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Mephisto2 · 11-21-2004, 05:29 PM

Boy oh boy...

My favourite subject.

The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It combines history, science and biography into a nail-biting narrative on this amazing story. Rhodes won the Pulitzer Prize for this book. It may appear long (it is), but it reads like a Hollywood thriller. Exceptionally well written, it tells the story of how the US, along with its British allies, struggled desperately to develop the weapon that would end WWII. It not only covers the efforts of the Allies, but also of the Axis powers and even though we know the ending it really had me on the edge of my seat. I can't recommend this book highly enough. As an aside, it has a 5 star rating after over 100 reviews on Amazon (though I tend not to rely on these too much). If you read only one book on WWII history, then this is it.

Dreadnaught by Robert Massie
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301

Dreadnaught tells the fascinating story of the great naval arms race between Germany and England in the years preceeding WWI. Whilst it may sound a little esoteric of a subject, you find the narrative gripping and the writing so beautiful that you can't help but be drawn in. It really is an amazing book.

The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301
This book stands as one of the most famous military histories ever written. Its opening passage alone is considered one of the most well written pieces in English. It tells of the first month in the First World War when British, German, French and Belgian troops fought over the fields of Flanders. A story of herorism, catastrophe, military genius and blunder and the lives of soldiers, generals and politicians whose actions shaped the following four years of the 'Great War'.

Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301
If you liked Enemy at the Gates, you will love Stalingrad. Using reams of recently available documents from Russia and Germany it tells us about the terrible, almost inhuman battle for the city of Stalingrad. One of the books that started the recent renaissance in military history, Stalingrad is well deservedly considered a masterpiece. A huge international best seller.
Beevor recently published an equally chilling account of the fall of Berlin; also highly recommended. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

The Civil War trilogy by Shelby Foote
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
Absolutely breathtaking and sweeping in scope, Foote's majesterial history of the Civil War is considered of the best, if not the best, history of that conflict. Much more intimate that Pherson's oft-lauded Battle Cry of Freedom and more pesonable than Catton's works, the Civil War trilogy is huge; both in scope and in size. Three very large books that will stay with you for years to come.

The Rising Sun by John Toland
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
Toland's Pulitzer Prize winning history of the decline and fall of the Japanese Empire is history at its best. Beginning with the military coup in Japan in 1936 (the so-called February 26 Incident) it tells how Japan rose to be a frightening military power, how it conquered great swathes of China (Manchuria) and how its military and political doctrine brought about its eventual fall in 1945. Truly great history writing.

The Washing of the Spears by Donald Morris
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301
The definitive history of the Zulu Wars in Southern Africa in the 1870's. It actually starts with the creation of the Zulu nation under the leadership of their great warrior king Shaka and ends with its destruction by the overwhelming firepower of the British Empire. Along the way we learn of how the Zulu nation caused massive socio-economic changes in native Africa, how the British suffered their first humiliating defeat at the hands of "spear waving natives", how 104 British soldiers defended themselves against 4000 Zulus at Rorke's Drift and how these two great proud empires clashed in the closing years of the 19th century. Superb.

The Boer War by Thomas Pakenham
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
A beautifully written history of this often overlooked war in South Africa at the beginning of the 20th century. How many realize it was the British that invented the concentration camps? The stories of great roving bands of 'commandos', of terrible sieges, of inhuman treatment of women and children by British forces... A great story, very well told.

The Scramble for Africa by Thomas Pakenham
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301
Another African masterpiece by Pakenham, this book is not really about a single war or battle but concerns the European powers and their systematic invasion and annexation of Africa over the course of 30 to 40 years. Within one generation, Africa changed from being the "Dark Continent" to a patchwork of artificial colonies ruled by European powers. Fascinating history at its best.

The Greco-Persian Wars by Peter Green.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
Also known as The Year of Salamis in the US, this is the definitive history of the great struggle between the Greek city-states and the massive Persian Empire fought, over two wars, in the fifth century BC. Had the Persians won, world history would be unrecognisably different to that of today. This is a great book.

The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
Kagan, the world's pre-eminent scholar on this subject, published a single volume history on the war between Athens and Sparta last year. Famous for his definitive five volume history (which I've also read and recommend, though it is a bit scholarly), Kagan tells us of the story of how these two great Greek cities fought each other over a generation.

I could go on and on, but I think that's enough for the moment. I might post some more when I get home and browse my bookshelves...

Mr Mephisto

11-21-2004, 05:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Boy oh boy... My favourite subject. The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301 This is one of the best books I've ever read. It combines history, science and biography into a nail-biting narrative on this amazing story. Rhodes won the Pulitzer Prize for this book. It may appear long (it is), but it reads like a Hollywood thriller. Exceptionally well written, it tells the story of how the US, along with its British allies, struggled desperately to develop the weapon that would end WWII. It not only covers the efforts of the Allies, but also of the Axis powers and even though we know the ending it really had me on the edge of my seat. I can't recommend this book highly enough. As an aside, it has a 5 star rating after over 100 reviews on Amazon (though I tend not to rely on these too much). If you read only one book on WWII history, then this is it. Dreadnaught by Robert Massie http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301 Dreadnaught tells the fascinating story of the great naval arms race between Germany and England in the years preceeding WWI. Whilst it may sound a little esoteric of a subject, you find the narrative gripping and the writing so beautiful that you can't help but be drawn in. It really is an amazing book. The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301 This book stands as one of the most famous military histories ever written. Its opening passage alone is considered one of the most well written pieces in English. It tells of the first month in the First World War when British, German, French and Belgian troops fought over the fields of Flanders. A story of herorism, catastrophe, military genius and blunder and the lives of soldiers, generals and politicians whose actions shaped the following four years of the 'Great War'. Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301 If you liked Enemy at the Gates, you will love Stalingrad. Using reams of recently available documents from Russia and Germany it tells us about the terrible, almost inhuman battle for the city of Stalingrad. One of the books that started the recent renaissance in military history, Stalingrad is well deservedly considered a masterpiece. A huge international best seller. Beevor recently published an equally chilling account of the fall of Berlin; also highly recommended. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books The Civil War trilogy by Shelby Foote http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books Absolutely breathtaking and sweeping in scope, Foote's majesterial history of the Civil War is considered of the best, if not the best, history of that conflict. Much more intimate that Pherson's oft-lauded Battle Cry of Freedom and more pesonable than Catton's works, the Civil War trilogy is huge; both in scope and in size. Three very large books that will stay with you for years to come. The Rising Sun by John Toland http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books Toland's Pulitzer Prize winning history of the decline and fall of the Japanese Empire is history at its best. Beginning with the military coup in Japan in 1936 (the so-called February 26 Incident) it tells how Japan rose to be a frightening military power, how it conquered great swathes of China (Manchuria) and how its military and political doctrine brought about its eventual fall in 1945. Truly great history writing. The Washing of the Spears by Donald Morris http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301 The definitive history of the Zulu Wars in Southern Africa in the 1870's. It actually starts with the creation of the Zulu nation under the leadership of their great warrior king Shaka and ends with its destruction by the overwhelming firepower of the British Empire. Along the way we learn of how the Zulu nation caused massive socio-economic changes in native Africa, how the British suffered their first humiliating defeat at the hands of "spear waving natives", how 104 British soldiers defended themselves against 4000 Zulus at Rorke's Drift and how these two great proud empires clashed in the closing years of the 19th century. Superb. The Boer War by Thomas Pakenham http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books A beautifully written history of this often overlooked war in South Africa at the beginning of the 20th century. How many realize it was the British that invented the concentration camps? The stories of great roving bands of 'commandos', of terrible sieges, of inhuman treatment of women and children by British forces... A great story, very well told. The Scramble for Africa by Thomas Pakenham http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...897367-4327301 Another African masterpiece by Pakenham, this book is not really about a single war or battle but concerns the European powers and their systematic invasion and annexation of Africa over the course of 30 to 40 years. Within one generation, Africa changed from being the "Dark Continent" to a patchwork of artificial colonies ruled by European powers. Fascinating history at its best. The Greco-Persian Wars by Peter Green. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books Also known as The Year of Salamis in the US, this is the definitive history of the great struggle between the Greek city-states and the massive Persian Empire fought, over two wars, in the fifth century BC. Had the Persians won, world history would be unrecognisably different to that of today. This is a great book. The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books Kagan, the world's pre-eminent scholar on this subject, published a single volume history on the war between Athens and Sparta last year. Famous for his definitive five volume history (which I've also read and recommend, though it is a bit scholarly), Kagan tells us of the story of how these two great Greek cities fought each other over a generation. I could go on and on, but I think that's enough for the moment. I might post some more when I get home and browse my bookshelves... Mr Mephisto Last edited by Mephisto2; 11-21-2004 at 05:32 PM..