OT: Summer Reading List

[drt7891]

I love this feature for the slow months.

What's on your summer reading list?

I've got a couple of john maxwell books I'm going to work through for work and I'm trying to come up with a few more. I really enjoy WWII history. I've read Stephen Ambrose's DDay book (fantastic read). Any suggestions from the pack?

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I'm looking for suggestions on WW2 books. I'm about to start the Strain trilogy. After that I'll probably start the Roosevelt trilogy that I've been putting off.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I recently finished the following within the past six weeks (I'm a bachelor nerd without cable):

"Killing Patton" by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard
"An Accidental Sportswriter: A Memoir" by Robert Lipsyte
"Last Man" by Vince Flynn (He wrote a lot of CIA novels, I presume this is the last for he has passed.)

I'm currently halfway through "It Doesn't Take a Hero: The Autobiography of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf" with Peter Petre.

Lipsyte's and Stormin' Norman's by far are the best of this group.

If you're looking for WW2 books, I've read all of Stephen Ambrose's books, and recommend all of them. Some are better than others. He was sadly plagued with plagiarism claims his last few years alive. "Citizen Soldiers" is a good place to start.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Just googled the Roosevelt Trilogy. I need to add that to my list. Thanks.

Also, drt, "Bedford Boys" by Alex Kershaw was pretty good. He has a few other WW2 books as well.

 

[oldawg]

Try these 3 about the war in the Pacific by authors who were there:

"With the Old Breed" by E. B. Sledge - has been touted as the most realistic look at men in combat ever - used in making "The Pacific" series.
"Helmet for my Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific" by Robert Leckie - basis for "The Pacific"
"Guadalcanal Diary" by Richard Tregaskis" - a classic

Switching to the war in Europe try, "A Bridge Too Far", by Cornelius Ryan

And there is always "The Second World War" (6 vols), by Winston Churchill - you will find the first two books interesting. He covers the entire spectrum of the war, beginning to end.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

On my to-read list:

Charles Portis. True Grit. I've read Norwood and Dog of the South but still haven't read this classic.

Atticus Lish. Preparation for the Next Life. Published last year & won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.

Bill Kreutzmann with Benjy Eisen. Deal.

Willie Nelson & David Ritz. It's a Long Story.

Michael Kardos. Before He Finds Her. MSU English prof with a mystery that's gotten nice reviews.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

The Second World War, by Anthony Beevor. It's fantastic, if a sometimes tough read, and covers all the theaters, and even the run up to the war. And Unbroken if you haven't already read it.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I was expecting something to do with the south rising again, Dixie, or a cook book on fine dining under tents.

 

[drt7891]

You are the one who recommended Ambrose's book... It's a great read.

 

[J-Dawg]

On thing on my list thus far is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.

 

[NIC.sixpack]

I'm looking for suggestions on WW2 books.

There have been a lot of good suggestions already. I'd like to add "Roll Me Over: An Infantryman's World War II" by Raymond Ganttner.

 

[o_fredgarvin]

Just finished The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. Now reading The Duel by John Lukacs. Compares Churchill's and Hitler's first 90 days of the war.

 

[dawgfan016]

I'm looking for suggestions on WW2 books. I'm about to start the Strain trilogy. After that I'll probably start the Roosevelt trilogy that I've been putting off.

*****
Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
Killing Patton - Bill O'reilly
The Arsenal of Democracy - A.J. Baime
The Liberation Trilogy - Rick Atkinson
War Stories - Heroism in the Pacific - Oliver North

****
Hitlerland - Andrew Nagorski
11 Days in December - Stanley Weintraub

 

[bully12]

*****
Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
Killing Patton - Bill O'reilly
The Arsenal of Democracy - A.J. Baime
The Liberation Trilogy - Rick Atkinson
War Stories - Heroism in the Pacific - Oliver North

****
Hitlerland - Andrew Nagorski
11 Days in December - Stanley Weintraub

Highly recommend the Rick Atkinson trilogy.

 

[hydrodawg]

Operation Mincemeat is a quick read. If you want to back up another 80 years I have been enjoying The Civil War by Shelby Foote.

I love this feature for the slow months.

What's on your summer reading list?

I've got a couple of john maxwell books I'm going to work through for work and I'm trying to come up with a few more. I really enjoy WWII history. I've read Stephen Ambrose's DDay book (fantastic read). Any suggestions from the pack?

 

[PineGroveBully]

Shiloh 1862 by Winston Groom

By the same author of Forrest Gump, he also has one called Vicksburg 1863. I have lived within 30 mins of Shiloh my whole life so it has always had a sacred place in my heart. He puts together diary inputs from soldiers local families and other involved characters. Two soldiers whom I can't recall their names gained fame after surviving the battle. One traveled to Africa and uttered the famous phrase "Dr. Livingston I presume?" The other penned the masterpiece "Ben Hur", probably my favorite Heston movie. That chariot race is still as good as tv gets.

 

[msstatelp1]

By the same author of Forrest Gump, he also has one called Vicksburg 1863. I have lived within 30 mins of Shiloh my whole life so it has always had a sacred place in my heart. He puts together diary inputs from soldiers local families and other involved characters. Two soldiers whom I can't recall their names gained fame after surviving the battle. One traveled to Africa and uttered the famous phrase "Dr. Livingston I presume?" The other penned the masterpiece "Ben Hur", probably my favorite Heston movie. That chariot race is still as good as tv gets.

Henry Stanley and Lew Wallace

 

[OrrDawg]

I am currently reading "Neptune's Inferno: The U. S. Navy at Guadalcanal." Interesting clearly-written read so far.

 

[FreeDawg]

I'll have this one for the beach

Will also probably do some Grisham reading, namely The Racketeer and Rouge Lawyer.

 

[preacher_dawg]

Currently reading The Twelve by Justin Cronin (2nd part of a vampire trilogy that reads more like a good science fiction book, wriiten by an English professor so you can see real character development) and Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian. Planning on reading The Secret Life of Houdini by William Kalush, Murder in Mississippi by John Safran, and Living in the Gospel of Relentless Grace by Iain Duguid.

 

[drt7891]

Definitely interested in these.