What book are you reading?

[hazmatt]

Just got done reading "A higher call" and passed it off to a friend.

Currently reading "The first and the last" again as it's been a loooong time since I read it.

[zack1234]

Good thread!

I am picking through various books currently on Philip II of Macedon's use of combined arms. The most interesting I have ran into on this particular journey has been Fred Eugene Ray's Greek and Macedonian Land Battles of the 4th Century BC. It is interesting because Ray goes against the grain. He takes information about facts that have long been accepted by scholars (and topographers) and challenges them. His thoughts that particularly have troubled me are those that displace Alexander from commanding cavalry at the Battle of Chaeronea, 338 BCE. A lot goes into this reconstruction and the fact that Ray all but dismisses previous findings is incredible to think of. The Sacred Band's annihilation was not brought on by an eighteen year old Alexander leading Thessalian cavalry with a few screening foot companions, but a contingent exclusively made up of Macedonian phalangites. His theory is reasonable, but he seemed to fail to realize that it would not have taken an army to destroy the Sacred Band, which only numbered 300. A small screen force of companions and his cavalry would have easily done the trick considering the Sacred Band's isolation.

Other books that are on top of the table at the moment include Cawkell's Philip II of Macedon, Hammond's Philip II of Macedon, Gabael's Cavalry Operations in Ancient Greece, and Gabriel's Great Captains of Antiquity with particular interest in the chapter of Philip II of Macedon.

They were all bot fetlers!

[oakranger]

As I previously mentioned, I am reading "We March Aginst England".  Dr Forczyk really puts great efforts in getting, sorting a putting together a well-complete book. 

Some very interesting events that Dr. Forczyk brought to light like where Spain stood, how Polan broke the enigma code but never told any of its allies how the in-group of Hitler's top planners and leaders did not favor the operation.  Oh, and Germany developed of U-Panzers (submersible pnzer II and III) and schwimmpanzers oe swimming tanks.  I saw drawing but di not know they actually existed.  The only thing he never added is Italy.  Nothing about Italy AF in BoB or taking part in Sealion. 

As for the British, I was taken surprised by a few things.  British chemical weapons capability in 1940. Apparently, they had stockpiles of mustard, phosgene, hydrogen cyanide and chloropicrin.  To be honest I really did not know if the British had any but certainly can understand why.  He also points out Churchill's bad calls on development and military operations. The most epic failure, Operation Menace, when two British battleship fire over 400 rounds, in daylight, against a stationary Richelieu and made zero hits.  R.N aboded the operation.  He wasted 12 destroyers for a mission in West Africa hen they could be put in good use escorting convoys.  And he cries to Eishinhower that the convoys need U.S. help with escorts previously because RN does not have the numbers to do it.   

[perdue3]

They were all bot fetlers!

No idea what that means.

[FLOOB]

Soul Pancake by Rainn Wilson. Check it out.

[zack1234]

No idea what that means.

Homosexulets

[Gman]

Homosexulets

I figured as much - when I was in the UK I heard at least a dozen synonyms which I'd not heard before (The UK being experts on the subject I guess was cause for many new names...rum buggery and the lash et al).  I'm still trying to figure out "uphill gardener"....

Adrian Goldsworthy - Punic Wars.
Bernard Cornwell - Agincourt.

[turt21]

Currently reading the first book in Rick Atkinson's The Liberation Trilogy.  It's called "An Army At Dawn:The War in North Africa 1942-1943".  It covers Operation Torch and then the battle for Tunisia.  So far I'm liking it. 

Ive read all 3 of these and the best WW2 history/documentarys Ive ever come across.

[pembquist]

I'm not reading any military history right now I am reading an excellent book called "The Power Broker" which is about Robert Moses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moses

It is long, over 1000 pages, but I find it fascinating and exceptionally readable. If you grew up or have lived in New York City you must read it.

[Shuffler]

Time Life The Seafarers Fighting Sail

[perdue3]

Homosexulets

The Sacred Band were indeed 150 pairs of male lovers, but they were supposedly invincible as they had never lost. You are obviously trolling, but I will entertain the discussion. The world had a much different perception and outlook on homosexuality in the ancient era. Homosexuality in Greece and Rome was normal, laying exclusively with females was the odd habit. Claudius famously did not fancy males at all and was seen as an estranged Roman with asocial tendencies. Much of that stemmed from his infatuation with freedmen, but also with his lack of homosexual tendencies. The world was a different place. Even in Ancient times, the Oscar Wilde quote was true, "Everything is about sex except sex. Sex is about power." Having male lovers for lust was normal in Greece and Rome.

[Blooz]

"Castles of Steel" by Robert K. Massie

Excellent, pleasant to read history of the naval war of WW1. I have the digital version and it's so good I'm going to get the hard bound version just to put on the shelf. It's that good!

[Brooke]

"The Greatest Air Battle:  Dieppe, 19th August 1942," by Franks.

Swareiam gave it to me as a gift!  Thanks, Swareiam! 

It is awesome.  Superbly detailed, and about an air battle that I previously did not know much about.

------------

Other than WWII books, have recently read (or am reading):

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup, by Carryrou (Story of Theranos.  Very interesting, and gives good account of how some scammy parts of Silicon Valley work.)

The Postmortal, by Magary.  (SF-ish book.  I don't like this one much.)

The Hike, by Magary.  (Fantasy-ish book.  I liked it.  Not awesome, but I liked it.)

Overtime: Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines at the Crossroads of College Football, by Bacon.  (I loved it!  Very interesting details behind a college football program.  Well, to me, anyway -- a college football fan.)

[Arlo]

For the Common Defense - Millet, Maslowski and Feis

The Guns at Last Light - Atkinson

Weimar Germany - Weitz

Weirding the War - edited by Stephen Berry

The World the Civil War Made - edited by Gregory P. Downs and Kate Masur

The Steel Wave - Shaara

The Face of Battle - Keegan

[perdue3]

Keegan's analysis of Waterloo is textbook battle analysis. An absolutely invaluable writing and research lesson to be had in Keegan's analyses.

Downs and Masur created a very good collection of essays in The World the Civil War Made. I think "world" was a very poor choice of words in the title, but it does a nice job of laying the foundation for the rut America found itself in until WWI. The connection between political machines and the Civil War is completely lost as is influx of immigration after the Civil War. Why these facets are omitted is a mystery, but whatever. Hahn and Prince are some big names in that work, always an interesting read with those two.

I have not read the others you listed, but Stephen Barry scares me. I attended a seminar given by him in 2010 about Confederate militia cavalry. He is quite an intense guy and a UNC grad.