Need Another Book

[John 3rd]

For the last several years at Tax Time I have generally asked for recommendations on a new book to read. The Forum has brought me to experience:

1. Bergurud 'Fire in the Sky'
2. Willmott 'Barrier and the Javelin'
3. Lundstrom 'First Team'
4. Peter Cozzen's Civil War Set

Would like something more. I've got Kaigun, Shattered Sword, Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, etc... Am looking for something more obscure within the Pacific War or American Civil War.

Thanks in advance!

PS Of those listed above, I LOVED Cozzens, First Team, Shattered Sword and did not like Bergurud. Perhaps that helps.

[Pascal_slith]

How about Lundstrom's "Black Shoe Carrier Admiral"?

[Squamry]

The Forgotten Fleet: Story of the British Pacific Fleet, 1944-45 by John Winton

[AW1Steve]

Since you've read "Barrier and Javelin", why not "Empires in the Balance"? Then you will have read 2/3 of the trilogy. The last book hasn't been written yet. [:)]

[USSAmerica]

John, you don't mention what you've read on the American Civil War.  As you are a history teacher, I assume you have Shelby Foote's Civil War trilogy.  If not, you MUST get them.  [:)]

[mg62]

I follow along with USS America on Shelby Foote's Civil War Trilogy. I'm rereading for the second time and find that much of Burn's Civil War series came from this set of books. Another good Civil War read is Killer Angels.

[sprior]

Try Lous Allen's "Burma, The Longest War" or Latimer's "Burma: The Forgotten War" I found Latimer's book to be a better read, contains flashes of humour and doesn't bowdlerise the soldiers' words.

[Canoerebel]

John, I think I've mentioned these before, but it's worth mentioning again.  In addition to Peter Cozzens' excellent Civil War trilogy, three of the most enjoyabe works of history:
 
1.  Killer Angels (Gettysburg), Michael Shaara
2.  Do or Die Men (1st Marine Raiders at Tulagi and Guadalcanal), can't recall the author
3.  We were Soldiers Once and Young (Ia Drang Valley), Hal Moore
 
In fact, We were Soldiers is the finest and most enjoyable piece of non-fiction that I've ever read (and that's saying something because I don't really enjoy the Vietnam era).

[spence]

I recently read and enjoyed "Long Day's Journey Into War" by Stanley Weintraub which details the events of December 7th, 1941 from the moment it was December 7th anywhere to the moment it was no longer December 7th anywhere (so it covers about 48 hours). It was interesting to fit Pearl Harbor, the sailing Force Z, events in the Philippines and the DEI into the context of what was going on in the Atlantic, N. Africa and the Soviet Counteroffensive in Russia.

[AW1Steve]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

John, I think I've mentioned these before, but it's worth mentioning again.  In addition to Peter Cozzens' excellent Civil War trilogy, three of the most enjoyabe works of history:

1.  Killer Angels (Gettysburg), Michael Shaara
2.  Do or Die Men (1st Marine Raiders at Tulagi and Guadalcanal), can't recall the author
3.  We were Soldiers Once and Young (Ia Drang Valley), Hal Moore

In fact, We were Soldiers is the finest and most enjoyable piece of non-fiction that I've ever read (and that's saying something because I don't really enjoy the Vietnam era).

All excellent choices, but although it reads like history , don't forget that the Killer Angels IS historical fiction. I've had a lot of people I know overlook that point. [:)]

[bush]

For Civil War try Coddinton's Gettysburg Campaign, or for something more controversial, Bonekemper's How Robert E. Lee Lost the Civil War.

The Lundstom book mentioned above is very good, IMO. Makes Fletcher look quite a bit different.

[Nikademus]

Bergerud's "Touched with Fire" would be a good choice. Not as well known as his book on the Pacific air war. Contains a number of very interesting points about the individual Allied armies and the Japanese army. Pacific war tends to be air/sea dominated in literature save for some of the most famous land battles so this makes for an interesting diversion.

[thegreatwent]

I recommend "American Ceasar" by William Manchester. It is IMO a fairly balanced look at MacArthur.

[Nikademus]

just finished that one!

agreed. very good book. Dispelled some notions and generalizations. Facinating man.

[bush]

An interesting PacWar title is Hell to Pay by Giangreco about the invasion of Japan.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Pascal

How about Lundstrom's "Black Shoe Carrier Admiral"?

Excellent book. I ordered it and devoured it as soon as I finished the First Team pair of book. Really well written biography that opened my eyes to some things and dispelled a bunch of my anti-Fletcher thinking.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

Since you've read "Barrier and Javelin", why not "Empires in the Balance"? Then you will have read 2/3 of the trilogy. The last book hasn't been written yet. [:)]

Very good reading too. Does anyone KNOW if the 3rd book will be written?

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: USS America

John, you don't mention what you've read on the American Civil War.  As you are a history teacher, I assume you have Shelby Foote's Civil War trilogy.  If not, you MUST get them.  [:)]

Great Stuff! I've got a ton on the Civil War. Dan (Canoerebel) put me on to the Cozzen's books. Magnificent. I HIGHLY recommend them to any Civil War reader. They are set in the Tennessee and middle-South area from the beginning through Chicamauga. Mmmmmmm...

That reminds me that he has a new book out on the Shenandoah Jackson Campaign. I think I have three on that subject but it might be worth a fresh perspective.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Try Lous Allen's "Burma, The Longest War" or Latimer's "Burma: The Forgotten War" I found Latimer's book to be a better read, contains flashes of humour and doesn't bowdlerise the soldiers' words.

Don't have these. Can anyone chat about the style, topical approach, and readability of these books?

Could be a possibility...

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Squamry

The Forgotten Fleet: Story of the British Pacific Fleet, 1944-45 by John Winton

Same question: Readability? I like the topic since I know next to NOTHING about this!