Movie Theater Anyone Read A Good NON-Fiction Book Lately?

#151
Just finished reading the New King James version of the Bible. Took me just over 12 months.

I found that lot of things in the New Testament have a special significance that you don't pick up on if you didn't read the Old Testament first. Funny thing is a lot of people who read this book tend to only read the second half of it.
 
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#152
Odysseus1911 said:
Just finished reading the New King James version of the Bible. Took me just over 12 months.

I found that lot of things in the New Testament have a special significance that you don't pick up on if you didn't read the Old Testament first. Funny thing is a lot of people who read this book tend to only read the second half of it.
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(y)(y)Nice! If someone doesn't have 12 months, I recommend Proverbs as required reading.
 
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#154
Dog Company

Wow.

"A true story of American Soldiers abandoned by their high command"....

I just finished reading this book, and can't believe such a thing(s) happened. Let alone CONTINUED to happen. "Despicable" just isn't the word for it.

Anyone else read this book?

By: Lynn Vincent and Captain Roger Hill
 
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#155
Sean the Nailer said:
Dog Company

Wow.

"A true story of American Soldiers abandoned by their high command"....

I just finished reading this book, and can't believe such a thing(s) happened. Let alone CONTINUED to happen. "Despicable" just isn't the word for it.

Anyone else read this book?

By: Lynn Vincent and Captain Roger Hill
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Haven't read it yet but just ordered it. Thanks for the info.
 
#156
"Enigma" by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore. Has details how the Poles, French and British broke the German WWII Enigma codes. The enigma came in 3 main flavors: naval, airforce and land force. This book deals with the naval code and mainly the Battle of the Atlantic against the Uboats and Gernan surface forces of its capital ships such the Bismark and Schanhorst. The big break came in the early 30's when a German employee in the German cipher department sold the Enigma user manuals to the French Secret Service and the Poles had copied the enigma machine because a German company has mistakenly mailed a commercial version to Poland in the late 20's.
 
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#157
The Enigma book sounds interesting. I'll check that out. Just started reading The Gun by CJ Chivers. It won the Pulitzer. It's about the AK-47, general machine gun development. Very interesting.
 
#163
"Thud Ridge" written by F105 pilot, COL J. Broughton. It is about F105 operations against the Hanoi area. Delivering bombs by dive bombing their targets against Sams and radar-directed large caliber AAA defenses in good or mostly bad weather (although small caliber fireams were also danger) Targets and routes to and from target were restricted by micromanagement from Washington, DC. which allowed the enemy to concentrate their defenses: "don't bomb here, here, here and here and btw, ignore those SAM launches, Mig bases and AAA concentrations"! As now, the battle is planned by lawyers and politicians (but I repeat myself). BTW, the 105 did all the missions in the high risk areas, not B52s, not F4s.
 
#164
Sean the Nailer said:
As I have said elsewhere, the book "Fearless" by Eric Blehm was incredible. Darned-near unbelievable.

And that truly is a respectful compliment. In my opinion, all members of this site/hobby should read that book. It's because of who we are.
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Legend by Eric Blem is the story of Medal of Honor recipient Master Sargent Roy Benavidez.

The Only Thing Worth Dying For by Eric Blem is also ecellent.

War by Sebastion Junger is a must read.

That Devil Forrest by John Wyeth is quite good.

Fighting for the Confederacy by Edward Porter Alexander is a must read.

This Kind of War by the late Col. TR Fehrenbach is another must read.

A few off the top of my head for those interested in military history. Thanks to Sean The Nailer for mentioning Fearless by Eric Blem, another must read.
 
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#165
Nothing came up when I did a search (admittedly didn't try too hard) so will throw out The Night Stalkers by Michael J Durant and Steven Hartov
 
#166
Navajo Weapon about the code talkers.

So much garbage has been done about them... esp movies...

Historian Sally Mclaine got the trust of surviving Code Talkers and in 1994 wrote a book that was brilliant. From what I understand the community was very closed and still took their wartime secrecy seriously. And were not happy about earlier portrayals. Mclaine gained their trust and wrote a book not just about them... but with them. A book that the code talkers felt honored their contributions — which were huge. They saved thousands of Marine lives by speeding up secure communications 100x vs manual crypto or code books.

I think it is out of print but there are used copies online.

I dusted mine off for a webinar yesterday and re read it last night. Outstanding.

Sirhr
 
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#167
steve_podleski said:
"Lawrence in Arabia" (not the movie). Lawrence had a much greater role in the Arab revolt against the Ottomans than the movie shows. With no military training or experience, his operations, with initial reluctance by the British intelligence, with the Arab rebels were probably a model for the Green Berets and other special forces operating with native rebels in later wars/conflicts. Other secondary characters are a Yale scion who becomes a spy for Standard Oil, a Jewish agricultural expert who sets up his spy ring in Palestine, and a German spy master who convinces the sister of one of the future founders of Israel to become a spy for the Germans! Lawrence also has some argumentive meetings with Sykes and Picot about their secret agreement to carve up the Middle East between Britain and France. Interestingly Yale found that the Arabs wanted the US to be the arbiter in monitoring the Arab nation building and not the Europeans. One of the better books that I listened to (audio book) keeping down my blood pressure during commuting in traffic. This book could become a great tv series.
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This is a most excellent book! Aahronsen is a fascinating character and his contributions as an agronomist are still being felt.

There is an excellent BBC documentary on TEL on YouTube. I’ll see if I can find link.

Cheers, Sirhr
 
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#168
Sean the Nailer said:
Now I'm reading "A Man Called INTREPID" by William Stevenson. I don't need to tell ya'll what it's about.
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If you did, you would have to kill us!

If you like that one, read The Ultra Secret.

The book that spilled the beans on Bletchley.

Cheers, Sirhr
 
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#170
sirhrmechanic said:
This is a most excellent book! Aahronsen is a fascinating character and his contributions as an agronomist are still being felt.

There is an excellent BBC documentary on TEL on YouTube. I’ll see if I can find link.

Cheers, Sirhr
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This book could be made into an excellent tv series with multiple seasons. I wonder why no one has, especially the Brits!

Aahronsen made Isreal possible by turning desert into gardens.
 
#172
Sean the Nailer said:
Dog Company

Wow.

"A true story of American Soldiers abandoned by their high command"....

I just finished reading this book, and can't believe such a thing(s) happened. Let alone CONTINUED to happen. "Despicable" just isn't the word for it.

Anyone else read this book?

By: Lynn Vincent and Captain Roger Hill
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Great book! Thanks for the recommendation.
Every citizen should read this book on how the government can screw the soldier in the field!

During the Bush/Rumsfeld/Gates administration we have the equivalent of Obama's catch and release policy in Afghanistan except is much more dangerous where Taliban spies are released to cause more death and destruction. These 'allies' are inside the wire guiding in rockets and mortars or revealing to outside Taliban leaders COP and FOB missions/routes/timetables resulting in ambushes. When a company captain decides to catch these people and interrogate with a bit of force he goes through the hell of US Army threat of court martial along with some his people. With these rules of engagement, we need to GTHO of Afghanistan.
 
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#173
Try “Killers of the Flower Moon”. David Grann. It’s about Osage Indians in the 1920’s and how they were the richest people on the land until they started getting killed off. It kicked off the FBI. Really good read.
 
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#174
steve podleski said:
Great book! Thanks for the recommendation.
Every citizen should read this book on how the government can screw the soldier in the field!

During the Bush/Rumsfeld/Gates administration we have the equivalent of Obama's catch and release policy in Afghanistan except is much more dangerous where Taliban spies are released to cause more death and destruction. These 'allies' are inside the wire guiding in rockets and mortars or revealing to outside Taliban leaders COP and FOB missions/routes/timetables resulting in ambushes. When a company captain decides to catch these people and interrogate with a bit of force he goes through the hell of US Army threat of court martial along with some his people. With these rules of engagement, we need to GTHO of Afghanistan.
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http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/03/17/afghanistan.nato.detainees/index.html

Sometimes you have to be a martyr, if you believe strongly in your cause, to effect change.
 
#176
Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides
Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West.
Carson did it all. Although small in size he was a mountain man, trapper, guide, soldier, etc.
Guided Fremont on his expeditions to and thru out the west.
He was a reluctant hero and was involved in many incidents with various tribes of Native Americans.
Although he could not write and had difficulty reading, he could speak many different languages.
On his last trip to Washington D.C. he was made a Brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers.
Sadly, just before his own death at home, his wife died in his arms from birth complications.
Over 575 pages that is highly readable.
 
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#179
A couple of my favorites recently have been the Last Lion (Winston Churchill bio), which is super long and perfect for anyone with a bit of extra time on your hands, and Rise up and Kill First by Ronen Bergman. I also enjoyed a Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
 
#186
After seeing the recommendations for The Longest Kill, I picked up a copy. Read it in two sittings this weekend, very hard for me to put down. As noted above, it was very gritty. Written by a real man, so it can be a little rough around the edges, but a great story of his life. If you like military sniper type stories, it’s a solid read. Thanks to pilotjoe and army joe for letting us know about it.
 
#189
Reading Semper Fi, Mac! again.

It's a copy I had bought in High School.

Remember picking it off the book rack and feeling it was like porn.

Expecting the bookseller, I think it was Walden Books, to say "Young man why are you reading a book about war and Marines? Isn't there something more suitable for you?"
 
#191
CORONER by Thomas T. Noguchi: relates about what happened in the deaths of Natalie Wood, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Sharon Tate, William Holden, John Belushi and others. Seeks to answer some of the unanswered questions...Good read.
 
#192
If you're wanting voyage and adventure reading based in reality , non fiction, I highly recommend Tim Severin's books - especially St Brendan voyage, the Jason voyage and Crusader by horse to Jerusalem. . an anthropologist based in practical trials , Severin is a bad ass explorer writer and researcher. Order here and learn more http://www.timseverin.net/expeditions.html
 
#193
daltexmex said:
Im still reading THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH.. One of the best books I have ever read. It shows you how the Nazis came into power.
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I read that while in the service during the early sixties. At that time it was the longest/thickest paperback book made. Over 500 pages if I remember. Took me three months to read, but I have more time now and read faster.
 
#194
Herstal 12 said:
Re-reading baa baa black sheep by Gregory “pappy” boyington. Great read.
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Met Robert Conrad when he and his wife came into the "World Famous Stagecoach Bar" in the Greyhound Bus Depot in Reno in the 70's. Conrad played "Pappy" in the TV series Baa Baa Black Sheep. I didn't recognize him at first and when I poured beers for him and his wife, I told him he looked familiar and then it hit me. I said, "You make those battery commercials" where he asks someone to dare to knock one off his shoulder. My barmaid was so enchanted with me she wanted to keep the glass he drank out of. Seems to me, I read his book quite awhile ago.
While stories about air battles are enthralling, to me, there is nothing as suspenseful about a good submarine story. Just reading about being in a tin can underwater while an enemy destroyer is dropping depth charges above you has always made me extremely tense.
 
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#195
Kir said:
Met Robert Conrad when he and his wife came into the "World Famous Stagecoach Bar" in the Greyhound Bus Depot in Reno in the 70's. Conrad played "Pappy" in the TV series Baa Baa Black Sheep. I didn't recognize him at first and when I poured beers for him and his wife, I told him he looked familiar and then it hit me. I said, "You make those battery commercials" where he asks someone to dare to knock one off his shoulder. My barmaid was so enchanted with me she wanted to keep the glass he drank out of. Seems to me, I read his book quite awhile ago.
While stories about air battles are enthralling, to me, there is nothing as suspenseful about a good submarine story. Just reading about being in a tin can underwater while an enemy destroyer is dropping depth charges above you has always made me extremely tense.
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If you like submarine books, you should read "Blind Man's Bluff" about the U.S. sub service in the Cold War. Incredible book.

Also, there was a great movie/documentary about Hyman Rickover done on PBS a few years ago. Used to be free on YouTube, but PBS now charges for everything (which sucks... because WE paid for most of their crap....). Regardless, this is good movie/documentary about Rickover. Fascinating man! Darn near everything that 'became' the Cold War Sub service could trace its roots back to his... personality.

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
#196
Just finished Lucky 666: The Impossible Mission. By Drury and Calvin. Good read about Army bombing in the pacific during WWII. It’s pretty interesting. Leaned a good bit I wasn’t aware of.
 
#198
paxamus said:
Phantom Warrior: The Heroic True Story Of Private John McKinney's One-Man Stand Against the Japanese in Word War II by Forrest Bryant Johnson
Great book about a young private who grew up in a sharecropper's family in Georgia who ended up winning the Congressional Medal of Honor

Fearless by Eric Blehm
Amazing story of Adam Brown a SEAL in DEVGRU. It's not just about him being a SEAL, but more about the man he was and what an amazing man he became and his trials and tribulations and how God and his wife turned everything around- There are parts when you read it, you want to put it down and hug your family.

American Gun by Chris Kyle
He tells the story of our country through what he believes are the 10 most influential firearms in American history.,

Meat Eater: Adventures From The Life Of An American Hunter by Steve Rinella
Fun read by the host of Meat Eater- just makes you want to hunt and then eat something

On deck is Carry On: Stan Zuray's Journey from Boston Greaser to Alaskan Homesteader
Can't wait for this one, its the Boston guy from Yukon Men on Discovery- I swear he can fix/make anything

These are a few of my favorite non fiction books as of late
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any of Blehm's books are good reads.
 
#199
If you enjoy reading primary sources, this is a great book about day to day life of an enlisted Sailor on a WW2 destroyer. AFAIK, there aren't many books written from that perspective.

Screen Shot 2021-01-11 at 9.46.40 AM.png

Another primary source, book of German letters home from the Eastern front WW2 starting just before the invasion of Russia.

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#200
Yellowhammer said:
If you enjoy reading primary sources, this is a great book about day to day life of an enlisted Sailor on a WW2 destroyer. AFAIK, there aren't many books written from that perspective.

View attachment 7525556

Another primary source, book of German letters home from the Eastern front WW2 starting just before the invasion of Russia.

View attachment 7525559
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Hornfischer's "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" is really good as is Drury and Clavin's "Halsey's Typhoon".
 
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