What Book Are You Reading at the moment?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: RichMunn


Most of you seem to be restricted to military stuff. That's fine, but surely you read a little wider than that?

Battles are fought in all areas of life!

warspite1

I mostly read military "stuff" but am not restricted to it. I've read some cracking non-military books over the last few years:

To Big to Fail (Economics)
Making it Happen (Economics)
When Genius Failed (Economics)
Naming Jack The Ripper (Crime)
Two Tribes (Golf)
Unless I'm Very Much Mistaken (Motor Racing)
The Real Global Warming Disaster (Environment/Politics/Economics)
Marching to the Fault Line (Politics)
Margaret Thatcher (Politics)
Ash (Horror)

EDIT: can't believe I left off the brilliant

The Book Thief (Fiction)

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

ORIGINAL: RichMunn


Most of you seem to be restricted to military stuff. That's fine, but surely you read a little wider than that?

Battles are fought in all areas of life!

Got bored with my medical books. Then got bored with quantum physics. Got bored with tribology and motor oils. So.................

warspite1

Well Aurelian, me ol' mucker, as I always say, "when you are bored of tribology, you are bored of life"..... [:D]


Tribology is the science and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It includes the study and application of the principles of friction, lubrication and wear. Tribology is a branch of mechanical engineering and materials science. [X(][&:][:(]

[:)]

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

ORIGINAL: RichMunn


Most of you seem to be restricted to military stuff. That's fine, but surely you read a little wider than that?

Battles are fought in all areas of life!

Got bored with my medical books. Then got bored with quantum physics. Got bored with tribology and motor oils. So.................

warspite1

Well Aurelian, me ol' mucker, as I always say, "when you are bored of tribology, you are bored of life"..... [:D]


Tribology is the science and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It includes the study and application of the principles of friction, lubrication and wear. Tribology is a branch of mechanical engineering and materials science. [X(][&:][:(]

[:)]

That's why I know that just about every motor oil additive doesn't live up to the hype. Especially when you use it constantly......

Just about finished Hell to Pay. Interesting stuff. Like the plan to use the remaining atom bombs as tactical weapons. Or how America had a real concern over casualties. (The Army alone discharged a bit over 1.2 million for non battle injuries in combat zones, disease, combat related psychiatric breakdowns.)

It goes into the interrelated advantages the Japanese would of had over the Okinawa battle. it discuses Hoover's, (yes, that Hoover), analysis of casualties and how it far exceeded the Army's 100,000/month replacement stream.

I'll leave it with this. The Us planners expected to vastly outnumber the defenders, landing roughly 432,000 troops for Olympic. What was discovered after the surrender was that 917,000 Imperial troops were on the island.

Truman, with all the information he had, said that it would be Okinawa after Okinawa from one end of Japan to the other.

I've only scratched the surface of the book. Reading it, you understand why the bombs were dropped. (it even touches on the Enola Gay controversy....) You'll also get to see why Patton/Monty's dream of taking Berlin just wasn't going to happen....

[radic202]

ORIGINAL: RichMunn


Most of you seem to be restricted to military stuff. That's fine, but surely you read a little wider than that?

Battles are fought in all areas of life!

Yea! I am on your side here. I tend to read to escape from real life history and issues, hence why I love Fantasy. Of course most history war enthusiasts will tend to read what they like best: war/military history. While I wait for the 3rd part of "The Passage" by Justin Cronin I am reading something that I think is phenomenal and actually am enamored by his style of writing Dark Fantasy. For those wanting something dark, tons of action plus some real political intrigue, I strongly suggest this new fantasy series:


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[Kuokkanen]

I'm nearing end of Kildar, second novel in the Paladin of the Shadows series, written by John Ringo. I quote you part of it:

"And you made your money from a communications company nobody has ever heard of," Colonel Kortotich said, smiling thinly.
"No," Mike said, working his jaw, "I made my money from killing people and breaking things. Specifically terrorists and their operations. Your point?"

[Hotschi]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Hotschi

Now reading Siege: Malta 1940-1943 by Ernle Bradford. Am halfway through and I second warspite1's opinion, every chapter is full of the first siege of 1565, as if Bradford is using this title to advertise his own book about the 1565 siege. If you want to know the size of the garrison, or even which Army units were stationed on Malta in WW II, you won't find it here. On the other hand, this book gives a nice introduction into the topic, and into Malta's political as well as social history - but that's not what I expected from a book with this particular title. Have to check whether there's something better available.

warspite1

If you find anything please let me know. I finished the book - but it was more a case of "I've come this far so I might as well get to the end" than actually really wanting to finish it....

Don't get me wrong, the book was not a hard slog to get through and I learned some stuff, but it was just simply too "general" in its approach and I got no real sense of:

- to what extent the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica suffered losses attacking the island
- how much more (if anything) they (particularly the Italians) could have done.
- instead of mentioning a few well known Axis and Allied convoys, how about a proper analysis of what convoys sailed when and how many ships/supplies/personnel were successfully got though?
- garrison strength on the island throughout the siege

Exactly, it's too general in its approach. I'll stick to it to the end though, as I hate putting a book aside once started.

[Hotschi]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Hotschi

Then I read Vincent O'Hara's On Seas Contested, which gives a good overview about the different structures, doctrines etc. of the seven largest navies in WW II. Makes appetite for more.

warspite1

This is a good book - as is its WWI equivalent To Crown The Waves.

Thank you for this info, had a short look and it is something worth reading, especially since the Austro-Hungarian Navy is included, of which I... know practically nothing. [X(]

[Hotschi]

ORIGINAL: RichMunn


Most of you seem to be restricted to military stuff. That's fine, but surely you read a little wider than that?

Battles are fought in all areas of life!

My focus is definitely on military books now, especially the ones written in English. My interest in military history
started decades ago, at a time when there was no internet (thus no online purchase) and ordering a foreign book from a
local bookstore was a painstakingly slow affair. Back then, delivery of one single book from the UK to Austria could
take as long as 6 months - yes no joke - and the bookstores added all the costs of ordering and mail - which could
double the price. Today, ordering a book from as far away as Seattle, Washington, takes about a month, and the ones sent
from the UK or Germany are here within days. And e-books within seconds...

But of course I read other stuff as well, but written in my own language, like J.J.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Ring and all the related titles, Terry Pratchett's
Diskworld series, as well as local (mostly unknown to English speakers) authors like Christoph Ransmayr - and heaps of
other ones decades ago. I worked myself in the bookselling business for a decade. I'd rather throw my car away than my books!

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: radic202

ORIGINAL: RichMunn


Most of you seem to be restricted to military stuff. That's fine, but surely you read a little wider than that?

Battles are fought in all areas of life!

Yea! I am on your side here. I tend to read to escape from real life history and issues, hence why I love Fantasy. Of course most history war enthusiasts will tend to read what they like best: war/military history. While I wait for the 3rd part of "The Passage" by Justin Cronin I am reading something that I think is phenomenal and actually am enamored by his style of writing Dark Fantasy. For those wanting something dark, tons of action plus some real political intrigue, I strongly suggest this new fantasy series:


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That you for the recommendations. [:)]

[Hotschi]

Finished Bradford's Malta book - nothing more to report. Decided to stay in the Med for a while, and have just started Struggle for the Middle Sea by Vincent P. O'Hara.

[parusski]

ORIGINAL: radic202

ORIGINAL: RichMunn


Most of you seem to be restricted to military stuff. That's fine, but surely you read a little wider than that?

Battles are fought in all areas of life!

Yea! I am on your side here. I tend to read to escape from real life history and issues, hence why I love Fantasy. Of course most history war enthusiasts will tend to read what they like best: war/military history. While I wait for the 3rd part of "The Passage" by Justin Cronin I am reading something that I think is phenomenal and actually am enamored by his style of writing Dark Fantasy. For those wanting something dark, tons of action plus some real political intrigue, I strongly suggest this new fantasy series:


[/img]


[/img]

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I really enjoyed Justin Cronin's The Passage.

At the moment I have The Emperor's Blade in my stack of stuff to read and am looking forward to it.

[Aurelian]

Stumbling Colossus.

The Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific War.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Hotschi

Finished Bradford's Malta book - nothing more to report. Decided to stay in the Med for a while, and have just started Struggle for the Middle Sea by Vincent P. O'Hara.

warspite1

I enjoyed this book - it provides a look at the main naval engagements in the Mediterranean Sea in WWII, and the OOB for each, in a concise one-volume work.

However, I fundamentally disagree with O'Hara's view on the performance of the Regia Marina in WWII. One his arguments to support his view is that, unlike the German or Japanese navies, the RM ended the war largely intact..... a) not sure why that is a good measure for a country that lost the war. b) the RM fought the Royal Navy's reputation and not the RN as it existed, stretched to the limits, in WWII. Had they been more aggressive, they could, and should, have hurt the RN more.

[Ostwindflak]

Warspite1

I am curious to know what O'Hara's view on the Taranto attack was if you happen to recall. While hailed as a tremendous success by Admiral Cunningham, the overall impression I have got from other books was that it really didn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things in the Med.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Ostwindflak

Warspite1

I am curious to know what O'Hara's view on the Taranto attack was if you happen to recall. While hailed as a tremendous success by Admiral Cunningham, the overall impression I have got from other books was that it really didn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things in the Med.

I know little about naval operations in the Mediterranean but the attack put to sleep half of the Italian BBs (out of 6)? Yes, the British always had the long route via the Cape of Good Hope but still, if the attack meant nothing (enemy warships trapped in a narrow, confined sea) we must necessarily conclude that the Italians did not need any warship in the first place [:D]

Post 1945, we don't see the dangers, but during the conflict the sortie of a single BB was a nightmare (Churchill's account is conclusive on this one) [8D]

It was a great victory (and a revolutionary doctrine was born in the process). The funny part is that in the end the British carrier forces were err primitive (if we think about the Japanese and the US Essex carriers AND their deadly, numerous and modern squadrons).

Sorry for bringing an OT analysis though [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Ostwindflak

Warspite1

I am curious to know what O'Hara's view on the Taranto attack was if you happen to recall. While hailed as a tremendous success by Admiral Cunningham, the overall impression I have got from other books was that it really didn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things in the Med.

warspite1

I do not recall it being covered - If I recall correctly it was the naval engagements at sea and not air-to-sea he recounts.

As for "it really didn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things in the Med" this is not the case - though their comments may refer to the fact that the effects were not lasting.

Thanks to the attack three heavy units of the RM were taken out (one permanently) and the remaining ships moved north to La Spezia or Naples (and thus less of a threat to Malta convoys from Alex) for a while at least. Given that this was achieved with just 21 antiquated bi-planes, it was a remarkable result.

The respite was brief however and two of the ships were ultimately repaired. What the attack probably helped to do more than anything was sow further doubt into Supermarina's mind that they could take on the Royal Navy - especially when a carrier was present.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1


warspite1

I began reading this over the weekend. From reading most of the Prologue I have to say this is going to be one stonking good read [&o]

I recently read that the German U-boats used Spanish ports. If you have any more information about this I would be grateful to hear about it. Or maybe the U-boat books mention it?

warspite1

I will let you know as and when I get through the book. I just did a quick scan of the index for Spain or Ferrol but did not see anything.

warspite1

Well Ormster I am up to September 1940. Yes, those naughty Germans have been using Spanish ports to refuel [:-]

Have to say this is a riveting read - the author has really done his homework on the subject matter.

There are a few niggles when he steps outside of his subject, e.g. the irritating: following Operation Catapult (and simultaneous actions at Alex and in the UK) the British put the French sailors in "concentration camps" to the minor: Annapolis is a town in the UK....

but these do not detract from what is an excellent read [:)]

[Ostwindflak]

Thanks for the reply Warpsite1.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Chamberlain and Appeasement (British Policy and the Coming of the Second World War) by R.A.C Parker is the next cab off the rank just as soon as I have finished Malta.

warspite1

Got to say, this is a great book [:)]

Just looked it up on the on-line store that I use but they charge 35£ for it. [:(]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Chamberlain and Appeasement (British Policy and the Coming of the Second World War) by R.A.C Parker is the next cab off the rank just as soon as I have finished Malta.

warspite1

Got to say, this is a great book [:)]

Just looked it up on the on-line store that I use but they charge 35£ for it. [:(]

warspite1

Is that hardback? Amazon here in the UK have it for:

Hardback - £42.26
Paperback - £24.32
Used - from £13.66

I've bought quite a few used books. To be fair, they have always turned up as described condition wise.