Non-fiction Book Recommendation?

[Wise_A]

In My Time, A Personal and Political Memoir, Dick Cheney, with his daughter Liz (Wyo. just elected her as our State Rep). Dick was the best SecDef in my 28-year career. He's a Wyoming boy so, yeah, I'm a bit prejudiced, but still....

And, yeah, I'd probably go hunting with him.

Cheers,

Bob

+1 on Dick Cheney's memoirs. He really got vilified in the mainstream media, I think, because he's the antithesis of everything conservatives are accused of being. He grew up dirt-poor, became SecDef and VP, and maintains a close relationship with his daughter Liz (who got raked over the coals by many in the media, despite not being a political or public figure at all).

 

[rwsmith]

Simon Kenton.....

Empire Of The Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne. I just finished it for the second time. The story of the rise and fall of the fearsome Comanche nation. A great read.

Along similar lines is A Fate Worse Than Death by Susan and Gregory Michno, a well researched book about people taken as captives during the Indian Wars. Not for the faint of heart, though.

I just started A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn by James Donovan. Its good so far, too early to recommend.

In the same vein, there is a book called "The Frontiersman" about Simon Kenton who was the equivalent of Crockett and Boone but not nearly as well known. Fascinating book. If I learned anything from it, it was than if the Indians that he encountered liked you, they would kill you quick. If they DIDN'T like you it could take days.

Anything on WWII or technology catches my fancy and "Iron Coffin" by a surviving U-boat commander is a great read. Also "Blind Man's Bluff" about the exploits of our subs during the cold war that were classified until recently.

Anything on the space program, too. I've read and reread 'Apollo 13'.

 

[rwsmith]

Phantom Over Vietnam.

"A Lonely Kind of War" by Marshall Harrison tells of the life of a FAC pilot in Viet Nam. Great read.

That was a book about the daily life and workings of a Marine pilot and the F-4 Phantom mostly as a bomber, strengths, weakness and lot of technical detail about how they fought. He admits that some people find the real talk boring, but I found it fascinating. One 'memorable' story he recounted was how the canopy raising strut came loose in a a plane and when the pilot tried to raise the canopy, it instead hit the sear on the ejection seat. He was surprised that the canopy was in perfect shape, but not the pilot.

Just a lot of stuff you never heard about.

When I was a young teenager I would wake up on a fine morning in my bed with the sun shining and the birds singing and realize how different it would be waking up in Vietnam. 'shudder'.

 

[Tom S.]

'Unbroken". It was an excellent movie based on reality. The book is better than the movie.

I'd give this more than one like if I could. It is an excellent book - so good that I never saw the movie because I knew it could never live up to the book.

 

[Wise_A]

I'd give this more than one like if I could. It is an excellent book - so good that I never saw the movie because I knew it could never live up to the book.

It was produced and directed by Angelina Jolie. I think that basically sums up everything you need to know about the movie.

 

[mudcat100]

Lost In Shangri-La. A true story about the rescue of the survivors of an Army Air Force plane crash in New Guinea during WWII. The way they were rescued was amazing. I had never heard of this until I read the book. This would make a great movie if it was made right.

 

[crazyphil]

I have been re-reading portions of a book I read many years ago. It is
THE EDUCATION OF A BEAR HUNTER by Ralph Flowers. He was employed
by a timber protective association to keep the bear population under
control. He killed 1,100 bear in his career.
Many interesting tidbits that any shooter will enjoy. For instance, he
shot a bear with his .270 which shattered the bear's heart, but the
bear still ran 150 yards before expiring. Another incident his .270
bullet ricocheted off a bears skull. He also killed bear with an old
.38 pistol. (I think it was a revolver, but in older days folks didn't
distinguish pistol from revolver.)

Also wanted to add my amen to those who like Unbroken. I loved the
book. Couldn't put it down. The movie was a disappointment.

 

[mudcat100]

Empire Of The Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne. I just finished it for the second time. The story of the rise and fall of the fearsome Comanche nation. A great read.

Along similar lines is A Fate Worse Than Death by Susan and Gregory Michno, a well researched book about people taken as captives during the Indian Wars. Not for the faint of heart, though.

I just started A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn by James Donovan. Its good so far, too early to recommend.

I read Empire Of The Summer Moon. Quanah Parker was a brilliant leader. Excellent read

 

[cmort666]

"Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin" - By Timothy Snyder.

It's a well deserved slap in the face to apologists for both Hitler and Stalin.

 

[loknload]

Right now I'm reading Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow. By Steve Lehto.
Just finished reading Fortunate Son by John Fogherty

 

[brigham33]

I read a lot of military history. The first book that came to my mind to recommend are the books on the pacific war by Ian Toll: The "Conquering Tide" and "Pacific Crucible". They gave me a much better understanding of the Pacific War and our Navy from both our side as well as lots of research on the Japanese. They are the first two books of a trilogy that is in progress.

I did 2 tours in Southeast Asia but learned gained a new perspective on the war from reading "A Shau Valor" by Thomas Yarborough.

The experiences of a draftee in 1970 are well summarized in "349 Days" by Slater Davis.

 

[cmort666]

I read a lot of military history. The first book that came to my mind to recommend are the books on the pacific war by Ian Toll: The "Conquering Tide" and "Pacific Crucible". They gave me a much better understanding of the Pacific War and our Navy from both our side as well as lots of research on the Japanese.

Let me recommend "War Without Mercy" by John Dower, which gives a racial/cultural perspective on the Pacific War.

It goes into depth on the attitudes of both sides toward each other, as well as toward the peoples of the territories over which they contended.

Eventually, while we got serious about understanding Japanese culture and society in order to defeat Japan, the Japanese just plowed on in self-serving ignorance. Like the Germans, they never understood us, and never really wanted to.

We thought the Japanese couldn't fight, and they thought we wouldn't.

We were both wrong.

 

[dsbock]

"We Who Are Alive and Remain" by Marcus Brotherton
A companion book to Band of Brothers

Two others that I found very good are:
"Infantry Soldier" by George Neill and
"Once Upon a Time in War" by Robert Humphrey
About the Battle of the bulge

Vietnam Era:
"If Not Now, When?" by Col. Jack Jacobs

For a more modern experience:
"Ghosts of War" by Ryan Smithson

I can go through my bookshelf if you would like more ideas.

 

[OFT II]

Escape from Corregidor written by Edgar Whitcomb. Whitcomb was an Air Force officer stationed on Bataan when the war began. Whitcomb was governor of Indiana in the late 1960s.

 

[BAM-BAM]

In the same vein, there is a book called "The Frontiersman" about Simon Kenton who was the equivalent of Crockett and Boone but not nearly as well known. Fascinating book. If I learned anything from it, it was than if the Indians that he encountered liked you, they would kill you quick. If they DIDN'T like you it could take days.

If it's the same book.. "The Frontiermens" by Allan Eckert.... I read it as it covers a bit of W Pa,W.VA., Ohio and Indiana ....... along with "Kan-tuk-kee".

Good history read..... more Boone era than Crockett........ and covers a area/time in US history that seems to be overlooked....... Western Reserve and Ohio River valley

 

[PALADIN85020]

My all-time favorite non-fiction book does not focus on firearms, wars, or military history.

"Travels with Charley" by John Steinbeck chronicles his journey across America in 1961 in a camper truck, along with his dog Charley. His descriptions of the locales and the people along the way are masterful.

As for firearms, at the risk of self-promotion, if you're into firearms, I'll let J.B. Wood tell you about my book, of which I'm very proud.

John

 

[federali]

Another Great Read!

First, many thanks to all who responded. I now have a good file of reading materials for the near future.

Let me also recommend "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson. This is one of those rare reads that you simply can't put down. Wish I could say more but I won't ruin it for anyone planning to read it.

And yes, I've read Paladin85020's recommendation of "Travels With Charlie", a truly great book well worth reading.

Congratulations are also in order for Paladin85020 on the recent publication of his book, "101 Classic Firearms."

 

[chaparrito]

"Murder City"

Charles Bowden

murder city - Google Search

\
If Bowden wrote shopping lists, I'd read them.

 

[Old TexMex]

\
If Bowden wrote shopping lists, I'd read them.

Yes, we lost a good man when we lost Chuck Bowden.

His quotes were the sharpest sword ever swung, his truths were real.
Charles Bowden has died, but his voice is louder than ever | the narcosphere

 

[mtgianni]

Two excellent WWII Submarine books are written by Admiral Richard H O'Kane. Wahoo and Clear the Bridge both could hold someone spell bound who had no previous knowledge of WWII.

Try and read some of J Frank Dobie who wrote about the SW. A lot of his books were retelling stories of fact and possible fiction from 100-200 years ago.

The Worst journey in the World by Apsley Cherry- Giraud is of the Scott expedition to Antarctica and while occasionally dry it is fascinating to see the accomplishments of humans.
I believe Endurance should be required reading for all to pass HS. I prefer the Alfred Lansing edition to a latter one.