Christmas Reading List: What you got?

[missouridawg]

Been on a war kick lately and read Lone Survivor, No Easy Day, Unbroken, How to Break a Terrorist, and Kill or Capture this past month or two. If you've read any of these books, you would probably like the others.

About to start American Sniper.

What are you reading?

 

[imissplatinumplus]

American Sniper is a great read. Read it about two days. Can't wait for movie. Also, read anything by Greg Iles. Especially the ones with Penn Cage as main character, all set in Natchez, good stuff

 

[SuspectZero]

Can anyone recommend any good football books that are about offensive or defensive strategies. I looking for something to get the wife (and myself) that will help her understanding of the different philosophies. She loves football and I can only explain so much as my knowledge is also limited.

 

[msstate7]

Can anyone recommend any good football books that are about offensive or defensive strategies. I looking for something to get the wife (and myself) that will help her understanding of the different philosophies. She loves football and I can only explain so much as my knowledge is also limited.

The Intricacies of the West Coast Offense by Sylvester croom and Woody Mccorvey**

 

[Dr. Funke.sixpack]

"The Essential Smart Football"

By Chris B. Brown. Very good book that explores many styles and their development. Written so non-football people can understand but still has enough to sink your teeth into.

Was published about a year ago.

 

[mcdawg22]

Gonna start the Reason I Jump a book by a 13 year old boy with autism. Hope to get through it and start redeployment in Miami.

 

[jb1020]

Think I'm the only one that didn't like american sniper

Must have been the way the book was written but that guy came across as a real pompous a hole to me. I don't think it was him, just the way it was written.

i am looking forward to the movie though.

 

[jakldawg]

I can second this recommendation. Remember, it's by this guy and not the serial Rhianna-beater (people confuse them at times on Twitter).
This won't be popular on here, but the football half (basically every other chapter) of The Blind Side does a really good job of explaining how several positions in football have evolved over the years to the point where left tackle is considered one of the most important positions on a team.
And if you have some serious cash to drop, Bill Walsh's Finding the Winning Edge is considered one of the best coaching books ever.

 

[MedDawg]

A fav of mine is "Replay" by Ken Grimwood....

. http://www.amazon.com/Replay-Ken-Gr...ie=UTF8&qid=1419710168&sr=1-1&keywords=replay

 

[nsvltndog]

If you are intent on keeping with the war theme, "A Chain of Thunder" by Jeff Shaara is a great read with some Mississippi relevance. It's historical fiction written about the Siege of Vicksburg and is set mostly in the Jackson - Raymond - Vicksburg area. His style is to keep the main historical figures and events in their proper context but to tell the story through the eyes of fictional characters that were in Vicksburg at the time.

Jeff is a great writer and has written several historical fiction books covering WWI, WWII, and Civil War. Another of his Civil War books is focused on Shiloh, but I haven't read it yet. I know several people that have read his 4 WWII books and spoke very highly of them.

http://jeffshaara.com/shaara_books.htm

As for Greg Iles - I second that recommendation. His latest "Natchez Burning" is top notch and will have part 2 coming out in the Spring. And to keep with the war theme, his first 2 books - Spandau Phoenix and Black Cross are both related to Nazi Germany. Of the 2 I have read Black Cross and was very impressed.

http://www.gregiles.com/#!novels/cjg9

 

[missouridawg]

Must have been the way the book was written but that guy came across as a real pompous a hole to me. I don't think it was him, just the way it was written.

i am looking forward to the movie though.

i read the first chapter on the plane just now and already feel this way. Hopefully it's a good read still, but the arrogant Texas **** gets old. Even more so now that I live there.

 

[Statedog101]

Do the folks who read a lot of books, read mostly the hard or soft copy or read them electronically.

 

[preacher_dawg]

Reading Roots by Alex Haley and Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp, recently read Executive Power by Vince Flynn and Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering, both great books. And I can't bring myself to read ebooks, give em to me the old fashioned way!!

 

[mrbinsdog]

Empire of th Summer Moon

Reading Roots by Alex Haley and Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp, recently read Executive Power by Vince Flynn and Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering, both great books. And I can't bring myself to read ebooks, give em to me the old fashioned way!!

Excellent read about Texas-Indian wars

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

It has to be a physical copy for me. I can't do the electronic. I like to see progress.

 

[Old Fart Dawg]

The Space Ship Under The Apple Tree, Louis Slobodkin

 

[beachbumdawg]

Decision Points by GWB

 

[trob115]

Excellent read about Texas-Indian wars

I agree, it was a great read.

 

[NewHampshireMafia]

East of Eden
The Firm

 

[preacher_dawg]

Who says State fans aren't edumacated?! We're just not pompous about it!!

 

[seshomoru]

Here is my list for 2015

We will see how far I get. (Your local library card is the way to go by the way.)

The Martian - Andy Weir (reading now and can't put it down... Except to post this)

The sixth extinction - Elizabeth Colbert

The Fabric of the Cosmos - Brian Greene

Galapagos - Vonnegut

The Fever - Megan Abbot

Americanah -Adichie, Chimamanda Ngoz

Jennifer Government - Max Barry

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Forty signs of rain - Kim Stanley Robinson

The Big Short - Michael Lewis

Death by Black Hole - Neil Degrasse Tyson

The Grand Design - Stephen Hawking

Fahrenheit 451 - Bradbury

 

[titus.sixpack]

Half-way through "The Martian" agree that you can't put it down...I was up at 2:45 reading last night. I have read some of your list, but the others look interesting!

 

[mcdawg22]

The Big Short will make you angry all over again.

 

[preacher_dawg]

Anyone read the Passage by Justin Cronin? Great book, really surprised me.

 

[patdog]

Reading Death by Black Hole right now (not at this very moment but over the past few days). It's a collection of essays Tyson wrote for a magazine 10-20 years ago, so some of the information is a little outdated. Still pretty good though.

 

[The Peeper]

My "sources" tell me Deshea Townsend just can't put down "Stopping the Triple Option Offense for Dummies" Geoff Collins sent it to him for Christmas ......

 

[KurtRambis4]

I'm reading

Rebel Yell, by Gwynne right now and it's awesome. I've already bought, and plan on reading Empire, when I finish.

I'm also reading A Time For Trumpets. Most probably wouldn't like it Bc it's EXTREMELY detailed, but I like it. It's probably the go to book on the Germans final offensive during the winter of 44/45 (Specifically the Bulge).

 

[FatDrunkandStupidDawg]

I'm in the middle of Shantaram and it's bad ***! Also would recommend Once a Runner, and for a "war" book read War by Sebastian Junger, it's bad ***, he also did the documentary Restrepo which covers the same unit.

 

[BiscuitEater]

A favorite that I really enjoyed ...

is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Not a long read and it's told from a dog's point of view. Think anyone that ever owned a dog would enjoy this book

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Racing-Ra...sr=1-1&keywords=The+Art+of+Racing+in+the+Rain

 

[jb1020]

I like my Kindle

having a light on and flipping pages keep my wife up at night....not an issue with the kindle.

 

[jb1020]

Just put The Martian on my list.

the last 2 really good books I read...

Shotgun Lovesongs - Nickolas Butler

Brewster - Mark Slouka

 

[Wooly17er]

Nothing from Ayn Rand?? Surprised**

Happy New Year, Sesh!

 

[KurtRambis4]

Are those all fiction?

*

 

[Wooly17er]

Killing Whomever by Bill O'Reilly

I've read all of these books in the "Killing" series, and they are all great. I think my favorite has been Killing Jesus - just because of the parallel history of Rome and the leading up to Christianity. All of these books are great, however. Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy are classics with great info - and Killing Patton is different than all other (because of the circumstances of his death), but still a great read with a great narrative of the Battle of the Bulge.

Also - I've heard there are 3 other books coming in the "Killing" series - and I can't wait for them.

For the libs among us, I can honestly say that the fact O'Reilly contributed to these books should not deter you from reading. In fact, if you read Killing Patton first, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[seshomoru]

She makes for a good coaster while reading Das Kapital.

*

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Plan on finishing the song of ice and fire series shortly. I'm on book 3 right now. After that it's a history of ice and fire then the Teddy Roosevelt trilogy.

 

[was21]

Mississippi Politics.....from reconstruction to modern day. The sad saga of why we're always last in everything from a political standpoint and we keep on electing the same ones who keep us on the bottom.

 

[thf24]

From my understanding talking to a buddy who's in JSOC about the subject, it's simply an accurate self-portrayal. He said most snipers are like that due to the god complex that's necessary to function in that role without going insane.

 

[preacher_dawg]

Ruckus, book 3 is the best by far.

 

[seshomoru]

One of the craziest books I've ever read.

We've got quite an interesting political past.