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Books Read 2007
By Bull Nav
Yeah, yeah I know it is a couple of weeks into the new year, but I’ve been busy. I did not quite reach my goal last year, but I did make a good dent in it.
Don’t know if Skippy will be happy due to the lack of true literature, but I will see what I can do in ’08.
Anyway…
(in the order in which they were read)
Home of the Brave by Caspar Weinberger: I thought I would get a historical analysis of some of the individual heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, it was more a rant against the main stream media. Still has some good stuff in it.
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield: I had read Michael Yon’s post and it got me interested in the book. Since 300 was coming out soon, I knew I needed to read this and I was not dissapointed. Excellent book.
History of the Crusades, Volume I by Stephen Runciman: a very good overview of the founding of Islam, Pope Urban II’s call for the Crusade, and the First Crusade. Sometimes difficult to read, but necessary. Two more volumes to go.
The Toyota Production System by Taiichi Ohno: not that easy to read as it is an English translation of the man who developed Toyota’s production system. Highly recommended for anyone involved in production.
A Study of the Toyota Production System by Shigeo Shingo: a very readable look at how Toyota does things. He worked with and advised Ohno-san and was very knowledgable. I also recommend this book if you are a manufacturing type of individual.
Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife by John Nagl: outstanding comparative study of COIN. Too bad many of the top leadership in the Army don’t understand it.
Delta Force by Charlie Beckwith: good first-person account of the founding and development of Delta. Mildly large ego and not a little bitterness.
Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney: a different view of Delta , from one who went through it. I thought it was a good companion to Delta Force, but some of his ops may seem questionable.
Guests of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden: outstanding multi-faceted view of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. From the hostages, the hostage takers, and the (failed) hostage rescuers. Read it.
No True Glory by Bing West: good historical record of the battles of Fallujah from April-November 2004. Easy to read, and lots of information.
Marines in the Garden of Eden by Richard Lowry: a good historical record of the Marines advance at the beginning of OIF. I am very much looking forward to Richard’s next work on Fallujah.
I’m Staying with My Boys by Jim Proser : very interesting and unique way of presenting Manila John Basilone’s life. Very enjoyable to read, and a good historical look at life in the states during his childhood and formative years.
The Conquest of Gaulby Julius Caesar: always wanted to read this. Yes, Caesar’s ego comes through, but it was still a good historical record of his operations.
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell: another must read. I ended up reading this because I was coming back from AT and had a 3-hour layover at O’Hare. Outstanding and incredible story.
The Savage Wars of Peace by Max Boot: a lot of history, from 1800 to the present in this book dealing with small-scale military operations and how extensive our “small wars” have been.
The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang: I was hoping for a historical record in the usual chronological order, but this jumped around and was very difficult to read and follow. While this story is not that well known, I am not sure this book has the late Ms. Chang’s intended effect of getting the word out about it.
I started The Ottoman Centuries by Lord Kinross but it just got long in the tooth: 500 years of history in one book. Likewise, I started Empires of the Sand by Karsh and Karsh which I did not finish either. I intend to finish both this year.
Currently I am reading Fiasco by Tom Ricks and so far I am not impressed with his pre-ordained conclusions.
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Comments
Your comments about the book "Delta Force", reminded me of when I met the author. Here I am 18 years old standing in line, finally get up to COL Beckwith, and say "I really enjoyed the book, Sir."
To which he replies, "It's true, every word of it."
OK...didn't say that it wasn't, but that was weird. Strange but true story.
Odd thing about "No True Glory" not too many Army guys in it...I could have sworn the 1st CAV and 1ID were at Fallujah. Yeah, I checked the Army was there. Read the book, "House to House" for a great story about that.
Not a big fan of "Fiasco". "Cobra II" wasn't bad after you get past the beginning of the book, where they pretend to know what everyone in Washington was thinking leading up to the war.
I thought Iris Chang's book was excellent. However the stress of writing the book ended up being to much for her.
See my post on her here: http://fareastcynic.com/?p=586
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I read "Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife" when it first came out, 2 yrs ago, after watching John Nagl interviewed on Charlie Rose. Love the book. Love the man!
Lone Survivor - Riveting, let's hope the feature film delivers, I trust Peter Berg to handle it well.
Inside Delta Force: read the book recently since tv series "The Unit" is based on it, & I happen to like "The Unit".
No True Glory - read it three years ago. Good read: let's hope Hollywood doesn't screw up the feature film and that it does well at the box office.
Another good read is "Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad" by David Zuchino.
And my fave: Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion And Occupation of Iraq, by Michael Gordon, which features a friend of mine, Lt Col Eric A Wesley, who was one of the architects of the Thunder Run.
This is a GREAT read.