on the B25? I'm looking for something with good technical information, variants, unit history and liveries etc. Something along the lines of the classic publications FW190 series of books.

 

 

 

 

[cardboard_killer]

[Bremspropeller]

Everybody and their gramma are staying home, but nodoby seems to be reading anymore.

[ZachariasX]

I would.. but I'm still waiting for Berströms books "Battle of Britain" and "Ardennes". But they are stuck at the customs.

[cardboard_killer]

I've got access to almost every TV show ever made in English, most movies from the last twenty years, and many from the last 90. I have a library of books to read, from classic to junk, from fiction to history. I've got computer games that are marvels of modern simulation, that could take a lifetime to master.

And yet, I'm bored.

If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill that ***** for me please.

[Soarfeat]

On 2/28/2020 at 6:48 AM, 1PL-Husar-1Esk said:

 

This looks like a great read !!! I remember Frank Tallman when he was doing stunt piloting for movies many years back.

Thanks for posting this read !!!

 

[Feathered_IV]

On ‎2‎/‎28‎/‎2020 at 7:42 AM, Uufflakke said:

 

The Unwomanly Face of War: an Oral History of Women in WWII by Svetlana Alexievich

 

It is not an easy read these harrowing and shocking testemonies of women serving the Red Army.

 

 

I've been reading that too.  To be honest, when I first picked it up I was expecting something rather lightweight.  A breathless tribute to girlpower.  I could not have been more wrong.

Several times I have had to put it aside for a while.  As it has given me so much to chew on that I have had to take break, overwhelmed.  It should be required reading.

[LLv34_Flanker]

S! 

 

Been reading Carl Geust's book of VVS in Winter War. Covers the regiments, squadrons, leaders etc. Also has detailed claim/loss lost verified from archives for both VVS and FiAF. Quite a bit of never before seen pictures as well. Interesting read. 

 

 

[Heliopause]

A book with interesting stories from air gunners, bomb aimers, pilots.

 

[Eiko]

Just started it. Seemed appropriate considering where things are at with my freelance business!

[SARFlytitus]

[ZachariasX]

On 12/25/2019 at 5:27 PM, Bremspropeller said:

I just realized I had more than 80% of the books that Schiffer offers with "Fighter Group". ?

Really? I can't find anything in that book about such.

Spoiler

 

[namhee2]

[screamingdemon]

Recently I read Sapiens by Yuval Harari. An incredibly well put together story of humankind's history that is thought provoking and with revelations that may rock your foundations. An easy read and I highly recommend it.

 

 

Since I have recently watched the movie "Hurricane" and "Dark Blue World" I am interested to understand the story of the Polish and Czeck nationals during WW2 especially in the context their migration to Britain and their relationship to and their roles in the RAF. Any recommended lite reading?

 

 

Edited June 4, 2020 by screamingdemon

[Feathered_IV]

Picked this one up from the bargain bin outside a local bookshop recently.  The author mentions in the preface that he didn’t know anything about aviation before researching this book, but he does his best to fill it with lots of entertaining facts.  
 

Did you know for example that the Spitfire IX had cannons that fired at “sixty rounds per second” and were absolutely devastating to all-wooden aircraft like the Mitsubishi Zero And Nakajima Ki-43?
 

[CanadaOne]

Bought this years ago and started reading it again. Have his autobiography as well. Can't imagine why I'm reading them again.

 

The man is both a marvel of a human being and a genius with words. And a wonderful respite from the modern whiners and moaners who only think they know how to reason and speak.

 

Funny little book in that half of it is printed upside down.

 

Edited June 5, 2020 by CanadaOne

[Uufflakke]

2 hours ago, CanadaOne said:

Funny little book in that half of it is printed upside down.

 

 

A collector's item! $$$$$

 

What I am reading at the moment?

Last Witnesses: Unchildlike Stories by Svetlana Alexievich.

Each short story of what happened in the lifes of Belarusian and Russian children during WWII is if you are reading Hector Malot's Alone in the World.

 

After I finish Last Witnesses I plan to read The History of Slavery: from Mesopotamia till Modern Human Trafficking by Dick Harrison.

I didn't know for instance that 30% of the Italian population during the Roman Empire was a slave. And today the estimated number of slaves is 40 million including 10 million child slaves. Way more than the often quoted 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th century together.

 

Edited June 5, 2020 by Uufflakke

[cardboard_killer]

Debating whether to get this one or not, especially with the upcoming BoN. Anyone have an opinion? I know some people that recommended to me, but it's a lot of book and I'm not sure if I'm up for another 900 page book right now.

 

[Katowiz]

Vive L'Empereur  

   

Edited June 13, 2020 by Katowiz

[RAY-EU]

Edited June 13, 2020 by RAY-EU

[Chief_Mouser]

Just started reading this again, second time.

 

Edited June 13, 2020 by 216th_Cat

[RAY-EU]

[LukeFF]

Finally finished Shattered Sword this weekend. I only wish all military history books were as well-written as this one. 

[Chief_Mouser]

1 hour ago, LukeFF said:

Finally finished Shattered Sword this weekend. I only wish all military history books were as well-written as this one. 

 

Indeed. A must-read. ?

[vonGraf]

'Der vergessene Soldat' by Guy Sajer (The forgotten Soldier)

About a French (Elsace) 17 year old volunteer in the German infantry at the eastern front.

[Rodwonder]

Reading several books at the moment, including this one... 

 

[Bremspropeller]

19 minutes ago, Rodwonder said:

Reading several books at the moment, including this one... 

 

 

Just ordered that one myself yesterday...

[sevenless]

Two books by Jan Horn on KG 51 with their Me 262s and KG 76 with their Arado 123s:

 

 

[cardboard_killer]

Ordered due to author and reviews. Frank's Guadalcanal is one of the best books on a single campaign ever.

 

[Irishratticus72]

On 6/14/2020 at 9:41 AM, LukeFF said:

Finally finished Shattered Sword this weekend. I only wish all military history books were as well-written as this one. 

Savage book, really breaks it down, moment by moment. And it wasn't all "luck" after all.... 

Exhaustingly meticulous, but engrossing. 

[Thad]

Salutations,

 

I purchased two books to use as research for my planned series of Tank Crew missions covering Patton's armor and the Battle Of The Bulge. Unfortunately, it will depend on how detailed the maps are and the number of new American and British armored vehicles are presented for use. With just the Sherman, it would prove very dull. I'll have to wait and see.

                                                                                                                                                                  

Edited June 17, 2020 by Thad

[Irishratticus72]

Highly recommended. Nothing else I can add to be honest. 

[cardboard_killer]

Ordered this used paperback. Good reviews from a physics and operations PhD. Should be interesting.

 

 

Quote

Alan D. Zimm is a member of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s Principal Professional Staff, serving as Section Leader in the Aviation Systems and Advanced Concepts Group. He received a B.S. in physics from UCLA, a M.S. in Operations Research from The Naval Postgraduate School, and a doctorate from the School of Policy, Planning, and Development at the University of Southern California, with a concentration in Policy Analysis and Strategic Planning.

A former naval officer, he served as a nuclear power qualified surface warfare officer with over fourteen years of sea duty in carriers, cruisers, destroyers and hydrofoils. He was the executive officer aboard USS Pegasus (PHM-1) during her record setting run through the Panama Canal, a record likely to hold up since the Canal no longer allows hydrofoils to transit while foilborne. He completed his service as a Commander, USN.

At APL, Dr. Zimm has performed and led studies of the J-UCAS in maritime defense, Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Analysis of Alternatives, DD(X) design trade studies, Advanced Gun System trade studies and effectiveness analyses, trade studies employing Naval Surface Fire Support with guns, aircraft, field artillery and missiles in an expeditionary warfare context, studies to define and evaluate the characteristics of surface-launched anti-ship missiles, studies on Maneuver Warfare doctrine, and mathematical modeling of economic social systems.

He has published extensively, with over 90 books and journal articles in the fields of naval and military history, decision theory, chaos and organizational theory, military strategy and theory, and computer combat modeling and simulations. He published an award-winning computer simulation modeling World War II naval surface warfare. His most recent book is “Attack on Pearl Harbor: Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions,” published in May of 2011.

Dr. Zimm received the 1999 Arleigh Burke Award from the U. S. Naval Institute. He was awarded a Hafstad fellowship in 2002 and a Janney fellowship in 1998, and was awarded a Reining Award Distinguished Citation from the University of Southern California in 2003. Dr. Zimm is an honorary life member of the United States Naval Institute and a member of the Military Operations Research Society.

 

Edited June 20, 2020 by cardboard_killer

[Varibraun]

On 6/14/2020 at 8:17 AM, Bremspropeller said:

Just ordered that one myself yesterday...

 

I will be interested to see what you guys think (especially with your technical background and knowledge of the New Guinea campaign).  This one has been an Audio Book for me so I don't have the photos and reference notes, but it is well narrated, seems properly researched and the writing style definitely holds my attention.  Since I am not driving as much these days, it is taking me longer to get through it, but I have learned a lot about pilots (I knew nothing of Kearby), the Campaign, and the Lindbergh trip.

 

From a GB standpoint, it was also really interesting to read about the P-38 pilots' feelings about the P-47.  I know in BoBp, I feel exactly the same way.

[Irishratticus72]

Seriously good reading, really gives an insight into their service, and what most of them thought about what they were doing, and for whom. 

[Irishratticus72]

And you think you're having a bad day? 

Oof. 

[CanadaOne]

This. 

 

It was given to me by someone who thinks it may be true. I'm inclined to think it's egregiously over baked horsesh1t, but I said I would at least try to give it a go.