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RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 8/9/2011 6:57:24 PM   
LowCommand

 

Posts: 138
Joined: 8/14/2002
From: VA
Status: offline 		There probably should be a bit on how to use this list for newcomers. Nobody ever has enough time to read everything they want or should read.

First read one of the one volume histories. This will give an overview of what happened and why. After that it would probably be possible to fight the AI and win, but it would be a tough slog.

What to read next depends a bit on what the reader is most interested in. My suggestion would be one or more books on the beginnings. Probably the best short version is the first few chapters of Morison’s volume one. Most American’s have no idea about how we got into WWII. They tend to believe it all started without any warning on Dec 7.

Somewhere along the line perhaps it would be good to read a few of the historical novels. Again, very few people today have any idea of what America and Americans were like when all this started. It’s a very, very different place from America today.

Another good idea would be a few of the better movies or videos. I haven’t seen the Brothers Pacific series yet, but it might be a good, fast way of getting into the minds of Americans back then and the true bloody horror of the war.

A word on the books. All the authors have a point of view. If you possibly can, read more than one book on any given subject. Each author brings something different. For example, the official histories, not surprisingly, stress the official, high level view of the war. In them, you get the feeling of Gentlemen working together to fight and win a war. You will read about the problems of moving millions of men and zillions of tons of equipment to where they were needed, when they were needed. In the face of everything the enemy could do to kill the men and destroy the equipment. You read about this headquarters was set up for that operation and that general was selected to run things.
Then, when you read, say the biographies, you will get stories of great men with flaws struggling to get things done the way they are absolutely sure it should be done. In the case of the Allies, they usually gritted their teeth , cooperated and got the job done. In the case of the Axis, um, err, cooperation often didn’t happen.

If at all possible, read histories about the other side. Japan and the Japanese in the 1940’s were more alien than most any Science Fiction or Fantasy character most people have ever encountered. As just one example, assassination of high level government officials was rather common.


Again, I’m starting to run down. I’m sure others can add to this and improve it.



< Message edited by LowCommand -- 8/9/2011 6:58:12 PM >

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Post #: 31
RE: ***Updated***:24JUL11 - 8/10/2011 4:59:41 AM   
zzodr


Posts: 178
Joined: 6/24/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: SuluSea

Nice thread, any thoughts to having a coming soon section? Whether you do or not I'd like to throw this out there for the people that enjoy Bergerud.
Oil On The Water: The Naval War In The South Pacific scheduled to be out 9.24.11. I've been looking forward to this all year.


Thanks for the heads-up on this one. On my buy list.


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Post #: 32
RE: ***Updated***:24JUL11 - 8/10/2011 3:43:10 PM   
James Fennell


Posts: 135
Joined: 12/25/2010
From: Gloucestershire
Status: offline 		wow - this is fantastic for a new guy - so many thanks!

I'd add http://www.amazon.com/Burma-Longest-1941-1945-Louis-Allen/dp/1842122606

Sorry to post here as well as on just read but can't find it above and it was given to me by a friend after a visit to Rangoon - i really rate it.

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Post #: 33
RE: ***Updated***:24JUL11 - 8/10/2011 8:40:45 PM   
Pascal_slith


Posts: 1651
Joined: 8/20/2003
From: back in Commiefornia
Status: offline 		Origins of the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific by Akira Iriye -- excellent

Cry Havoc: How the arms race drove the world to war 1931-1941


< Message edited by Pascal -- 8/11/2011 4:52:22 AM >

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Post #: 34
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 8/13/2011 8:18:50 PM   
YankeeAirRat


Posts: 633
Joined: 6/22/2005
Status: offline 		I have added a few books on the China-Burma-India theater through out and added a new topic area that is the "Just for Fun" where I will attempt to add a couple of books that covered the children's life during world war 2. So to start it off I have added Buz Sawyer the rousing Naval Aviator, along with Willie and Joe. I know there are a few others out their like Cap America and Blazing Combat. THese are not historically accurate nor completely related to the historical record. However, they are fun and after spending hours wading through deep tombs of historical records, it is fun to read some superhero who is able to kick butt and take names. If you haven't read a comic book while sitting under your sheets with a flash light hoping your parents wouldn't come in then you have lead a sheltered life

Oh and I would normally edit this on Sunday, however that dreaded add on Real Life is keeping me busy right now and I wont be here this Sunday.

< Message edited by YankeeAirRat -- 8/13/2011 8:21:45 PM >

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Post #: 35
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 8/13/2011 8:25:55 PM   
ilovestrategy


Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline 		I'm not sure if a fictional book is allowed in this thread. I just finished "The Caine Mutiny" by Wouk. God, I love that book. When I got to the end I looked at the very first sentence on page one and thought about how the Willard Kieth on that page was nothing like the one on the last. Would anyone happen to know of any good fictional books on the PTO? I would really love to read more. I loved Wouk's "War and Rememberence".( I have a feeling I mispelled rememberence) 

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Post #: 36
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 8/14/2011 6:02:14 AM   
Pascal_slith


Posts: 1651
Joined: 8/20/2003
From: back in Commiefornia
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

I'm not sure if a fictional book is allowed in this thread. I just finished "The Caine Mutiny" by Wouk. God, I love that book. When I got to the end I looked at the very first sentence on page one and thought about how the Willard Kieth on that page was nothing like the one on the last. Would anyone happen to know of any good fictional books on the PTO? I would really love to read more. I loved Wouk's "War and Rememberence".( I have a feeling I mispelled rememberence) 


War and Rememberance was the second volume. "Winds of War" was the first. Both were made into a mini-series with Robert Mitchum playing the main character.



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Post #: 37
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 8/19/2011 4:58:52 PM   
terje439


Posts: 6813
Joined: 3/28/2004
Status: offline 		Some Personal Histories or "There I was..."


"D-Days in the Pacfici with the U.S.Coast Guard The Story of the Lucky 13" by Ken Wiley.

Just passed it by and picked it up on a whim, but really enjoying it. It does not give (nor pretends to do so) and grand insight in the Pacific War per ce, but follows Ken Wiley from a young boy untill he enlists with the Coast Guards and the actions he sees as the Coxwain(??) on a landing craft attached to an APA.

Terje

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Post #: 38
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 8/19/2011 6:22:09 PM   
steamboateng


Posts: 354
Joined: 3/21/2010
From: somewhere in Massachusetts
Status: offline 		I've recently read and recommend:

Eagle Against the Sun; Ronald H. Spector; 585 pgs. ISBN 0-394-74101-3 (pbk)
A general overview of the war with Japan; preliminaries, causes, major events. Includes a bibliography and index.

Guadalcanal: The Definative Account of the Landmark Battle; Richard B Frank; 800 pgs. ISBN 0-14-01.6561-4 (pbk)
A highly detailed account of the 6 month battle, including the naval engagents, land engagements, and the influence of the 'Cactus' Airforce.
Includes copius notes, bibliography and index.


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Post #: 39
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. ***Bump*** - 8/30/2011 4:48:55 AM   
YankeeAirRat


Posts: 633
Joined: 6/22/2005
Status: offline 		Bumped for the newbies out there.

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Post #: 40
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. ***Bump*** - 8/30/2011 7:20:05 AM   
ilovestrategy


Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline 		There's some really good stuff in there. I lost count of the number of times I read Toland's "Decline of the Japanese Empire".

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Post #: 41
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 8/30/2011 3:05:26 PM   
John 3rd


Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005
From: La Salle, Colorado
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: steamboateng

I've recently read and recommend:

Eagle Against the Sun; Ronald H. Spector; 585 pgs. ISBN 0-394-74101-3 (pbk)
A general overview of the war with Japan; preliminaries, causes, major events. Includes a bibliography and index.

Guadalcanal: The Definative Account of the Landmark Battle; Richard B Frank; 800 pgs. ISBN 0-14-01.6561-4 (pbk)
A highly detailed account of the 6 month battle, including the naval engagents, land engagements, and the influence of the 'Cactus' Airforce.
Includes copius notes, bibliography and index.



Frank's work is fantastic!

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Post #: 42
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 9/3/2011 6:35:50 PM   
steamboateng


Posts: 354
Joined: 3/21/2010
From: somewhere in Massachusetts
Status: offline 		Yes, Frank's work on the Guadalcanal battle is a gem of a book. The detail is profuse enough to justify a second reading (It's on my list).
His accounts of the early naval battles give a sense of the genuine confusion and relative inexperience of the USN, facing it's first major test of the IJN's surface battle fleets in night actions.
Not to mention the US Marine Corps outstanding performance in it's first invasion against the Empire.
One cannot but help coming away with an admiration for the commitment, courage, audacity, and skills of both combatants engaged in this test of wills.
A 'must read' for anyone wishing to gain an insight into the Pacific War; and the battle which set the tone for all amphibeous landings thereafter.

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Post #: 43
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 9/3/2011 7:44:44 PM   
witpqs


Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: steamboateng

Yes, Frank's work on the Guadalcanal battle is a gem of a book. The detail is profuse enough to justify a second reading (It's on my list).
His accounts of the early naval battles give a sense of the genuine confusion and relative inexperience of the USN, facing it's first major test of the IJN's surface battle fleets in night actions.
Not to mention the US Marine Corps outstanding performance in it's first invasion against the Empire.
One cannot but help coming away with an admiration for the commitment, courage, audacity, and skills of both combatants engaged in this test of wills.
A 'must read' for anyone wishing to gain an insight into the Pacific War; and the battle which set the tone for all amphibeous landings thereafter.


Well put!

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Post #: 44
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 9/4/2011 1:45:00 AM   
ilovestrategy


Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline 		I just picked up "Eagle against the Sun" today at a swap meet for two dollars. Started reading it today.

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Post #: 45
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 9/20/2011 8:54:13 PM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Apollo11

Hi all,

This book is missing and it is one of the kind book that covers the pre-war (i.e. how Japanese politics worked) and whole war from the Japanese side!


The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945
By John Toland

http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Sun-Decline-Japanese-1936-1945/dp/0812968581/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1310973246&sr=8-2


Leo "Apollo11"


Warspite1

Just started reading this - so far so very very good (although I keep having to go back and remind myself who is who - which makes progress a little slow ).

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Post #: 46
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 10/1/2011 12:12:21 PM   
Insano

 

Posts: 228
Joined: 7/23/2009
From: Joplin, Missouri
Status: offline 		bump - looking for a new book and I think this thread is the most current

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Post #: 47
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 10/1/2011 12:31:18 PM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Insano

bump - looking for a new book and I think this thread is the most current
Warspite1

What subject are you looking at - anything in particular?

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Post #: 48
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 10/1/2011 11:16:45 PM   
Insano

 

Posts: 228
Joined: 7/23/2009
From: Joplin, Missouri
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1
Warspite1

What subject are you looking at - anything in particular?


I just ordered "Japanese Destroyer Captain" and "Stuka Pilot" the war memoirs of Hans Rudel. Should be here beginning of next week!

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Post #: 49
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 10/2/2011 2:42:58 AM   
mdiehl

 

Posts: 5998
Joined: 10/21/2000
Status: offline 		I can also recommend Bloodstained Sea: The US Coast Guard and the Battle for the Atlantic by Michael Walling.

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Post #: 50
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 10/2/2011 7:37:56 AM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		Speaking of the Battle of The Atlantic, Convoy SC122 and HX229 by Martin Middlebrook is well worth a read. This book really brings to life the problems faced by U-boat crews, the convoy escorts and last but certainly not least, the merchant sailors of all nationalities. An excellent book.

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Post #: 51
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 10/2/2011 10:15:43 AM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline 		.

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Post #: 52
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 10/2/2011 10:26:32 AM   
Insano

 

Posts: 228
Joined: 7/23/2009
From: Joplin, Missouri
Status: offline 		by the way I was also looking at "Fist From the Sky" which is on the original list in this thread. It is about Takashige Egusa of Soryu but it was not well reviewed on Amazon. One of the reviewers recommended instead this book:

Into the Assault: Famous Dive-Bomber Aces of the Second World War

which is by the same author. However this book seems a bit difficult to find.

I like reading the books that have a lot of personal narrative sprinkled in as opposed to mainly statistics and analysis. The problem with this on the Axis side is that a lot of the personal narrators were killed during the war. I'm interested in the anti-shipping strikes, not necessarily the carrier battles. For example Crete and the Mediterranean convoys sound interesting. I'm not sure what the best Japanese equivalent would be. There is the attack on force Z but I see that as a one off.

Any ideas for an "entertaining" read - if that makes sense?


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Post #: 53
RE: Potentially the Book Thread. - 10/2/2011 8:25:29 PM   
YankeeAirRat


Posts: 633
Joined: 6/22/2005
Status: offline 		Insano,

I haven't found that many books from the Japanese perspective on conducting anti-shipping strikes. The few that I have found were completely in Japanese and my language skills in Japanese is severly lacking (the most that I can do is order beer and tell a pretty lady that she is pretty). Even then those pickings are slim, since it appears that most of the attack pilots in either the IJNAF or IJAAF either didn't survive the war or just didn't want to talk about thier experiences.

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Post #: 54
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 10/2/2011 10:16:27 PM   
JWE

 

Posts: 6580
Joined: 7/19/2005
Status: offline 		A lot of people hook onto some really good mainstream books. This is good, but there's a whole bunch of stuff that isn't mainstream but is totally awesome in its own milieu. Here's some that I think worthwhile from a man who's been there and done that and can describe it in terms we can all understand. This is what the students at the Naval Academy read.

McGee, William L., The Amphibians Are Coming! Emergence of the 'Gator Navy and its Revolutionary Landing Craft, Vol. 1, BMC Publications;
McGee, William L., The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville, Pacific War Turning Point, Vol. II, BMC Publications;
McGee, William L., Pacific Express: The Critical Role of Military Logistics in World War II, Vol. III, BMC Publications.

These are not your momma's coffee table Guadalcanal books.

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Post #: 55
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 10/3/2011 2:49:53 AM   
Pascal_slith


Posts: 1651
Joined: 8/20/2003
From: back in Commiefornia
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JWE

A lot of people hook onto some really good mainstream books. This is good, but there's a whole bunch of stuff that isn't mainstream but is totally awesome in its own milieu. Here's some that I think worthwhile from a man who's been there and done that and can describe it in terms we can all understand. This is what the students at the Naval Academy read.

McGee, William L., The Amphibians Are Coming! Emergence of the 'Gator Navy and its Revolutionary Landing Craft, Vol. 1, BMC Publications;
McGee, William L., The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville, Pacific War Turning Point, Vol. II, BMC Publications;
McGee, William L., Pacific Express: The Critical Role of Military Logistics in World War II, Vol. III, BMC Publications.

These are not your momma's coffee table Guadalcanal books.


These three have been on my list for a while. I looked at the table of contents of Pacific Express, though, and found that I have virtually all the sources. Does McGee add to these?

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Post #: 56
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 10/3/2011 8:27:19 PM   
Wirraway_Ace


Posts: 1400
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Austin / Brisbane
Status: offline 		I did not see these two excellent first-hand accounts of the sub war listed:
Wahoo: The Patrols of America's Most Famous World War II Submarine by Richard H. O'Kane
Clear the Bridge! : The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang by Richard H. O'Kane

Along with Blair's Silent Victory (included in JEFFK's list on the first page), must reads for those who don't understand submarines.

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Post #: 57
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 10/3/2011 8:42:32 PM   
Nikademus


Posts: 25684
Joined: 5/27/2000
From: Alien spacecraft
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JWE

A lot of people hook onto some really good mainstream books. This is good, but there's a whole bunch of stuff that isn't mainstream but is totally awesome in its own milieu. Here's some that I think worthwhile from a man who's been there and done that and can describe it in terms we can all understand. This is what the students at the Naval Academy read.

McGee, William L., The Amphibians Are Coming! Emergence of the 'Gator Navy and its Revolutionary Landing Craft, Vol. 1, BMC Publications;
McGee, William L., The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville, Pacific War Turning Point, Vol. II, BMC Publications;
McGee, William L., Pacific Express: The Critical Role of Military Logistics in World War II, Vol. III, BMC Publications.

These are not your momma's coffee table Guadalcanal books.


how so? Interested in the 2nd one....on Solomons Campaigns. The third one scares me.

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Post #: 58
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 10/3/2011 9:23:12 PM   
warspite1


Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JWE

A lot of people hook onto some really good mainstream books. This is good, but there's a whole bunch of stuff that isn't mainstream but is totally awesome in its own milieu. Here's some that I think worthwhile from a man who's been there and done that and can describe it in terms we can all understand. This is what the students at the Naval Academy read.

McGee, William L., The Amphibians Are Coming! Emergence of the 'Gator Navy and its Revolutionary Landing Craft, Vol. 1, BMC Publications;
McGee, William L., The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville, Pacific War Turning Point, Vol. II, BMC Publications;
McGee, William L., Pacific Express: The Critical Role of Military Logistics in World War II, Vol. III, BMC Publications.

These are not your momma's coffee table Guadalcanal books.
Warspite1

1 + 2 sound interesting. I think I will take a chance and order no.2 from Amazon now because I am really struggling to make headway with Neptune's Inferno . Hopefully this will prove a better read; if not I think I will give up on the Solomons completely

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Post #: 59
RE: ***Updated***:13AUG11 - 10/4/2011 1:09:01 AM   
Misconduct


Posts: 1864
Joined: 2/18/2009
From: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Status: offline 		Aw crap, I have maybe 3-4 books on that list - anyone curious to throw their best 5 books out? I would like to improve my reading.

Honestly I've heard Shattered Sword 1000 times on this board and still haven't picked that book up yet. (dont hurt me)

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Post #: 60
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