book recommendations, anyone?

Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam by John A. Nagl

Haven't finished it yet but interesting read thats relevant to our current conflicts. Not related to the academies but still worth reading if you are interested in the topic.
 
Fairly new one from the Pentagon Press is "Marine Operations on Urbanized Terrain and Security Force Assistance". Read some excerpts and have one on order. Whole spear evaluations, not just the tip.
 
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Last night I finished "Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death" by Jim Frederick.

If you are interested in books about the Army I would recommend it. Even though many of the things in this book are unsettling to read, I could not put it down. There are some great leadership lessons in it...especially good examples of what not to do.
 
BeatNavy said:
Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam by John A. Nagl

Haven't finished it yet but interesting read thats relevant to our current conflicts. Not related to the academies but still worth reading if you are interested in the topic.
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Ah, that's on OK read. He's often criticized for a lack of experience, ignorance of the greater context, and for selectively learning from situations and over-extrapolating. He has just as many fans as critics, though.

There are many good books out there.

The Heights of Courage: A Tank Leader's War on the Golan by Avigdor Kahalani

The Eyes of Orion: Five Tank Lieutenants in the Persian Gulf War by Alex Vernon

Crusade by Rick Atkinson

Blue's Bastards by Randy Herrod (about Oliver North as a PL in Vietnam)

Low Level Hell by Hugh Mills (about a Loach pilot in Vietnam)

Chickenhawk by Robert Mason (about a Huey pilot in Vietnam)

Snake Driver by Bob Rosenburgh (good one about Cobra Pilots)

I think a lot of "great" military novels are overly praised, We Were Soldiers Once...And Young being among them. I also think that if you only read novels about war from the positive or even just solemnly heroic perspective, you're cheating yourself. In that vein, I recommend:

The Things They Carried by Tim O'brien

Going After Cacciato by Tim O'brien

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (American classic...if you haven't read it, do)

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque

Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut

The Short-Timers by Gus Hasford (the book that became Full Metal Jacket)

Some of Colby Buzzell's stuff is good, but he has many axes to grind.


Happy reading.
 
Recently finished 3 very good books : "The Last Stand" by Nathaniel Philpott- about The Little BigHorn campaign and the 7th Cavalry. Very interesting stuff about a battle that every one "knows" about -but in reality most don't know that much about the real battle. Also recently read "Savage Wars of Peace" by Max Boot- this one is about all of the little insurgencies and brushfire wars that the US has found itself since the Indian Campaigns. Counter Insurgency ops really have a long history with the US military- the anomalies really are the cataclismic all out wars ala WW2 and the Civil War.
Finally- WAR by Sebastian Junger- his time with a Company of the 173rd Abn in the Korengal Valley- Good read since made into the documentary "Restrepo".
 
bruno said:
Recently finished 3 very good books : "The Last Stand" by Nathaniel Philpott- about The Little BigHorn campaign and the 7th Cavalry.
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Think it's Nathaniel Philbrick. He also wrote a number of other excellent books - especially In the Heart of the Sea, about a whaling ship tragedy and Sea of Glory, about the U.S. Exploring Expedition.

In the Heart of Sea is about a whaling expedition gone poorly. Not military-related, but excellent nautical history, and very interesting. Won the National Book Award.

Sea of Glory is perfect for anyone interested in the Antebellum military (obviously specifically the Navy) or the history of exploration. Both are well worth reading.
 
SteveHolt243 said:
Think it's Nathaniel Philbrick. He also wrote a number of other excellent books - especially In the Heart of the Sea, about a whaling ship tragedy and Sea of Glory, about the U.S. Exploring Expedition.

In the Heart of Sea is about a whaling expedition gone poorly. Not military-related, but excellent nautical history, and very interesting. Won the National Book Award.

Sea of Glory is perfect for anyone interested in the Antebellum military (obviously specifically the Navy) or the history of exploration. Both are well worth reading.
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my mistake- you are absolutely correct- Nathaniel Philbrick. I also read both Heart of the Sea and Sea of Glory- Both Excellent reads as well:thumb:
 
bruno said:
A book I have not read but which has been highly recommended to me is "The Good Soldiers" by David Finkel. The book which won the 2010 Lukas Prize is about the 2/16 Inf in Iraq in 2007 &2008.
Anyone on here read this book? What are your impressions??

Review Follows:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/books/review/Stanton-t.html
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I've read it. I liked it but not as much as "Black Hearts". I felt like Finkel's book only scratched the surface regarding the story of the surge. When I got to the end I felt a bit let down.
 
This one is Air Force, but try Return with Honor by Scott O'Grady
 
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield is a good book about the warrior mentality. It is required reading at both USNA and USMA. I am reading it right now for my Evolution of Warfare class for MCROTC.
 
I wish I had more time to read but business keeps me tied up, as does playing on web sites like this one does; I did manage to read three books this summer, I highly recommend them all for kids interested in the military - especially West Point.

1) (....and it was my third time!) "Absolutely American" If you plan on West Point, it's a must read.

2) "Once An Eagle" This is a commitment read but if you have a military career plans as an officer, it's a must read. Once you start, you can't put it down!

3) I know this will be controversial but..."Trickle Up Poverty" It's political but does have a few chapters in it that future military types might like to know about, like the current ROE.

Happy reading!
 
Read "The Unforgiving Minute" by Craig Mullaney. Capt. Mullaney graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, then commissioned into the infantry and attended Ranger School. He was a Rhodes scholar, spending time at Oxford.

He was sent to Afghanistan, and he lost a man on the Losano Ridge one day, and his vivid descriptions of how he reacted to that is really interesting. Yes, it's about war, but on a deeper level, it's about one young guy's search for himself and for the justification for losing a man whose life was trusted to him.

Great read. I would recommend to anyone on this forum.
 
I am not interested in USNA/NROTC, but Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell is AMAZING. Very likely to be the best book I've ever read. Tons of action, if that's what you're looking for.

Another one that is solid, 100% action is To hell and Back, by MOH awardee Audie Murphy. It is almost hard to believe because it has so much fighting in it. Up close and personal kind of stuff too.

If you like history and really know your stuff you might be interested in Gettysburg by Newt Gingrich. I didn't like it at first but grew on it after a while. Gingrich takes a whole different spin on what could have happened at Gettysburg. The amount of historical fact is few and far between but this is still one heck of a read. A ton about USMA as well.

Honorable Mentions---I have read all of these and remember them fondly, but it has been awhile and I can't provide a fantastic description. But none will be a waste of time:thumb: :

Things they Carried-Tim O'brien AMAZING book about Vietnam. 1st person narrative.
Fallen Angels- Walter Dean Myers. Been awhile here.... Remember it was great though.
Long Gray Line, about USMA class of 1966- read over the summer. Very long, parts can be semi dull. At the end of the day I was satisfied though. Excellent description of Ranger school that prepared men for Vietnam, led by Charlie Beckwith.
Delta Force- Colonel Charlie Beckwith. About the formation of Delta Force and the failed operation to rescue Iranian hostages. Very good.
Flags of Our Fathers-James Bradley. Researched novel about the Marines in the famous Iwo Jima photograph.
All quiet on the Western Front-Erich Remarque. 1st person novel of German WWI soldier... Been awhile...

PM me for other really good reads or if you have any suggestions! I am a book addict to say the least!
 
It has been referenced three times already in this post, but I have to emphasize it: Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer. This is a phenomenal book that details what characteristics and morals a true leader embodies.

It was first recommended to me by a USMA professor's wife in my last duty station. She told me that it was mandatory reading there, so at the very least you will be ahead of the power curve, at the best you will learn some traits to exemplify as a leader!
 
Stealth said:
It has been referenced three times already in this post, but I have to emphasize it: Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer. This is a phenomenal book that details what characteristics and morals a true leader embodies.

It was first recommended to me by a USMA professor's wife in my last duty station. She told me that it was mandatory reading there, so at the very least you will be ahead of the power curve, at the best you will learn some traits to exemplify as a leader!
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Ditto in a huge way. I don't know if it is still required reading but it is one of my favorite books and is a great read. I don't know any army guy who didn't feel the same- in part because deep inside most of us want to see ourselves as the hero of the book (Sam Damon). We are not that guy unfortunately, but his traits are the ones we all aspire to. Another great Novel of a similar stripe is "The Good Shepherd" by CS Forester. Takes place in WW2- when I was in the Navy War College the CNO came down and listed that as his favorite book and was on his Jr Officer recommended reading list. Go get it and see why- I promise you won't be disappointed in either of the two above:thumb:
 
They Fought for Each Other was a very good read; its about the hardest hit company during the Iraq war. Even though it shows the incredible sacrifices of the soldiers, it still motivated me to serve.
 
When the whole world is Courtney Massengale, one needs a hero like Sam Damon.
 
For a really interesting, well-written counterpart to The Unforgiving Minute--from the point of view of a young British officer serving in Iraq and Afghanistan--I recommend a book called The Junior Officer's Reading Club: Killing Time and Fighting Wars. (A link to the Washington Post book review is below). The book includes a section on the author's time at Sandhurst, the British military academy, which might also interest some on this site.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/17/AR2010091702390.html
 
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