Anyone into military history?

[TheNinja]

I went to Barnes and Noble the other day and was browsing around, tonight I'm going to Borders (I have gift cards there) and am going to get some books. I'm really facinated by military history, everything from the romans, to the civil war, to vietnam (not too much into modern warfare yet, hence the title military history). I started out reading vietnam fiction (or very fiction-like non-fiction). Now I loved browsing through the books on WWII, snipers, Vietnam, etc. Do you guys have any suggestions, thoughts, ideas, or just want to talk about military history & related books?

I know it is a broad topic but discuss away.

 

[Feldenak]

Can you narrow it down a bit? Do you want books that focus on the US Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc...?

 

[The Wildcard]

I'd be interested too. More specfically, I'd like to read about various battle stategies and tactics used in any huge conflict, ranging from the romans to the civil war.

 

[BeauJangles]

Band of Brothers - Stephen Ambrose
D-Day - Stephen Ambrose
God is My Co-Pilot - Col. Robert L. Scott

All excellent books about WW2, God is My Co-Pilot is one of my favorite books of all time.

 

[Ausm]

I am a WWII Buff myself.


AUsm

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
Can you narrow it down a bit? Do you want books that focus on the US Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc...?

I'm having a hard time narrowing between US Civil, WWII, and Vietnam....let's start with WWII.

 

[Rogue]

Although not too far back in history, I highly recommend reading Black Hawk Down. It's an excellent, fast read and gives you insight into today's military. Perhaps starting from the recent past and traveling back through time, you will have a greater understanding of the evolution of military tactics and styles.

 

[Walleye]

go with books on snipers, and get "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. that is a GREAT book. i mean get it. now. go there now. get it. i cant stress this enough.

 

[Bulk Beef]

Originally posted by: The_Wildcard
I'd be interested too. More specfically, I'd like to read about various battle stategies and tactics used in any huge conflict, ranging from the romans to the civil war.

I was flipping through this at Borders a few weeks ago. Looked like an okay primer on that kind of thing.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

For a true Vietnam story, check out "Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills" by Charles Henderson. Great read.

 

[Bulk Beef]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
For a true Vietnam story, check out "Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills" by Charles Henderson. Great read.

I just finished that last week. Hathcock was the f**kin man!

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
For a true Vietnam story, check out "Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills" by Charles Henderson. Great read.

I saw that book. I actually saw 2 books about him, they were next to each other but had different authors.

Also thanks for suggestions so far, I've heard of and thought about before:
Band of Brothers - Stephen Ambrose
D-Day - Stephen Ambrose
Blackhawk down (saw the movie though)

Never heard of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu will check it out though

 

[Cyberian]

Anyone into military history?

I'm not really, but I have always been fascinated by the 'advances' in warfare from Greek/Roman times untill today.
Maybe reading your books in chronolgical order would add even more meaning to their content

 

[ViperMagic]

Originally posted by: sward666

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
For a true Vietnam story, check out "Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills" by Charles Henderson. Great read.

I just finished that last week. Hathcock was the f**kin man!

I've lost count of how many times I've read this book. Hathcock was the man, though I belive he is dead now. A tragedy.

 

[Rogue]

Don't make the mistake of thinking the movie, as graphic and detailed as it was, tells the whole story. You get SO much more from the book.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Staley8

Originally posted by: Feldenak
Can you narrow it down a bit? Do you want books that focus on the US Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc...?

I'm having a hard time narrowing between US Civil, WWII, and Vietnam....let's start with WWII.

WWII, well I'm an Ambrose fan so I can direct you towards his books. They're a relatively easy read and the biggest knock on him is that he failed to cite properly a couple times.

The WWII books I've read and can recommend:

D-Day - Stephen Ambrose
Band of Brothers - Stephen Ambrose (the HBO mini-series is excellent as well and is quite faithful to the book)
Citizen Soldiers - Stephen Ambrose
The Wild Blue - Stephen Ambrose
Americans at War - Stephen Ambrose (a little more general but still a good read)
The Victors - Stephen Ambrose
War As I Knew It - George S Patton
Bridge Too Far - Cornelius Ryan


Those should get you started.

 

[Bulk Beef]

Originally posted by: ViperMagic

Originally posted by: sward666

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
For a true Vietnam story, check out "Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills" by Charles Henderson. Great read.

I just finished that last week. Hathcock was the f**kin man!

I've lost count of how many times I've read this book. Hathcock was the man, though I belive he is dead now. A tragedy.

He died a few years ago of MS.

 

[ClueLis]

Originally posted by: Staley8
Never heard of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu will check it out though

Never heard of "The Art of War"? That is an absolute necessity if you are interested in wartime strategy. Go read it now!

 

[Dragnov]

I'm not into Modern War (World War I and beyond). Killer Angels is definitely a great read. The movie Gods and Generals was based on this series, even though I heard the movie was complete turd, the book is great. It's on the civil war, thought not a historical book really, but rather a fiction/history book.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: sward666

Originally posted by: ViperMagic

Originally posted by: sward666

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
For a true Vietnam story, check out "Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills" by Charles Henderson. Great read.

I just finished that last week. Hathcock was the f**kin man!

I've lost count of how many times I've read this book. Hathcock was the man, though I belive he is dead now. A tragedy.

He died a few years ago of MS.

He came to VMI when I was in school, and I was fortunate enough to hear him talk about his experiences in Vietnam. It was sad to see what MS had done to him at that point, but even with the shaking and being barely able to walk or stand, he apparently could still shoot a perfect three round group every year.

 

[RossGr]

That book on the Great Battles of History is a good place to start. David Chandler is a very good auther, look at his books, read something on the Campaigns of Napoleon, that is the begining point of modern warfare. Also find a book on Stonewall Jacksons campaings in the civil war (His series of battles in the Shenandoa (sp)) valley were the work of pure genius!)

There is a triology written by Foote on the Civil war that is very good, rather long but a good read.

Give Barbara Tuchman's book The Guns of August a read for a good prespective of WWI.

Lots of good military history books out there, pick an era and start reading.

 

[LordMorpheus]

I'm a WWII aviation fan, myself.


Isn't it amazing that video games can be so healthy? I got Il-2:FB and since then I have poked around online and read everything I could about WWII aircraft and the battles they fought.

I'll cancel this anomally by buying Half-Life 2 as soon as it comes out. No education to be had there.

 

[Antoneo]

On a somewhat related note, anyone have links to any truely dedicated war/military history websites out there?

 

[Buttzilla]

u gotta watch that movie...judd law and ed harris about being a sniper? that movie kicks arse!

 

[Vernor]

The Guns of August is the best m. history work ever written.