How about history books?

[schizuki]

Since we're on a history theme, how about book recommendations?

I favor lively works by academics. Not easy to find, but more rewarding than, say, Stephen Ambrose.

I'm in the middle of Fred Anderson's Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766.. If you're interested in a scholarly but very readable history of the French & Indian War for a mass audience, you'll love it.

Can't recommend David Hackett Fischer highly enough. Paul Revere's Ride, Washington's Crossing, and Champlain's Dream are terrific (in that order). He's a gifted writer and a top-notch historian. Refreshingly old school. Rather than thinking that history is the result of irresistible forces sweeping mere actors along, he believes that people make history. Imagine that! Just look at his titles - it's a person, and his action. No faceless determinism here. I also highly recommend his first notable work, Albion's Seed. It's cultural history, not narrative, so it's fairly dry. But it's an utterly fascinating explanation of how the four major British cultural strands in America came to be, and how they persist to this day. Every foreign journalist covering the U.S. should read it.

And to get really esoteric, The Battle of Lundy's Lane by Donald E. Graves is a lively account of a battle you never heard of. But it was the birthing battle of the U.S. Army and the reason (many say) that West Point cadets wear gray today. A sadly forgotten battle from a little-known war.

At the opposite end of the spectrum - the utterly repellent A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn. A pity. There's stuff in it you don't read elsewhere, but his hypocrisy and condescension make it all too suspect. Zinn is the type of guy you could imagine typing out press releases for the Politburo. If you can stomach it, it's a different perspective. Not wholly worthwhile, but different. Take with copious grains of salt.

[seruzawa]

For the Civil War it's hard to beat James MacPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom". It's written in a very user friendly fashion. Covers the factors that lead up to it and the war itself.

Another good read is Col. James Hackworth's autobiography "About Face." A fascinating view of the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well as the clusterf**k that is the peacetime army. His account of the Army is so revealing that the book has been confiscated from active duty troops.

If one wants to read another good book on the Forgotten War (Korea) one could do worse than "This Kind of War" by TR Fehrenbach. Far worse.

I agree with you about Ambrose. I read the novel after seeing the mini-series "Band of Brothers" and was disappointed.

[pplassm]

Re: West Point grey uniforms.

Battle of Chippawa, 5 July, 1814.

Lundy's Lane was 25 July.

"Those are regulars, by God,!"

"The battle of Chippawa, and the subsequent Battle of Lundy's Lane, proved that American regular units could hold their own against British regulars if properly trained and well led."

It's amazing what you remember after 34 years. It was mandatory Plebe knowledge.

[pplassm]

For a great, in-depth analysis of the Battle of Britain, Len Deighton's "Fighter" is fantastic. I've read it three times. It's very detailed in technical analysis, and even political discussion, but Deighton is such a good writer that it is hard to put down.

"Blood, Tears and Folly" is good, too.

[Buzglyd]

I hear The Audacity of Hope is great.

[sarnali2]

Originally Posted by Buzglyd

I hear The Audacity of Hope is great.

Jeeze..couldn't help yourself eh?.....

Duel of Eagles by Peter Townsend is an in depth study of the RAF and Luftwaffe from the 1st world war through the battle of Britain, a good read if you're interested. Another one is The Rise and Fall of the Third Riech by William L Shirer is a must read on how Goering, Hitler and Goebbles took a dissafected handful of street thugs from beer hall brawlers to absolute power in what used to be a center of European culture. Fascinating read.

[Kenneth_Moore]

I have a pretty complete selection of almost anything published on Vietnam's history and the conflict. I was compelled to start the collection after a few friends didn't come back, or came back, but not really. If any of you regulars care to borrow some I'd be willing to lend.

I'll also lend Buzz my highlighted, dog-eared, annotated copy of The Audacity of Hope. BTW: I tried to get it autographed at the Inagural Reception, but they were charging $12, cash only.

[mscuddy]

Oh de massah he way up de ribber
where de Lincoln gunboats lay...
An' he took his hat
An' he left kinda sudden...
An' I thinks he's rund away...

Oh he's six foot four
Half dat cross de middle
and he weigh three hundred pounds
An' I think he's gonna fool dem yankees
An' pass as contriband...

The massah run hah hah
And the darkies stay ho ho
An' I think it must be de kindom's commin'
In the year of Jubiloh!

[Buzglyd]

Originally Posted by Kenneth_Moore

I have a pretty complete selection of almost anything published on Vietnam's history and the conflict. I was compelled to start the collection after a few friends didn't come back, or came back, but not really. If any of you regulars care to borrow some I'd be willing to lend.

I'll also lend Buzz my highlighted, dog-eared, annotated copy of The Audacity of Hope. BTW: I tried to get it autographed at the Inagural Reception, but they were charging $12, cash only.

Well at least that cleared up what they were hoping for.

My Lauderdale trip is a quicky. Don't know yet if I'll have time for a beer.

[schizuki]

Originally Posted by pplassm

Re: West Point grey uniforms.

Battle of Chippawa, 5 July, 1814.

Lundy's Lane was 25 July.

"Those are regulars, by God,!"

"The battle of Chippawa, and the subsequent Battle of Lundy's Lane, proved that American regular units could hold their own against British regulars if properly trained and well led."

It's amazing what you remember after 34 years. It was mandatory Plebe knowledge.

All right, same campaign, ya hair-splitter.